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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2024
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number:
001-41436
Ivanhoe Electric Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
32-0633823
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
450 E Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 130
Tempe
,
Arizona
85281
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (
480
)
656-5821
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
IE
NYSE American
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
x
No
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes
x
No
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
o
Emerging growth company
o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
o
No
x
As of August 7, 2024, the registrant had
120,397,648
shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.
Common stock, par value $
0.0001
;
700,000,000
shares authorized;
120.4
million shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 -
700,000,000
authorized;
120.0
million issued and outstanding)
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
1. Background and basis of preparation:
Ivanhoe Electric Inc. (“Ivanhoe Electric” or “the Company”) is a United States domiciled company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. The Company’s mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. The Company’s portfolio of electric metals exploration projects include the Santa Cruz Project in Arizona and the Tintic Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States.
In addition to mineral projects in the United States, the Company also holds direct and indirect ownership interests, and in some cases controlling financial interests, in other non-U.S. mineral projects, and in proprietary mineral exploration and minerals-based technologies.
The Company holds a
50
% interest in a joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma’aden (“Ma’aden”) to explore prospective land in Saudi Arabia.
The Company conducts the following business activities through certain subsidiaries:
•
VRB Energy Inc. (“VRB”), develops, manufactures and installs vanadium flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage. Ivanhoe Electric had an ownership interest in VRB of
90.0
% as at June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 —
90.0
%).
•
Computational Geosciences Inc. (“CGI”), provides data analytics, geophysical modeling, software licensing and artificial intelligence services for the mineral, oil & gas and water exploration industries. Ivanhoe Electric had an ownership interest in CGI of
94.3
% as at June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 —
94.3
%).
•
Cordoba Minerals Corp. (“Cordoba”) holds the San Matias copper-gold-silver project in northern Colombia. Ivanhoe Electric had an ownership interest in Cordoba of
62.8
% as at June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 —
62.8
%).
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Therefore, this information should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes contained on its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The information furnished herein reflects all normal recurring entries, that are in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods reported. Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2024, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024.
The condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which presumes the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
References to “$” refer to United States dollars and “Cdn$” to Canadian dollars.
2. Significant accounting policies:
The Company discloses in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, those accounting policies that it considers significant in determining its results of operations and financial position. There have been no material changes to, or in the application of, the accounting policies previously identified and described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted:
In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05 Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement. The update was issued to address the accounting for contributions made to a joint venture, upon formation, in a joint venture’s separate financial statements. Upon formation, a joint venture will recognize and initially measure its assets and liabilities at fair value (with exceptions to fair value measurement that are consistent with the business combinations guidance). This update is effective prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025.
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The update was issued to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The Company is required to adopt ASU 2023-07 on January 1, 2025 and is currently evaluating the expected impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This update was issued to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The Company is required to adopt ASU 2023-09 on January 1, 2025 and is currently evaluating the expected impact on the consolidated financial statements
.
3. Use of estimates:
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The significant judgments made by management in applying the Company’s accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
4. Cash and cash equivalents:
Of the total cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $
20.8
million and $
15.0
million, respectively, was not available for the general corporate purposes of the Company as it was held by non-wholly-owned subsidiaries.
At June 30, 2024, the Company has $
1.7
million in cash equivalents in the form of redeemable short-term investments (December 31, 2023 - $
0.0 million
)
.
5. Investments subject to significant influence:
The Company’s principal investment subject to significant influence is its investment in Ma'aden Ivanhoe Electric Exploration and Development Limited Company ("Ma'aden Joint Venture"). Others include its investments in Sama Resources Inc. (“Sama”) and Go2Lithium Inc. ("Go2Lithium").
Equity Method
Carried at fair value
Ma'aden Joint Venture
SNC
(Note a)
Go2Lithium
Other
Sama
Total
Balance at December 31, 2023
$
31,606
$
896
$
2,469
$
—
$
4,159
$
39,130
Change in fair value
—
—
—
—
42
42
Investment
—
440
—
687
—
1,126
Share of loss
(
3,188
)
(
827
)
(
419
)
(
30
)
—
(
4,465
)
Acquisition
—
(
489
)
—
—
—
(
489
)
Foreign currency translation
—
(
20
)
(
75
)
—
—
(
95
)
Balance at June 30, 2024
$
28,418
$
—
$
1,975
$
657
$
4,201
$
35,251
(a) Acquisition of Sama Nickel Corporation:
On March 11, 2024, the Company completed its earn-in and acquired an additional
30
% in
Sama Nickel Corporation ("SNC")
bringing its total ownership interest in SNC to
60
% . SNC owns the Samapleu-Grata Nickel-Copper Project ("Samapleu Project") in the Ivory Coast. The Company determined that it acquired control of SNC and commenced consolidating the results of SNC from March 11, 2024 under the voting interest entity model. The acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition as SNC did not meet the definition of a business. The cost of the acquisition has been allocated to the assets and liabilities of SNC, including its exploration property in the Ivory Coast.
