UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR |
þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005 |
OR |
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR |
¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report . |
For the transition period from ___________________________ to ___________________________ |
Commission file number 0-29986 | |||
WEALTH MINERALS LTD. | |||
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) | |||
British Columbia, Canada | |||
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | |||
#1901 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 2K3 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) | |||
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act. | |||
Title of each class | Name of exchange on which registered | ||
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act. | |||
Common shares without par value | |||
(Title of Class) | |||
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. | |||
(Title of Class) | |||
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. | |||
13,678,642 | |||
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. | |||
¨ Yes þ No | |||
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |||
¨ Yes þ No | |||
Note Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections. | |||
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 report(s), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. | |||
þ Yes o No | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): | |||
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer þ | |||
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. | |||
þ Item 17 ¨ Item 18 | |||
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). | |||
o Yes þ No | |||
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty. When used in this Annual Report, the words estimate, project, intend, expect, anticipate and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those identified under the heading Item 3 Risk Factors.
Glossary of Terms
Ag | chemical symbol for silver | |
Antimony | a chemical element, chemical symbol Sb | |
Actinolite | calcium magnesium iron silicate hydroxide | |
arable land | land which is suitable for the cultivation of crops (farm land) | |
argillic clay formation | clay minerals formed by alteration of original rock | |
Argillite | a sedimentary rock comprised of siltstone, claystone or shale that has been compacted | |
Arsenic | a chemical element, chemical symbol As | |
Arsenopyrite | a mineral composed of iron, arsenic and sulfur (FeAsS) | |
As | chemical symbol for arsenic | |
Au | chemical symbol for gold | |
Ba | Chemical symbol for barium | |
Barite | a mineral composed of barium, sulfur and oxygen (BaSO4) | |
Batholith | a granitic body made up of multiple intrusions of igneous rock | |
Bi | Chemical symbol for bismuth | |
biotite granite | a granitic igneous rock containing large amounts of biotite | |
Bismuth | a chemical element, chemical symbol Bi | |
Calcarenite | clastic sedimentary rock containing calcium carbonite | |
calc-silicate minerals | a term referring to a group of minerals containing calcium and silica formed in a carbonate rock | |
carbonate-muscovite | a mixture of calcium carbonate and illite-muscovite clays in altered rocks | |
Chalcopyrite | a mineral composed of copper, iron and sulfur (CuFeS2) | |
Chlorite | a greenish, platy, mica-like mineral containing iron, magnesium, aluminum and silica. | |
Cu | chemical symbol for copper | |
Epidote | a calcium, aluminum silica mineral, common in metamorphic rocks | |
FeOx | general chemical term for group of minerals containing iron and oxygen and/or water | |
Fluorite | a mineral composed of calcium and fluorine (CaF2) | |
Freibergite | rock composed of iron, copper, silver antimony, arsenic and sulfur | |
Granite | an igneous rock consisting of quartz and orthoclase with hornblende or biotite as mafic constituents. | |
Granodiorite | a plutonic igneous rock consisting of quartz, calcic feldspar, and orthoclase with biotite, hornblende or pyroxene as mafic constituents |
Greenstone | iron and magnesium rich igneous rock whose composition has been changed in a sequence of sedimentary rocks. | |
Hematite | a mineral composed of iron and oxygen (Fe2O3) | |
Hg | chemical symbol for mercury | |
Hornfels | Hard compact rock that breaks into splintery fragments | |
Jarosite | a mineral composed of potassium iron, sulfur and oxygen (K, Fe3 (SO4)(OH)6 | |
Lithocap | altered host rock | |
Lower Tertiary age | the early part of the Tertiary geological time period spanning 66 to 44 million years before the present | |
Mesothermal | conditions of ore deposition of intermediate temperatures and depths | |
Mesozoic | Era of geologic time spanning 245 to 66 million years before the present | |
Metasomatism | introduction of a fluid into a rock which totally changes the composition of the rock | |
Microcrystalline quartz | small crystals of the mineral quartz | |
Minerals | means a homogeneous naturally occurring chemical substance | |
Ore | means a mineral or aggregate of minerals which can be mined at a profit | |
Tremolite | calcium magnesium silicate hydroxide | |
Ma | chemical symbol for magnesium | |
Mo | chemical symbol for molybdenum | |
Palaeozoic | Era of geologic time spanning 570 to 245 million years before the present | |
Pb | chemical symbol for lead | |
plutonic rocks | igneous rocks formed below the earths surface | |
Porphyry | a rock composed of prominent crystals | |
Ppb | an abbreviation for units of measure in parts per billion | |
Ppm | abbreviation for units of measure in parts per million | |
pre-Tertiary | a term applied to rocks of geological events older than Tertiary Age (more than 66 million years before the present. | |
Product | means a metallic or non-metallic substance extracted from ore. | |
Proterozioc Era | 2.5 million to 543 million years ago | |
Pyrite | a mineral composed of iron and sulfur (FeS2) | |
Pyritization | formation of the mineral pyrite in rocks | |
Pyrrhotite | a mineral composed of iron and sulfur (FeS) | |
quartz diorite | a plutonic igneous rock similar to granodiorite but with larger amounts of mafic constituents. | |
Quartz-ankerite | a mixture of quartz (SiO2) and ankerite (Ca, Fe, Mg) CO3 in altered rocks | |
Sb | chemical symbol for antimony | |
Selenium | a chemical element, chemical symbol Se | |
Scorodite | iron arsenic hydrogen oxygen hydrated iron arsenage |
Silicification | the introduction of or replacement by silica | |
Spalerite | zinc iron sulphide major ore of zinc | |
Stephanite | silver antimony sulfide and or of silver and as mineral specimens | |
Stockwork | metalliferous deposit characterized by the impregnation of the mass of rock with small veins or nests irregularly grouped | |
Tetrahedrite | copper antimony sulfide ore of copper or minor ore of silver | |
TM | Thematic mapping of ground in infared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum | |
Thallium | a chemical element, chemical symbol Tl | |
Tremolite | calcium magnesium silicate hydroxide | |
Ultramafics | group of igneous rocks containing very small amounts of silica and large amounts of magnesium and iron | |
vesicular basalt flows | a surface flow of dark gray volcanic rocks of mafic composition with open voids from gas bubbles | |
Vuggy silica | advanced argillic alteration | |
Zn | chemical symbol for zinc | |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARS AND DELINQUENCIES
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
PART I
ITEM 1.
