SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE
13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of
August 2024
Commission File Number 1-32135
SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.
(Name of Registrant)
106 Front Street East, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada M5A 1E1
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F ☐ Form 40-F ☒
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
(the “Company”)
See the Exhibit Index hereto for a list of the documents
filed herewith and forming a part of this Form 6-K.
Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 hereto
are incorporated by reference (as exhibits) to the Company’s registration statements on Form S-8 (File No. 333-211331) and Form F-10 (File No. 333-268485), as may be amended and supplemented.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
Seabridge Gold Inc. |
|
(Registrant) |
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Chris
Reynolds |
|
Name: |
Chris Reynolds |
|
Title: |
VP Finance and CFO |
Date: August 13, 2024
EXHIBIT INDEX
3
Exhibit 99.1
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
UNAUDITED
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS
AT JUNE 30, 2024
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
Interim
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Expressed
in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)
| |
| | |
June 30, | | |
December 31, | |
| |
Note | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Assets | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Current assets | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Cash and
cash equivalents | |
| | | |
$ | 71,309 | | |
$ | 82,438 | |
Amounts receivable and
prepaid expenses | |
| 3 | | |
| 10,037 | | |
| 7,763 | |
Investment
in marketable securities | |
| 4 | | |
| 4,502 | | |
| 3,750 | |
| |
| | | |
| 85,848 | | |
| 93,951 | |
Non-current assets | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Investment in associate | |
| 4 | | |
| 1,223 | | |
| 1,247 | |
Long-term receivables
and other assets | |
| 5 | | |
| 119,947 | | |
| 105,947 | |
Mineral interests, property
and equipment | |
| 6 | | |
| 1,180,602 | | |
| 1,128,464 | |
Reclamation
deposits | |
| 8 | | |
| 22,269 | | |
| 21,350 | |
| |
| | | |
| 1,324,041 | | |
| 1,257,008 | |
Total
assets | |
| | | |
$ | 1,409,889 | | |
$ | 1,350,959 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Liabilities and shareholders’
equity | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Current liabilities | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities | |
| 7 | | |
$ | 29,777 | | |
$ | 32,734 | |
Flow-through share premium | |
| 10 | | |
| 9,553 | | |
| 5,543 | |
Lease obligations | |
| | | |
| 629 | | |
| 373 | |
Provision
for reclamation liabilities | |
| 8 | | |
| 759 | | |
| 759 | |
| |
| | | |
| 40,718 | | |
| 39,409 | |
Non-current liabilities | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Secured note liabilities | |
| 9 | | |
| 483,023 | | |
| 573,888 | |
Deferred income tax
liabilities | |
| 15 | | |
| 30,511 | | |
| - | |
Lease obligations | |
| | | |
| 482 | | |
| 1,063 | |
Provision
for reclamation liabilities | |
| 8 | | |
| 6,629 | | |
| 6,676 | |
| |
| | | |
| 520,645 | | |
| 581,627 | |
Total
liabilities | |
| | | |
| 561,363 | | |
| 621,036 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Shareholders’
equity | |
| 10 | | |
| 848,526 | | |
| 729,923 | |
Total
liabilities and shareholders’ equity | |
| | | |
$ | 1,409,889 | | |
$ | 1,350,959 | |
Subsequent
events (Notes 5, 9, 10, 12 and 16), commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
The
accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
Interim
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Expressed
in thousands of Canadian dollars except common share and per common share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| |
| | |
Three
months ended
June 30, | | |
Six
months ended
June 30, | |
| |
Note | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Remeasurement gain (loss) on secured
notes | |
| 9 | | |
$ | 68,115 | | |
$ | 10,379 | | |
$ | 82,755 | | |
$ | (1,367 | ) |
Corporate and administrative expenses | |
| 13 | | |
| (4,765 | ) | |
| (3,943 | ) | |
| (9,378 | ) | |
| (7,803 | ) |
Other income - flow-through shares | |
| 10 | | |
| 2,105 | | |
| 1,371 | | |
| 2,353 | | |
| 1,516 | |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| | | |
| (5,751 | ) | |
| 5,111 | | |
| (18,652 | ) | |
| 5,698 | |
Finance costs, interest expense and other income | |
| | | |
| (147 | ) | |
| (2,034 | ) | |
| (232 | ) | |
| (2,210 | ) |
Interest income | |
| | | |
| 1,314 | | |
| 713 | | |
| 1,625 | | |
| 1,499 | |
Earnings (loss) before income
taxes | |
| | | |
| 60,871 | | |
| 11,597 | | |
| 58,471 | | |
| (2,667 | ) |
Income tax (expense)
recovery | |
| 15 | | |
| (15,630 | ) | |
| (2,612 | ) | |
| (21,403 | ) | |
| 868 | |
Net
earnings (loss) for the period | |
| | | |
$ | 45,241 | | |
$ | 8,985 | | |
$ | 37,068 | | |
$ | (1,799 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Other comprehensive income
(loss) | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Items that will not be reclassified
to net income or loss | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Remeasurement of secured notes | |
| 9 | | |
$ | 55,430 | | |
$ | 8,728 | | |
$ | 34,079 | | |
$ | 1,127 | |
Change in fair value of marketable securities | |
| 4 | | |
| 358 | | |
| (267 | ) | |
| 752 | | |
| (119 | ) |
Tax impact | |
| 15 | | |
| (15,014 | ) | |
| (2,320 | ) | |
| (9,301 | ) | |
| (287 | ) |
Total
other comprehensive income | |
| | | |
| 40,774 | | |
| 6,141 | | |
| 25,530 | | |
| 721 | |
Comprehensive
income (loss) for the period | |
| | | |
$ | 86,015 | | |
$ | 15,126 | | |
$ | 62,598 | | |
$ | (1,078 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Basic | |
| 10 | | |
| 87,920,852 | | |
| 82,434,434 | | |
| 87,168,285 | | |
| 81,998,804 | |
Diluted | |
| 10 | | |
| 88,323,778 | | |
| 82,646,725 | | |
| 87,539,985 | | |
| 81,998,804 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Earnings (loss) per common share | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Basic | |
| 10 | | |
$ | 0.51 | | |
$ | 0.11 | | |
$ | 0.43 | | |
$ | (0.02 | ) |
Diluted | |
| 10 | | |
$ | 0.51 | | |
$ | 0.11 | | |
$ | 0.42 | | |
$ | (0.02 | ) |
The
accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
Interim
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(Expressed
in thousands of Canadian dollars except number of shares)
(Unaudited)
| |
Number of Shares | | |
Share Capital | | |
Stock-based Compensation | | |
Contributed Surplus | | |
Deficit | | |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) | | |
Total Equity | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
As at December 31, 2023 | |
| 86,108,019 | | |
$ | 934,608 | | |
$ | 3,400 | | |
$ | 39,484 | | |
$ | (186,643 | ) | |
$ | (60,926 | ) | |
$ | 729,923 | |
Share issuance - At-The-Market offering | |
| 1,657,108 | | |
| 31,954 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 31,954 | |
Share issuance - Interest expense paid in shares | |
| 555,791 | | |
| 9,933 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 9,933 | |
Share issuance - Private placement | |
| 575,000 | | |
| 11,609 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 11,609 | |
Share issuance - Options exercised | |
| 50,000 | | |
| 1,302 | | |
| (416 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 886 | |
Share issuance - RSUs vested | |
| 63,066 | | |
| 1,031 | | |
| (1,031 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Share issuance - Other | |
| 5,000 | | |
| 105 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 105 | |
Share issuance costs | |
| - | | |
| (723 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (723 | ) |
Deferred tax on share issuance costs | |
| - | | |
| 194 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 194 | |
Stock-based compensation | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 2,047 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 2,047 | |
Other comprehensive income | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 25,530 | | |
| 25,530 | |
Net earnings for the period | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 37,068 | | |
| - | | |
| 37,068 | |
As at June 30, 2024 | |
| 89,013,984 | | |
$ | 990,013 | | |
$ | 4,000 | | |
$ | 39,484 | | |
$ | (149,575 | ) | |
$ | (35,396 | ) | |
$ | 848,526 | |
As at December 31, 2022 | |
| 81,339,012 | | |
$ | 856,462 | | |
$ | 4,655 | | |
$ | 36,160 | | |
$ | (157,377 | ) | |
$ | 633 | | |
$ | 740,533 | |
Share issuance – At-The-Market offering | |
| 1,281,667 | | |
| 23,411 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 23,411 | |
Share issuance – Interest expense paid in shares | |
| 322,084 | | |
| 4,945 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 4,945 | |
Share issuance – RSUs vested | |
| 5,000 | | |
| 111 | | |
| (111 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Share issuance costs | |
| - | | |
| (1,066 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (1,066 | ) |
Deferred tax on share issuance costs | |
| - | | |
| 285 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 285 | |
Stock-based compensation | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 1,727 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 1,727 | |
Other comprehensive income | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 721 | | |
| 721 | |
Net loss for the period | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (1,799 | ) | |
| - | | |
| (1,799 | ) |
As at June 30, 2023 | |
| 82,947,763 | | |
$ | 884,148 | | |
$ | 6,271 | | |
$ | 36,160 | | |
$ | (159,176 | ) | |
$ | 1,354 | | |
$ | 768,757 | |
The
accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
Interim
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed
in thousands of Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)
| |
Three
months ended
June 30, | | |
Six
months ended
June 30, | |
| |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Operating Activities | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Net earnings (loss) | |
$ | 45,241 | | |
$ | 8,985 | | |
$ | 37,068 | | |
$ | (1,799 | ) |
Adjustment for non-cash items: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Remeasurement (gain)
loss on secured notes | |
| (68,115 | ) | |
| (10,379 | ) | |
| (82,755 | ) | |
| 1,367 | |
Unrealized foreign exchange
(gain) loss | |
| 5,997 | | |
| (5,723 | ) | |
| 19,350 | | |
| (6,281 | ) |
Other income –
flow-through shares | |
| (2,105 | ) | |
| (1,371 | ) | |
| (2,353 | ) | |
| (1,516 | ) |
Stock-based compensation | |
| 857 | | |
| 859 | | |
| 2,047 | | |
| 1,727 | |
Income tax expense (recovery) | |
| 15,630 | | |
| 2,612 | | |
| 21,403 | | |
| (868 | ) |
Other non-cash items | |
| (97 | ) | |
| 387 | | |
| (389 | ) | |
| 556 | |
Adjustment for cash items: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Environmental rehabilitation
disbursements | |
| (90 | ) | |
| (637 | ) | |
| (170 | ) | |
| (870 | ) |
Changes in working capital items: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Amounts receivable and
prepaid expenses | |
| (6,940 | ) | |
| (2,030 | ) | |
| (2,274 | ) | |
| (1,975 | ) |
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities | |
| (364 | ) | |
| 1,644 | | |
| (560 | ) | |
| 2,168 | |
Net
cash used in operating activities | |
| (9,986 | ) | |
| (5,653 | ) | |
| (8,633 | ) | |
| (7,491 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Investing Activities | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Mineral interests, property
and equipment | |
| (12,646 | ) | |
| (45,570 | ) | |
| (51,945 | ) | |
| (94,201 | ) |
Long-term receivables | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (43,650 | ) |
Redemption of short-term
deposits | |
| - | | |
| 1,312 | | |
| - | | |
| 81,732 | |
Investment in short-term
deposits | |
| - | | |
| (11 | ) | |
| - | | |
| (43 | ) |
Investment
in reclamation deposits | |
| (919 | ) | |
| (518 | ) | |
| (919 | ) | |
| (540 | ) |
Net
cash used in investing activities | |
| (13,565 | ) | |
| (44,787 | ) | |
| (52,864 | ) | |
| (56,702 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Financing Activities | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Secured notes | |
| - | | |
| 198,825 | | |
| - | | |
| 198,825 | |
Share issuance net of costs | |
| 38,168 | | |
| 17,028 | | |
| 49,203 | | |
| 22,344 | |
Exercise of options | |
| 886 | | |
| - | | |
| 886 | | |
| - | |
Payment
of lease liabilities | |
| (123 | ) | |
| (128 | ) | |
| (325 | ) | |
| (254 | ) |
Net
cash from financing activities | |
| 38,931 | | |
| 215,725 | | |
| 49,764 | | |
| 220,915 | |
Effects
of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents | |
| 236 | | |
| (209 | ) | |
| 604 | | |
| (230 | ) |
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period | |
| 15,616 | | |
| 165,076 | | |
| (11,129 | ) | |
| 156,492 | |
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of the period | |
| 55,693 | | |
| 37,566 | | |
| 82,438 | | |
| 46,150 | |
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of the period | |
$ | 71,309 | | |
$ | 202,642 | | |
$ | 71,309 | | |
$ | 202,642 | |
The
accompanying notes form an integral part of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
Notes
to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements
As
at and for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
(Amounts
in notes and in tables are in millions of Canadian dollars, except where otherwise indicated) (Unaudited)
1.
Reporting entity
Seabridge
Gold Inc. is comprised of Seabridge Gold Inc. (“Seabridge” or the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, KSM Mining
ULC, Seabridge Gold (NWT) Inc., Seabridge Gold (Yukon) Inc., Seabridge Gold Corp., SnipGold Corp. and Snowstorm Exploration (LLC), and
is a Company engaged in acquiring, exploring, and advancing mineral properties, with an emphasis on gold resources, located in Canada
and the United States of America. The Company was incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada on September 14, 1979 and continued
under the laws of Canada on October 31, 2002. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol “SEA”
and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SA”. The Company is domiciled in Canada and the address of its registered
office is 10th Floor, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2T5 and the address of its corporate office is 106 Front
Street East, 4th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 1E1.
2.
Basis of preparation
| A. | Statement
of compliance |
These
unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements ("consolidated interim financial statements") were prepared in
accordance with IAS 34, Interim Financial Reporting, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”),
using accounting policies consistent with those used by the Company in preparing the annual consolidated financial statements as at and
for the year ended December 31, 2023 and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements
as at and for the year ended December 31, 2023. They do not include all of the information required for a complete set of financial statements
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). However, selected explanatory notes are
included to explain events and transactions that are significant to an understanding of the changes in the Company’s financial
position and performance since the last annual financial statements. These consolidated interim financial statements were authorized
for issue by the Company’s board of directors on August 13, 2024.
| B. | Amended
IFRS standard effective January 1, 2024 |
| (i) | On
January 23, 2020 and October 31, 2022, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1 to clarify that
the classification of liabilities as current or non-current should be based on rights that
exist at the end of the reporting period and that classification is unaffected by expectations
about whether an entity will exercise its right to defer settlement of a liability. For liabilities
with covenants, the amendments clarify that only covenants with which an entity is required
to comply on or before the reporting date affect the classification as current or non-current. |
| (ii) | On
September 22, 2022, the IASB issued amendments to IFRS 16 to add subsequent measurement requirements
for sale and leaseback transactions, particularly those with variable lease payments. The
amendments require the seller-lessee to subsequently measure lease liabilities in a way such
that it does not recognize any gain or loss relating to the right of use it retains. |
| (iii) | On
May 25, 2023, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 7 requiring entities to provide qualitative
and quantitative information about their supplier finance arrangements. In connection with
the amendments to IAS 7, the IASB also issued amendments to IFRS 7 requiring entities to
disclose whether they have accessed, or have access to, supplier finance arrangements that
would provide the entity with extended payment terms or the suppliers with early payment
terms. |
The
Company applied the above amendments to its consolidated interim financial statements for the annual reporting period beginning on January
1, 2024. The application of these amendments did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated interim financial statements.
| C. | Recent
Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not Yet Adopted |
| (i) | On
April 9, 2024, the IASB issued IFRS 18 “Presentation and Disclosure in the Financial
Statements” (“IFRS 18”) replacing IAS 1. IFRS 18 introduces categories
and defined subtotals in the statement of profit or loss, disclosures on management-defined
performance measures, and requirements to improve the aggregation and disaggregation of information
in the financial statements. As a result of IFRS 18, amendments to IAS 7 were also issued
to require that entities use the operating profit subtotal as the starting point for the
indirect method of reporting cash flows from operating activities and also to remove presentation
alternatives for interest and dividends paid and received. Similarly, amendments to IAS 33
“Earnings per Share” were issued to permit disclosure of additional earnings
per share figures using any other component of the statement of profit or loss, provided
the numerator is a total or subtotal defined under IFRS 18. IFRS 18 is effective for annual
reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and is to be applied retrospectively,
with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the standard
on its financial statements. |
| (ii) | On
May 30, 2024, the IASB issued narrow scope amendments to IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”
and IFRS 7. The amendments include the clarification of the date of initial recognition or
derecognition of financial liabilities, including financial liabilities that are settled
in cash using an electronic payment system. The amendments also introduce additional disclosure
requirements to enhance transparency regarding investments in equity instruments designated
at FVOCI and financial instruments with contingent features. The amendments are effective
for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, with early adoption permitted.
The Company is currently assessing the impact of the amendments on its financial statements. |
3.
Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses
($000s) | |
| June
30,
2024 | | |
| December 31,
2023 | |
HST | |
| 1,890 | | |
| 4,493 | |
Prepaid expenses
and other receivables | |
| 8,147 | | |
| 3,270 | |
| |
| 10,037 | | |
| 7,763 | |
4.