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
6. Exploration properties:
Santa
Cruz
Tintic
San Matias
Other
Total
Balance at December 31, 2023
$
166,492
$
30,663
$
15,315
$
3,820
$
216,290
Acquisition costs
300
40
—
529
869
Foreign currency translation
—
—
—
7
7
Balance at June 30, 2024
$
166,792
$
30,703
$
15,315
$
4,356
$
217,166
7. Note payable:
Note payable
Balance at December 31, 2023
$
48,916
Interest expense
2,290
Balance at June 30, 2024
$
51,206
Current portion
14,962
Non-current portion
36,244
Balance at June 30, 2024
$
51,206
In May 2023, the Company issued a secured promissory note in the amount of $
82.6
million as part of a land acquisition at its Santa Cruz project. The promissory note includes an annual interest rate of
prime
plus
1
% and is to be paid in installments, as follows:
•
$
34.3
million, plus accrued interest, paid in November 2023;
•
four
equal principal payments of $
12.1
million on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the November 2023 payment, plus applicable accrued interest.
8. Convertible debt:
VRB
Convertible
Bond
Balance at December 31, 2023
$
28,372
Interest expense
1,224
Balance at June 30, 2024
$
29,596
On July 8, 2021, VRB issued a convertible bond for gross proceeds of $
24.0
million. The bond has a
five-year
term and interest accrues at a rate of
8
% per annum.
Prior to the maturity date, the convertible bond is automatically converted into equity of VRB upon an equity financing or sale event, at a price per share equal to the lower of:
•
the transaction price of the equity financing or sale event; and
•
the valuation cap price of $
158.0
million divided by the total shares outstanding at the time of the event.
If no equity financing or sale event occurs, VRB must repay the outstanding principal and interest on maturity.
The Company has accounted for the convertible bond, including its embedded features, as a debt instrument accounted at amortized cost, as it was determined the embedded features are not required to be bifurcated.
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
9. Equity:
(a) Common stock transactions:
On February 6, 2024, Ivanhoe Electric acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of
Kaizen Discovery Inc. (“Kaizen”)
not already beneficially owned by Ivanhoe Electric pursuant to a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Arrangement”).
Immediately prior to the closing of the Arrangement, Ivanhoe Electric beneficially owned
82.5
% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Kaizen on a non-diluted basis. Following the closing of the Arrangement, Ivanhoe Electric beneficially owns
100
% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Kaizen on a fully diluted basis.
Ivanhoe Electric acquired the common shares in consideration for the issuance of one share of common stock of Ivanhoe Electric for every
127
Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Arrangement. A total of
116,413
shares of Ivanhoe Electric were issued.
(b) Stock-based compensation:
Stock-based payment compensation was allocated to operations as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
General and administrative expenses
$
2,987
$
4,759
$
5,677
$
8,958
Exploration expenses
1,082
667
1,737
1,595
Research and development expenses
—
5
—
5
Cost of sales
—
—
—
5
$
4,069
$
5,431
$
7,414
$
10,563
(i) Stock options:
During the six months ended June 30, 2024 Company granted stock options to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company. The options have a
seven-year
term and comprise
three
equal tranches vesting in one-third annual increments beginning
one year
from the grant date.
Information related to stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2024 is presented below.
Grant date:
March 11, 2024
April 8, 2024
Exercise price
$
13.50
$
13.50
Number of options granted
1,801,234
415,170
Weighted average assumptions used to value stock option awards:
Expected volatility
61.6
%
60.1
%
Expected life of options (in years)
4
4
Expected dividend rate
0
%
0
%
Risk-free interest rate
4.23
%
4.56
%
Weighted average grant-date fair value (per option)
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
10. Revenue:
The Company recognized revenue from the following sources:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
Revenue type
2024
2023
2024
2023
Software licensing
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
400
Data processing services
538
42
898
321
Renewable energy storage systems (Note a)
—
1,272
—
1,272
Total
$
538
$
1,314
$
898
$
1,993
(a)
At June 30, 2024, the Company had a contract liability of $
2.7
million (December 31, 2023 — $
2.4
million) relating to the sale of renewable energy storage systems.
11. Exploration expense:
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six months ended June 30,
Project
2024
2023
2024
2023
Santa Cruz, USA
$
20,478
$
15,043
$
48,315
$
29,725
Tintic, USA
3,681
1,954
7,201
3,075
San Matias, Colombia (Cordoba)
3,236
10,109
6,754
14,767
Hog Heaven, USA
2,530
416
5,837
1,054
Unity, USA
1,552
—
1,650
21
Samapleu Project, Ivory Coast (Note 5(a))
1,414
—
1,414
—
Carolina, USA
300
790
1,195
1,028
Bitter Creek, USA
528
15
1,186
42
White Hill, USA
94
259
331
750
Lincoln, USA
8
182
138
477
Generative exploration and other
3,433
3,783
6,876
8,171
Total
$
37,254
$
32,551
$
80,897
$
59,110
12. Related party transactions:
Related parties include entities with common direct or indirect shareholders and/or directors. Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operating decisions.
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
The following table summarizes transactions between the Company and significant related parties.