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
Not Applicable
ITEM 2.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not Applicable
ITEM 3.
3.A
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected historical financial information presented in the table below for each of the years ended November 30, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The audited financial statements for the Company for the years ended November 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003 are included in this Filing. The selected historical financial information for the years ended November 30, 2002 and 2001 presented in the table below are derived from audited financial statements of the Company that are not included in this Filing. The selected financial information presented below should be read in conjunction with the Companys consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto (Item 17) and the Operating and Financial Review and Prospects (Item 5) elsewhere in this Filing.
The selected consolidated financial data has been prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principals (GAAP) and in accordance with Canadian and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Standards (GAAS). Selected financial data has also been provided under United States GAAP to the extent that amounts are different. The consolidated financial statements included in Item 17 in this Filing are also prepared under Canadian GAAP and Canadian and United States GAAS. Included within these consolidated financial statements in Note 11 is reconciliation between Canadian and United States GAAP.
Selected Financial Data (Canadian GAAP)
Year Ended 2005 $ |
Year Ended 2004 $ |
Year Ended 2003 $ |
Year Ended 2002 $ |
Year Ended 2001 $ |
|
Revenues |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Exploration Expenses |
1,798,184 |
504,262 |
27,783 |
57,664 |
19,293 |
Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization |
4,051 |
2,438 |
2,974 |
3,047 |
3,097 |
Stock based compensation |
335,362 |
549,360 |
- |
- |
- |
General and Administrative Expenses |
978,742 |
533,709 |
233,344 |
253,549 |
222,337 |
Impairment of mineral properties |
87,740 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Interest Income |
46,627 |
15,749 |
464 |
1,092 |
1,892 |
Net Income (Loss) |
(3,176,055) |
(1,630,322) |
(263,199_) |
(315,085) |
(679,437) |
Per Share |
(0.27) |
(0.24) |
(0.14) |
(0.06) |
(0.24) |
Working Capital |
1,996,122 |
2,931,294 |
38,773 |
123,498 |
(22,580) |
Deferred Exploration Expenses |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Other Assets |
14,818 |
13,464 |
37,735 |
40,709 |
36,915 |
Long-Term Liabilities |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Shareholders Equity |
2,010,940 |
2,944,758 |
76,508 |
164,207 |
14,335 |
Selected Financial Data (US GAAP)
Year Ended 2005 |
Year Ended 2004 |
Year Ended 2003 |
Year Ended 2002 |
Year Ended 2001 |
|
Revenues |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Exploration Expenses |
1,798,184 |
504,262 |
27,783 |
57,664 |
19,293 |
Depletion, Depreciation and Amortization |
4,051 |
2,438 |
2,974 |
3,047 |
3,097 |
Stock based compensation |
335,362 |
549,360 |
- |
- |
- |
General and Administrative Expenses |
978,742 |
533,709 |
233,344 |
253,549 |
222,337 |
Interest Income |
46,627 |
15,749 |
464 |
1,092 |
1,892 |
Basic Net Income (Loss) |
(3,176,055) |
(1,630,322) |
(263,199) |
(315,085) |
(679,437) |
Per Share |
(0.27) |
(0.24) |
(0.14) |
(0.06) |
(0.24) |
Working Capital |
1,996,122 |
2,931,294 |
79,317 |
123,453 |
(22,580) |
Deferred Exploration Expenses |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Other Assets |
14,818 |
13,464 |
37,735 |
40,709 |
36,915 |
Long-Term Liabilities |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Shareholders Equity |
2,010,940 |
2,944,758 |
76,503 |
164,207 |
14,355 |
3.B
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not applicable.
3.C
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
3.D
RISK FACTORS
Certain Risks of Operation
Our business is subject to a number of material risks which may affect the Companys future financial performance, including risks customarily encountered by early-stage mining companies.
General Exploration and Mining Risks
Operating Risks
The exploration of mineral properties is a high-risk industry. Presently, none of our properties have a known body of commercial ore. Unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, fires, power outages, labor disruptions, flooding, explorations, cave-ins, landslides, and the inability to obtain adequate machinery, equipment or labor are all risks involved in the operation of mines and the conduct of exploration programs. We rely significantly on independent consultants and other professionals for exploration expertise. The Company is an exploration stage company (see explanation below), and as such, there can be no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of its properties. Further exploration will be required on all of our properties before a final evaluation as to the economic, legal and environmental feasibility of each is determined.
Risks Related to Property Acquisition Agreements
Mackenzie Project, British Columbia
On May 4, 2005, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Mackenzie Project located in central British Columbia, from certain individuals named the VRBDD Syndicate. The Mackenzie Project is located 150 kilometers north of the city of Prince George. The property has been visited and examined by the Companys independent engineer, Mr. James Dawson.
The terms of the acquisition requires Wealth to pay to the VRBDD Syndicate CDN$80,000 and 100,000 common shares upon signing of the agreement. On the first anniversary of signing the agreement Wealth will pay a further CDN$25,000 and 200,000 common shares. On the second anniversary of signing the agreement Wealth will pay a further $25,000 and 250,000 common shares. On the third anniversary of signing the agreement Wealth will pay a further $25,000 and 250,000 common shares.
The VRBDD Syndicate will retain a 2% net smelter royalty on any production and an advance royalty of $25,000 per year every year after year three of the agreement is to be made by Wealth to the VRBDD Syndicate.
Wealth may purchase one half of the net smelter royalty at any time for a payment of $1,000,000.
Argentina Uranium Properties
On July 12, 2005 the Company announced the acquisition of an option to acquire a 100% interest in a private Argentinean corporation which owns 20 separate parcels of land, of which 16 are known to have one or more uranium occurrences. Subject to regulatory approval (received October 21, 2005), the Company can acquire 100% of Madero Minerals S.A. and its assets for the payment of US$100,000 (paid) and the issuance of 600,000 common shares, 100,000 shares 10 days after regulatory approval (issued), 200,000 shares on the first anniversary thereof, and 300,000 shares on the second anniversary thereof.