Investments
($000s) | |
| January
1, 2024 | | |
| Fair
value through other comprehensive income (loss) | | |
| Loss
of associate | | |
| Additions | | |
| June
30, 2024 | |
Current assets: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Investments in marketable securities | |
| 3,750 | | |
| 752 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 4,502 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Non-current assets: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Investment in associate | |
| 1,247 | | |
| - | | |
| (24 | ) | |
| - | | |
| 1,223 | |
($000s) | |
| January
1, 2023 | | |
| Fair
value through other comprehensive income (loss) | | |
| Loss
of associate | | |
| Additions | | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
Current assets: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Investments in marketable securities | |
| 3,696 | | |
| 54 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 3,750 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Non-current assets: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Investment in associate | |
| 1,389 | | |
| - | | |
| (208 | ) | |
| 66 | (a) | |
| 1,247 | |
(a) | In
2023, the Company received 151,855 common shares of Paramount for payment of interest on
the secured convertible note receivable accrued between July 1, 2022 and December 27, 2023
when the note was repaid. |
The
Company holds a 4.4% (December 31, 2023 – 4.7%) interest in Paramount which is classified as investment in associate and accounted
for using the equity method on the basis that the Company has the ability to exert significant influence through its representation on
Paramount’s board of directors. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded its proportionate share of Paramount’s
net loss of $0.02 million (2023 – $0.1 million net loss) within finance costs, interest expense and other income on the interim
condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As at June 30 2024, the carrying value of the Company’s
investment in Paramount was $1.2 million (December 31, 2023 - $1.2 million).
5.
Long-term receivables and prepaid expenses
($000s) | |
| June 30, 2024 | | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
BC Hydro 1 | |
| 106,720 | | |
| 92,720 | |
Canadian Exploration Expenses 2 | |
| 9,361 | | |
| 9,361 | |
British Columbia Mineral Exploration Tax Credit 3 | |
| 3,866 | | |
| 3,866 | |
| |
| 119,947 | | |
| 105,947 | |
1) | In
2022, the Company entered into a Facilities Agreement with British Columbia Hydro and Power
Authority ("BC Hydro") covering the design and construction of facilities by BC
Hydro to supply construction phase hydro-sourced electricity to the KSM Project. Pursuant
to signing the Facilities Agreement the Company has made $106.7 million prepayments inclusive
of $14.0 million which was accrued as at June 30, 2024 and paid subsequent to the quarter
end. |
2) | As
previously disclosed in the Company’s prior years financial statements, in 2019 the
Company received a notice from the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) that it proposed
to reduce the amount of expenditures reported as Canadian Exploration
Expenses (“CEE”) for the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. The Company
has funded certain of its exploration expenditures, from time-to-time,
with the proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares and renounced, to subscribers,
the expenditures which it determined to be CEE. The notice disputes the eligibility
of certain types of expenditures previously audited and approved as CEE by the CRA. The Company
strongly disagrees with the notice and responded to the CRA auditors with additional information
for their consideration. In 2020, the CRA auditors responded to the Company’s submission
and, although accepting additional expenditures as CEE, reiterated that their position remains
largely unchanged and subsequently issued reassessments to the Company reflecting the additional
CEE expenditures accepted and $2.3 million of Part Xll.6 tax owing. The CRA has reassessed
certain investors who subscribed for the flow-through shares, reducing CEE deductions. Notices
of objection to the Company’s and investors’ reassessments have been filed for
all those that have been received and will be appealed to the courts, should the notices
of objection be denied. The Company has indemnified the investors that subscribed for the
flow-through shares and that have been reassessed by depositing the amount of their reassessments,
including interest charges, into the accounts of the reassessed investors with the Receiver
General in return for such investors agreement to object to their respective reassessments
and to repay the Company any refund of the amount deposited on their behalf upon resolution
of the Company’s appeal. During 2021 and 2022, the Company deposited $9.3 million into
the accounts of certain investors with the Receiver General. The deposits made have been
recorded as long-term receivables on the statement of financial position as at June 30, 2024.
The potential tax indemnification to the investors is estimated to be $10.8 million, plus
$3.5 million potential interest. No provision has been recorded related to the tax, potential
interest, nor the potential indemnity as the Company and its advisors do not consider it
probable that there will ultimately be an amount payable. |
3) | During
2016, upon the completion of an audit of the application by tax authorities of the British
Columbia Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (“BCMETC”) program, the Company was reassessed
$3.6 million, including accrued interest for expenditures that the tax authority has categorized
as not qualifying for the BCMETC program. The Company recorded a $3.6 million provision within
non-trade payables and accrued expenses on the consolidated statements of financial position
as at December 31, 2016 with a corresponding increase in mineral interests. In 2017 the Company
filed an objection to the reassessment with the appeals division of the tax authorities and
paid one-half of the accrued balance to the Receiver General and reduced the provision by
$1.8 million. In 2019, the Company received a decision from the appeals division that the
Company’s objection was denied, and the Company filed a Notice of Appeal with the British
Columbia Supreme Court. The Attorney General of Canada replied to the facts and arguments
in the Company’s Notice of Appeal and stated its position that the Company’s
expenditures did not qualify for the BCMETC program. During the first quarter of 2023, the
Company completed discovery process with the Department of Justice and will continue to move
the appeal process forward, including settling an agreed statement of facts. The Company
will defend its case in courts in the third quarter of 2024. Based on the facts and circumstances
of the Company’s objection, the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that
it will be successful in its objection. As at June 30, 2024, the Company has paid $1.6 million
to the Receiver General, and the CRA has withheld $2.3 million of HST credits due to the
Company that would fully cover the residual balance, including interest, should the Company
be unsuccessful in its challenge. The amount recorded in long-term receivables as of June
30, 2024 of $3.9 million includes the initial reassessment of $3.6 million, plus accrued
interest. |
6.
Mineral Interests, Property and Equipment
($000s) | |
| Mineral interests | | |
| Construction in progress | | |
| Property & equipment | | |
| Right-of-use assets | | |
| Total | |
Cost | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
As at January 1, 2023 | |
| 687,074 | | |
| 121,201 | | |
| 72,404 | | |
| 2,437 | | |
| 883,116 | |
Additions | |
| 69,732 | | |
| 178,764 | | |
| 1,187 | | |
| 781 | | |
| 250,464 | |
Transfers | |
| - | | |
| (101,899 | ) | |
| 101,899 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
As at December 31, 2023 | |
| 756,806 | | |
| 198,066 | | |
| 175,490 | | |
| 3,218 | | |
| 1,133,580 | |
Additions | |
| 16,452 | | |
| 37,446 | | |
| - | | |
| 90 | | |
| 53,988 | |
As at June 30, 2024 | |
| 773,258 | | |
| 235,512 | | |
| 175,490 | | |
| 3,308 | | |
| 1,187,568 | |
Accumulated Depreciation | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
As at January 1, 2023 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 1,070 | | |
| 549 | | |
| 1,619 | |
Depreciation expense 1 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 2,517 | | |
| 980 | | |
| 3,497 | |
As at December 31, 2023 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 3,587 | | |
| 1,529 | | |
| 5,116 | |
Depreciation expense 1 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 1,299 | | |
| 551 | | |
| 1,850 | |
As at June 30, 2024 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 4,886 | | |
| 2,080 | | |
| 6,966 | |
Net Book Value | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
As at December 31, 2023 | |
| 756,806 | | |
| 198,066 | | |
| 171,903 | | |
| 1,689 | | |
| 1,128,464 | |
As at June 30, 2024 | |
| 773,258 | | |
| 235,512 | | |
| 170,604 | | |
| 1,228 | | |
| 1,180,602 | |
1) | Depreciation
expense related to camps, equipment, and right-of-use assets associated with the KSM construction
is capitalized to construction in progress. |
Mineral
interests, property and equipment additions by project are as follows:
| |
| | |
Six months ended June 30, 2024 | | |
| |
($000s) | |
January 1, 2024 | | |
Mineral interests | | |
Construction in progress | | |
Property & equipment | | |
Right-of-use assets | | |
Total Additions | | |
June 30,
2024 | |
Additions | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
KSM additions 1 | |
| 928,412 | | |
| 6,395 | | |
| 37,446 | | |
| - | | |
| 90 | | |
| 43,931 | | |
| 972,343 | |
KSM transfers | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Courageous Lake | |
| 81,519 | | |
| 534 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 534 | | |
| 82,053 | |
Iskut | |
| 64,078 | | |
| 5,860 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 5,860 | | |
| 69,938 | |
Snowstorm | |
| 39,459 | | |
| 558 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 558 | | |
| 40,017 | |
3 Aces | |
| 18,730 | | |
| 3,105 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 3,105 | | |
| 21,835 | |
Grassy Mountain | |
| 771 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 771 | |
Corporate | |
| 611 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 611 | |
Total | |
| 1,133,580 | | |
| 16,452 | | |
| 37,446 | | |
| - | | |
| 90 | | |
| 53,988 | | |
| 1,187,568 | |
| |
| | |
Year ended December 31, 2023 | | |
| |
($000s) | |
January 1, 2023 | | |
Mineral interests | | |
Construction in progress | | |
Property & equipment | | |
Right-of-use assets | | |
Total Additions | | |
December 31, 2023 | |
Additions | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
KSM additions 1 | |
| 707,190 | | |
| 40,490 | | |
| 178,764 | | |
| 1,187 | | |
| 781 | | |
| 221,222 | | |
| 928,412 | |
KSM transfers | |
| | | |
| - | | |
| (101,899 | ) | |
| 101,899 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Courageous Lake | |
| 77,999 | | |
| 3,520 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 3,520 | | |
| 81,519 | |
Iskut | |
| 49,904 | | |
| 14,174 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 14,174 | | |
| 64,078 | |
Snowstorm | |
| 34,562 | | |
| 4,897 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 4,897 | | |
| 39,459 | |
3 Aces | |
| 12,079 | | |
| 6,651 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 6,651 | | |
| 18,730 | |
Grassy Mountain | |
| 771 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 771 | |
Corporate | |
| 611 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 611 | |
Total | |
| 883,116 | | |
| 69,732 | | |
| 76,865 | | |
| 103,086 | | |
| 781 | | |
| 250,464 | | |
| 1,133,580 | |
1) | The
KSM construction in progress additions includes $16.0 million of capitalized borrowing costs
(year ended December 31, 2023 - $19.4 million). The capitalized costs were net of $0.5 million
(2023 - $6.9 million) of interest income earned on the residual balance of the borrowed funds
which is reported within the investment in mineral interests, property and equipment line
on the consolidated statements of cash flows. |
Included
in the capitalized exploration expenditures were certain lease payments and project holding costs.
7.
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
($000s) | |
| June
30,
2024 | | |
| December 31,
2023 | |
Trade payables | |
| 22,304 | | |
| 27,302 | |
Non-trade payables
and accrued expenses | |
| 7,473 | | |
| 5,432 | |
| |
| 29,777 | | |
| 32,734 | |
8.
Provision for reclamation liabilities
($000s) | |
| June 30, 2024 | | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
Beginning of the period | |
| 7,435 | | |
| 10,846 | |
Disbursements | |
| (170 | ) | |
| (3,664 | ) |
Accretion | |
| 123 | | |
| 253 | |
End of the period | |
| 7,388 | | |
| 7,435 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Provision for reclamation liabilities – current | |
| 759 | | |
| 759 | |
Provision for reclamation liabilities – long-term | |
| 6,629 | | |
| 6,676 | |
| |
| 7,388 | | |
| 7,435 | |
The
estimate of the provision for reclamation obligations as at June 30, 2024 was calculated using the estimated discounted cash flows of
future reclamation costs of $7.3 million (December 31, 2023 - $7.4 million) and the expected timing of cash flow payments required to
settle the obligations between 2024 and 2026. As at June 30, 2024, the undiscounted future cash outflows are estimated at $7.9 million
(December 31, 2023 - $8.1 million) primarily over the next two years. The nominal discount rate used to calculate the present value of
the reclamation obligations was 4.0% at June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 - 3.9%). During the six months ended June 30, 2024, reclamation
disbursements amounted to $0.2 million (2023 - $3.7 million).
As
at June 30, 2024, the Company has placed a total of $22.3 million (December 31, 2023 - $21.4 million) on deposit with financial institutions
or with government regulators that are pledged as security against reclamation liabilities. The deposits are recorded on the consolidated
statements of financial position as reclamation deposits. As at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $10.0 million of
uncollateralized surety bond, issued pursuant to arrangements with an insurance company, in support of environmental closure costs obligations
related to the KSM Project.
9.
Secured Note liabilities
On
February 25, 2022, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, KSM Mining ULC (“KSMCo”) signed a definitive agreement
to sell a secured note (“2022 Secured Note”) that is to be exchanged at maturity for a silver royalty on its 100% owned KSM
Project (“KSM”) to institutional investors (“Investors”) for US$225 million. The transaction closed on March
24, 2022. The key terms of the 2022 Secured Note include:
| ● | When
the 2022 Secured Note matures, the Investors will use all of the principal amount repaid
on maturity to purchase a 60% gross silver royalty (the “Silver Royalty”). Maturity
occurs upon the first to occur of: |
a)
Commercial production being achieved at KSM; and
b)
Either on March 24, 2032, the 10-year anniversary, or if the Environmental Assessment Certificate (“EAC”) expires and the
Investors do not exercise their right to put the 2022 Secured Note to the Company, on March 24, 2035, the 13-year anniversary of the
issue date of the 2022 Secured Note.
| ● | Prior
to its maturity, the 2022 Secured Note bears interest at 6.5% per annum, payable quarterly
in arrears. The Company can elect to satisfy interest payments in cash or by delivering common
shares. |
| ● | The
Company has the option to buyback 50% of the Silver Royalty, once exchanged, on or before
3 years after commercial production has been achieved, for an amount that provides the Investors
a minimum guaranteed annualized return. |
| ● | If
project financing to develop, construct and place KSM into commercial production is not in
place by March 24, 2027, the Investors can put the 2022 Secured Note back to the Company
for US$232.5 million, with the Company able to satisfy such amount in cash or by delivering
common shares at its option. This right expires once such project financing is in place.
If the Investors exercise this put right, the Investors’ right to purchase the Silver
Royalty terminates. |
| ● | If
KSM’s EAC expires at anytime while the 2022 Secured Note is outstanding, the Investors
can put the 2022 Secured Note back to the Company for US$247.5 million at any time over the
following nine months, with the Company able to satisfy such amount in cash or by delivering
common shares at its option. If the Investors exercise this put right, the Investors’
right to purchase the Silver Royalty terminates. |
| ● | If
commercial production is not achieved at KSM prior to March 24, 2032, the Silver Royalty
payable to the Investors will increase to a 75% gross silver royalty (if the EAC expires
during the term of the 2022 Secured Note and the corresponding put right is not exercised
by the Investors, this uplift will occur at the thirteenth anniversary from closing). |
| ● | No
amount payable shall be paid in common shares if, after the payment, any of the Investors
would own more than 9.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares. |
| ● | The
Company’s obligations under the 2022 Secured Note are secured by a charge over all
of the assets of KSMCo and a limited recourse guarantee from the Company secured by a pledge
of the shares of KSMCo. |
Subsequent
to the quarter end on July 26, 2024, KSM received the “Substantially Started” designation from the BC government. This designation
affirms the validity of the EAC for the life of the KSM Project.
To
satisfy the interest payment on the 2022 Secured Note, during 2024, the Company issued 555,791 common shares in respect of the interest
incurred during six months ended June 30, 2024 (year ended December 31, 2023 - 1,285,178 common shares).
A
number of the above noted options within the agreement represent embedded derivatives. Management has elected to not separate these embedded
derivatives from the underlying host secured note, and instead account for the entire secured note as a financial liability at fair value
through profit or loss.
The
2022 Secured Note was recognized at its estimated fair value at initial recognition of $282.3 million (US$225 million) using a discounted
cash flow model with a Monte Carlo simulation. This incorporated several scenarios and probabilities of the EAC expiring, achieving commercial
production and securing project financing, silver prices forecast from quoted forward price, and the discount rates. During the six months
ended June 30, 2024, the fair value of the 2022 Secured Note decreased, and the Company recorded a $31.0 million gain (year ended December
31, 2023 - $30.8 million loss) on the remeasurement.
