TMRC Texas Mineral Resources Corp (QB)

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Texas Mineral Resources Corp,” “the Company” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Texas Mineral Resources Corp. You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may also contain statistical data and estimates we obtained from industry publications and reports generated by third parties. Although we believe that the publications and reports are reliable, we have not independently verified their data.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking statements concern our anticipated results and developments in our operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of our properties, plans related to our business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, include, but are not limited to:

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are described further under the section heading “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Quarterly Report and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on December 14, 2018. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report by the foregoing cautionary statements .

Overview

We are a mining company engaged in the business of the acquisition, exploration and, if warranted, development of mineral properties. We currently hold two nineteen year leases, executed in September 2011 and November 2011, to explore and develop a 950 acre rare earths project located in Hudspeth County, Texas known as the Round Top Project and prospecting permits covering an adjacent 9,345 acres. Our principal focus will be on developing a metallurgical process to concentrate or otherwise extract the metals from the Round Top rhyolite, although we will continue to examine other opportunities in the region as they develop. We currently have limited operations and have not established that any of our projects or properties contain any Proven or Probable Reserves under SEC Industry Guide 7. Our operations are exploratory in nature.

We currently do not have any producing properties and consequently, we have no current operating income or cash flow and have not generated any revenues. Further exploration will be required before a final evaluation as to the economic and practical feasibility of any of our properties is determined.

On December 23, 2013, we published a revised version of the June 2012 Preliminary Economic Assessment (the “Revised PEA”) on the Round Top Project based on a 20,000 tonne per day heap leach operation using a conventional element separation plant. The mineralized material estimate was recalculated to include uranium, niobium, tantalum and tin. The revised PEA assesses the potential economic viability of the simplified and “scaled down” operation which we believe is a much better fit with the present rare earth market.

On September 8, 2014, we announced that we had completed an internal analysis suggesting that there is a reasonable possibility to adapt a lower volume staged growth approach to development of our Round Top project. The analysis indicated that an operation designed to produce a selected group of separated REE products in the range of 350-450 tonnes per year range, could potentially yield favorable mine economics. The goal of the proposed staged approach would be to increase mining rates if and when our products gained acceptability. The analysis suggested that capital needs in the Revised PEA could be proportionally reduced in relation to the lower volume initial stage. We are currently conducting a more detailed analysis of the relative capital expenses and operating expenses requirements of a scaled down processing plant with both solvent extraction and ion exchange processes under evaluation. We believe the lower capital requirements of a staged startup could offset any marginal increase in unit operating costs.

Our current management and Board are stockholder-centric, and receive either no cash compensation or much less than previous management. We will require definitive scientific documentation, rigorous economic studies, consideration of a wide range of alternatives and meticulous oversight of any cash outlays of stockholder funds.

Current Plan of Operations

Continued Work Program on Round Top Project

See “Properties – Current and Planned Metallurgical Activities” for a description of our current work activities and budget for the Round Top Project.

Exploration Potential of the Round Top Property

Although we have no plans in the next 24 months to conduct more physical exploration, we do believe that there are untested exploration targets present. They are:

We believe that using the existing data we can improve our understanding of the exploration potential of the area without resorting to such expensive techniques such as drilling.

Actively Seeking Project Partners

In addition to pursuing the exploration of our Round Top Project, we are actively seeking industry partners to assist the Company in financing the exploration and, if warranted, development of the Round Top Project. While we do not currently have any agreements and do not anticipate any agreements in the near future, we are actively engaged in pursuing partners for the Round Top Project for a range of participation, including but not limited to, joint-venture arrangements, project sale, significant investment in the Company, back-end processing and product sales arrangements and other financing arrangements to assist in the Round Top Project.

Operation and support of the DoE Grant.

Phase 1 of the DoE Grand have been successfully concluded. Subsequent to the completion of Phase 1, the grant with the DoE was not renewed.

Operation of American Minerals Reclamation

Absent the securing of feasibility financing for Round Top, the remainder of TMRC plans to actively pursue the development of American Minerals Reclamation (AMR). We have set no geographical limitations on this project but we are currently basing our efforts in the Pennsylvania coal producing region because of the excellent opportunities present there and existence of the network of people and institutions that have been developed during the grant application process.

Recent Corporate Developments

On August 28, 2018 TMRC executed a Joint Venture agreement with Morzev PTY LTD (“Morzev”), doing business as USA Rare Earth, to develop the Round Top Deposit. Terms of the agreement call for USA Rare Earth to expend up to $10 million to produce a bankable feasibility study. The funds will be allocated in two tranches, the first of $2.5 Million to optimize and finalize the metallurgical processing and the remaining $7.5 million to complete the engineering, design, geotechnical work, and permitting necessary for a bankable feasibility study. USA Rare Earth will earn 70% of the property upon production of the feasibility study and has the option of purchasing another 10% for $3 million at the completion of the feasibility study. On November 13, 2018, Morzev funded an initial amount of $140,000 for 646,054 common shares to TMRC as consideration for the agreement. The 646,054 shares of common stock were issued on January 23, 2019.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of May 31, 2019, we had a working capital deficit of approximately $2,152,000. We currently have negative working capital and will need to raise additional funding to implement our business strategy.