There is no guarantee that the anniversary payments, or royalty payments will be made on either the Mackenzie Project or on the Argentina uranium properties. There can be no guarantee that the exploration work on these properties will ever prove the property viable for commercial production.
Capital Expenditures
We will require substantial resources to establish ore reserves, develop metallurgical processes to extract metal from the ore, and develop mining and processing facilities at a given site. There can be no assurances that sufficient quantities of minerals with a sufficient average grade will justify commercial development of any such site.
Volatility in Mineral Prices
The cost of exploring gold and other mineral properties is affected by the cost of operations, variations in ore grade, fluctuations in metal markets and the cost of processing equipment.
Employment Contracts/Reliance Upon Officers
The Company has not entered into an employment contract with all of its executive officers. The company is largely dependent upon the personal efforts and abilities of its corporate officers. The loss or availability to the Company of these individuals may have materially adverse effects upon the Companys business.
Legal Proceedings Against Foreign Directors
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta, and continued in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, and some of its directors and officers are residents of Canada. Consequently, it may be difficult for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon the Company or upon those directors and officers who are not residents of the United States, or to realize in the United States upon judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities under the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. Furthermore, it may be difficult for investors to enforce judgments of the United States Courts based upon civil liability provisions of the United States Federal securities laws in a Canadian court against the Company or any of the Companys non-United States resident officers or directors. There is substantial doubt whether an original lawsuit could be brought successfully in Canada against any of such persons or the Company predicated solely upon civil liabilities.
Effect of Future Financings
The Company has historically raised capital through a series of equity offerings. The ability for the Company to continue is dependent upon its ability to raise additional capital. There can be no assurances that the current issued capital and the shareholders thereof, will not be partially or substantially diluted by further equity offerings.
Classification of the Common Stock as Penny Stock
In October 1990, Congress enacted the "Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990." "Penny Stock" is generally any equity security other than a security (a) that is registered or approved for registration and traded on a national securities exchange or an equity security for which quotation information is disseminated by The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") System on a real-time basis pursuant to an effective transaction reporting plan, or which has been authorized or approved for authorization upon notice of issuance for quotation in the NASDAQ System, (b) that is issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (c) that is a put or call option issued by Options Clearing Corporation, (d) that has a price of five dollars or more, or (e) whose issuer has net tangible assets in excess of $2,000,000, if the issuer has been in continuous operation for at least three years, or $5,000,000 if the issuer has been in continuous operation for less than three years, or average revenue of at least $6,000,000 for the last three years.
Our Common Shares are presently considered "penny stock" under these criteria. Therefore, the Common Shares are subject to Rules 15g-2 through 15g-9 (the "Penny Stock Rules") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Penny Stock Rules impose additional reporting, disclosure and sales practice requirements on brokers and dealers before they can recommend the Common Shares for purchase by their customers, and require that such brokers and dealers must make a special suitability determination of each purchaser and must have received the purchaser's written consent to the transaction prior to the sale. Consequently, the Penny Stock Rules may affect the ability of brokers and dealers to sell the Common Shares and may affect the ability of purchasers to sell any of the Shares acquired hereby in the secondary markets.
So long as the Common Shares are within the definition of "Penny Stock" as defined in Rule 3a51-1 of the Exchange Act, the Penny Stock Rules will continue to be applicable to the Common Shares. Unless and until the price per share of Common Shares is equal to or greater than $5.00, the Common Shares will be subject to substantial additional risk disclosures and document and information delivery requirements on the part of brokers and dealers effecting transactions in the Common Shares. Such additional risk disclosures and document and information delivery requirements on the part of such brokers and dealers may have an adverse effect on the market for and/or valuation of the Common Shares.
Stage of Development
We have no production revenue. We do not have an operating history upon which investors may rely. Moreover, we have no commercially viable properties at this time.
We have limited financial resources, with no assurance that sufficient funding will be available for future exploration or to fulfill our obligations under current agreements. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain adequate financing in the future or that the terms of such financing will be favorable. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further exploration of its projects. Our accumulated deficit as at November 30, 2005 was $9,725,385.
A company acquires mineral properties by either carrying out its own conceptual research and staking such properties or, by optioning a promising property from others. The first thing that must be done (if not already), is to evaluate the propertys potential in a preliminary manner by reconnaissance mapping, soil or rock sampling and perhaps detailed geological surveys. These surveys delineate the prospective area(s) on the ground and the next step is to evaluate them more carefully by detailed work trenching, detailed geological mapping and very closely spaced sampling. Ground geophysical surveys may also be carried out at this point to get an idea of the third dimension. If these surveys are positive then the next step is drilling; reconnaissance at first then contingent upon success, much more closely spaced. If results continue to be positive, with extensive drilling and surface sampling, it is possible to calculate a resource and ultimately a reserve. As part of the reserve calculation, metallurgical studies are undertaken to obtain an idea of the potential recovery of the metals from ores and the cost of doing so. At this time, various baseline environmental studies are undertaken as well as discussions with various stakeholders government, ranchers, farmers, indigenous people to get their input on a mining operation in the region. The next step is a pre-feasibility study to see if the project is viable at current or projected metal prices. If this is positive, the final step is a bankable feasibility study and discussions with lenders who hopefully will finance the project.
It is important to understand that mineral exploration is a very high risk business and the vast majority of properties fail because of insufficient size, low grade or high costs due to lack of infrastructure or demands by stakeholders.
Therefore at least 75% of properties do not advance beyond the trenching and preliminary drilling stage. Accordingly, the Company only makes a decision to proceed to any successive phase of exploration after fully evaluating and analyzing the results of all programs carried out to that point.
The succession of success-contingent exploration phases takes anywhere from 6 to 10 years on average if the project ultimately becomes a mine.
Metal Prices
Metal prices have fluctuated widely in recent years, and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control. International economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates, global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities and worldwide production levels all may affect metal
prices.