Balance outstanding as at
Transactions for the
three months ended
June 30,
Transactions for the
six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
Total expenses and accounts payable
Global Mining (Note a)
239
224
1,018
4,897
2,381
9,213
Ivanhoe Capital Aviation (Note b)
—
—
250
250
500
500
I-Pulse (Note c)
1,046
1,395
430
1,158
826
2,315
Total
1,285
1,619
1,698
6,305
3,707
12,028
Revenue and accounts receivable
Ma'aden Joint Venture (Note d)
100
—
363
—
663
—
Advances
Global Mining (Note a)
1,009
1,169
—
—
—
—
Ma'aden Joint Venture (Note d)
948
1,254
—
—
—
—
Deposit
I-Pulse (Note c)
4,165
4,233
—
—
—
—
Loan
JCHX Mining Management Co., Ltd (Note e)
—
4,000
—
—
—
—
Transactions for the
three months ended
June 30,
Transactions for the six
months ended
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Expense classification
Exploration expenses
370
3,290
789
6,332
General and administrative expenses
1,021
2,357
2,328
4,388
Research and development expenses
307
658
590
1,308
1,698
6,305
3,707
12,028
(a)
Global Mining Management Corp. (“Global Mining”) is a private company based in Vancouver, Canada, that provides administration, accounting, and other office services to the Company on a cost-recovery basis. The Company held
6.7
% of Global Mining’s outstanding common stock at June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 —
7.1
%). The advance provided to Global Mining is included in other non-current assets.
(b)
Ivanhoe Capital Aviation (“ICA”) is an entity beneficially owned by the Company’s Executive Chairman. ICA provides use of its aircraft to the Company.
(c)
I-Pulse is a shareholder of the Company. On October 24, 2022, the Company entered into an agreement with I-Pulse, to purchase
six
Typhoon™ transmitters to be delivered in stages over approximately
three years
. The total purchase price for the
six
Typhoon™ transmitters is $
12.4
million, which includes research and development costs of $
2.8
million. The agreement also includes maintenance costs of $
1.7
million. The Company is recognizing the research and development costs and annual maintenance costs on a straight line basis in the consolidated statement of loss over the applicable term. In October 2022, the Company made deposit payments totaling $
7.1
million, representing
50
% of each component of the agreement and recorded in other non-current assets. The remaining payments will be made as each Typhoon™ transmitter system is
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
delivered. In December 2023, the Company received the first Typhoon™ transmitter that was deliverable under the agreement.
(d)
The Company's majority owned subsidiary, CGI, provides geophysical data processing services to the Ma'aden joint venture and recognized revenue totaling $
0.7
million.
At June 30, 2024 the Company has $
0.9
million in accounts receivable owed by the Ma'aden joint venture for costs that the Company incurred on behalf of the Ma’aden Joint Venture related to exploration work in Saudi Arabia.
(e)
JCHX Mining Management Co., Ltd (“JCHX") held
19.8
% of Cordoba’s issued and outstanding common stock as at June 30, 2024 (December 31, 2023 -
19.8
%).
In November 2023, $
4.0
million was advanced to Cordoba by JCHX. In January 2024, Cordoba announced receipt of the second installment of $
40.0
million relating to the strategic arrangement entered into with JCHX in May 2023. The $
4.0
million loan was settled in full by applying it towards the second installment received as a payment in kind.
13. Fair value measurement:
The following table provides the valuation hierarchy classification of assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value and measured on a recurring basis in the combined balance sheets:
June 30, 2024
December 31, 2023
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Financial assets:
Investments subject to significant influence
4,201
—
—
4,159
—
—
Other investments
1,448
750
—
2,239
750
—
Total financial assets
$
5,649
$
750
$
—
$
6,398
$
750
$
—
Financial liabilities:
Total financial liabilities
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
There were no movements in level three instruments for the three months ended June 30, 2024.
14. Segment reporting:
The Company’s President & Chief Executive Officer is the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) of the Company. The CODM evaluates how the Company allocates resources, assesses performance and makes strategic and operational decisions. Based upon such evaluation, the Company has determined that it has
three
reportable segments. The Company’s reportable segments are critical metals, data processing and energy storage.
Critical metals is focused on mineral project exploration and development with a focus on identifying and developing mineral projects, and ultimately mines, associated with the metals necessary for electrification.
The data processing segment provides data analytics, geophysical modeling and artificial intelligence services for the mineral, oil & gas and water exploration industries.
The energy storage segment develops, manufactures and installs vanadium flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.
Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited - Tabular amounts expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Segment information for the periods presented is as follows:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
Six months ended June 30, 2024
Critical
Metals
Data
Processing
Energy
Storage
Total
Critical
Metals
Data
Processing
Energy
Storage
Total
Revenue
$
—
$
538
$
—
$
538
$
—
$
898
$
—
$
898
Intersegment revenues
—
29
—
29
—
148
—
148
Loss (income) from operations
46,742
(
67
)
1,871
48,546
101,807
(
124
)
3,744
105,427
Segment assets
398,774
4,777
12,722
416,273
398,774
4,777
12,722
416,273
Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Six months ended June 30, 2023
Critical
Metals
Data
Processing
Energy
Storage
Total
Critical
Metals
Data
Processing
Energy
Storage
Total
Revenue
$
—
$
42
$
1,272
$
1,314
$
—
$
721
$
1,272
$
1,993
Intersegment revenues
—
15
—
15
—
63
—
63
Loss (income) from operations
44,648
746
1,991
47,385
80,807
1,145
4,022
85,974
Segment assets
293,234
4,253
12,274
309,761
293,234
4,253
12,274
309,761
15. Commitments and contingencies:
The Company has entered into a contractual arrangement to purchase
six
Typhoon™ transmitters from I-Pulse (Note 12).
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may be involved in various legal proceedings and subject to claims that arise. Although the results of litigation and claims are inherently unpredictable and uncertain, the Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings the outcome of which, if determined adversely to it, are believed to, either individually or taken together, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
14
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) and with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 included in Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 26, 2024 (the “2023 Form 10-K”).