During the fiscal year ending August 31, 2018, we completed Stage 1 of our metallurgical activities as discussed in the section heading “ITEM 2. PROPERTIES” of the Annual Report filed with the SEC on December 14, 2018. Our budget for this stage of activity was approximately $134,502. To date we have expended approximately that amount on Stage 1 which is now complete. Estimated cost of Stage 2 is $2,015,454, $336,454 of which has been spent; this phase, called milestone 1, of Stage 2 has been modified and augmented by the Defense Logistical Agency. There is no guarantee that we will be able to raise the working capital necessary for balance of Stage 2 activities. After completion of Stage 1, we will use any remaining available capital to begin work on Stage 2 of our metallurgical activities.

The audit opinion and notes that accompany our financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2018, disclose a ‘going concern’ qualification to our ability to continue in business. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that we will continue as a going concern. We are an exploration stage company and we have incurred losses since our inception. We do not have sufficient cash to fund normal operations and meet debt obligations for the next 12 months without deferring payment on certain current liabilities and raising additional funds. We believe that the going concern condition cannot be removed with confidence until the Company has entered into a business climate where funding of its activities is more assured.

We currently do not have funds to pursue exploration or development work on any of our properties, which means that we will be required to raise additional capital, enter into joint venture relationships, or find alternative means to finance our properties in order to place them into commercial production, if warranted, or evaluate the possibility of selling one or more of our projects or the Company in its entirety. Failure to obtain sufficient financing may result in the delay or indefinite postponement of exploration and, if warranted, development or production on one or more of our properties and any properties we may acquire in the future or even a loss of property interests. This includes our leases over claims covering the principal deposits on our properties, which may expire unless we expend minimum levels of expenditures over the terms of such leases. We cannot be certain that additional capital or other types of financing will be available if needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favorable or acceptable to us. Our ability to arrange additional financing in the future will depend, in part, on the prevailing capital market conditions as well as our business performance. 

Results of Operations

Nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018

General & Revenue 

We had no operating revenues during the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018. We are not currently profitable. As a result of ongoing operating losses, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $36.0 million as of May 31, 2019.

Operating expenses and resulting losses from Operations .

We incurred exploration costs for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018, in the amount of approximately $48,000 and $13,000, respectively. Expenditures for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018 were primarily for lease payments to the GLO and property taxes for our Round Top project.

Our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018, respectively, were approximately $595,000 and $226,000, respectively. For the nine months ended May 31, 2019, this amount included approximately $380,000 in stock-based compensation to directors and a consultant. The remaining expenditures totaling approximately $215,000, were primarily for payroll and related taxes and benefits, professional fees and other general and administrative expenses necessary for our operations. 

We had losses from operations for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018 totaling approximately $644,000 and $239,000, respectively, and net losses for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018 totaling approximately $660,000 and $309,000, respectively. For the nine months ended May 31, 2019 we recorded approximately $16,000 for finance charges. For the nine months ended May 31, 2018, the Company has recorded approximately $69,000 for interest on various notes and finance charges.  

Three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018

General & Revenue

We had no operating revenues during the three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018. We are not currently profitable. As a result of ongoing operating losses, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $36 million as of May 31, 2019.

Operating expenses and resulting losses from Operations .

We incurred exploration costs for the three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018, in the amount of approximately $18,000 and $1,000, respectively, primarily for the amortization of lease payments to the GLO and property taxes for our Round Top project.

Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018, respectively, were approximately $85,000 and $62,000. For the three months ended May 31, 2019, this amount included approximately $8,600 in stock-based compensation to an outside consultant. The remaining expenditures totaling approximately $76,000 for the three months ended May 31, 2019 and $61,000 of expenditures for the three months ended May 31, 2018 were primarily for payroll and related taxes and benefits, professional fees and other general and administrative expenses necessary for our operations.

For the three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018 we recorded interest expense of approximately $5,000 and $22,000, respectively, for interest on various notes and finance charges.

We had losses from operations for the three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018 totaling approximately $103,000 and $63,000, respectively.

We had net losses for the three months ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018 totaling approximately $108,000 and $85,000, respectively.  

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues, and results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingencies. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material. Management believes that the following critical accounting estimates and judgments have a significant impact on our financial statements: Valuation of options granted to Directors, Officers and consultants using the Black-Scholes model.