Competition
The mineral industry is very competitive. We must compete with other companies possessing superior financial resources and technical facilities. This competition is not only for the acquisition of mining interests, but also for retention of the services of qualified employees.
No Assurance of Titles
Our mineral property interests may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or native land claims and title may be affected by undetected defects. Substance and continuity of title may also be affected by political instability and the vagaries of law as they exist and are applied in foreign jurisdictions. Surveys have not been carried out on all of our mineral properties and therefore, in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which such properties are situated, their existence and area could be in doubt.
General Operating Hazards
Permits and Licenses
Our operations require licenses and permits from various governmental authorities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required to carry out exploration at the Companys projects.
All permits and licenses with respect to the Mackenzie Project are in good standing.
All permits and licenses with respect to the Uranium properties in Argentina are in good standing.
Price Fluctuations, Share Price Volatility
Securities markets in Canada and the United States have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility in recent years, with many resource companies experiencing wide price fluctuations not necessarily related to operating performance or underlying asset values of such companies. Our Common Shares traded between $0.10 and $0.46 in 2002 and between $0.10 and $0.37 in 2003 and between $0.36 and $1.50 in 2004 and between $0.50 and $1.95 in 2005. No assurances can be made that our share price and volume will not continue to fluctuate materially.
Significant Uncertainties
We currently do not have any producing mineral properties but are seeking mineral property prospects. These projects may be subject to substantial regulatory requirements, financing needs, and economic uncertainties. There is no assurance that we can raise the additional funds necessary to complete the exploration work and, if warranted, bring any property into production. There is also no assurance that the property will prove to be profitable if it is brought into production.
Environmental Regulations
All phases of our operations are subject to environmental regulations promulgated by government agencies from time to time. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which means stricter standards, enforcement, and fines and penalties for non-compliance. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and directors, officers and employees. There is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulation, if any, will not adversely affect our operations.
We are in compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations in Argentina and in British Columbia, Canada.
ITEM 4.
4.A
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
Wealth Minerals Ltd. (the "Company") was incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta on October 7, 1994 under the name of 627743 Alberta Ltd. On February 10, 1995 627743 Alberta Ltd. changed its name to Triband Capital Corp. On July 18, 1996 Triband Capital Corp. changed its name to Triband Resource Corporation to reflect its business in mineral exploration. On August 22, 2002, the Company changed its name to Triband Enterprise Corp. as it was contemplating business acquisitions which were not associated with mineral exploration. On January 14, 2004, the Company changed its name to Wealth Minerals Ltd. to reflect its renewed focus on mineral exploration. On January 9, 2006 the Company was continued into British Columbia, Canada. The authorized capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares ("Common Shares") and an unlimited number of preferred shares, without par value. As of the fiscal year end, November 30, 2005, there were 13,678,642 common shares issued and outstanding. As of May 26, 2006 there are 16,706,392 common shares issued and outstanding.
The registered office is located at 1055 Dunsmuir Street, Suite 2300 Bentall Centre 4, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7Y 1J1 and the head office is located at Suite 1901- 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2K3, Phone (604) 331-0096, Toll Free: 888-331-0096, Facsimile: (604) 408-7499.
4.B
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Description and General Development
We are a natural resource company currently engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. We presently have no producing properties, and there can be no assurance that a commercially viable body of ore (a reserve) exists in any of our properties until appropriate drilling and/or underground testing is done. A comprehensive evaluation based upon unit cost, grade recoveries and other factors determines economic feasibility.
During the five preceding fiscal years we have pursued our operations through the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States, Canada and South America.
Current properties
In May of 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to purchase the Mackenzie Property in Central British Columbia (see Exhibit 4.8 for location map). This agreement is discussed in Item 4.D Property, Plants and Equipment.
On July 12, 2005 the Company announced the acquisition of an option to acquire a 100% interest in a private Argentinean corporation which owns 20 separate parcels of land, of which 16 are known to have one or more uranium occurrences. Subject to regulatory approval (received October 21, 2005), the Company can acquire 100% of Madero Minerals S.A. and its assets for the payment of US$100,000 (paid) and the issuance of 600,000 common shares, 100,000 shares 10 days after regulatory approval (issued), 200,000 shares on the first anniversary thereof, and 300,000 shares on the second anniversary thereof
Properties in which the Company no longer has an interest
In June of 2004, the Company entered into an option assignment agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Minera Koripampa del Peru S.A. ("Koripampa") whereby the Company obtained the right to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral rights in Peru (the "Amata Property") which were originally granted to Koripampa by Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited ("Rio Tinto") pursuant to a Letter of Understanding (the "LOU") between Koripampa and Rio Tinto.
In consideration of the assignment of this option to Wealth Minerals, Wealth Minerals paid $100,000 (USD) in May, 2004 and issued 200,000 common shares upon closing of the agreement in June, 2004. The Company has not made any work program expenditures in fiscal 2004 to date and the option on the Koripampa will lapse in June 2005. On May 20, 2005, the Company announced it would not be proceeding with the Amata Project.
In September, 2005, the Company abandoned its 100% ownership of the patented BET 1-23 claims in Nevada.
The table below illustrates our expenditures on exploration activities for the last three fiscal years. The figures below have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in Canada. Under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles the costs of acquiring and exploring mineral properties are capitalized prior to commercial feasibility and written down if the properties are abandoned, sold or if management decides not to pursue the properties. Under United States generally accepted accounting principles, exploration and prospecting costs are charged to expense as incurred, as are costs for projects not yet determined by management to be commercially feasible. Except as stated above and explained in Note 11 of our financial statements, the figures below are consistent with U.S. GAAP.
To May, 2006 $ |
2005 $ |
2004 $ |
2003 $ |
2002 $ |
|
General Exploration |
1,915,937 |
1,356,424 |
110,262 |
- |
57,664 |
Acquisition Costs |
- |
441,760 |
394,000 |
27,783 |
- |
Total |
1,915,937 |
27,783 |
57,664 |
We have not prepared a budget for all our properties. The cost of developing gold and other mineral properties is affected by the cost of operations, variations in ore grade, fluctuations in metal markets and the cost of processing equipment. Government regulations regarding prices, taxes, royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals, land use, land tenure and environmental protection also affect economic viability.