S
pecial Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act"), that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about future events, our business, our financial condition, results of operations and prospects, our industry and the regulatory environment in which we operate. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Those statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: estimated calculations of mineral reserves and resources at our properties including changes in those estimated calculations, anticipated results and timing of exploration activities, timing of studies for advancing or developing our properties, plans and objectives, industry trends, our requirements for additional capital, treatment under applicable government regimes for permitting or attaining approvals, government regulation, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, synergies of potential future acquisitions, the projected, forecast or anticipated economic parameters of our mineral projects (including capital cost, operating cost, net present value, internal rate of return and other parameters), and our anticipated uses of the net proceeds from our initial public offering or other offerings of our securities. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “achieve,” “budget,” “scheduled,” “forecasts,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements may include projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in our industry. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions concerning future events that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future events or results may differ materially from these statements. We believe that the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include the following: our mineral projects are all at the exploration stage and are subject to the significant risks and uncertainties associated with mineral exploration; the initial assessment for our Santa Cruz Project is only an early stage study of its potential economic viability and future studies and actual economic outcomes may vary greatly from those set forth in the initial assessment; we have no mineral reserves, other than at the San Matias project; we have a limited operating history on which to base an evaluation of our business and prospects; we depend on our material projects for our future operations; our mineral resource and reserve calculations and economic projections relating to our properties are only estimates; actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns at any future mine may differ significantly from those we have anticipated or projected; the title to some of the mineral properties may be uncertain or defective; our business is subject to changes in the prices of copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, vanadium and platinum group metals; we have claims and legal proceedings against one of our subsidiaries; our business is subject to significant risk and hazards associated with future mining operations; we may fail to identify attractive acquisition candidates or joint ventures with strategic partners or be unable to successfully integrate acquired mineral properties; we may fail to successfully manage joint ventures and are reliant on our joint venture partners to comply with their obligations; our business is extensively regulated by the United States and foreign governments as well as local governments; the requirements that we obtain, maintain and renew environmental, construction and mining permits are often a costly and time-consuming process; our non-U.S. operations are subject to additional political, economic and other uncertainties not generally associated with domestic operations; and our activities may be hindered, delayed or have to cease as a result of climate change effects, including increased and excessive heating and the potential for forest fires at many of our properties.
You should carefully consider these risks, as well as the additional risks described in other documents we file with the SEC. We also operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing industry. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.
15
These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our 2023 Form 10-K. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, or cautionary statements, are disclosed under “Risk Factors” in the 2023 Form 10-K. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks of which we are not aware or which we currently do not believe to be material, may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to make any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
Business Overview
We are a United States domiciled company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. We use our powerful Typhoon™ geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our 94.3% owned subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc. (“CGI”), to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of electric metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Project in Arizona and the Tintic Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States, we intend to support the United States' supply chain independence by finding and delivering critical metals necessary for the electrification of the economy. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma’aden ("Ma'aden") to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km
2
of underexplored Arabian Shield in Saudi Arabia.
Finally, in addition to our mineral projects, we also own a 90.0% controlling interest in VRB Energy Inc. ("VRB") which is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture, installation, and operation of vanadium redox flow energy storage systems.
At our Santa Cruz Project in Arizona, we are evaluating the potential for a high-grade modern underground copper mining operation. In September 2023, we completed the Initial Assessment & Technical Report Summary for the Santa Cruz Project (the "IA"), which outlines a potential 5.9 million tonnes per year underground mining operation, supported by 105.2 million tonnes of modeled mill feed with an average grade of 1.58% copper from the Santa Cruz and East Ridge Deposits, resulting in an estimated 20-year mine life. We are advancing further studies for an underground copper mining operation with a focus on minimizing the surface footprint of the mine while at the same time incorporating leading technologies to improve efficiencies and costs. We are designing a technologically advanced mine that we expect to result in low carbon dioxide emissions per pound of copper produced and be a leading example of responsibly produced domestic copper. Key considerations that will influence our decision making include, but are not limited to, using clean and renewable energy in our future mining operations, optimizing and minimizing our water utilization, minimizing our environmental footprint, ensuring workforce diversity and hiring from local communities, health, safety and environmental performance, support of local cultural heritage and biodiversity protection.
On May 7, 2024, we entered into an Exploration Alliance Agreement with BHP Mineral Resources Inc. (“BHP”), which sets out the framework for BHP and the Company to explore mutually agreed “Areas of Interest” in the United States to identify copper and other critical metal exploration opportunities within those Areas of Interest that may become 50/50 owned joint ventures following a discovery. The Agreement is for a term of three years, which may be extended upon mutual agreement. BHP will provide the initial funding of $15 million and thereafter the Company and BHP would provide funding on a 50/50 basis. The Company will provide access to one Typhoon™ system for use pursuant to the Exploration Alliance Agreement.
References to our mineral projects refers to our interests in such projects which may be a direct ownership interest in mineral titles (including through subsidiary entities), a right to acquire mineral titles through an earn-in or option agreement, or, in the case of our investments in publicly listed companies in Canada, through our ownership of the equity of those companies that have an interest in such mineral projects.
Our shares of common stock are listed on the NYSE American and the TSX under the ticker symbol “IE”.
Segments
We account for our business in three business segments – (i) critical metals, (ii) data processing and software licensing services and (iii) energy storage systems.