During
the current quarter, the Company re-estimated the timelines for achieving key milestones for commercial production. The following inputs
and assumptions were used in the determination of fair value:
Inputs and assumptions | |
June 30, 2024 | | |
December 31, 2023 | |
Forecast silver production in thousands of ounces | |
| 166,144 | | |
| 166,144 | |
Long term silver price as at June 30, 2031 | |
US$ | 36.26 | | |
US$ | 28.62 | |
Risk-free rate | |
| 4.5 | % | |
| 4.0 | % |
Credit spread | |
| 3.5 | % | |
| 4.0 | % |
Share price volatility | |
| 60 | % | |
| 60 | % |
Silver royalty discount factor | |
| 11.0 | % | |
| 9.2 | % |
The
carrying amount for the 2022 Secured Note is as follows:
($000s) | |
| June 30, 2024 | | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
Fair value beginning of the period | |
| 294,363 | | |
| 263,541 | |
Change in fair value (gain) loss through profit and loss | |
| (24,912 | ) | |
| 3,096 | |
Change in fair value (gain) loss through other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| (15,977 | ) | |
| 34,830 | |
Foreign currency translation (gain) loss | |
| 9,909 | | |
| (7,104 | ) |
Total change in fair value | |
| (30,980 | ) | |
| 30,822 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Fair value end of the period | |
| 263,383 | | |
| 294,363 | |
Sensitivity
Analysis:
For
the fair value of the 2022 Secured Note, reasonably possible changes at the reporting date to one of the significant inputs, holding
other inputs constant, would have the following effects:
Key Inputs | |
Inter-relationship between significant inputs and fair value measurement | |
Increase (decrease) (millions) | |
Key observable inputs | |
The estimated fair value would increase (decrease) if: | |
| |
● Silver price forward curve | |
● Future silver prices were 10% higher | |
$ | 13.4 | |
| |
● Future silver prices were 10% lower | |
$ | (13.6 | ) |
| |
| |
| | |
● Discount rates | |
● Discount rates were 1% higher | |
$ | (24.7 | ) |
| |
● Discount rates were 1% lower | |
$ | 29.2 | |
Key unobservable inputs | |
| |
| | |
● Forecasted silver production | |
● Silver production indicated silver ounces were 10% higher | |
$ | 13.4 | |
| |
● Silver production indicated silver ounces were 10% lower | |
$ | (13.6 | ) |
On
May 11, 2023, the Company announced that it, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, KSM Mining ULC (“KSMCo”), had agreed to
the principal terms of a royalty agreement under which Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. (“Sprott”) would pay KSMCo
US$150 million and KSMCo would grant Sprott up to 1.2% net smelter royalty (“NSR”) on the KSM Project. Thereafter, the Company
and Sprott agreed to restructure the proposed transaction as the sale of a secured note and, on June 28, 2023, the Company and KSMCo,
signed a definitive agreement to sell a secured note (“2023 Secured Note”) that is to be exchanged at maturity for a net
smelter returns royalty (the “NSR”) on its 100% owned KSM Project (“KSM”) to Sprott for US$150 million. The transaction
closed on June 29, 2023. The key terms of the 2023 Secured Note include:
| ● | When
the 2023 Secured Note matures, Sprott will use all of the principal amount repaid on maturity
to purchase a 1% NSR, subject to adjustment of the amount as described below. Maturity occurs
upon the first to occur of: |
a)
Commercial production being achieved at KSM; and
b)
Either on March 24, 2032 or, if the Environmental Assessment Certificate (“EAC”) expires and the Investors do not exercise
their right to put the 2023 Secured Note to the Company, on March 24, 2035.
| ● | Prior
to its maturity, the 2023 Secured Note bears interest at 6.5% per annum, payable quarterly
in arrears. However, payment of quarterly interest due on or before June 29, 2025 (the “Deferred
Interest”) will be deferred and the Deferred Interest plus interest accrued on it (the
“Interest Deferral Amount”) is payable in a lump sum on or before December 29,
2025. |
| ● | KSMCo
can pay the Interest Deferral Amount (US$21.5M) in cash or Seabridge common shares or KSMCo
can elect to increase the size of the NSR to be sold to Sprott on the Maturity Date from
a 1% NSR to a 1.2% NSR (the “Royalty Increase Election”). |
| ● | The
Company can elect to satisfy quarterly interest payments, including the Deferral Amount due,
by paying in cash or Seabridge common shares. The requirement to make quarterly interest
payments expires on the maturity date. |
| ● | No
amount payable shall be paid in common shares if, after the payment, Sprott would own more
than 9.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares. |
| ● | If
commercial production is not achieved at the KSM Project prior to March 24, 2032, the size
of the NSR to be sold to Sprott on the Maturity Date will increase to 1.25% if KSMCo paid
the Interest Deferral Amount in cash or shares, or to 1.5% if KSMCo made the Royalty Increase
Election (the applicable increase being the “Production Delay Increase”). |
| ● | The
Company has the option to purchase the NSR amount down (after the NSR is sold to Sprott)
to a 0.5% NSR (or to 0.625% if the Production Delay Increase occurred) on or before three
years after commercial production has been achieved, for an amount that provides Sprott a
minimum guaranteed annualized return. |
| ● | If
project financing to develop, construct and place KSM into commercial production is not in
place by March 24, 2027, Sprott can put the 2023 Secured Note back to the Company for: |
| a) | if
the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1% NSR on the Maturity Date at the time, US$155
million plus accrued and unpaid interest, or |
| b) | if
the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1.2% or 1.5% NSR on the Maturity Date at the time,
US$180 million plus accrued and unpaid interest. |
This
Sprott put right expires once such project financing is in place. If Sprott exercises this put right, Sprott’s right to purchase
the NSR terminates.
| ● | If
KSM’s EAC expires at anytime while the 2023 Secured Note is outstanding, Sprott can
put the 2023 Secured Note back to the Company at any time over the following nine months
for: |
| a) | if
the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1% NSR on the Maturity Date at the time, US$165
million plus accrued and unpaid interest, or |
| b) | if
the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1.2% NSR on the Maturity Date at the time, US$186.5
million plus accrued and unpaid interest. |
If
Sprott exercises this put right, Sprott’s right to purchase the NSR terminates.
| ● | The
Company can elect to satisfy payments due on Sprott’s exercise of either of its put
rights in cash or by delivering common shares. |
| ● | No
amount payable shall be paid in common shares if, after the payment, Sprott would own more
than 9.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares. |
| ● | The
Company’s obligations under the 2023 Secured Note are secured by a charge over all
of the assets of KSMCo and a limited recourse guarantee from the Company secured by a pledge
of the shares of KSMCo. |
Subsequent
to the quarter end on July 26, 2024, KSM received the Substantially Started designation from the BC government. This designation affirms
the validity of the EAC for the life of the KSM Project.
A
number of the above noted options within the agreement represent embedded derivatives. Management has elected to not separate these embedded
derivatives from the underlying host secured note, and instead account for the entire secured note as a financial liability at fair value
through profit or loss.
The
2023 Secured Note was recognized at its estimated fair value at initial recognition of $198.8 million (US$150 million) using a discounted
cash flow model with a Monte Carlo simulation. This incorporated several scenarios and probabilities of the EAC expiring, achieving commercial
production and securing project financing, metal prices forecast and discount rates. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the fair
value of the 2023 Secured Note decreased, and the Company recorded a $59.9 million gain (year ended December 31, 2023 - $80.7 million
loss) on the remeasurement.
During
the current quarter, the Company re-estimated the timelines for achieving key milestones for commercial production.
The following inputs
and assumptions were used in the determination of fair value:
Inputs and assumptions | |
June
30,
2024 | | |
December 31,
2023 | |
Forecast NSR: | |
| | |
| |
Gold in
thousands of ounces | |
| 10,500 | | |
| 10,500 | |
Silver in thousands
of ounces | |
| 29,876 | | |
| 29,876 | |
Copper in millions of
pounds | |
| 19,322 | | |
| 19,322 | |
Molybdenum in millions
of pounds | |
| 152 | | |
| 152 | |
Long term metal price as at June 30, 2031 | |
| | | |
| | |
Gold per ounce | |
US$ | 2,790.42 | | |
US$ | 2,553.60 | |
Silver per ounce | |
US$ | 36.26 | | |
US$ | 28.62 | |
Copper per pound | |
US$ | 4.48 | | |
US$ | 4.08 | |
Molybdenum per pound | |
US$ | 31.50 | | |
US$ | 24.89 | |
Risk-free rate | |
| 4.5 | % | |
| 4.0 | % |
Credit spread | |
| 3.5 | % | |
| 4.0 | % |
Share price volatility | |
| 60 | % | |
| 60 | % |
NSR royalty discount
factor | |
| 11.0 | % | |
| 9.2 | % |
The
carrying amount for the 2023 Secured Note is as follows:
($000s) | |
| June 30, 2024 | | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
Fair value beginning of the period (or on issuance) | |
| 279,525 | | |
| 198,825 | |
Change in fair value (gain) loss through profit and loss | |
| (51,221 | ) | |
| 33,182 | |
Change in fair value (gain) loss through other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| (18,102 | ) | |
| 49,563 | |
Foreign currency translation (gain) loss | |
| 9,438 | | |
| (2,045 | ) |
Total change in fair value | |
| (59,885 | ) | |
| 80,700 | |
Fair value end of the period | |
| 219,640 | | |
| 279,525 | |
Sensitivity
Analysis:
For
the fair value of the 2023 Secured Note, reasonably possible changes at the reporting date to one of the significant inputs, holding
other inputs constant, would have the following effects:
Key Inputs | |
Inter-relationship between significant inputs and fair value measurement | |
Increase (decrease) (millions) | |
Key observable inputs | |
The estimated fair value would increase (decrease) if: | |
| |
● Metals price forward curve | |
● Future metal prices were 10% higher | |
$ | 14.4 | |
| |
● Future metal prices were 10% lower | |
$ | (14.5 | ) |
| |
| |
| | |
● Discount rates | |
● Discount rates were 1% higher | |
$ | (27.2 | ) |
| |
● Discount rates were 1% lower | |
$ | 33.1 | |
Key unobservable inputs | |
| |
| | |
● Forecasted metal production | |
● Metal production indicated volumes were 10% higher | |
$ | 13.8 | |
| |
● Metal production indicated volumes were 10% lower | |
$ | (14.0 | ) |
10.
Shareholders’ equity
The
Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of preferred shares and common shares with no par value. No preferred shares have
been issued or were outstanding at June 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
The
Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, based on the funds available to the Company, in order to support the
acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. The Board of Directors does not establish quantitative return on capital
criteria for management, but rather relies on the expertise of the Company's management to sustain future development of the business.
The
properties in which the Company currently has an interest are in the pre-operating stage, as such the Company is dependent on external
financing to fund its activities. In order to carry out the planned exploration and pay for administrative costs, the Company will spend
its existing working capital and raise additional amounts as needed.
Management
reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative size of the Company,
is reasonable. There were no changes in the Company's approach to capital management during 2024. The Company considers its capital to
be share capital, stock-based compensation, contributed surplus and deficit. The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital
requirements.
During
the first quarter of 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with two securities dealers, for an ATM offering program, entitling
the Company, at its discretion, and from time to time, to sell up to US$75 million in value of common shares of the Company. This program
was in effect until the Company’s US$775 million Shelf Registration Statement, that expired in December 2022, was replaced with
a new US$750 million the same month. During the first quarter of 2023, a US$100 million prospectus supplement was filed and the program
was renewed. In the first quarter of 2023, the Company entered into a new agreement with two securities dealers, for an At-The-Market
offering program, entitling the Company, at its discretion, and from time to time, to sell up to US$100 million in value of common shares
of the Company. This program can be in effect until the Company’s US$750 million Shelf Registration Statement expires in 2025.
In 2023, the Company issued 2,516,839 shares, at an average selling price of $17.36 per share, for net proceeds of $42.8 million under
the Company’s At-The-Market offering. During six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company issued 1,657,108 shares, at an average
selling price of $19.28 per share, for net proceeds of $31.3 million under the Company’s At-The-Market offering. As at June 30,
2024, US$44.1 million was available under the ATM. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company issued
409,556 shares, at an average selling price of $20.75 per share, for net proceeds of $8.3 million under the Company’s At-The-Market
offering.
On
June 5, 2024, the Company issued a total of 575,000 flow-through common shares at an average $31.26 per common share for aggregate gross
proceeds of $18.0 million. The Company committed to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent
value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares.
The effective date of the renouncement was December 31, 2024. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $6.4 million premium
was recognized as a liability on the interim condensed consolidated statements of financial position.
In
December 2023, the Company issued a total of 875,150 flow-through common shares at an average $22.34 per common share for aggregate gross
proceeds of $19.6 million. The Company committed to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent
value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares.
The effective date of the renouncement was December 31, 2023. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $5.5 million premium
was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements of financial position. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company
incurred $8.1 million of qualifying exploration expenditures and $2.4 million of the premium was recognized through other income on the
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
In
December 2022, the Company issued a total of 675,400 flow-through common shares at an average $22.24 per common share for aggregate gross
proceeds of $15.0 million. The Company committed to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent
value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares.
The effective date of the renouncement was December 31, 2022. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $4.2 million premium
was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements of financial position. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company
incurred $15.0 million of qualifying exploration expenditures and the $4.2 million premium was recognized through other income on the
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
| b) | Stock
options and restricted share units |
The
Company provides compensation to directors and employees in the form of stock options and RSUs. Pursuant to the Share Option Plan, the
Board of Directors has the authority to grant options, and to establish the exercise price and life of the option at the time each option
is granted, at a price not less than the closing price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the date of the grant of
such option and for a period not exceeding five years. All exercised options are settled in equity. Pursuant to the Company’s RSU
Plan, the Board of Directors has the authority to grant RSUs, and to establish terms of the RSUs including the vesting criteria and the
life of the RSUs.
Stock
option and RSU transactions were as follows:
| |
Options | | |
RSUs | | |
Total | |
| |
Number of Options | | |
Weighted Average Exercise Price ($) | | |
Amortized Value of options ($000s) | | |
Number of RSUs | | |
Amortized Value of RSUs ($000s) | | |
Stock-based Compensation ($000s) | |
Outstanding January 1, 2024 | |
| 50,000 | | |
| 17.72 | | |
| 416 | | |
| 697,726 | | |
| 2,984 | | |
| 3,400 | |
Exercised option or vested RSU | |
| (50,000 | ) | |
| 17.72 | | |
| (416 | ) | |
| (63,066 | ) | |
| (1,031 | ) | |
| (1,447 | ) |
Amortized value of stock-based compensation | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 2,047 | | |
| 2,047 | |
Outstanding at June 30, 2024 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 634,660 | | |
| 4,000 | | |
| 4,000 | |
Exercisable at June 30, 2024 | |
| - | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
Options | | |
RSUs | | |
Total | |
| |
Number of Options | | |
Weighted Average Exercise Price ($) | | |
Amortized Value of options ($000s) | | |
Number of RSUs | | |
Amortized Value of RSUs ($000s) | | |
Stock-based Compensation ($000s) | |
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 | |
| 477,500 | | |
| 15.85 | | |
| 4,117 | | |
| 345,266 | | |
| 538 | | |
| 4,655 | |
Granted | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 399,300 | | |
| 144 | | |
| 144 | |
Exercised option or vested RSU | |
| (50,000 | ) | |
| 15.46 | | |
| (460 | ) | |
| (41,840 | ) | |
| (823 | ) | |
| (1,283 | ) |
Options surrendered for cash | |
| (273,500 | ) | |
| 15.46 | | |
| (2,355 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (2,355 | ) |
Expired | |
| (104,000 | ) | |
| 16.17 | | |
| (886 | ) | |
| (5,000 | ) | |
| (33 | ) | |
| (919 | ) |
Amortized value of stock-based compensation | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 3,158 | | |
| 3,158 | |
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | |
| 50,000 | | |
| 17.72 | | |
| 416 | | |
| 697,726 | | |
| 2,984 | | |
| 3,400 | |
Exercisable at December 31, 2023 | |
| 50,000 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
In
December 2023, 273,500 options, with exercise price of $15.46 per option, were surrendered for cash at the weighted average rate of $0.18
cash payment per option. During the current quarter, the remaining 50,000 outstanding share options with an exercise price of $17.72
were exercised and were exchanged for common shares of the Company.
In
December 2023, 379,300 RSUs were granted to the Board members, members of senior management, and to other employees of the Company. Of
those, 277,500 was granted to senior management, with vesting dependent on certain corporate objectives including the completion of a
bankable feasibility study at KSM, and the Company’s share price outperforming certain market benchmarks. The fair value of RSUs
granted with vesting dependent on market conditions was valued using a Monte-Carlo simulation. The fair value of total RSU grants, of
$4.6 million, was estimated as at the grant date to be amortized over the expected service period of the grants. The expected service
period ranges from one year to three years from the date of the grant and is dependent on the corporate objectives being met.
In
December 2022, 310,266 RSUs were granted to the Board members, members of senior management, and to other employees of the Company. Of
those, 232,266 was granted to senior management, with vesting dependent on certain corporate objectives including the Company submitting
its formal application to the regulator for the KSM Project to be designated as Substantially Started, notification from the regulator
that the KSM Project has been designated as Substantially Started, and announcement of KSM joint venture agreement, or other transformative
transaction affecting the ownership and control of KSM. The fair value of the total RSU grants, of $5.1 million, was estimated as at
the grant date to be amortized over the expected service period of the grants. The expected service period ranges from nine months to
three years from the date of the grant and is dependent on the corporate objectives being met. During first quarter of 2024, upon the
Company submitting its formal application to regulators for the KSM Project to be designated as Substantially Started, 58,066 RSUs vested
and were exchanged for common shares of the Company. Subsequent to the quarter end, and upon the Company receiving the Substantially
Started designation for the KSM Project, further 58,067 RSUs vested and were exchanged for common shares of the Company.
| c) | Basic
and diluted net income (loss) per common share |
Basic
and diluted net income attributable to common shareholders of the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $45.2
million and $37.1 million, respectively (three and six months ended June 30, 2023 - $9.0 million net income and $1.8 million net loss,
respectively).
Earnings
(loss) per share has been calculated using the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents issued and outstanding
during the period. Stock options are reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury method. The following table
details the weighted average number of outstanding common shares for the purpose of computing basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common
share for the following periods:
| |
Three months ended June 30, | | |
Six months ended June 30, | |
(Number of common shares) | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | |
| 87,920,852 | | |
| 82,434,434 | | |
| 87,168,285 | | |
| 81,998,804 | |
Weighted average shares dilution adjustments: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Stock options 1 | |
| - | | |
| 62,142 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
RSUs | |
| 402,926 | | |
| 150,149 | | |
| 371,700 | | |
| - | |
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | |
| 88,323,778 | | |
| 82,646,725 | | |
| 87,539,985 | | |
| 81,998,804 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Weighted average shares dilution exclusions: 2 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Stock options 1 | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 44,492 | |
RSUs | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 141,220 | |
1) | Dilutive
stock options were determined using the Company’s average share price for the period. For the three and six months ended June 30,
2023, the average share price used was $18.22 and $17.48, respectively. |
2) | Excluded
in the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding as their exercise or settlement would be anti-dilutive in the loss
per share calculation. |
11.
Cash flow items
Adjustment
for other non-cash items within operating activities:
| |
| | |
Three months ended June 30, | | |
Six months ended June 30, | |
($000s) | |
Notes | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Equity loss of associate | |
| 4 | | |
| 43 | | |
| 60 | | |
| 24 | | |
| 120 | |
Unrealized gain on convertible notes receivable | |
| | | |
| - | | |
| 22 | | |
| - | | |
| 37 | |
Accrued interest income on convertible notes receivable | |
| | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (20 | ) |
Depreciation | |
| 6 | | |
| 34 | | |
| 33 | | |
| 68 | | |
| 65 | |
Finance costs, net | |
| | | |
| 62 | | |
| 63 | | |
| 123 | | |
| 124 | |
Effects of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents | |
| | | |
| (236 | ) | |
| 209 | | |
| (604 | ) | |
| 230 | |
| |
| | | |
| (97 | ) | |
| 387 | | |
| (389 | ) | |
| 556 | |
12. Fair value of financial assets and liabilities
Fair
value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants
at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy establishes three levels to classify the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure
fair value.