We employ certified independent geological consultants to extract samples from the properties who utilize certified independent laboratories for the testing of samples taken from the Nevada properties in order to ensure the validity and integrity of samples taken. To the extent necessary, we will practice the same controls necessary on our British Columbian property. We utilize the services of a director and of independent certified geologists to review the laboratory results and order additional tests from independent laboratories to verify results. The qualified person who directs our exploration program is James M. Dawson, P.Eng. He coordinates the work of a group of independent contractors and consultants who carry out the field work. A certificate of Mr. Dawsons qualifications is attached. This certificate includes a consent clause (see Exhibit 4.7).
Change of Business
During the fiscal year 2005 there was no change of business contemplated.
In April 2000, the Company decided to change its business focus to internet or high tech ventures and completed a filing with the Canadian Venture Exchange regarding our intention to change our business. The results of the Companys due diligence indicated that it was not feasible for the Company to change its business direction and accordingly focused on mineral exploration since December 2000.
We intend to continue to review potential business opportunities in mining exploration.
Investments
On December 15, 2004, Wealth entered into a letter of intent with Minera San Jorge S.A. de C.V. (MSJ), a Mexican Corporation for an exclusive due diligence period and right of first refusal to acquire a 60% interest in two exploration projects, one in Mexico, and the other in Colombia. The Company announced on May 20, 2005 that it does not intend to pursue the MSJ acquisitions. For details of the letter of intent, please see Item 4.D "Property Acquisition Minera San Jorge Properties in which the Company no longer has an interest".
On February 28, 2005, Wealth announced the signing of a letter agreement with Brett Resources Inc. ("Brett") for the right to acquire a 60% interest in a 47 square kilometer exploration license in eastern El Salvador, covering the surface exposure of a potential low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver vein system. The Company announced on May 20, 2005, that it does not intend to pursue the Brett acquisition. For details of this letter agreement, please see item 4.D Property Acquisition Brett Property Properties in which the Company no longer has an interest.
In June of 2004, the Company entered into an option assignment agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Minera Koripampa del Peru S.A. ("Koripampa") whereby the Company obtained the right to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral rights in Peru (the "Amata Property"). In consideration of the assignment of this option to Wealth Minerals, Wealth Minerals paid $100,000 (USD) in May, 2004, and issued 200,000 common shares issued upon closing of the agreement in June, 2004. The Company announced on May 20, 2005, that it did not intend to pursue the Amata Agreement. For details of this agreement, please see Item 4.D, "Property Acquisition, Amata Project - Properties in which the Company no longer has an interest".
On May 4, 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Mackenzie Project located in central British Columbia, from certain individuals named the VRBDD Syndicate. The Mackenzie Project is located 150 kilometers north of the city of Prince George. For details of this agreement, please see Item 4.D "Property Acquisition Mackenzie Project".
On July 12, 2005 the Company announced the acquisition of an option to acquire a 100% interest in a private Argentinean corporation which owns 20 separate parcels of land, of which 16 are known to have one or more uranium occurrences. Subject to regulatory approval (received October 21, 2005), the Company can acquire 100% of Madero Minerals S.A. and its assets for the payment of US$100,000 (paid) and the issuance of 600,000 common shares, 100,000 shares 10 days after regulatory approval (issued), 200,000 shares on the first anniversary thereof, and 300,000 shares on the second anniversary thereof. For details of this agreement, please see Item 4.D "Property Acquisition Argentina Uranium Properties".
4.C
INTERCORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS
We have one wholly owned, direct subsidiary: Triband Resource US Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on November 5, 1997. The registered office of Triband Resource US Inc. is located at, 6121 Lakeside Dr., Suite 260, Reno, Nevada.
4.D
PROPERTIES, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
In 2001 and 2002 we abandoned certain claims in the Battle Mountain and Whisky Canyon area in Nevada for economic reasons. The Company felt that further exploration work on these claims would not be economically feasible as it was determined that exploration work on these claims would not yield any significant results. The Company decided to concentrate on the Betty ONeal claims at that time as exploration and mining activity in this area had shown some positive results in the past. The only obligation we had was to the Battle Mountain State Mortgage Bank with respect to the lease of the Betty ONeal claims until July of 2004. We were obliged to pay the Battle Mountain State Mortgage Bank a total of $18,000 USD per year in $9,000 USD increments, due in July and February of each year. In May of 2004 the Company notified the Battle Mountain State Mortgage Bank that it did not intend to renew its obligations with respect to the Betty ONeal Claims. A further US$25,000 due July 9, 2004 was not paid at that time and the Company terminated its intent to earn an interest in the claims. The Company abandoned the BET 1-23 claims in September 2005.
We are in the exploration stage and the properties are presently without a known body of commercial ore. Our principal mineral properties are the following.
A.
Mackenzie Project, British Columbia
On May 4, 2005 the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Mackenzie Project located in central British Columbia, from certain individuals named the VRBDD Syndicate. The VRBDD Syndicate is a group of individuals, resident in British Columbia who legally and beneficially own a 100% interest in 109 mining claims referred to as the Mackenzie Project. The Mackenzie Project is located 150 kilometers north of the city of Prince George.
The terms of the acquisition requires Wealth to pay to the VRBDD Syndicate CDN$80,000 and 100,000 common shares upon signing of the agreement. On the first anniversary (May 2, 2006) of signing the agreement Wealth will pay a further CDN$25,000 and 200,000 common shares. On the second anniversary (May 2, 2007) of signing the agreement Wealth will pay a further $25,000 and 250,000 common shares. On the third anniversary (May 2, 2008) of signing the agreement Wealth will pay a further $25,000 and 250,000 common shares.
The VRBDD Syndicate will retain a 2% net smelter royalty on any production and an advance royalty of $25,000 per year every year after year three of the agreement is to be made by Wealth to the VRBDD Syndicate.
Wealth may purchase one half of the net smelter royalty at any time for a payment of $1,000,000.