16
Significant Components of Results of Operations
Revenue, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
We have not generated any revenue from our mining projects because they are in the exploration stage. We do not expect to generate any revenue from our mining projects for the foreseeable future.
We generate revenue from our technology businesses CGI and VRB, which are included in the data processing and energy storage systems business segments, respectively.
CGI generates revenue from the sale of data processing services to the mining and oil and gas industries. In prior years, CGI has also generated revenue from software licensing.
VRB generates revenue from developing, manufacturing and selling vanadium redox flow energy storage systems.
Exploration Expenses
Exploration expenses include topographical, geological, geochemical and geophysical studies, exploratory drilling, trenching, sampling and activities in relation to identifying a mineral resource and then evaluating the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the mineral resource, as well as value-added taxes in relation to these direct exploration and evaluation costs incurred in foreign jurisdictions where recoverability of those taxes is uncertain. Exploration expenses also include salaries, benefits and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of the employees performing these activities.
Exploration expenses also include payments under earn-in and option agreements where the option right is with respect to ownership interests in legal entities owning the underlying mineral project in the exploration project phase. Through our earn-in and option agreements, we have the right (and in some cases, the obligation) to fund and conduct exploration on the underlying mineral project prior to determining whether to acquire a minority or majority ownership interest through further funding the costs of such exploration and, in some cases, through direct payments to the owners of the project. In the event we cease making expenditures on an exploration mineral project or fail to incur the agreed level of exploration expenditures, we will not obtain an ownership right beyond any which may have been acquired as of the date of termination.
Included in exploration expenses are exploration costs that we incur in relation to generating new projects. These activities may or may not proceed to earn-in agreements depending on our evaluation. These are categorized as “Project generation and other”.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist of salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation, professional and consultant fees, insurance and other general administration costs.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
For the three months ended June 30, 2024 we recorded a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $46.8 million ($0.39 per share), compared to $38.3 million ($0.41 per share) for the three months ended June 30, 2023, which was an increase of $8.5 million. Significant contributors to this increase for the three months ended June 30, 2024 included an increase of $4.7 million in exploration expenditures, an increase of $0.8 million in the share of loss of equity method investees and a decrease of $0.8 million in revenue, partially offset by a decrease of $2.0 million in general and administrative expenses compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Exploration expenses were $37.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $4.7 million from $32.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. Exploration expenses consisted of the following:
17
Three months ended
June 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Exploration Expenses:
Santa Cruz, USA
$
20,478
$
15,043
Tintic, USA
3,681
1,954
San Matias, Colombia (Cordoba)
3,236
10,109
Hog Heaven, USA
2,530
416
Unity, USA
1,552
—
Samapleu Project, Ivory Coast
1,414
—
Carolina, USA
300
790
Bitter Creek, USA
528
15
White Hill, USA
94
259
Lincoln, USA
8
182
Generative exploration and other
3,433
3,783
Total
$
37,254
$
32,551
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, exploration expenditures largely focused on activities at:
•
the Santa Cruz Project where $20.5 million of exploration expenditure was incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $15.0 million incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the three months ended June 30, 2024 at Santa Cruz were focused on a program of infill resource drilling, geotechnical, hydrological, and metallurgical drilling/laboratory testing along with advancing permitting and technical studies required to support a prefeasibility study;
•
the Tintic Project where $3.7 million of exploration expenditure was incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $2.0 million incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the three months ended June 30, 2024 were focused on diamond drilling in the Mammoth area;
•
the San Matias Project where $3.2 million of exploration expenditure was incurred by Cordoba Minerals for the three months ended June 30, 2024 focused on preparations for detailed engineering design of the Alacran mine; and
•
the Hog Heaven Project where $2.5 million of exploration expenditure was incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $0.4 million incurred in the three months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the three months ended June 30, 2024 were focused on diamond drilling in the west Flathead and Battle Butte areas.
General and administrative expenses were $10.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $2.0 million from $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease was largely a result of a $1.8 million decrease in non-cash stock-based compensation expense from $4.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Share of loss of equity method investees was $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $0.8 million from $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in loss was largely due to our $1.1 million share of the loss from the Ma'aden joint venture three months ended June 30, 2024. The Ma'aden joint venture was formed in July 2023.
Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.5 million a decrease of $0.8 million from $1.3 million for three months ended June 30, 2023. The sources of revenue for the periods changed significantly. CGI’s software licensing and data processing services to the mining and oil and gas industries represented 100.0% of our revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 3.2% of our revenue for three months ended June 30, 2023 ($0.0 million). VRB generated no revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and represented 96.8% three months ended June 30, 2023 ($1.3 million).
Due to the nature of VRB's contracts, revenue is typically recognized when an energy storage system is installed and commissioned. VRB did not complete any installations and commissionings during three months ended June 30, 2024 and therefore recorded no revenue during this period. During the three months ended June 30, 2023, the majority of our
18
revenue came from VRB as it delivered, installed and commissioned a 1MW/2MWh energy storage system to a customer in China, which resulted in $1.3 million of revenue being recognized.
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2024
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2023
Percentage Change
(In thousands)
CGI: Software licensing and data processing services:
Revenue
$
538
$
42
1177
%
Cost of sales
(192)
(21)
811
%
Gross profit
346
21
1543
%
VRB: Energy storage systems:
Revenue
$
—
$
1,272
(100)
%
Cost of sales
—
(1,235)
(100)
%
Gross profit
—
37
(100)
%
Total
Revenue
$
538
$
1,314
(59)
%
Cost of sales
(192)
(1,256)
(85)
%
Gross profit
346
58
496
%
CGI’s revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.5 million, an increase of $0.5 million from $0.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in CGI’s revenue was a result of more data processing services being contracted for by customers than the prior period in 2023.