Level
1: Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level
2: Inputs are quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, inputs
other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (for example, interest rate and yield curves observable at commonly
quoted intervals, forward pricing curves used to value currency and commodity contracts, volatility measurements used to value option
contracts and observable credit default swap spreads to adjust for credit risk where appropriate), or inputs that are derived principally
from or corroborated by observable market data or other means.
Level
3: Inputs are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
The
fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
The
Company’s fair values of financial assets and liabilities were as follows:
| |
June 30, 2024 | |
($000s) | |
Carrying Amount | | |
Level 1 | | |
Level 2 | | |
Level 3 | | |
Total Fair Value | |
Assets | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| 71,309 | | |
| 71,309 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 71,309 | |
Amounts receivable | |
| 7,031 | | |
| 7,031 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 7,031 | |
Investment in marketable securities | |
| 4,502 | | |
| 4,502 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 4,502 | |
Long-term receivables | |
| 13,227 | | |
| 13,227 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 13,227 | |
| |
| 96,069 | | |
| 96,069 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 96,069 | |
Liabilities | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | |
| 29,777 | | |
| 29,777 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 29,777 | |
Secured note liabilities | |
| 483,023 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 483,023 | | |
| 483,023 | |
| |
| 512,800 | | |
| 29,777 | | |
| - | | |
| 483,023 | | |
| 512,800 | |
| |
December 31, 2023 | |
($000s) | |
Carrying Amount | | |
Level 1 | | |
Level 2 | | |
Level 3 | | |
Total Fair Value | |
Assets | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| 82,438 | | |
| 82,438 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 82,438 | |
Amounts receivable | |
| 5,019 | | |
| 5,019 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 5,019 | |
Investment in marketable securities | |
| 3,750 | | |
| 3,750 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 3,750 | |
Long-term receivables | |
| 13,227 | | |
| 13,227 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 13,227 | |
| |
| 104,434 | | |
| 104,434 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 104,434 | |
Liabilities | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | |
| 32,734 | | |
| 32,734 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 32,734 | |
Secured note liabilities | |
| 573,888 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 573,888 | | |
| 573,888 | |
| |
| 606,622 | | |
| 32,734 | | |
| - | | |
| 573,888 | | |
| 606,622 | |
The
carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits, amounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate
their fair values due to the short-term maturity of these financial assets and liabilities.
The
Company's financial risk exposures and the impact on the Company's financial instruments are summarized below:
Credit
Risk
The
Company's credit risk is primarily attributable to receivables included in amounts receivable and prepaid expenses. The Company has no
significant concentration of credit risk arising from operations. Management believes that the risk of loss with respect to financial
instruments included in amounts receivable and prepaid expenses to be remote.
Liquidity
Risk
The
Company’s ability to fund its operations and capital expenditures and other obligations as they become due is dependent upon market
conditions. The Company has in place an At-the-Market offering that allows for the issuance of up to US$100 million of its common shares
and has been an effective source of funding. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company raised $31.3 million (year ended
December 31, 2023 - $42.8 million), and as at June 30, 2024, had room for an additional US$44.1 million under its At-the-Market offering.
Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company raised additional $8.3 million through its At-the-Market offering. The Company intends to
fully utilize the At-the-Market offering currently in place and believes that with this it will have sufficient liquidity to continue
its operations and meet its obligations for the next twelve months. As the Company does not generate cash inflows from operations, the
Company is dependent upon external sources of financing to fund its exploration projects and on-going activities, including proceeding
with additional payments pursuant to the Facilities Agreement with BC Hydro (refer to Note 16). When required, the Company will seek
additional sources of cash to cover its proposed exploration and development programs at its key projects, in the form of equity financing
or from the sale of non-core assets.
The
Company's approach to managing liquidity risk is to ensure that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet liabilities when due. As at
June 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $71.3 million (December 31, 2023 - $82.4 million) for settlement of current
financial liabilities of $30.5 million (December 31, 2023 - $33.5 million). Except for the secured note liabilities and the reclamation
obligations, the Company's financial liabilities primarily have contractual maturities of 30 days and are subject to normal trade terms.
The Company’s ability to fund its operations and capital expenditures and other obligations as they become due is dependent upon
market conditions.
The
following table details the Company’s expected remaining contractual cash flow requirements for its financial liabilities on repayment
or maturity periods. The amounts presented are based on the contractual undiscounted cash flows and may not agree with the carrying amounts
in the interim condensed consolidated statements of financial position.
($000s) | |
| Less than 1 year | | |
| 1-3 years | | |
| 3-5 years | | |
| Greater than 5 years | | |
| Total | |
2022 Secured Note including interest | |
| 20,017 | | |
| 40,034 | | |
| 40,034 | | |
| 163,298 | | |
| 263,383 | |
2023 Secured Note including interest | |
| - | | |
| 49,444 | | |
| 26,690 | | |
| 143,506 | | |
| 219,640 | |
Flow-through share expenditures | |
| 11,446 | | |
| 17,972 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 29,418 | |
Lease obligation | |
| 660 | | |
| 1,109 | | |
| 881 | | |
| 424 | | |
| 3,074 | |
| |
| 32,123 | | |
| 108,559 | | |
| 67,605 | | |
| 307,228 | | |
| 515,515 | |
Market
Risk
(a)
Interest Rate Risk
Interest
rate risk is the risk that the future cash flows of a financial instrument or its fair value will fluctuate because of changes in market
interest rates. The secured note liabilities (Note 9) bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.5% per annum. The Company's current policy is
to invest excess cash in Canadian bank guaranteed notes (short-term deposits). The short-term deposits can be cashed in at any time and
can be reinvested if interest rates rise.
(b)
Foreign Currency Risk
The
Company's functional currency is the Canadian dollar and major purchases are transacted in Canadian and US dollars. The secure note liability
and the related interest payments are denominated in US dollars. The Company has the option to pay the interest either in cash or in
shares. The Company also funds certain operations, exploration and administrative expenses in the United States on a cash call basis
using US dollar cash on hand or converted from its Canadian dollar cash. Management believes the foreign exchange risk derived from currency
conversions is not significant to its operations and has not entered into any foreign exchange hedges. As at June 30, 2024, the Company
had cash and cash equivalents, investment in associate, reclamation deposits, accounts payable and secured notes that are in US dollars.
(c)
Investment Risk
The
Company has investments in other publicly listed exploration companies which are included in investments. These shares were received
as option payments on certain exploration properties the Company owns or has sold. In addition, the Company holds $4.5 million in a gold
exchange traded receipt that is recorded on the interim condensed consolidated statements of financial position in investments. The risk
on these investments is significant due to the nature of the investment but the amounts are not significant to the Company.
13.
Corporate and administrative expenses
| |
| Three
months ended
June 30, | | |
| Six
months ended
June 30,
| |
($000s) | |
| 2024 | | |
| 2023 | | |
| 2024 | | |
| 2023 | |
Employee compensation | |
| 1,638 | | |
| 1,465 | | |
| 3,358 | | |
| 3,085 | |
Stock-based compensation | |
| 857 | | |
| 859 | | |
| 2,047 | | |
| 1,727 | |
Professional fees | |
| 1,210 | | |
| 662 | | |
| 1,915 | | |
| 936 | |
Other general and
administrative | |
| 1,060 | | |
| 957 | | |
| 2,058 | | |
| 2,055 | |
| |
| 4,765 | | |
| 3,943 | | |
| 9,378 | | |
| 7,803 | |
14.
Related party disclosures
During
the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, there were no payments to related parties other than compensation paid to key management
personnel. These transactions were in the normal course of operations and were measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of
consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.
15.
Income taxes
As
previously disclosed in the Company’s prior years financial statements, in 2019 the Company received a notice from the CRA that
it proposed to reduce the amount of expenditures reported as Canadian Exploration Expenses (CEE) for the three-year
period ended December 31, 2016. The Company has funded certain of its exploration expenditures, from time-to-time,
with the proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares and renounced, to subscribers, the expenditures which it determined to
be CEE. The notice disputes the eligibility of certain types of expenditures previously audited and approved as CEE by the CRA.
The Company strongly disagrees with the notice and responded to the CRA auditors with additional information for their consideration.
In 2020, the CRA auditors responded to the Company’s submission and, although accepting additional expenditures as CEE, reiterated
that their position remains largely unchanged and subsequently issued reassessments to the Company reflecting the additional CEE expenditures
accepted and $2.3 million of Part Xll.6 tax owing. The Company has been made aware that the CRA has reassessed certain investors who
subscribed for the flow-through shares, reducing CEE deductions. Notice of objections to the Company’s and investors’ reassessments
have been filed for all those that have been received and will be appealed to the courts, should the notice of objections be denied.
The Company has indemnified the investors that subscribed for the flow-through shares and that have been reassessed by depositing the
amount of their reassessments, including interest charges, into the accounts of the reassessed investors with the Receiver General in
return for such investors agreement to object to their respective reassessments and to repay the Company any refund of the amount deposited
on their behalf upon resolution of the Company’s appeal. During 2021 and 2022, the Company deposited $9.3 million into the accounts
of certain investors with the Receiver General. The deposits made have been recorded as long-term receivables on the statement of financial
position. The potential tax indemnification to the investors is estimated to be $10.8 million, plus $3.5 million potential interest.
No provision has been recorded related to the tax, potential interest, nor the potential indemnity as the Company and its advisors do
not consider it probable that there will ultimately be an amount payable.
16.
Commitments and contingencies
| |
Payments
due by years | |
($000s) | |
Total | | |
2024 | | |
2025-26 | | |
2027-28 | | |
2029-30 | |
2022 Secured Note – interest | |
| 130,111 | | |
| 10,009 | | |
| 40,034 | | |
| 40,034 | | |
| 40,034 | |
2023 Secured Note – interest | |
| 102,824 | | |
| - | | |
| 49,444 | | |
| 26,690 | | |
| 26,690 | |
Capital expenditure obligations | |
| 26,357 | | |
| 26,357 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Flow-through share expenditures | |
| 29,418 | | |
| 11,446 | | |
| 17,972 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Mineral interests | |
| 7,668 | | |
| 139 | | |
| 1,633 | | |
| 2,510 | | |
| 3,386 | |
Lease obligation | |
| 3,074 | | |
| 660 | | |
| 1,109 | | |
| 881 | | |
| 424 | |
| |
| 299,452 | | |
| 48,611 | | |
| 110,192 | | |
| 70,115 | | |
| 70,534 | |
In
2022, the Company entered into a Facilities Agreement with BC Hydro covering the design and construction of facilities by BC Hydro to
supply construction phase hydro-sourced electricity to the KSM Project.
The
cost to complete the construction is estimated to be $32.9 million of which the Company had paid $24.9 million to BC Hydro as at December
31, 2023, and the remaining balance was paid during the first quarter of 2024. In addition, the Facilities Agreement requires $59.8 million
in security or cash from the Company for BC Hydro system reinforcement which is required to make the power available of which the Company
had paid $57.1 million to BC Hydro as at December 31, 2023, and the remaining balance was paid during the first quarter of 2024. The
$59.8 million system reinforcement security will be forgiven annually, typically over a period of less than 8 years, based on project
power consumption. On March 21, 2024, the Company signed an amendment to the Facilities Agreement with BC Hydro for additional payments
that are scheduled for $14.0 million in July 2024 and $40.0 million in December 2024. As at June 30, 2024, prepayments to complete the
design and construction amounted to $106.7 million inclusive of $14.0 million which was accrued as at June 30, 2024 and paid subsequent
to the quarter end.
Prior
to its maturity, the 2022 Secured Note bears interest at 6.5%, or US$14.6 million per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. The Company
can elect to satisfy interest payments in cash or by delivering common shares.
Prior
to its maturity, the 2023 Secured Note bears interest at 6.5% or US$9.8 million per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. Payment of quarterly
interest due from the closing date to the second anniversary is deferred and US$21.5 million must be paid on or before 30 months after
the closing date. Ongoing quarterly interest can be satisfied by way of cash, common shares or increasing the NSR percentage from 1 to
1.2%. Refer to Note 9 for details on the secured note liabilities.
Exhibit 99.2
SEABRIDGE
GOLD INC.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
SECOND
QUARTER ENDED
JUNE
30, 2024
CONTENTS |
|
|
|
COMPANY OVERVIEW |
2 |
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
3 |
SUSTAINABILITY |
4 |
OUTLOOK |
6 |
FINANCIAL RESULTS |
8 |
FINANCIAL CONDITION REVIEW |
13 |
KSM SITE CAPTURE AND EARLY WORKS |
16 |
MINERAL INTERESTS |
18 |
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES |
22 |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
27 |
OTHER CONTINGENCIES |
28 |
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
29 |
SHARES ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING |
30 |
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS |
30 |
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES |
30 |
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES |
30 |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
31 |
SEABRIDGE GOLD
INC.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This management’s discussion and analysis
(“MD&A”) of Seabridge Gold Inc. (“Seabridge” or the “Company”) and its subsidiary companies, dated
August 13, 2024, is intended to supplement and complement the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related
notes (“consolidated interim financial statements”) as at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. It should be
read in conjunction with the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements and annual management’s discussion and analysis
for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the 2023 Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Other corporate documents
are also available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR as well as the Company’s website www.seabridgegold.com. This MD&A contains forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, as discussed in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
in this MD&A. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. As the Company has no operating projects
at this time, its ability to carry out its business plan rests on its ability to sell projects or to secure equity and other financings.
All dollar figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Figures in some tables may not add up due to rounding.
The consolidated interim financial statements
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and the comparative period have been prepared by the Company in accordance with IAS 34,
Interim Financial Reporting, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Seabridge Gold Inc. is a company engaged in acquiring,
exploring, and advancing of mineral properties, with an emphasis on gold resources, located in Canada and the United States of America.
The Company’s objective is to provide its shareholders with exceptional leverage to a rising gold price and additional exposure to copper from significant
copper resources it has acquired and discovered. The Company’s business plan is to increase its mineral resources in the ground,
through exploration, but not to go into production on its own. The Company intends to sell projects or participate in joint ventures towards
production with major mining companies. Since its inception in 1999, Seabridge has acquired interests in numerous advanced-stage gold
projects situated in North America and its principal projects include the KSM property located in British Columbia and the Courageous
Lake property located in the Northwest Territories. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the Iskut Project in British Columbia, the
3 Aces Project in Yukon and the Snowstorm Project in Nevada. Although focused on gold exploration, the Company has made significant copper
discoveries, in particular, at KSM. Seabridge’s common shares trade in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “SEA”
and in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SA”.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
| ● | Subsequent to the quarter end, on July 26, 2024, the company
received its Substantially Started designation from the British Columbia Government (“BC Government”) that was applied for
in early 2024. This designation affirms the validity of the BC Environmental Assessment Certificate (“EAC”) for the life
of the KSM Project |
| ● | Published the 2023 Sustainability Report |
| ● | 15,000-meter drill program commenced at Iskut |
| ● | 8,000-meter drill program commenced at 3 Aces |
| ● | In the first quarter of 2024, the Company filed an updated NI 43-101 Courageous Lake Technical Report showcasing a considerably more profitable
mining operation and incorporating design changes that improve its performance on certain sustainability measures compared to its 2012
predecessor. This update projects a more profitable venture with reduced initial capital requirements and a lower strip ratio. |
| Ø | 38% increase in estimated measured and indicated gold resources
from 8.0 million to 11.0 million ounces |
| Ø | The 2024 PFS open pit mine plan produces 2.5 million ounces
of gold over 12.6 years with a Base Case after-tax NPV of 5% of US$523 million using the 3-year trailing average gold price of US$1,850/oz
and consensus long-term forecast forex of 0.74 US$/C$ |
| Ø | Sensitivity of the economic results to the gold price assumption
is shown in the table below. |
| |
| |
Lower Case | | |
Base Case | | |
Recent High
Spot Case (03 Dec 2023) | | |
High Case | |
Gold Price | |
US$/Oz | |
$ | 1,750 | | |
$ | 1,850 | | |
$ | 2,130 | | |
$ | 2,500 | |
NPV (5%) | |
US$ Millions | |
$ | 410 | | |
$ | 523 | | |
$ | 836 | | |
$ | 1,134 | |
IRR | |
% | |
| 17.5 | % | |
| 20.6 | % | |
| 28.5 | % | |
| 38.2 | % |
Payback | |
years | |
| 3.2 | | |
| 2.8 | | |
| 2.0 | | |
| 1.6 | |
The Technical Report may be viewed on
the Company’s website under the Projects – Courageous Lake tab.