The Agreement is referenced herein as Exhibit 4.4.
The Company has paid CDN$80,000 and 100,000 common shares on May 2, 2005 under the terms of this Agreement.
Location and introduction
The Mackenzie Project is located in east-central British Columbia, approximately 150 km north of the city of Prince George. It is a linear belt measuring roughly 130 km (northwest-southeast) by approximately 18 km wide (the core of this area has been staked and consists of a block of 109 claims (44,149.494 hectares). The region forms the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and while the western edge of the project area is readily accessible via the Mackenzie Highway, the bulk of the area is presently accessible only by helicopter.
The project is underlain by Upper Proterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Misinchinka Group and lies immediately east of the Rocky Mountain Trench. As such, it falls within the transition zone between areas with potential for traditional "hard rock" metallic mineralization and the oil and gas producing areas of the West Canada Basin. For this reason, it seems to have been neglected by both hard rock prospectors and petroleum explorers.
The area was chosen for preliminary gold prospecting because of the presence of exhalite type iron formation, the lack of any government regional geochemical sampling coverage, the documented occurrence of old gold placers and the poorly known nature of the dominant host rocks, the Misinchinka Group.
Additional relevant information is as follows:
a)
Access to some of the claims is by logging roads from the town of Mackenzie. However the bulk of the property must be accessed by helicopter. Nevertheless existing roads and infrastructure are generally within 20 to 40 km from any part of the property and construction of additional access roads would not be a large expense.
b)
The only conditions that must be met in order to retain title is that assessment work to the value of $4.00 per hectare must be completed for the first three years and then $8.00 per hectare thereafter. The claims are currently in their first year of tenure.
c)
A work program began on the properties on August 1, 2005. This work consisted of reconnaissance and detailed stream sediment and soil sampling to delineate areas of anomalous gold content. At the same time geological mapping was carried out to establish controls and areas of potentially significant mineralization. The program was completed in October 2005. The present condition of the properties is that they are virgin coniferous forest portions of which have been and are being logged. The nearby town of Mackenzie supports two producing pulp and paper mills.
d)
There is no plant or equipment on the properties.
e)
There is no physical equipment. Infrastructure is good with all support facilities being available in the town of Mackenzie which has paved road access, abundant power as well as an airport and available commercial planes and helicopters.
f)
Phase one evaluation has been completed, data has been collected and evaluated and an internal report was prepared for management in December 2005 and recommends a Phase Two program to be carried out during the period of June September 2006. The internal report is currently being updated and produced in final form to be filed with regulatory authorities.
g)
The total cost incurred for exploration to date was $542,254, together with acquisition costs of $178,000 (cash and shares).
h)
The property if viable would obtain power from the BC power grid, which could be extended from the town of Mackenzie. Abundant water is available on all parts of the property.
i)
The properties are without known reserves and the proposed program is exploratory in nature.
Exploration Summary
The Mackenzie Project is a newly discovered zone of gold geochemical anomalies which appear to be conformable with one or more sedimentary horizons and/or associated thrust faults in a sequence of Late Proterozoic rocks. Based on the geologic setting, the host rocks involved, the structural environment and lack of associated base metals or intrusive rocks, the source gold mineralization is thought to be related to sediment hosted vein deposits.
Mineralization
Regional geochemical sampling has detected anomalous gold values in stream sediments over a strike length of approximately 70 km (northwest-southeast) in a series of comformable (to regional strike) and en echelon bands up to 7 km wide. Approximately 350 silt samples were collected and of these roughly 8% are anomalous (40 ppb to 1250 ppb). Preliminary heavy mineral fraction analysis suggests that the bulk of the gold is fine although locally some coarse gold was noted.
The presence of abundant quartz float as well as areas of local carbonate alteration in a setting strongly suggestive of a sediment hosted vein or slate belt gold deposit environment confirms the Mackenzie Project as a prime, new, unexplored gold belt.
Exploration Plans
The Company has not made any definitive decisions with respect to the nature of the exploration program on the Mackenzie property to date. There are no work commitments required under the terms of the Agreement; however, Wealth is responsible for all payments and assessment work required to keep the property in good standing. In addition, there is a defined area of interest from which any minerals acquired by either Wealth or the VRBDD Syndicate or any of their respective affiliates or associates within such area will be contributed at cost and will form part of the property. Wealth is exploring joint venture opportunities with other exploration companies for the Mackenzie Project.
B.
Uranium Properties, Argentina
During July 2005, Madero Minerals S.A. (see Item 3.D) acquired by staking (exploration license application), 17 properties in the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, la Rioja and San Juan, northwestern Argentina (Exhibit 99.2 Location Map). Subsequently an office was set up in the city of Salta and evaluation of those properties (plus various submittals), have been carried out since October 15, 2005. It is estimated that this first phase evaluation will be completed by June 15, 2006.
To date, ten properties have been evaluated as non-prospective, two will advance to the next stage of exploration (detailed mapping, trenching and drilling), and five are still in the process of first stage evaluation. The Company is acquiring a 100% interest in these properties through the acquisition of Madero Minerals S.A.
The two properties which will advance to the next stage of exploration/evaluation are known as the Alemania property and the Amblayo property respectively. There will be 43-101 compliant reports completed on these properties by May 23, 2006.
1.
The Alemania Property
The Alemania property consists of three exploration concessions (cateos) totalling 23,650 hectares and is located 110 km south of the city of Salta, province of Salta. Access is by paved and gravel roads to the property and thence by dirt track and horse trails to various areas of the concessions.
At the Alemania property, uranium-copper-silver mineralization occurs in a series of conformable siltstone-mudstone-limestone beds within a fault-controlled, continental basin measuring about 4.5 km (N-S) by about 1.8 km (E-W). Numerous areas of anomalous radioactivity were noted within an approximate 100 meter section of the Late Cretaceous, Yacoraite Formation (sandy limestone, calcarious sandstone, thin bedded siltstone and mudstone). Secondary copper minerals were commonly noted in areas of anomalous radioactivity.
The areas of anomalous radioactivity and secondary (oxide) copper minerals are contained within a number of thin (less than one meter) beds of laminated gray siltstone and calcarious sandstone.