CGI’s gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.3 million, an increase of $0.3 million from $0.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in CGI's gross profit was consistent with the increase in revenue.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
For the six months ended June 30, 2024 we recorded a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $102.3 million ($0.85 per share), compared to $74.3 million ($0.80 per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2023, which was an increase of $28.0 million. Significant contributors to this increase for the six months ended June 30, 2024 included an increase of $21.8 million in exploration expenditures and an increase of $3.2 million in the share of loss of equity method compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023.
Exploration expenses were $80.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $21.8 million from $59.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Exploration expenses consisted of the following:
Six months ended June 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Exploration Expenses:
Santa Cruz, USA
$
48,315
$
29,725
Tintic, USA
7,201
3,075
San Matias, Colombia (Cordoba)
6,754
14,767
Hog Heaven, USA
5,837
1,054
Unity, USA
1,650
21
Samapleu Project, Ivory Coast
1,414
—
Carolina, USA
1,195
1,028
Bitter Creek, USA
1,186
42
White Hill, USA
331
750
Lincoln, USA
138
477
Generative exploration and other
6,876
8,171
Total
$
80,897
$
59,110
19
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, exploration expenditures largely focused on activities at:
•
the Santa Cruz Project where $48.3 million of exploration expenditure was incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $29.7 million incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 at Santa Cruz were focused on a program of infill resource drilling, geotechnical, hydrological, and metallurgical drilling/laboratory testing along with advancing permitting and technical studies required to support a prefeasibility study;
•
the Tintic Project where $7.2 million of exploration expenditure was incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $3.1 million incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 were focused on diamond drilling in the Mammoth area;
•
the San Matias Project where $6.8 million of exploration expenditure was incurred by Cordoba Minerals for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $14.8 million incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 were focused on preparations for detailed engineering design of the Alacran mine; and
•
the Hog Heaven Project where $5.8 million of exploration expenditure was incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.1 million incurred in the six months ended June 30, 2023. Activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 were focused on diamond drilling in the Flathead Mine, West Flathead and Battle Butte areas.
General and administrative expenses were $23.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, which was consistent with the $23.3 million incurred for the six months ended June 30, 2023.
Share of loss of equity method investees was $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $3.2 million from $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in loss was due to our $3.2 million share of the loss from the Ma'aden joint venture six months ended June 30, 2024. The Ma'aden joint venture was formed in July 2023.
Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $1.1 million a decrease of $0.8 million from $2.0 million for six months ended June 30, 2023. The sources of revenue for the periods changed significantly. CGI’s software licensing and data processing services to the mining and oil and gas industries represented 100.0% of our revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024 ($0.9 million) and 36.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 ($0.7 million). VRB generated no revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 63.8% of the revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023 ($1.3 million.
Due to the nature of VRB's contracts, revenue is typically recognized when an energy storage system is installed and commissioned. VRB did not complete any installations and commissionings during six months ended June 30, 2024 and therefore recorded no revenue during this period. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, $1.3 million of our revenue came from VRB as it delivered, installed and commissioned a 1MW/2MWh energy storage system to a customer in China.
Six months ended
June 30, 2024
Six months ended
June 30, 2023
Percentage Change
(In thousands)
CGI: Software licensing and data processing services:
Revenue
$
898
$
721
25
%
Cost of sales
(292)
(205)
43
%
Gross profit
606
516
17
%
VRB: Energy storage systems:
Revenue
$
—
$
1,272
(100)
%
Cost of sales
—
(1,235)
(100)
%
Gross profit
—
37
(100)
%
Total
Revenue
$
898
$
1,993
(55)
%
Cost of sales
(292)
(1,440)
(80)
%
Gross profit
606
553
9
%
20
CGI’s revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.9 million, an increase of $0.2 million from $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in CGI’s revenue was a result of more data processing services being contracted for by customers than the prior period in 2023. CGI’s gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $0.6 million, an increase of $0.1 million from $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in CGI's gross profit was consistent with the increase in revenue.
Stock-Based Compensation
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we granted the following stock options to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company:
•
1.8 million stock options issued on March 11, 2024 at an exercise price of $13.50. The fair value of the option grant was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as $3.46 per share; and
•
0.4 million stock options issued on April 8, 2024 at an exercise price of $13.50. The fair value of the option grant was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as $4.72 per share.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Capital Requirements
Cash Resources
We have recurring net losses and negative operating cash flows and we expect that we will continue to operate at a loss for the foreseeable future.
We generate revenue from our technology businesses. We have not generated any revenue from our mining projects and do not expect to generate any revenue from our mining projects for the foreseeable future.
We have funded our operations primarily through the sale of our equity and convertible securities.
At June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $133.8 million and $205.0 million, respectively, and a working capital of $106.8 million and $176.8 million, respectively. Of the total cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $20.8 million and $15.0 million, respectively, was not available for the general corporate purposes of the Company as these amounts were held by non-wholly-owned subsidiaries.