| ● | At KSM, in February 2024, the Company updated the Mineral
Resource Estimates for the Iron Cap and Kerr deposits. |
| Ø | Inferred mineral resources increased by 5.9 million ounces
of Gold, 3.3 billion pounds of copper, 55.4 million ounces of silver, and 51 million pounds of molybdenum |
| Ø | Indicated mineral resources increased by 0.3 million ounces
of gold, 0.2 billion pounds of copper, 3.5 million ounces of silver, and 2 million pounds of molybdenum. |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
| |
Three months ended
June 30, | | |
Six months ended
June 30, | |
(in thousands of Canadian dollars,
except share data) | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Remeasurement gain (loss) on secured note liabilities through profit and loss | |
| 68,115 | | |
| 10,379 | | |
| 82,755 | | |
| (1,367 | ) |
Remeasurement gain on secured note liabilities through other comprehensive income | |
| 55,430 | | |
| 8,728 | | |
| 34,079 | | |
| 1,127 | |
Unrealized foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| (5,997 | ) | |
| 5,723 | | |
| (19,350 | ) | |
| 6,281 | |
Corporate and administrative expenses | |
| (4,765 | ) | |
| (3,943 | ) | |
| (9,378 | ) | |
| (7,803 | ) |
Income tax (expense) recovery | |
| (15,630 | ) | |
| (2,612 | ) | |
| (21,403 | ) | |
| 868 | |
Cash used in operating activities | |
| (9,986 | ) | |
| (5,653 | ) | |
| (8,633 | ) | |
| (7,491 | ) |
Cash used in investing activities | |
| (13,565 | ) | |
| (44,787 | ) | |
| (52,864 | ) | |
| (56,702 | ) |
Cash from financing activities | |
| 38,931 | | |
| 215,725 | | |
| 49,764 | | |
| 220,915 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Share data | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Basic earnings (loss) per share | |
| 0.51 | | |
| 0.11 | | |
| 0.43 | | |
| (0.02 | ) |
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | |
| 0.51 | | |
| 0.11 | | |
| 0.42 | | |
| (0.02 | ) |
Share price as at June 30 (TSX - Canadian dollars) | |
| 18.70 | | |
| 15.97 | | |
| 18.70 | | |
| 15.97 | |
Weighted average outstanding shares (basic) (millions) | |
| 87.9 | | |
| 82.4 | | |
| 87.2 | | |
| 82.0 | |
(In thousands of Canadian dollars) | |
June 30, 2024 | | |
December 31, 2023 | |
Balance sheet information | |
| | |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| 71,309 | | |
| 82,438 | |
Mineral interests, property and equipment | |
| 1,180,602 | | |
| 1,128,464 | |
Long-term receivables | |
| 119,947 | | |
| 105,947 | |
Secured note liabilities | |
| 483,023 | | |
| 573,888 | |
SUSTAINABILITY
Management and the Board of Directors
consider more than just environmental, social and governance issues when considering Sustainability. The Company also takes into
account diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to form our overall approach to Sustainability. Thus, the Board of Directors and
management has incorporated Sustainability into the Company’s goals, priorities, and strategies to operate safely,
sustainably, and with the highest governance standards. The Board of Directors has established a Sustainability Committee and
granted that Committee oversight responsibilities with respect to the Company’s Sustainability initiatives. This Committee
reviews climate-related risks and opportunities each time they meet and shares key discussion points with the full Board of
Directors. The Company’s Sustainability strategy encompasses its Sustainability Policy, a strategic framework, and the
Company’s Sustainability reporting practice. The Sustainability Policy guides the decisions and behaviors of the
Company’s employees, contractors, and the Board of Directors. The policy also governs the strategic framework and
Sustainability goals. The Company publishes its Sustainability Report annually covering its performance on measures of
Sustainability and approach to participating in the fight against climate change for the preceding year. As the Company operates in
the natural resource extraction industry, the Company strives to achieve high operating standards, assessing and mitigating impacts
on the physical environment and supporting the communities in which the Company operates.
During the current quarter, the Company published
its 2023 Sustainability Report that covers many aspects of sustainability, from enhancing the benefits of our exploration activities to
our Treaty and First Nation partners to supporting the social and economic infrastructure essential to the well-being of our surrounding
communities. The report provides insights into the sustainability challenges we face and the measures we are taking to meet those challenges.
The report also outlines achievements made in
the realm of diversity and inclusion at the Board of Directors level and throughout the organization. The Company has added Indigenous
representation on the Board and has increased Indigenous participation in our management team. At the board level, 36% of our directors
are women and 60% board committees are chaired by women and on the Company’s executive team, female representation is
at 30% The report also documents the evolution of a safety culture in the Company, detailing the comprehensive safety practices introduced
in 2023 and the procedures for measuring our progress that have been implemented.
The Sustainability Committee continued the work
of assessing our climate and nature-related risks and opportunities. We continue to look for additional opportunities to decarbonize and
optimize our project design.
The Sustainability report was prepared with select
disclosures and guidance from the Sustainability Standards Accounting Board Metals and Mining Industry Standards and the Global Reporting
Initiative Standards, as well as metrics designed for specifically for the Company relating to culture, communities and local engagement.
The 2023 Sustainability Report includes Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, compliant with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial
Disclosures and will make submissions for the Climate Disclosure Project scoring that will provide a snapshot of the Company’s disclosure
and environmental performance. Although this reporting is in advance of mandatory reporting, the Company believes the time and resources
required to develop the processes, including embedded internal controls over those processes is considerable and further believes the
voluntary disclosures will aid in the evolution of its reporting.
Management and the Board of Directors attend
workshops to identify, assess and develop plans for relevant climate-related risks and opportunities. The workshops also act to
prioritize identified threats, risks and opportunities for the development of action plans. Threats or risks are those associated
with the transition to a low-carbon economy, and physical impact risks due to climate change. And finally, scenario analysis is used
to assess potential implications to the Company as a whole. The scenarios used by management and the Board of Directors are
those developed by the Network for Greening the Financial System and entail evaluating physical and transition risks and impacts to
the Company under three future climate change outcomes and three-time horizons. Each scenario and time frame illustrates the highest
potential impact and the level of action needed but also common impacts amongst all scenarios. Although potential impacts have been
identified such as supply chain instability, increasing investor expectations, extreme weather events and metals price volatility,
there are currently no near-term material climate-related risks or opportunities identified within all of these approaches and
processes completed by the Company. All risks and uncertainties are discussed within the Company’s most recent Annual
Information Form filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and the Annual Report on Form 40-F filed on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
In the six months ended June 30, 2024, and to
the date of this report, the Company had no significant environmental and safety incidents or concerns that required reporting to government
agencies or other regulators.
In addition to the Sustainability Policy, the
Company has also implemented its Environmental Policy; Health and Safety Policy including a separate policy on discrimination, bullying,
harassment, and violence; a Workplace Employment Policy; and its Policy Statement on Diversity. The Sustainability Reports, including
climate strategy, and all of the Company’s policies related to ESG can be found on the Company’s website www.seabridgegold.com.
OUTLOOK
KSM Project
The Company continues its pursuit of a joint venture
agreement on the KSM Project with a suitable partner on terms advantageous to the Company since it does not intend to build or operate
the project alone. The KSM Project includes multiple deposits and provides a joint venture partner, or purchaser, flexibility in the design
of the project. The 2022 KSM PFS includes recommendations on additional work that could be completed to advance the project, including
budget estimates. The work that a joint venture partner might choose to complete could include some or all of this recommended work and
may include significantly more work, and so the timing and cost for a joint venture partner to conclude the recommended work or a feasibility
study is difficult to predict. The Company plans its work to advance the KSM Project on an annual basis, when the results of one year’s
work have been received and analyzed, planning for the next year begins. While planning its programs, the Company will consider the recommended
work in the PFS, but the Company will decide work based on its priorities and available financing, the results of its advancement work
and the items it believes are best left for a joint venture partner to decide. Plans and objectives for each year are announced in the
second quarter of each year and budgets are established at the beginning of each year.
On January 17, the Company filed its application
for the Substantially Started designation for KSM and subsequent to the quarter end, in July 2024, the Company received its Substantially
Started designation from the BC Government for the project. This designation affirms the validity of the BC Environmental Assessment
Certificate (“EAC”) for the life of the KSM Project, significantly reducing project risk.
In order to apply for the Substantially Started
designation for KSM, in 2023, the Company completed infrastructure work including the construction of fish habitat offsetting ponds, powerline
installations, road and bridge, and camp construction. In the current year the Company continues early works activities, focusing on the
continued construction of the power substation but also includes the clearing of additional sites for the location of the proposed additional
infrastructure along with other technical and environmental activities.
The Company has only prepared preliminary estimates
for the cost of additional work at KSM and certain of the work requires further engineering before reasonable cost estimates can be established.
The Company’s budget for 2024 activities is estimated at $115.7 million that includes $56.6 million prepayment to BC Hydro, $46.9
million site capture and early works, and $12.2 million environmental and social, technical and engineering and other holding or property
costs. The budgeted scope will be funded with cash on hand as well as funds raised through the Company’s At-The-Market (“ATM”)
offering and other potential financings.
Iskut Project
At Iskut, the Company is conducting its planned
2024 exploration program that includes more than 15,000 meters of diamond drilling for a copper/gold porphyry deposit at Snip North, Quartz
Rise or on the Bronson deposit. The program will concentrate on testing for the source copper-gold porphyry that has driven the intermediate
sulfidation epithermal mineral systems recognized in our 2023 program. The Bronson Slope mineral resource and the discovery, in 2023,
of similar mineralization at Snip North are interpreted to be high-level expressions of intrusive related porphyry mineralization. The
search for these source intrusions will employ three helicopter-portable drill rigs to complete the approximately 15,000 meters of core
drilling this year, at a budgeted cost of $12 million.
Environmental work continues on the reclamation
and closure plan for the Johnny Mountain mine and along with other non-reclamation environmental work, project carrying costs, and allocation
of payroll costs, an additional $2.9 million is expected to be incurred for a total planned spend of $14.8 million for all of 2024.
3 Aces Project
In 2024, at the 3 Aces Project, the Company is
undertaking a $5.9 million exploration program on the 357 km2 project which includes drill testing three priority resource expansion targets
in the Central Core Area, completing a surface evaluation of three regional targets, reverse circulation drilling of two priority regional
targets and completing a regional exploration model, prioritizing targets throughout the property for resource definition in 2025. The
2023 exploration program was successful in testing and refining the 3 Aces exploration model, which led to prioritizing the 2024 targets.
Additional environmental and technical work and
carrying costs for the project entail an additional $2.7 million of spending bringing the project’s total budget to $8.6 million.
Snowstorm Project
At Snowstorm, a $1.1 million program is planned
to complete a ground survey of permit requirements for the Goldstorm target and to refine the Company’s strategy for opportunities
to discover a Getchell-style deposit.
Courageous Lake Project
No significant spending is expected for the Courageous
Lake Project as the Company completed and filed the 2024 PFS.
The Company is exploring various alternatives
for raising the funding necessary to fund operations and meeting its established objectives. Financing options include the sale of shares,
including a possible financing under a Prospectus Supplement to its existing Base Shelf Prospectus, share sales through its ATM program,
the sale of a royalty or streaming interest in the KSM Project or other projects, funding from a joint venture partner as part of earning
into an interest in the KSM Project and the sale of all or some of Company’s assets.
FINANCIAL RESULTS
| |
Three months ended
June 30, | | |
Six months ended
June 30, | |
(in thousands of
Canadian dollars except where noted) | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Remeasurement gain (loss) on secured note liabilities through profit and loss | |
| 68,115 | | |
| 10,379 | | |
| 82,755 | | |
| (1,367 | ) |
Corporate and administrative expenses | |
| (4,765 | ) | |
| (3,943 | ) | |
| (9,378 | ) | |
| (7,803 | ) |
Other income - flow-through shares | |
| 2,105 | | |
| 1,371 | | |
| 2,353 | | |
| 1,516 | |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| (5,751 | ) | |
| 5,111 | | |
| (18,652 | ) | |
| 5,698 | |
Finance costs and other | |
| (147 | ) | |
| (2,034 | ) | |
| (232 | ) | |
| (2,210 | ) |
Interest income | |
| 1,314 | | |
| 713 | | |
| 1,625 | | |
| 1,499 | |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | |
| 60,871 | | |
| 11,597 | | |
| 58,471 | | |
| (2,667 | ) |
Income tax (expense) recovery | |
| (15,630 | ) | |
| (2,612 | ) | |
| (21,403 | ) | |
| 868 | |
Net profit (loss) for the period | |
| 45,241 | | |
| 8,985 | | |
| 37,068 | | |
| (1,799 | ) |
During the current quarter, the Company recorded
net earnings of $45.2 million, or $0.51 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis. During the comparative period of 2023, the Company
recorded net earnings of $9.0 million, or $0.11 per share, on both a basic and diluted basis.
During the first half of 2024, the Company recorded
net earnings of $37.1 million, or $0.43 per share, on a basic and $0.42 on a diluted basis. During the comparative period of 2023, the
Company recorded a net loss of $1.8 million, or ($0.02) per share, on both a basic and diluted basis.
Re-measurement gain (loss) on secured note liabilities through profit
and loss
During the three and six months ended June 30,
2024, the gain recognized on the remeasurement of the secured note liabilities was the net result of gains due to an increase in discount
rates, re-estimating timelines for achieving key milestones and full development of the project to commercial production, and payment
of interest, offset by the impact of narrower credit spreads, higher metal prices, the appreciation of the U.S. dollar compared to the
Canadian dollar, and the change in the valuation date.
During the second quarter of 2023, the gain recognized
on the remeasurement of secured note liabilities was the net result of gains due to decrease in metal price assumptions and payment of
interest, partially offset by losses due to decrease in discount rates and the impact of a change in the valuation date. During six months
ended June 30, 2023, the loss recognized on the remeasurement of secured note liabilities was the net result of loses due to increase
in metal price assumptions and the impact of a change in the valuation date, partially offset by gain due to increase in discount rates.
Corporate and administrative expenses
Corporate and administrative expenses are outlined below:
| |
Three months ended
June 30, | | |
Six months ended
June 30, | |
($000s) | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
Employee compensation | |
| 1,638 | | |
| 1,465 | | |
| 3,358 | | |
| 3,085 | |
Stock-based compensation | |
| 857 | | |
| 859 | | |
| 2,047 | | |
| 1,727 | |
Professional fees | |
| 1,210 | | |
| 662 | | |
| 1,915 | | |
| 936 | |
Other general and administrative | |
| 1,060 | | |
| 957 | | |
| 2,058 | | |
| 2,055 | |
| |
| 4,765 | | |
| 3,943 | | |
| 9,378 | | |
| 7,803 | |
Total corporate and administrative expenses for
the three months ended June 30, 2024 were $4.8 million compared to $3.9 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was mainly due
to higher employee compensation expenses and higher professional fees. Professional fees and other general and administrative expenses
increased by $0.7 million mainly due to the higher costs associated with external consulting, due diligence costs, and legal fees.
Total corporate and administrative expenses for
the six months ended June 30, 2024, were $9.4 million compared to $7.8 million in the prior year. The increase was mainly due to higher
employee compensation expenses and higher professional fees. Professional fees and other general and administrative expenses increased
by $1.0 million mainly due to the higher costs associated with external consulting, due diligence costs, and legal expenses.
Stock-based compensation expense related to restricted
share units (“RSUs”) increased by $0.3 million in the first half of 2024 compared to the prior-year quarter. The increase
was primarily attributed to the higher number of unvested RSUs being amortized in the current period compared to the comparative period.
As of June 30, 2024, 634,660 RSUs were outstanding compared to 360,266 RSUs outstanding on June 30, 2023. The Company’s stock-based
compensation expenses and the RSUs are illustrated in the following tables:
| |
| | | |
| ($000s) | |
RSUs granted | |
| Number of RSUs | | |
| Grant date fair value | | |
| Expensed prior to 2023 | | |
| Expensed in 2023 | | |
| Expensed in 2024 | | |
| Balance to be expensed | |
June 24, 2021 | |
| 10,000 | | |
| 222 | | |
| 185 | | |
| 37 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
September 1, 2021 | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 454 | | |
| 379 | | |
| 75 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
September 7, 2021 | |
| 10,000 | | |
| 229 | | |
| 191 | | |
| 38 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
October 1, 2021 | |
| 10,000 | | |
| 195 | | |
| 146 | | |
| 49 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
December 13, 2021 | |
| 123,800 | | |
| 2,622 | | |
| 2,622 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
July 4, 2022 | |
| 10,000 | | |
| 159 | | |
| 52 | | |
| 81 | | |
| 26 | | |
| - | |
December 13, 2022 | |
| 305,266 | | |
| 4,991 | | |
| 135 | | |
| 2,820 | | |
| 975 | | |
| 1,061 | |
June 28, 2023 | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 312 | | |
| - | | |
| 52 | | |
| 52 | | |
| 208 | |
December 11, 2023 | |
| 379,300 | | |
| 4,640 | | |
| | | |
| 117 | | |
| 994 | | |
| 3,529 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| 3,710 | | |
| 3,269 | | |
| 2,047 | | |
| 4,798 | |
During the fourth quarter of 2023, 379,300 RSUs
were issued, with 48,300 RSUs granted to Board members, 277,500 RSUs granted to executive members, and 53,500 RSUs granted to employees.
On December 11, 2023, 11,840 RSUs were vested, representing 1/3 of the RSUs granted to employees in 2022. During Q1 2024 and upon the
Company submitting its formal application to BC regulators for the KSM Project to be designated as Substantially Started, 58,066 RSUs,
granted in 2022, vested.
Other income - flow-through shares
During the three and six months ended June 30,
2024, the Company recognized $2.1 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of other income related to the flow-through share premium recorded
on the financing completed in December 2023 (discussed below). During the comparative periods, the Company recognized $1.4 million and
$1.5 million of other income related to the flow-through share premium recorded on the financings completed in December 2022.
Foreign exchange
Movements in foreign exchange are primarily due
to the revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date and the appreciation or depreciation of the Canadian
dollar compared to the U.S. dollar in the current period. Of the $5.8 million foreign exchange loss during the current quarter, $6.0 million
relates to the revaluation of the secured note liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars, partially offset by $0.2 million gain recognized
mainly on the revaluation of cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars. A foreign exchange gain of $5.7 million in the prior
year’s quarter relates to the revaluation of the secured note liabilities, offset by a loss of $0.6 million on the revaluation of current
assets and liabilities.
Of the $18.7 million foreign exchange loss during
the six months ended June 30, 2024, $19.4 million relates to the revaluation of the secured note liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars,
partially offset by $0.7 million gain recognized mainly on the revaluation of cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars. A
foreign exchange gain of $6.3 million in the prior year relates to the revaluation of the secured note liabilities, offset by a loss of
$0.6 million on the revaluation of current assets and liabilities.