The maximum assay values obtained for uranium, copper and silver are respectively: 1,540 ppm (0.15%); 35,400 ppm (3.5%) and 46.5 ppm (1.45 oz/t). Of the 62 samples collected from the property, 31 contained in excess of 500 ppm (0.05 or 1lb/ton) uranium, 29 contained in excess of 1% copper and 29 contained in excess of 20 ppm (g/t) silver.
From this preliminary work, uranium mineralization appears to be confined to a number of thin beds within the approximately 100 meter thick sedimentary succession. However, the mineralization is stratigraphically controlled and has been traced intermittently for several thousand meters along strike as it outcrops around the limits of the basin. Further, extensive detailed mapping, sampling and trenching will be required to determine the full extent and potential of this mineralized system. The Company is encouraged by the potential for a significant tonnage of mineralized material which may be amenable to low cost, heap leaching technology.
Data from regional silt sampling completed by Argentine government mineral surveys suggests that additional undiscovered mineralization may be discovered in the property area. A second program of more extensive sampling and mapping has recently been completed and will be incorporated into the 43-101 report to be released shortly.
2.
The Amblayo Property
The Amblayo property is located in Salta province, northwest Argentina, approximately 100 km south-southwest of the capital city of Salta. The property comprises eleven exploration concessions (cateos) and one mina (exploitation concession) aggregating 72,116 hectares and surrounds the formerly producing Don Otto Mine. Access is by paved and gravel road from the city of Salta. Various secondary roads provide good access to most parts of the property internally. Topography is gentle to locally steep with elevations ranging from 2,200 to 3,000 meters above mean sea level. Field work can be carried out year round.
The first phase exploration work completed on the Amblayo property was supervised by Dr. Tom Richards, a recognized authority on the economic geology of northwestern Argentina.
The Amblayo property, which measures roughly 45 km (N-S) by an average of 18 km (E-W), covers a package of Cretaceous to Tertiary age, continental, sedimentary rocks folded into two prominent synclines, largely conformable with two prominent valleys (Tonco Valley and Amblayo valley). Anomalous to ore grade uranium values are occasionally accompanied by anomalous values in vanadium, copper, silver and molybdenum and are contained within a number of conformable shale and siltstone beds in the upper part of the Yacoraite Formation.
Zones of anomalous radioactivity range from less than one meter to six meters in thickness with one area of approximately 30 meters in thickness being recorded. These anomalous radioactive areas occur sporadically over a cumulative strike length of approximately 20 km. Included within this area is the formerly producing Don Otto Mine owned by CNEA (Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica) the Argentine national atomic energy authority. The Don Otto Mine is reported to have produced 88,000 lbs of uranium metal from mineralized material from the same host stratigraphy between 1963 - 1981.
A total of 49 character samples were collected during the initial mapping and exploration program. Maximum values obtained included 0.44% U, 0.60% V, 0.71% Cu, 16 g/t Ag and 0.03% Mo.
According to Dr. Richards: "uranium is distributed across a very broad area, generally within thin (to 2 meters), fine grained, sedimentary units....although widespread, the volume of uranium preserved in the Tonco and Amblayo basins appears to be large".
3.
Other Uranium Prospects in Argentina
Recently, the Company completed a program of reconnaissance prospecting and mapping in the San Jorge Basin in the provinces of Chubut and Santa Cruz, Argentina.
Wealth has been actively engaged in exploration for uranium in Argentina since mid 2005, principally in northwestern Argentina, but also in other parts of the country. The Company quickly recognized the San Jorge Basin as having excellent exploration potential for uranium, as well as having been under explored.
The San Jorge Basin is defined by a sequence of continental and tuffaceous, clastic sediments of Cretaceous age (the Chubut Group) which unconformably overlies a basement of Jurassic and older rocks. The basin measures roughly 400 km (N-S) by about 270 km (E-W), a surface area of about 170,000 sq. km.
A number of uranium occurrences were discovered in the basin by CNEA (the Argentine National Atomic Energy Authority) as a result of regional exploration completed by this organization during the 1960's through to the late 1990's. A number of these occurrences were investigated in detail by geological and geophysical surveys, drilling and bulk sampling. One occurrence in particular, the Cerro Solo deposit, has a quoted resource and pre-feasibility study and is reported to contain in the order of 10 million pounds of uranium with additional recoverable values in molybdenum according to a published report by CNEA.
As a result of its regional reconnaissance program, Wealth has recognized certain predictable structural and stratigraphic controls on uranium mineralization and has located numerous, previously undocumented, uranium occurrences in this basin. These showings occur within horizons previously known to host uranium mineralization as well as newly defined stratigraphic levels. Mineralization is manifested by zones of anomalous radioactivity frequently containing visible uranium or uranium-vanadium minerals. Selected grab samples have returned values in uranium and vanadium assaying in the range of less than 100 ppm to more than 10,000 ppm (1%). Of a total of 219 samples submitted for analysis, 59 reported values greater than 100 ppm U; 47 reported values greater than 200 ppm U and 33 reported values greater than 500 ppm U (0.05% or 1 pound per ton) to a maximum of +10,000 ppm U (limits of detection). The same 219 samples returned vanadium values as follows: 77 greater than 100 ppm; 33 greater than 200 ppm and 15 greater than 500 ppm to a maximum of +10,000 ppm (samples assaying greater than 10,000 ppm have to be re-analysed to give a precise value).
Samples were collected from unmineralized rock to give an idea of background levels for various rock units as well as from occurrences of radioactive rock (as determined by a scintillometer).
There was no specific sampling density as this was a reconnaissance exploration program; rather during the course of routine geological traverses or measuring of specific sections, various horizons were sampled as background material and zones of anomalous radioactivity were selectively sampled.
All samples collected were rock chips from outcrop. The samples were collected by seasoned prospectors and geologists, placed in plastic sample bags and kept in the Company's possession until driven by Company personnel to the laboratories of Alex Stewart (Assayers) Argentina, S.A. in Mendoza (city), Argentina. The Company's consultants have inspected the laboratory facilities and are satisfied with the protocols used. A recognized system of duplicate samples, blank samples and standards is used to ensure quality control. All samples are crushed and pulverized and a subsample is subjected to aqua regia digestion with analysis by ICP (inductively coupled plasma spectoscopy).