As at August 7, 2024, we believe that we will have sufficient cash resources to carry out our business plans for at least the next 12 months, after which we expect to need additional financing to further advance our projects and conduct our business. We have based these estimates on our current assumptions which may require future adjustments based on our ongoing business decisions as well as, in particular, exploration success at our mineral projects. Accordingly, we may require additional cash resources earlier than we currently expect or we may need to curtail currently planned activities.
Our significant operational expenses include the payments that we anticipate making under the various earn-in and option agreements to which we are a party. These agreements are structured to provide us with flexibility whereby our ability to continue to explore on a mineral project is contingent on funding agreed specified levels over specified time intervals.
We may seek additional financing at any time through debt, equity, project specific debt, and/or other means, including asset sales. Our continued operations are dependent on our ability to obtain additional financing or to generate future cash flows. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to raise additional capital on terms favorable to us, or at all.
Cash Balances as of June 30, 2024
The table below discloses the amounts of cash disaggregated by currency denomination as of June 30, 2024 in each jurisdiction that our affiliated entities are domiciled.
21
Currency by Denomination (in USD Equivalents)
US dollars
Canadian
dollars
Chinese
Renminbi
Colombian Pesos
Other
Total
(In thousands)
Jurisdiction of Entity:
USA
$
106,402
$
647
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
107,049
Colombia
—
—
—
14,878
—
14,878
France
4,403
—
—
—
1
4,404
Canada
2,135
1,875
—
—
—
4,010
Singapore
1,793
—
—
—
—
1,793
China
—
—
770
—
—
770
British Virgin Islands
363
—
—
—
—
363
Other
97
299
—
—
149
545
Total
$
115,192
$
2,821
$
770
$
14,878
$
150
$
133,811
Our subsidiary VRB, domiciled in the Cayman Islands, is subject to certain foreign exchange restrictions with respect to its People's Republic of China ("PRC") subsidiaries. There are foreign exchange policies in the PRC that limit the amount of capital that can be directly transmitted offshore from VRB’s PRC subsidiaries to VRB. Since their incorporation, these PRC subsidiaries have had accumulated losses and have not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of earnings.
There were no cash transfers to or from our PRC subsidiaries in the form of intercompany loans during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Refer to Note 17 of our consolidated financial statements in our 2023 Form 10-K which outlines other restrictions on transfers of net assets from our consolidated subsidiaries to the Company.
Convertible Bond — VRB
In 2021, VRB issued a convertible bond for gross proceeds of $24.0 million. The bond has a five-year term and interest accrues at a rate of 8% per annum. Prior to the maturity date, the convertible bond will be automatically converted into equity of VRB upon an equity financing or sale event, at a price per share equal to the lower of (A) the transaction price of the equity financing or sale event, and (B) the valuation cap price of $158.0 million divided by the total shares outstanding at the time of the event. If no equity financing or sale event occurs, VRB must repay the outstanding principal and interest on maturity.
Cash Flows
The following table presents our sources and uses of cash for the periods indicated:
Six months ended June 30, 2024
2024
2023
Net cash (used in) provided by:
Operating activities
(94,501)
(65,830)
Investing activities
(2,716)
(40,872)
Financing activities
27,074
30,651
Effect of foreign exchange on cash
(1,089)
192
Total change in cash
(71,232)
(75,859)
Operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities for all periods presented largely was spent on our exploration expenses and our general and administrative costs. We do not generate adequate cash from operations to cover our operating expenses and
therefore rely on our financing activities to provide the cash resources to fund our operating and investing activities.
The net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 of $94.5 million primarily was the result of $78.8 million of cash exploration expenditures and $17.0 million of cash general and administrative costs. The net
22
cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 of $65.8 million primarily was the result of $57.4 million of cash exploration expenditures and $14.0 million of cash general and administrative costs.
Investing activities
Our investing activities generally relate to acquisitions of mineral property interests, purchases of public company shares in companies that we may partner with and capital expenditures at our projects. To date, due to our mining projects being in the exploration stage we have not incurred material capital expenditures.
Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 of $2.7 million was mainly attributable to $0.6 million related to payments for mineral interests, $1.1 million for the purchases of property, plant and equipment and $1.1 million for the purchase of investments that are subject to significant influence. In addition, we acquired cash of $0.2 million when we commenced consolidating SNC in March 2024.
Financing activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, there were no significant financing activities as we continued to fund our operations with the proceeds from our September 2023 public offering. Our subsidiary, Cordoba raised $26 million during six months ended June 30, 2024 in relation to financing its Alacran project through its strategic arrangement with JCHX.
Contractual Obligations
As of June 30, 2024, there have been no material changes, outside the ordinary course of business, in our contractual obligations since December 31, 2023. Refer to Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2024, for information regarding our contractual obligations.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of June 30, 2024, we were not involved in any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
Related Party Transactions
See Note 12 of our consolidated financial statements for the three and six months June 30, 2024.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of our financial statements.
Below are the accounting matters that we believe are critical to our financial statements due to the degree of uncertainty regarding the estimates or assumptions involved and the magnitude of the asset, liability, revenue, expense, gain or loss being reported. Actual results may vary from our estimates in amounts that may be material to the financial statements. An accounting estimate is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact our financial statements.
We base our assumptions and estimates on historical experience and various other sources that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from the estimates we calculate due to changes in circumstances, global economics and politics and general business conditions. A summary of our significant accounting policies are detailed in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in our 2023 Form 10-K. We have outlined below those policies identified as being critical to the understanding of our business and results of operations and that require the application of significant management judgment in developing estimates.