Finance costs and other
Finance costs and other amounted to $0.1
million and $0.2 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to $2.0 million and $2.2 million in
the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The finance costs incurred in 2023 were primarily related to the 2023
secured note financings.
Interest income
Interest income recognized during the three and
six months ended June 30, 2024, amounted to $1.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively. For the same periods in the prior year, interest
earned was $0.7 million and $1.5 million. The interest income resulted from interest earned on cash and cash equivalents during those
periods. Even though cash balances were higher as of June 30, 2023, compared to June 30, 2024, the $199 million of proceeds received on
the issuance of the 2023 secured note did not earn any interest as the financing closed on June 29, 2023.
Tax expense
During the three and six months ended June 30,
2024, the Company recognized income tax expense of $15.6 million and $21.4 million, respectively, primarily due to the deferred tax liability
arising from the gain recognized on the remeasurement of the fair value of the secured note liabilities and renouncement of expenditures
related to the December 2023 flow-through shares issued which are capitalized for accounting purposes, partially offset by income tax
recovery arising from the losses in the period. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the income tax related to the portion
of the revaluation of the secured note liabilities recorded through other comprehensive income (loss) was $15.0 million and $9.3 million,
respectively, and was recorded through other comprehensive income (loss).
During the previous year’s quarter, the Company
recognized income tax expense of $2.6 million, primarily due to the deferred tax liability arising from the gain recognized on remeasurement
of the fair value of the 2022 Secured Note, and foreign exchange gain, and the renouncement of expenditures related to the December 2022
flow-through shares issued which are capitalized for accounting purposes. The income tax expense was partially offset by income tax recovery
arising from the losses in the period. The income tax impact of the revaluation of the 2022 Secured Note that was recorded through other
comprehensive income (loss), was $2.3 million, and was also recorded through other comprehensive income (loss).
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the
Company recognized income tax recovery of $0.9 million, primarily due to the taxes arising from the loss during the period, including
the loss recognized on remeasurement of the fair value of the 2022 Secured Note, partially offset by foreign exchange gain and from the
renouncement of expenditures related to the December 2022 flow-through shares issued which are capitalized for accounting purposes. The
income tax expense on the revaluation of the 2022 Secured Note of $0.3 million that was recorded through other comprehensive income (loss),
was also recorded through other comprehensive income (loss).
QUARTERLY INFORMATION
Selected financial information for the last eight
quarters ending June 30, 2024 is as follows:
| |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
(in thousands of Canadian
dollars, except per share amounts) | |
Q2 | | |
Q1 | | |
Q4 | | |
Q3 | | |
Q2 | | |
Q1 | | |
Q4 | | |
Q3 | |
Revenue | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Earnings (loss) for the period | |
| 45,241 | | |
| (8,173 | ) | |
| (22,175 | ) | |
| (5,292 | ) | |
| 8,985 | | |
| (10,784 | ) | |
| (25,246 | ) | |
| 5,045 | |
Basic earnings (loss) per share | |
| 0.51 | | |
| (0.09 | ) | |
| (0.26 | ) | |
| (0.06 | ) | |
| 0.11 | | |
| (0.13 | ) | |
| (0.31 | ) | |
| 0.06 | |
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | |
| 0.51 | | |
| (0.09 | ) | |
| (0.26 | ) | |
| (0.06 | ) | |
| 0.11 | | |
| (0.13 | ) | |
| (0.31 | ) | |
| 0.06 | |
Change in the fair value of the secured note liabilities
is summarized in the following table:
| |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
(in thousands of Canadian dollars) | |
Q2 | | |
Q1 | | |
Q4 | | |
Q3 | | |
Q2 | | |
Q1 | | |
Q4 | | |
Q3 | |
Change in fair value through profit or loss: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Remeasurement gain (loss) on secured note liabilities through profit and loss | |
| 68,115 | | |
| 14,640 | | |
| (40,065 | ) | |
| 11,742 | | |
| 10,379 | | |
| (11,746 | ) | |
| (19,496 | ) | |
| 24,897 | |
Unrealized foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| (5,997 | ) | |
| (13,351 | ) | |
| 14,881 | | |
| (12,013 | ) | |
| 5,723 | | |
| 559 | | |
| (423 | ) | |
| (13,571 | ) |
Total change in fair value gain (loss) through profit or loss | |
| 62,118 | | |
| 1,289 | | |
| (25,184 | ) | |
| (271 | ) | |
| 16,102 | | |
| (11,187 | ) | |
| (19,919 | ) | |
| 11,326 | |
Remeasurement gain (loss) on secured note liabilities through other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| 55,430 | | |
| (21,351 | ) | |
| (53,457 | ) | |
| (32,063 | ) | |
| 8,728 | | |
| (7,601 | ) | |
| (22,961 | ) | |
| 2,329 | |
Capitalized deferred interest | |
| (3,335 | ) | |
| (3,287 | ) | |
| (6,588 | ) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total change in fair value | |
| 114,213 | | |
| (23,349 | ) | |
| (85,229 | ) | |
| (32,334 | ) | |
| 24,830 | | |
| (18,788 | ) | |
| (42,880 | ) | |
| 13,655 | |
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, $3.3
million (Q1 2024 - $3.3 million, Q4 2023- $6.6 million) of deferred interest related to the 2023 Secured Note was classified as capitalized
borrowing costs.
FINANCIAL CONDITION REVIEW
(In thousands of Canadian dollars) | |
June 30,
2024 | | |
December 31,
2023 | |
Balance sheet information | |
| | |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| 71,309 | | |
| 82,438 | |
Other current assets | |
| 14,539 | | |
| 11,513 | |
Non-current assets | |
| 1,324,041 | | |
| 1,257,008 | |
Total assets | |
| 1,409,889 | | |
| 1,350,959 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Current liabilities | |
| 40,718 | | |
| 39,409 | |
Non-current liabilities excluding secured note liabilities | |
| 37,622 | | |
| 7,739 | |
Secured note liabilities | |
| 483,023 | | |
| 573,888 | |
Total liabilities | |
| 561,363 | | |
| 621,036 | |
Total equity | |
| 848,526 | | |
| 729,923 | |
Total liabilities and equity | |
| 1,409,889 | | |
| 1,350,959 | |
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents decreased mainly as
a result of cash used in investing and operating activities, partially offset by cash raised under the Company’s ATM program and
flow-through financing (discussed below).
Other current assets
Other current assets primarily consist of
HST and other receivables, prepaids, and investments. The increase in other current assets in 2024 was mainly due to a $4.3 million
expected reclamation deposit refund from the BC government. The deposit was originally made in cash, and it was replaced with a
letter of credit in June 2024.
Non-current assets
Non-current assets consist primarily of mineral
interests, property and equipment, long-term receivables, reclamation deposits and investment in associate. The increase relative to the
prior-year period, was primarily due to investment in mineral interests, property and equipment at KSM, Iskut and 3 Aces projects, and
a $14.0 million deposit made with BC Hydro.
Current liabilities
Current liabilities primarily consist of trade
and other payables. The higher current liabilities are due to increased seasonal activities at the exploration projects during the summer
months, and $14.0 million accrued payment to BC Hydro, partially offset by the general reduction of trade payable at the KSM project.
Non-current liabilities
Non-current liabilities excluding secured note
liabilities consist primarily of deferred income tax liabilities, provision for reclamation liabilities, and lease obligations. During
the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recognized deferred income tax liability of $30.5 million (as at December 31, 2023 –
nil) primarily due to the liability arising from the gain recognized on the remeasurement of the fair value of the secured note liabilities.
Secured notes liabilities
Secured notes liabilities consist of the U.S.
dollar-denominated 2022 and the 2023 secured notes. The fair value of the secured note liabilities decreased relative to the prior-year
period, primarily due to an increase in discount rates, re-estimating timelines for the development of the project to commercial production,
and settlement of interest. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in fair value resulting from narrower credit spreads, higher
metal prices, the appreciation of the U.S. dollar compared to the Canadian dollar, and the impact of valuing the notes at reporting periods
closer to maturity.
The change in the fair value of the secured note
liabilities during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, and the prior-year period is summarized in the following table:
| |
Three months ended June 30, | | |
Six months ended June 30, | |
($000s) | |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2024 | | |
2023 | |
2022 Secured Note: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Remeasurement gain (loss) | |
| 19,493 | | |
| 10,379 | | |
| 24,912 | | |
| (1,367 | ) |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| (3,069 | ) | |
| 5,498 | | |
| (9,909 | ) | |
| 6,056 | |
Total gain through profit or loss | |
| 16,424 | | |
| 15,877 | | |
| 15,003 | | |
| 4,689 | |
Gain through other comprehensive income | |
| 25,056 | | |
| 8,728 | | |
| 15,977 | | |
| 1,127 | |
Decrease in fair value during the period | |
| 41,480 | | |
| 24,605 | | |
| 30,980 | | |
| 5,816 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2023 Secured Note: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Remeasurement gain | |
| 45,287 | | |
| - | | |
| 51,221 | | |
| - | |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| (2,928 | ) | |
| 225 | | |
| (9,438 | ) | |
| 225 | |
Total gain through profit or loss | |
| 42,359 | | |
| 225 | | |
| 41,783 | | |
| 225 | |
Gain through other comprehensive income | |
| 30,374 | | |
| - | | |
| 18,102 | | |
| - | |
Decrease in fair value during the period | |
| 72,733 | | |
| 225 | | |
| 59,885 | | |
| 225 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
2022 and 2023 Secured Notes: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Remeasurement gain (loss) | |
| 64,780 | | |
| 10,379 | | |
| 76,133 | | |
| (1,367 | ) |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | |
| (5,997 | ) | |
| 5,723 | | |
| (19,347 | ) | |
| 6,281 | |
Total gain through profit or loss | |
| 58,783 | | |
| 16,102 | | |
| 56,786 | | |
| 4,914 | |
Gain through other comprehensive income | |
| 55,430 | | |
| 8,728 | | |
| 34,079 | | |
| 1,127 | |
Decrease in fair value during the period | |
| 114,213 | | |
| 24,830 | | |
| 90,865 | | |
| 6,041 | |
During the three and six months ended June 30,
2024, the deferred interest related to the 2023 Secured Note, of $3.3 million and $6.6 million, respectively, was classified as capitalized
borrowing costs.
The company measures the fair value of its secured
note liabilities using a discounted cash flow model with a Monte Carlo simulation. During the current quarter, the Company re-estimated
the timelines for achieving key milestones for commercial production. Key assumptions in this model are summarized in the following table:
2022 Secured Note:
Inputs and assumptions | |
June 30, 2024 | | |
Jun 30, 2023 | |
Forecast silver production in thousands of ounces | |
| 166,144 | | |
| 166,144 | |
Quoted future silver price as at June 30, 2031 | |
| US$36.26 | | |
| US$28.27 | |
Risk-free rate | |
| 4.5 | % | |
| 3.8 | % |
Credit spread | |
| 3.5 | % | |
| 5.4 | % |
Share price volatility | |
| 60 | % | |
| 60 | % |
Silver royalty discount factor | |
| 11.0 | % | |
| 9.1 | % |
2023 Secured Note:
Inputs and assumptions | |
June 30, 2024 | | |
June 29, 2023 | |
Forecast NSR: | |
| | |
| |
Gold in thousands of ounces | |
| 10,500 | | |
| 10,500 | |
Silver in thousands of ounces | |
| 29,876 | | |
| 29,876 | |
Copper in millions of pounds | |
| 19,322 | | |
| 19,322 | |
Molybdenum in millions of pounds | |
| 152 | | |
| 152 | |
Quoted future prices as at June 30, 2031 | |
| | | |
| | |
Gold per ounce | |
| US$2,790.42 | | |
| US$2,352.04 | |
Silver per ounce | |
| US$36.26 | | |
| US$27.51 | |
Copper per pound | |
| US$4.48 | | |
| US$3.64 | |
Molybdenum per pound | |
| US$31.50 | | |
| US$22.99 | |
Risk-free rate | |
| 4.5 | % | |
| 3.9 | % |
Credit spread | |
| 3.5 | % | |
| 5.4 | % |
Share price volatility | |
| 60 | % | |
| 60 | % |
NSR royalty discount factor | |
| 11.0 | % | |
| 9.1 | % |
The fair value of the 2022 Secured Note and 2023
Secured Note was estimated using Level 3 inputs and is most sensitive to changes in discount rates, metal prices, and forecasted production.
It should be noted that the remeasurement of the
secured note liabilities under IFRS leads to significant gains or losses over time due to changes in the input variables. However, these
swings in fair value will have no impact on the actual outcome of the notes at maturity. Either the notes will be put back to the Company
at the prescribed fixed price under the rights of the noteholders, or the notes will be exchanged for the prescribed royalty and NSR,
at maturity.
KSM SITE CAPTURE AND EARLY WORKS
During the six months ended June 30, 2024 the
Company continued site capture and early infrastructure development activities that focused on site power for construction and eventual
production at KSM. In July 2024, the Company received its Substantially Started designation from the BC Government for its 100% owned
KSM Project. This designation affirms the validity of the BC Environmental Assessment Certificate (“EAC”) for the life
of the KSM Project.
Expenditures related to site capture and early
work program, started in 2021 and continued through 2024, are illustrated below:
($000s) | |
| Capital expenditures | | |
| Prepayments to BC Hydro1 | | |
| Capitalized borrowing costs 2 | | |
| Total | |
Cost | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
As at December 31, 2022 | |
| 178,299 | | |
| 38,500 | | |
| 14,735 | | |
| 231,534 | |
Additions | |
| 158,072 | | |
| 54,220 | | |
| 19,403 | | |
| 231,695 | |
As at December 31, 2023 | |
| 336,371 | | |
| 92,720 | | |
| 34,138 | | |
| 463,229 | |
Additions | |
| 20,134 | | |
| 14,000 | | |
| 16,027 | | |
| 50,161 | |
As at June 30, 2024 | |
| 356,505 | | |
| 106,720 | | |
| 50,165 | | |
| 513,390 | |
1) | In 2022, the Company entered into a Facilities Agreement
with British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (“BC Hydro”) covering the design and construction of facilities by BC Hydro
to supply construction phase hydro-sourced electricity to the KSM Project. Pursuant to signing the Facilities Agreement the Company has
made $106.7 million in prepayments inclusive of $14 Million which was accrued as at June 30, 2024 and paid in July 2024. These prepayments
secure timelines for the KSM Project to draw power for construction and operating phases. |
2) | During 2024, the Company incurred $16.0 million (2023 - $19.4
million) of interest expense related to the secured note liabilities that are capitalized at KSM as borrowing costs. The capitalized
costs were net of $0.5 million (2023 - $6.9 million) of interest income earned on temporary investments of the borrowed funds. |
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the
Company incurred $20.1 million on capital and camp operating expenditures, including Camp 11, Treaty Creek Access Road (“TCAR”),
Bell Irving bridge maintenance, development of potable water supply, supply of construction aggregates, consolidation of utilities, and
completion of water management systems (discussed below). In 2023, the Company incurred $157.9 million in capital expenditures including
road, bridge, and camp construction, hydro installations, fish habitat offsetting programs, and the acquisition and transport of construction
equipment and vehicles (discussed below).
Camp
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the
Company directed its resources toward sourcing and developing a potable water well at Camp 11 including developing a new water well, procuring
the pumping materials and engaged in the design and procurement of a water treatment system. The company also completed a permanent stormwater
discharge system and continued consolidating electrical utilities to reduce reliance on multiple power generators and lower project fuel
use and emissions. Actively pursuing cost savings measures has reduced forecasted site annual operational costs by approximately $2 million.
Roads and Bridges
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the
Treaty Creek Access Road (“TCAR”) remained closed past 1.5 km until spring snowmelt and in the current quarter, road and ditch
cleaning and maintenance commenced including the recertification of temporary bridge infrastructure. TCAR from Highway 37 to KM 1.5 and
the Bell Irving bridge continue to receive regular inspections and maintenance.
Coulter Creek Access Road
In 2023, the construction of the Coulter Creek
Access Road (“CCAR”) was completed at a cost of $9.5 million. The project involved building the road and putting in measures
to control water flow and prevent sediment buildup. No additional work on CCAR is planned for 2024.
Fish Habitat
The Glacier Creek Fish Habitat Offsetting Program,
including all bulk and final earthworks, fish habitat structures, specialty gravels, woody debris, mulching, and revegetation, was successfully
completed in 2023 at a total cost of $38.2 million. An additional revegetation planting program was completed in the current quarter.
Invasive species investigation and removal planning has commenced.
Planning for the Taft Creek Fish Habitat Offsetting
program commenced in the current quarter and a decision will be made by the end of 2024 for potential construction work in early 2025.
Land clearing and earthwork construction will be conducted in late 2024.
Land Clearing for Project Infrastructure
In order to further site investigation activities
and in preparation for future work, in 2023 initial land-clearing activities took place for many of the permanent infrastructure locations.
These locations included Camp 5, the ore processing center, water diversion channel, Mitchell portal pad, Mitchell temporary water treatment
plant and muck pads, a water storage dam, and Mitchell Valley onsite roads. Planning for additional work in 2025 is being conducted.
Hydro Installation
In 2024, the Company continued its collaboration
with BC Hydro for the extended construction of the Treaty Creek Terminal station. Substantial progress was made with primary tasks accomplished
and the ongoing placement of concrete equipment foundations. Negotiations and study are currently in progress with BC Hydro to document
and finalize costs to completion.
Pursuant to signing a Facilities Agreement in
2022 and its amendment in March 2024, the Company has made $106.7 million of payments inclusive of $14 million accrued as at June 30,
2024 and paid subsequent to the current quarter. Subject to financing, an additional $40 million deposit is scheduled to be paid in December 2024.