Recoverable value of exploration mineral interests
We review and evaluate exploration mineral interests for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The recoverability of our exploration mineral interests and intangible assets did not involve significant estimation in the periods presented as circumstances did not indicate the
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carrying amount of our assets may not be recoverable. However, the recoverability of our recorded mineral interests is subject to market factors that could significantly affect the recoverability of our assets, such as commodity prices, results of exploration activities that may affect our intentions to continue under option or earn-in agreements and geopolitical circumstances, particularly in Colombia. By nature, significant changes in these factors are reasonably possible to occur periodically, which could materially impact our financial statements.
Stock-based compensation
Compensation expense for options granted to employees, directors and certain service providers is determined based on estimated fair values of the options at the time of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which takes into account, as of the grant date, the fair market value of the shares, expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate over the expected life of the option. The use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires input estimation of the expected life of the option and volatility, which can have a significant impact on the valuation model and resulting expense recorded.
In March 2024 and April 2024, we granted 1.8 million stock options and 0.4 million stock options, respectively, to certain directors, officers and employees of the Company at an exercise price of $13.50 per share. The fair value of the option grants was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as $3.46 and $4.72, respectively. The following assumptions were used to compute the fair value of the options granted:
March 11, 2024 Grant Date
April 8, 2024 Grant Date
Risk-free interest rate
4%
4.6%
Dividend yield
nil
nil
Estimated volatility
61.6%
60.1%
Expected option life
4 years
4 years
The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the U.S. treasury constant maturity yield at the date of the grant over the expected life of the option. No dividends are expected to be paid. We calculated the estimated volatility based on the historical volatility of a group of peer companies’ common stock and a group of relevant stock market indices over the expected option life as we only commenced publicly trading in June 2022. The computation of expected option life was determined based on a reasonable expectation of the option life prior to the option being exercised or forfeited.
Income taxes
We make estimates and judgments in determining the provision for income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities and liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties. We are subject to income tax laws in many jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, Colombia, Peru, Australia, the Ivory Coast and the PRC.
We report income tax in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the establishment of deferred tax accounts for all temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using currently enacted tax rates. In addition, deferred tax accounts must be adjusted to reflect new rates if enacted into law.
Realization of deferred tax assets is contingent on the generation of future taxable income. As a result, we consider whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of such assets will be realized during periods when they are available, and if not, we provide a valuation allowance for amounts not likely to be recognized. In determining our valuation allowance, we have not assumed future taxable income from sources other than the reversal of existing temporary differences. The extent to which a valuation allowance is warranted may vary as a result of changes in our estimates of future taxable income. In addition to the potential generation of future taxable income through the establishment of economic feasibility, development and operation of mines on our exploration assets, estimates of future taxable income could change in the event of disposal of assets, the identification of tax-planning strategies or changes in tax laws that would allow the benefits of future deductible temporary differences in certain entities or jurisdictions to be offset against future taxable temporary differences in other entities or jurisdictions.
We recognize the effect of uncertain income tax positions if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. The amount recognized is subject to estimates and our judgment with respect to the likely outcome of each uncertain tax position. The amount that is ultimately incurred for an individual uncertain tax position or for all uncertain tax positions in the aggregate could differ from the amount recognized. We had no uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2024.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Not Applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Management’s Evaluation of our Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of June 30, 2024, our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded based upon the evaluation described above that, as of June 30, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we and our subsidiaries may become subject to various legal proceedings that are incidental to the ordinary conduct of our business. Although we cannot accurately predict the amount of any liability that may ultimately arise with respect to any of these matters, we make a provision for potential liabilities when we deem them probable and reasonably estimable. These provisions are based on current information and legal advice and may be adjusted from time to time according to developments.
Our subsidiary Cordoba is currently involved in two legal proceedings. The first is a criminal lawsuit filed by Cordoba in late 2018 and in January 2019 with the Colombian prosecutors against nine members of former Colombian management alleging breach of fiduciary obligations, abuse of trust, theft and fraud. This proceeding is ongoing. In the second proceeding, Cordoba (along with the National Mining Agency, Ministry of Mines and Energy, the local environmental authority, the Municipality of Puerto Libertador and the State of Cordoba) were served with a class action claim by the Alacran Community. This class action seeks (i) an injunction against Cordoba´s operations in the Alacrán area and (ii) an injunction against the prior declaration by the authorities that the Alacran Community´s mining activities were illegal. The claim was initially filed with the Administrative Court of Medellín, which remanded the case to the Administrative Court of Montería, which contested it and submitted the case to the Council of State. The Council of State determined the Administrative Court of Montería as the competent tribunal, where the process is currently being conducted. The Administrative Court of Montería admitted the commencement of the class action on September 2021. The decision was challenged by Cordoba and other defendants and confirmed by the Court. Cordoba timely filed its: (i) response to the lawsuit and statement of defense; and (ii) opposition to the injunction requested by plaintiffs. The Court now should: (i) issue a decision on the injunction; and (ii) schedule date and time for the initial hearing. While the court matters proceed, Cordoba will incur additional costs that will negatively impact its financial position. As well, the litigation process is uncertain and it is possible that the second proceeding is resolved against Cordoba, which could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to our risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our 2023 Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2024
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended June 30, 2024.
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*
Filed herewith.
## Certain schedules or portions thereof are omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to provide on a supplemental basis a copy of any omitted schedule to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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