MINERAL INTERESTS
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the
Company added an aggregate of $16.5 million (2023 - $69.7 million) of expenditures that were attributed to mineral interests. The breakdown
of the mineral interest expenditures by a project is illustrated in the following table:
| |
Six months ended June 30, 2024 | | |
Year ended December 31, 2023 | |
($000s) | |
Amount | | |
Percentage | | |
Amount | | |
Percentage | |
KSM | |
| 6,395 | | |
| 39 | % | |
| 40,490 | | |
| 58 | % |
Iskut | |
| 5,860 | | |
| 36 | % | |
| 14,174 | | |
| 20 | % |
3 Aces | |
| 3,105 | | |
| 19 | % | |
| 6,651 | | |
| 10 | % |
Snowstorm | |
| 558 | | |
| 3 | % | |
| 4,897 | | |
| 7 | % |
Courageous Lake | |
| 534 | | |
| 3 | % | |
| 3,520 | | |
| 5 | % |
Total expenditures | |
| 16,452 | | |
| 100 | % | |
| 69,732 | | |
| 100 | % |
The mineral interests’ activities by project
are further discussed below.
KSM Project
At KSM, the projected economic results of the
2022 PFS with alternate scenarios are illustrated below.
Amounts expressed in US dollars | |
2022 PFS Base Case | | |
2022 PFS Recent Spot Case | | |
2022 PFS Alternate Case | |
Metal Prices: | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Gold ($/ounce) | |
| 1,742 | | |
| 1,850 | | |
| 1,500 | |
Copper ($/pound) | |
| 3.53 | | |
| 4.25 | | |
| 3.00 | |
Silver ($/ounce) | |
| 21.90 | | |
| 22.00 | | |
| 20.00 | |
Molybdenum ($/lb) | |
| 18.00 | | |
| 18.00 | | |
| 18.00 | |
US$/Cdn$ Exchange Rate: | |
| 0.77 | | |
| 0.77 | | |
| 0.77 | |
Cost Summary: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Operating costs per ounce of gold produced (years 1 to 7) 1 | |
$ | 35 | | |
$ | (83 | ) | |
$ | 118 | |
Operating costs per ounce of gold produced (life of mine) 1 | |
$ | 275 | | |
$ | 164 | | |
$ | 351 | |
Total cost per ounce of gold produced (inclusive of all capital and closure) 1 | |
$ | 601 | | |
$ | 490 | | |
$ | 677 | |
Initial capital (billions) | |
$ | 6.4 | | |
$ | 6.4 | | |
$ | 6.4 | |
Sustaining capital (billions) | |
$ | 3.2 | | |
$ | 3.2 | | |
$ | 3.2 | |
Unit operating cost (US$/tonne) | |
$ | 11.36 | | |
$ | 11.36 | | |
$ | 11.36 | |
Pre-Tax Results: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net Cash Flow (billions) | |
$ | 38.6 | | |
$ | 46.1 | | |
$ | 27.9 | |
NPV @ 5% discount rate (billions) | |
$ | 13.5 | | |
$ | 16.4 | | |
$ | 9.2 | |
Internal rate of return | |
| 20.1 | % | |
| 22.4 | % | |
| 16.5 | % |
Payback period (years) | |
| 3.4 | | |
| 3.1 | | |
| 4.1 | |
Post-Tax Results: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net Cash Flow (billions) | |
$ | 23.9 | | |
$ | 28.6 | | |
$ | 17.1 | |
NPV @ 5% discount rate (billions) | |
$ | 7.9 | | |
$ | 9.8 | | |
$ | 5.2 | |
Internal rate of return | |
| 16.1 | % | |
| 18.0 | % | |
| 13.1 | % |
Payback period (years) | |
| 3.7 | | |
| 3.4 | | |
| 4.3 | |
The results of the PEA announced in 2022 is a
stand-alone mine plan that was undertaken to evaluate a potential future expansion of the KSM mine to the copper-rich Iron Cap and Kerr
deposits after the PFS mine plan has been completed. The PEA is primarily an underground block cave mining operation supplemented with
a small open pit and is planned to operate for 39 years with a peak mill feed production of 170,000 t/d. The PEA demonstrates that KSM
is a potential multigenerational mining project with the flexibility to vary the metal output.
In July 2023, the Company was informed that Tudor
Gold Corp (“Tudor”) is requesting that a certain license of occupation (the “Licence”) and Mines Act permit M-245
(the “Permit”) held by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, KSM Mining ULC (KSMCo), be cancelled. The rights conveyed
by the Licence and the relevant activities authorized by the Permit were initially conveyed and authorized in September 2014 and include
rights and authorizations to engage in certain activities on land to which Tudor only acquired mineral rights in 2016. Tudor is claiming
that, as a matter of law, the B.C. government did not have the power to issue this License and Permit. Tudor also argues that the License
and Permit destroy the value of their own claims.
The Permit authorizes various activities, including
activities on claims held by Tudor, along the route of, what is projected to be, the tunnels that will connect the east and west sides
of the KSM Project. The License provides KSMCo the right to occupy the area in which it intends to construct the tunnels. Once constructed,
the Licence will be converted into a statutory right of way including the 12.5 km that pass through mineral claims owned by Tudor. This
type of authorization is commonly used by the B.C. government to manage activities that take place on the government-owned land base.
The Licence and Permit have been in place for almost a decade and were granted after a thorough regulatory process that included participation
by First Nations as well as Tudor’s joint venture partners, American Creek Resources Ltd. and Teuton Resources Corp., who were the
owners of the claims at the time. In September 2023, the Company made a submission to both the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon
Innovation (“EMLI”) and the Ministry of Forests arguing for the dismissal of Tudor’s application. In October 2023, EMLI
sent letters to each of the Company and Tudor stating that it affirms the province of BC’s authority to grant the License and Permits
that authorize mining activities on third-party tenures and giving no indication that either will be cancelled or revoked. On November
17, 2023, Tudor’s submissions prompted a response from the BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) regarding The Company’s
current License of Occupation (“LOO”). The WLRS Letter verified that their records show the LOO is in good standing, and there
is no justification for canceling it under the empowering statute or relevant LOO provisions. The Company has applied for the renewal
of the LOO and anticipates receiving notification of its renewal in the third quarter of 2024.
In early 2024, EMLI further clarified their position
in a revised letter that states that a Conditional Registration Reserve (CRR) was established by the Chief Gold Commissioner, for the
MTT area, in 2012, and the CRR prohibits the obstruction, endangerment, or interference, with the construction, operation, and maintenance
of the tunnel works by any free miner, including Tudor.
In order to achieve its objectives and milestones,
the Company estimates annual costs for each of its mineral interests and tracks costs against those estimates for payroll, environmental
and social, technical engineering, exploration, and other holding or property costs. The below information describes those planned and
actual incurred costs for the six months ended June 30, 2024.
At KSM, the Company’s 2024 actual and full-year
planned expenditures related to the technical and engineering and environmental and social programs are summarized in the following table:
($000s) | |
| Actual | | |
| Plan
(full year) | |
Payroll | |
| 1,293 | | |
| 2,916 | |
Technical and engineering | |
| 2,097 | | |
| 3,664 | |
Environmental and social | |
| 3,313 | | |
| 3,346 | |
Other holding or property | |
| 88 | | |
| 2,322 | |
Total | |
| 6,791 | | |
| 12,248 | |
Technical and engineering costs include costs
related to updating the Mineral Resource Estimate for KSM’s Kerr and Iron Cap deposits. Expenditures in the environmental and social
aspects pertain to conducting baseline studies for environmental monitoring at KSM.
Iskut Project
At Iskut, the Company’s 2024 actual and
full-year planned expenditures are summarized in the following table:
($000s) | |
| Actual | | |
| Plan (full year) | |
Payroll | |
| 746 | | |
| 1,510 | |
Exploration | |
| 5,000 | | |
| 11,919 | |
Environmental and social | |
| 260 | | |
| 1,130 | |
Technical and engineering | |
| 10 | | |
| 200 | |
Other holding or property | |
| 13 | | |
| 31 | |
Total | |
| 6,029 | | |
| 14,790 | |
The 2024 proposed expenditures at Iskut total
$14.8M with $11.9 million allocated to exploration. The Company’s main objective is to file a new NI 43-101 Technical Report for
Bronson Slope and complete a drill program of at least 15,000 meters for an evaluation of two deep copper-gold porphyry targets. The 2024
Iskut program is focusing on diamond drilling for a Cu-Au porphyry deposit.
In 2023 the Company conducted an extensive drilling
program at Iskut based on the analysis of the 2022 drilling and geophysical surveying programs. The work program was designed to test
deeper copper-gold porphyry systems and to expand the Bronson Slope mineral resource. Three helicopter-portable core drills were used
for this program which entailed the completion of 17 drill holes exceeding 19,500 meters of core. Results of 2023 program identified broad
zones of sericite-pyrite-carbonate alteration associated with continuous low gold grades. In addition, the first drill program on the
Snip North target has found a new porphyry mineral system. The discovery consists of the intact, well-preserved upper parts of a copper-gold
porphyry which is identified as an intermediate sulfidation epithermal occurrence.
Regional geophysical surveys and continuous surface
geology work on the property point to a distinct structural feature that connects the Quartz Rise, Bronson Slope and Snip North targets.
All the prospective gold-copper intrusions recognized on the property fall along this regional trend and this observation has led us to
envision a cluster of gold-copper deposits. Prior drilling at the lithocap on Quartz Rise and historical drilling at the Snip North target
has encountered gold-copper grades that were followed up in the 2023 exploration program.
In addition to exploration work at Iskut, the
Company continued its planned 2024 reclamation and closure activities at the Johnny Mountain mine site. During 2024, work included submittal
of the 2023 Annual Reclamation Report. Reported within the provision for reclamation liabilities and in support of the reclamation and
closure of the Johnny Mountain Mine, during the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company incurred $0.2 million of costs compared to
the $0.75 million full-year plan in 2024.
Snowstorm Project
At Snowstorm, the Company’s 2024 actual
and full-year planned expenditures are summarized in the following table:
($000s) | |
| Actual | | |
| Plan (full year) | |
Payroll | |
| 147 | | |
| 319 | |
Exploration and Environmental | |
| 101 | | |
| 403 | |
Other holding or property | |
| 311 | | |
| 401 | |
Total | |
| 559 | | |
| 1,123 | |
For 2024 the Company’s objective is to continue
to evaluate the potential for a Getchell-style discovery at Snowstorm and progress the permitting on a northern Nevada rift target at
Goldstorm.
At Snowstorm, during 2023, the Company evaluated
the results of the drilling program that commenced in late 2022 and was completed in early 2023. The 2023 exploration program was to further
test for potential mineralized faults along the uplifted host stratigraphy zone.
3 Aces Project
At 3 Aces, the Company’s 2024 actual and
full-year planned expenditures are summarized in the following table:
($000s) | |
| Actual | | |
| Plan (full year) | |
Payroll | |
| 550 | | |
| 1,344 | |
Exploration | |
| 2,067 | | |
| 5,860 | |
Environmental & technical services | |
| 383 | | |
| 1,312 | |
Other holding or property | |
| 105 | | |
| 45 | |
Total | |
| 3,105 | | |
| 8,561 | |
The 2024 plan is to complete a drill program
at 3 Aces of at least 8,000 meters to evaluate resource expansion potential at three targets in the Central Core Area and complete an
initial evaluation on three regional targets. An updated 3-dimensional model has been built that brings together results from the drilling
and historical drill programs to indicate the likelihood of continuous mineralization between previously isolated historical deposits
in the CCA. The 2023 drill program confirmed these extensions of historical discoveries, including localized high-grade zones, within
the favorable parts of the regional fold architecture.
Courageous Lake Project
At Courageous Lake, the Company’s 2024 actual
and full-year planned expenditures are summarized in the following table:
($000s) | |
| Actual | | |
| Plan
(full year) | |
Payroll | |
| 187 | | |
| 444 | |
Environmental and social | |
| 17 | | |
| 149 | |
Technical and engineering | |
| 217 | | |
| 200 | |
Other property or holding costs | |
| 113 | | |
| 176 | |
Total | |
| 534 | | |
| 969 | |
As reported in prior periods, the Company continues
to evaluate the best path forward at its Courageous Lake Project in NWT. Options include securing a joint venture partner, the sale of
all or a portion of the project to unlock shareholder value or conducting additional exploration outside the area of known reserves and
resources.
In the current quarter, the Company filed an updated
Preliminary Feasibility Study (the “2024 PFS”) for Courageous Lake. The 2024 PFS all-open pit mine plan shows a considerably
more profitable mining operation and incorporates design changes that improve its performance on certain
sustainability measures compared to its 2012 predecessor, with reduced initial capital, lower strip ratio, higher grade,
and smaller mine footprint. The 2024 PFS outlines the production of 2.5 million ounces of gold over the initial 12.6-year life of the
mine. A stand-alone analysis of the potential expansion below the 2024 PFS mine plan was included as a Preliminary Economic Assessment
(“2024 PEA”) forming a separate part of the PFS.
Significant changes from the 2012 PFS include:
| ● | A 73% increase in after-tax NPV of 5% to US$523
million from US$303 million in 2012 |
| ● | A 50% reduction in initial capital from US$1,522
million to US$747 million |
| | |
| ● | Increased after-tax IRR from 7.3% to 20.6% |
| | |
| ● | Reduced capital payback period from 11.2 years
to 2.8 years |
| | |
| ● | Average gold reserve grade increased 19% from
2.2 g/t to 2.6 g/t |
| | |
| ● | Life of mine strip ratio reduced by 39% from
12.5 to 7.58 |
| | |
| ● | 38% increase in estimated measured and indicated
gold resources from 8.0 million to 11.0 million ounces. |
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company’s working capital position at
June 30, 2024, was $45.1 million compared to $54.5 million on December 31, 2023 (see table below). Decreased cash resources resulted from
the cash used in early works infrastructure work at KSM, environmental, reclamation, and exploration projects, and corporate and administrative
costs, offset by cash raised through equity issuances (discussed below). Included in current liabilities at June 30, 2024, is $9.6 million
of flow-through premium liability which is a non-cash item (December 31, 2023 - $5.5 million) and will be reduced as flow-through expenditures
are incurred.
The Company’s ability to fund its operations
and capital expenditures and other obligations as they become due is dependent upon market conditions. The Company has in place an ATM
offering that allows for the issuance of up to US$100 million of its common shares and has been an effective source of funding. During
the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company raised $31.3 million (year ended December 31, 2023 - $42.8 million), and as at June 30,
2024, US$44.1 million was available under the ATM. Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company raised an additional $8.3 million through
its ATM offering. The Company intends to fully utilize the ATM offering currently in place and believes that with this it will have sufficient
liquidity to continue its operations and meet its obligations for the next twelve months. As the Company does not generate cash inflows
from operations, the Company is dependent upon external sources of financing to fund its exploration projects and on-going activities,
including proceeding with additional payments pursuant to the Facilities Agreement with BC Hydro. When required, the Company will seek
additional sources of cash to cover its proposed exploration and development programs at its key projects, in the form of equity financing
or from the sale of non-core assets.
($000s) | |
| June
30, 2024 | | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
Assets | |
| | | |
| | |
Current assets | |
| | | |
| | |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| 71,309 | | |
| 82,438 | |
Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses | |
| 10,037 | | |
| 7,763 | |
Investment in marketable securities | |
| 4,502 | | |
| 3,750 | |
Total current assets | |
| 85,848 | | |
| 93,951 | |
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | |
| | | |
| | |
Current liabilities | |
| | | |
| | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | |
| 29,777 | | |
| 32,734 | |
Flow-through share premium | |
| 9,553 | | |
| 5,543 | |
Lease obligations | |
| 629 | | |
| 373 | |
Provision for reclamation liabilities | |
| 759 | | |
| 759 | |
Total current liabilities | |
| 40,718 | | |
| 39,409 | |
Working Capital (1) | |
| 45,130 | | |
| 54,542 | |
(1) | This is a non-GAAP financial performance measure with no
standard definition under IFRS. |
Secured Notes
On June 29, 2023, the Company, through its wholly-owned
subsidiary, KSM Mining ULC (“KSMCo”) issued a secured note and royalty arrangement (collectively referred to as the “2023
Secured Note”) on the KSM Project with Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty (B) Corp. (“Sprott”). The 2023
Secured Note has a principal amount of US$150 million, bears interest at 6.5% per annum and matures upon the earlier of commercial production
and March 24, 2032 or March 24, 2035 if certain events occur, as described below. The arrangement includes conditions and multiple features
that could alter the Company’s obligation to Sprott. The 2023 Secured Note includes options for Sprott to put the royalty back to
the Company if KSM’s Environmental Assessment Certificate (the “EAC”) expires or if project financing for construction
is not secured. Unless Sprott exercises its put rights at an earlier date, the 2023 Secured Note is to be exchanged at maturity for a
net smelter returns royalty (the “NSR”) on all metals produced from the KSM Project and sold, in the range of 1% to 1.5%,
to be paid in perpetuity. The Company has the option to reduce the royalty percentage after commercial production.
The key terms of the 2023 Secured Note include:
| ● | The
2023 Secured Note matures (“Maturity Date”) at the earlier of: |
| a) | Commercial production being achieved at KSM; and |
| b) | Either March 24, 2032, or, if the EAC expires and Sprott does
not exercise its right to put the 2023 Secured Note to the Company, March 24, 2035. |
| ● | On
the Maturity Date, the NSR is issued and Sprott may satisfy the obligation to pay the NSR purchase price of US$150 million with cash
or setting-off the amount against the note principal amount due. |
| ● | Prior
to its maturity, the 2023 Secured Note bears interest at 6.5% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. Payment of quarterly interest
due from the closing date to the second anniversary is deferred (“Deferred Interest Payment”) and US$21.5 million must be
paid on or before 30 months after the closing date. Deferred interest can be satisfied by way of cash, common shares or increasing the
NSR percentage from 1% to 1.2%. The Company can elect to satisfy quarterly interest payments in cash or by having Seabridge issue common
shares, with a value equal to a 5% discount on the 5-day volume weighted average trading price (“VWAP”). |
| ● | Project
Financing Repayment Amount: If project financing to develop, construct and place the KSM Project into commercial production is not in
place by March 24, 2027, Sprott can put the 2023 Secured Note back to the Company for: |
| a) | If the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1% NSR on the
Maturity Date at the time US$155 million plus accrued and unpaid interest, or |
| b) | If the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1.2% or 1.5%
NSR on the Maturity Date at the time, US$180 million plus accrued and unpaid interest. |
| ● | EAC
Repayment Amount: If the KSM Project’s EAC expires at any time while the 2023 Secured Note is outstanding, Sprott can put the note
back to the Company at any time over the following nine months for: |
| a) | If the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1% NSR on the
Maturity Date at the time, US$165 million plus accrued and unpaid interest, or |
| b) | If the Company is obligated to sell Sprott a 1.2% NSR on the
Maturity Date at the time, US$186.5 million plus accrued and unpaid interest. |
Subsequent to the quarter end on July 26, 2024,
KSM received the Substantially Started designation from the BC government. This designation affirms the validity of the EAC for the life
of the KSM Project and eliminates the possibility that the investors can put the secured note back to the Company for the EAC expiry.
If Sprott exercises its put right, its right
to purchase the NSR terminates. The Company can elect to make payment in the form of Seabridge common shares instead of cash for the Project Financing Repayment Amount, and any interest payments, including the Deferred Interest Payment.
A number of the above-noted options within the
agreement represent embedded derivatives. Management has elected to not separate these embedded derivatives from the underlying host secured
note, and instead account for the entire secured note as a financial liability at fair value through profit or loss.
The 2023 Secured Note was recognized at its estimated
fair value at initial recognition of $198.8 million (US$150 million) using a discounted cash flow model with a Monte Carlo simulation.
This incorporated several scenarios and probabilities of the EAC expiring, achieving commercial production and securing project financing,
metal prices forecasts and discount rates. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the fair value of the 2023 Secured Note decreased,
and the Company recorded a $59.9 million gain (year ended December 31, 2023 - $80.7 million loss) on the remeasurement.
On March 24, 2022, the Company entered into an
agreement selling a secured note (“2022 Secured Note”) that is to be exchanged at maturity for a 60% gross silver royalty
(the “Silver Royalty”) on the KSM Project to Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. and Ontario Teachers’ Pension
Plan (jointly, the “Investors”) for US$225 million. The proceeds of the financing were to be used to continue ongoing physical
works at KSM and advance the project towards a designation of Substantially Started. The Substantially Started designation ensures the
continuity of the KSM Project’s approved EAC for the life of the project. The key terms of the 2022 Secured Note include:
| ● | When
the 2022 Secured Note matures, the Investors will use all of the principal amount repaid on maturity to purchase a 60% gross silver royalty
(the “Silver Royalty”). Maturity occurs upon the first to occur of: |
| a) | Commercial production being achieved at KSM; and |
| b) | Either on March 24, 2032, the 10-year anniversary, or if the
Environmental Assessment Certificate (“EAC”) expires and the Investors do not exercise their right to put the 2022 Secured
Note to the Company, on March 24, 2035, the 13-year anniversary of the issue date of the 2022 Secured Note. |
| ● | Prior
to its maturity, the 2022 Secured Note bears interest at 6.5% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. The Company can elect to satisfy
interest payments in cash or by delivering common shares. |
| ● | The
Company has the option to buyback 50% of the Silver Royalty, once exchanged, on or before 3 years after commercial production has been
achieved, for an amount that provides the Investors a minimum guaranteed annualized return. |
| ● | If
project financing to develop, construct and place KSM into commercial production is not in place by March 24, 2027, the Investors can
put the 2022 Secured Note back to the Company for US$232.5 million, with the Company able to satisfy such amount in cash or by delivering
common shares at its option. This right expires once such project financing is in place. If the Investors exercise this put right, the
Investors’ right to purchase the Silver Royalty terminates. |
| ● | If
KSM’s EAC expires at anytime while the 2022 Secured Note is outstanding, the Investors can put the 2022 Secured Note back to the
Company for US$247.5 million at any time over the following nine months, with the Company able to satisfy such amount in cash or by delivering
common shares at its option. If the Investors exercise this put right, the Investors’ right to purchase the Silver Royalty terminates.
Subsequent to the quarter end on July 26, 2024, KSM received the Substantially Started designation from the BC government. This designation
affirms the validity of the EAC for the life of the KSM Project and eliminates the possibility that the investors can put the secured
note back to the Company for the EAC expiry. |
| ● | If
commercial production is not achieved at KSM prior to March 24, 2032, the Silver Royalty payable to the Investors will increase to a
75% gross silver royalty (if the EAC expires during the term of the 2022 Secured Note and the corresponding put right is not exercised
by the Investors, this uplift will occur at the thirteenth anniversary from closing). |
| ● | No
amount payable shall be paid in common shares if, after the payment, any of the Investors would own more than 9.9% of the Company’s
outstanding shares. |
| ● | The
Company’s obligations under the 2022 Secured Note are secured by a charge over all of the assets of KSMCo and a limited recourse
guarantee from the Company secured by a pledge of the shares of KSMCo. |
The 2022 Secured Note was recognized at its estimated
fair value at initial recognition of $282.3 million (US$225 million) using a discounted cash flow model with a Monte Carlo simulation.
This incorporated several scenarios and probabilities of the EAC expiring, achieving commercial production and securing project financing,
silver prices forecast from five-year quoted forward price, and the discount rates. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the fair
value of the 2022 Secured Note decreased, and the Company recorded a $31.0 million gain (year ended December 31, 2023 - $30.8 million
loss) on the remeasurement.
To satisfy the interest payment on the 2022 Secured
Note, during the current quarter the Company issued 555,791 common shares in respect of the interest incurred during six months ended
June 30, 2024 (year ended December 31, 2023 - 1,285,178 common shares).
During the first quarter of 2021, the Company
entered into an agreement with two securities dealers, for an ATM offering program, entitling the Company, at its discretion, and from
time to time, to sell up to US$75 million in value of common shares of the Company. This program was in effect until the Company’s
US$775 million Shelf Registration Statement, that expired in December 2022, was replaced with a new US$750 million the same month. During
the first quarter of 2023, a US$100 million prospectus supplement was filed and the program was renewed. In the first quarter of 2023,
the Company entered into a new agreement with two securities dealers, for an ATM offering program, entitling the Company, at its discretion,
and from time to time, to sell up to US$100 million in value of common shares of the Company. This program can be in effect until the
Company’s US$750 million Shelf Registration Statement expires in January 2025. In 2023, the Company issued 2,516,839 shares, at
an average selling price of $17.36 per share, for net proceeds of $42.8 million under the Company’s ATM offering. During the six
months ended June 30, 2024, the Company issued 1,657,108 shares, at an average selling price of $19.28 per share, for net proceeds of
$31.3 million under the Company’s ATM offering. As at June 30, 2024, US$44.1 million was available under the ATM. Subsequent to
the quarter end, the Company issued 409,556 shares, at an average selling price of $20.75 per share,
for net proceeds of $8.3 million under the Company’s ATM offering.
On June 5, 2024, the Company issued a total of
575,000 flow-through common shares at an average $31.26 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of $18.0 million. The Company committed
to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through
financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares. The effective date of the renouncement is December
31, 2024. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $6.4 million premium was recognized as a liability on the interim condensed
consolidated statements of financial position.
In December 2023, the Company issued a total of
875,150 flow-through common shares at an average $22.34 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of $19.6 million. The Company committed
to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through
financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares. The effective date of the renouncement was December
31, 2023. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $5.5 million premium was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements
of financial position. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company incurred $8.1 million of qualifying exploration expenditures
and $2.4 million of the premium was recognized through other income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income
(loss).
In December 2022, the Company issued a total of
675,400 flow-through common shares at an average $22.24 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of $15.0 million. The Company committed
to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through
financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares. The effective date of the renouncement was December
31, 2022. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $4.2 million premium was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements
of financial position. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred $15.0 million of qualifying exploration expenditures
and the $4.2 million premium was recognized through other income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income
(loss).
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the
Company received $0.9 million upon the exercise of 50,000 stock options.
During 2024, operating activities, including working
capital adjustments, used $8.6 million cash compared to $7.5 million cash used by operating activities in the prior-year period. The increase
in cash used in operating activities was mainly due to higher general and administrative expenses, and working capital movement that was
partially offset by lower interest income, lower financing costs and lower environmental rehabilitation disbursements. Operating activities
in the near term are expected to remain stable or increase marginally given the growth in projects and corporate activity in the Company.
The Company will continue its objective of advancing
its major gold projects, KSM and Courageous Lake, and to further explore the Iskut, Snowstorm and 3 Aces projects to either sell or enter
into joint venture arrangements with major mining companies. The market for metals streams and royalty interests seems to be growing and
the Company will determine the merits of disposing of options it holds on non-core net profits interests and net smelter returns. Financing
future exploration and development may include the selling or entering into new streaming and royalty arrangements.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company has the following commitments as at June
30, 2024:
| |
Payments due by years | |
($000s) | |
Total | | |
2024 | | |
2025-26 | | |
2027-28 | | |
2029-30 | |
2022 Secured Note – interest | |
| 130,111 | | |
| 10,009 | | |
| 40,034 | | |
| 40,034 | | |
| 40,034 | |
2023 Secured Note – interest | |
| 102,824 | | |
| - | | |
| 49,444 | | |
| 26,690 | | |
| 26,690 | |
Capital expenditure obligations | |
| 26,357 | | |
| 26,357 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Flow-through share expenditures | |
| 29,418 | | |
| 11,446 | | |
| 17,972 | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Mineral interests | |
| 7,668 | | |
| 139 | | |
| 1,633 | | |
| 2,510 | | |
| 3,386 | |
Lease obligation | |
| 3,074 | | |
| 660 | | |
| 1,109 | | |
| 881 | | |
| 424 | |
| |
| 299,452 | | |
| 48,611 | | |
| 110,192 | | |
| 70,115 | | |
| 70,534 | |
In 2022, the Company entered into a Facilities
Agreement with BC Hydro covering the design and construction of facilities by BC Hydro to supply construction phase hydro-sourced electricity
to the KSM Project.
The cost to complete the construction is estimated
to be $32.9 million of which the Company had paid $24.9 million to BC Hydro as at December 31, 2023, and the remaining balance was paid
during the first quarter of 2024. In addition, the Facilities Agreement requires $59.8 million in security or cash from the Company for
BC Hydro system reinforcement which is required to make the power available of which the Company had paid $57.1 million to BC Hydro as
at December 31, 2023, and the remaining balance was paid during the first quarter of 2024. The $59.8 million system reinforcement security
will be forgiven annually, typically over a period of less than 8 years, based on project power consumption. On March 21, 2024, the Company
signed an amendment to the Facilities Agreement with BC Hydro for additional payments that are scheduled for $14.0 million in July 2024
and $40.0 million, that subject to financing, will be paid in December 2024. As at June 30, 2024, prepayments to complete the design and
construction amounted to $106.7 million inclusive of $14.0 million which was accrued as at June 30, 2024 and paid subsequent to the quarter
end.
Prior to its maturity, the 2022 Secured Note bears
interest at 6.5%, or US$14.6 million per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. The Company can elect to satisfy interest payments in cash
or by delivering common shares.
Prior to its maturity, the 2023 Secured Note bears
interest at 6.5% or US$9.8 million per annum, payable quarterly in arrears. Payment of quarterly interest due from the closing date to
the second anniversary is deferred and US$21.5 million must be paid, in cash or by delivering common shares, on or before 30 months after
the closing date. Ongoing quarterly interest can be satisfied by way of cash, common shares or increasing the NSR percentage from 1 to
1.2%.
OTHER CONTINGENCIES
As previously disclosed in the Company’s
prior years financial statements and in its unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended March 31,
2024, in 2019 the Company received a notice from the CRA that it proposed to reduce the amount of expenditures reported
as Canadian Exploration Expenses (CEE) for the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. The Company has funded certain of its exploration expenditures,
from time-to-time, with the proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares and renounced, to subscribers, the expenditures which
it determined to be CEE. The notice disputes the eligibility of certain types of expenditures previously audited and approved as
CEE by the CRA. The Company strongly disagrees with the notice and responded to the CRA auditors with additional information for their
consideration. In 2020, the CRA auditors responded to the Company’s submission and, although accepting additional expenditures as
CEE, reiterated that their position remains largely unchanged and subsequently issued reassessments to the Company reflecting the additional
CEE expenditures accepted and $2.3 million of Part Xll.6 tax owing. The Company has been made aware that the CRA has reassessed certain
investors who subscribed for the flow-through shares, reducing CEE deductions. Notice of objections to the Company’s and investors’
reassessments have been filed for all those that have been received and will be appealed to the courts, should the notice of objections
be denied. The Company has indemnified the investors that subscribed for the flow-through shares and that have been reassessed by depositing
the amount of their reassessments, including interest charges, into the accounts of the reassessed investors with the Receiver General
in return for such investors agreement to object to their respective reassessments and to repay the Company any refund of the amount deposited
on their behalf upon resolution of the Company’s appeal. During 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Company deposited $9.4 million into the
accounts of certain investors with the Receiver General. The deposits made have been recorded as long-term receivables on the statement
of financial position as at June 30, 2024. The potential tax indemnification to the investors is estimated to be $10.8 million, plus $3.5
million potential interest. No provision has been recorded related to the tax, potential interest, nor the potential indemnity as the
Company and its advisors do not consider it probable that there will ultimately be an amount payable.
During 2016, upon the completion of an audit of
the application by tax authorities of the British Columbia Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (“BCMETC”) program, the Company
was reassessed $3.6 million, including accrued interest for expenditures that the tax authority has categorized as not qualifying for
the BCMETC program. The Company recorded a $3.6 million provision within non-trade payables and accrued expenses on the consolidated statements
of financial position as at December 31, 2016 with a corresponding increase in mineral interests. In 2017 the Company filed an objection
to the reassessment with the appeals division of the tax authorities and paid one-half of the accrued balance to the Receiver General
and reduced the provision by $1.8 million. In 2019, the Company received a decision from the appeals division that the Company’s
objection was denied, and the Company filed a Notice of Appeal with the British Columbia Supreme Court. The Attorney General of Canada
replied to the facts and arguments in the Company’s Notice of Appeal and stated its position that the Company’s expenditures
did not qualify for the BCMETC program. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company completed discovery process with the Department
of Justice and will continue to move the appeal process forward, including settling an agreed statement of facts and settling court dates
for the hearing. The Company intends to continue to fully defend its position. Based on the facts and circumstances of the Company’s
objection, the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that it will be successful in its objection. As at June 30, 2024, the
Company has paid $1.6 million to the Receiver General, and the CRA has withheld $2.3 million of HST credits due to the Company that would
fully cover the residual balance, including interest, should the Company be unsuccessful in its challenge. The amount recorded in long-term
receivables as of June 30, 2024 of $3.9 million includes the initial reassessment of $3.6 million, plus accrued interest.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’s management under the supervision
of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer are responsible for designing adequate internal controls over financial reporting
or causing them to be designed under their supervision in order to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. Management is responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting. The control framework used is Internal Control – Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Controls over Financial
Reporting
Pursuant to regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, under the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and those of the Canadian Securities Administrators, management evaluates
the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, and internal control over financial
reporting. This evaluation is done under the supervision of, and with the participation of, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief
Financial Officer.
Disclosure controls and procedures have been designed
to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate, to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded,
based on their evaluation of the design of the disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2024, that they are appropriately designed.
Limitations of Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including the
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, believes that any internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls
and procedures, no matter how well designed, can have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can
provide only reasonable assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Changes to Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in the Company’s
design of internal controls and procedures over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this MD&A.
Cybersecurity
The Company’s management is responsible
for cybersecurity risks that face the Company, and the Board of Directors has granted the Audit Committee the authority to oversee management’s
assessment of those risks and their prevention and mitigation approaches and to investigate any material breaches. To date, there have
been no material breaches of security measures.
An independent privacy assessment review and systems
penetration test was completed in 2023. The review reported on the vulnerability and assessed the level of protection from external threats
to the Company’s data and information systems. During the fourth quarter of 2023, a cyber security framework was developed and implemented.
SHARES ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING
On August 13, 2024, the issued and outstanding
common shares of the Company totaled 89,486,607. In addition, there were 571,593 RSUs. Assuming the conversion of all of the RSUs, there
would be 90,058,200 common shares issued and outstanding.
Related Party Transactions
During six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023,
there were no payments to related parties other than compensation paid to key management personnel. These transactions were in the normal
course of operations and were measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related
parties.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Refer to Note 2 in the Company’s unaudited
interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2024.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Refer to Note 4 in the Company’s audited
consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The risks and uncertainties are discussed within
the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com, and the Annual Report on Form 40-F filed
on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements and management’s
discussion and analysis and any other materials included with them contain certain forward-looking statements relating but not limited
to the Company’s expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs. Forward-looking information can often be identified by forward-looking
words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “goal”, “plan”, “intend”,
“estimate”, “may” and “will” or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs,
estimates, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information may
include reserve and resource estimates and expected changes to them, estimates of future production and related financial analysis, unit
costs, costs of capital projects and timing of commencement of operations, and is based on current expectations that involve several business
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement include, but
are not limited to, failure to establish estimated resources and reserves, the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates,
capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental
or other project approvals, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects
and other factors. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from expected results.
Potential shareholders and prospective investors
should be aware that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties,
both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and various future events will
not occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result
of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.
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