To protect these newly discovered occurrences, the Company has applied for a number of exploration concessions in various parts of the San Jorge Basin.
The Company is very encouraged by this exploration success and is planning to complete an airborne geophysical survey over selected parts of its holdings during the coming months. Extensive ground follow-up will be necessary to completely evaluate these widespread new discoveries. This phase of more detailed work is expected to commence in September 2006.
C.
Properties in which the Company no longer has an interest
1.
Amata Project
In June 2004 the Company entered into an option assignment agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Minera Koripampa del Peru S.A. ("Koripampa") whereby the Company obtained the right to acquire a 100% interest in certain mineral rights approximating 10,300 hectares and situated in the Department of Moquegua, Coalaque District, Peru (the "Amata Property") originally granted to Koripampa by Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited ("Rio Tinto") pursuant to a Letter of Understanding ("LOU") between Koripampa and Rio Tinto. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company assumed all of the rights and obligations under the LOU. In order to exercise its option to acquire the Amata Property, the Company was required to complete work expenditures and submit payments to Rio Tinto in accordance with the following tables:
Period |
Work Expenditure US$ |
Year to first anniversary of the LOU (June 2005) |
$200,000 |
Year to second anniversary of the LOU (June 2006) |
$500,000 |
TOTAL |
$700,000 |
Due Date |
Payment US$ |
On signing the LOU |
$100,000(paid) |
1 June, 2005 |
$150,000 |
1 June 2006 |
$750,000 |
1 June 2007 |
$1,000,000 |
1 June 2008 |
$2,00,000 |
TOTAL |
$4,000,000 |
Pursuant to the Option Agreement and in consideration thereof, The Company paid $100,000 (USD) and issued 200,000 common shares of the Company to Koripampa. The Company did not comply with the annual work expenditure programs in the first year of the contract. The Option Agreement will automatically terminate and the Company will not have further right or obligation to the property as of June, 2005, including the above work expenditures and payment due June, 2005. On May 20, 2005 the Company announced it would not be proceeding with this property as further investigation did not merit any expenditures with respect to exploration on the property. The Company is concentrating on better opportunities for exploration and has decided to focus its resources on the Mackenzie Property.
2.
Minera San Jorge S.A.
On December 15, 2004 Wealth entered into a letter of intent with Minera San Jorge S.A. de C.V. ("MSJ"), a Mexican Corporation, for an exclusive due diligence period and right of first refusal to acquire a 60% interest in two exploration projects in Mexico and Colombia. The original agreement called for completion of the final option agreement by January 31, 2005, pending successful due diligence and regulatory approval.
Under the letter of intent, the Company advanced US$150,000 as a refundable acquisition fee to MSJ. The advance is secured by a promissory note from MSJ and marketable securities comprised of 250,000 shares of Tumi Resources Ltd. ("Tumi"), a TSX Venture Exchange listed company. As at November 30, 2004 shares of Tumi closed at $0.99, representing a value of $247,500. On February 28, 2005, Wealth announced that it had elected not to pursue a property position through MSJ in Colombia. On May 20, 2005, the Company announced it would not be proceeding with the Mexican property and requested the return of the funds held in escrow. Further investigation of the property did not merit any exploration expenditures being made on the property at this time. The Company is concentrating on better opportunities for exploration and has decided to focus its resources on the Mackenzie Property
3.
Brett Property
On February 28, 2005 Wealth announced the signing of a letter agreement with Brett Resources Inc. ("Brett") for the right to acquire a 60% interest in a 47 square kilometer exploration license in eastern El Salvador, covering the surface exposure of a potential low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver vein system. On May 20, 2005, the Company announced that it would not be proceeding with the Brett Property. Further investigation of the property did not merit any exploration at the present time. The Company is concentrating on better opportunities for exploration and has decided to focus its resources on the Mackenzie Property.
4.
BET Claims 1 - 23 - Lander County, Nevada, USA
Location and Introduction
The BET Claims 1 - 23 (the "BET Claims") are located along the northwest flank of the Shoshone Range approximately 12 miles southeast of Battle Mountain, Lander County, Nevada, USA
Property Acquisition
The BET Claims 1 23 were claimed by the Company in 1997. We maintain our interest in the BET claims via yearly payments of $2,875 to the Bureau of Land Management in Battle Mountain, Nevada payable in September of each year and payments of $199 to the Lander County Recorder to hold the claims each year in September. We have no further work commitments on the BET 1-23 claims.
Mineralization
Two main types of mineralization are present on the BET Claims 1 - 23: 1) a silver-base metal type, and 2) a gold-silver-arsenic type with minor base metals. The two types show an apparent regional zonation. Type 1 is the most common and strongest or best developed from the BET Claims. The type 2 is prominent at the BET Claims and southward into Rocky Canyon.
The gold mineralized zones occur as steeply-dipping high-angle veins and fault breccias and as low angle-shear-breccia zones. Most mineralized veins and high-angle breccias zones are relatively narrow (less than 1 to about 20 feet in width), while the low-angle shear-breccia zones are typically 2 to 50 feet thick. The vein and steeply-dipping fault breccia mineralization consists of varying mixtures of quartz and calcite gangue containing abundant sulfide minerals. The sulfide minerals include pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and tetrahedite. Secondary copper minerals occur in oxidized zones with iron oxide minerals and scorodite. Low angle zones contain mineralization that is generally less distinctive and contains abundant clay minerals. Most of the shear zone mineralization is more intensely oxidized relative to the vein mineralization. The silver content of the veins is variable. Values up to several ounces silver per ton are common.
Present and Future Exploration Activities
Other than a site visit in fiscal 2005, the Company has performed no exploration work on the BET Claims. The Company does not currently have any exploration work planned on the BET claims for fiscal 2005, as they are no longer consistent with the Companys exploration profile. The Company may explore joint venture opportunities for these claims.
ITEM 5.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
5.A
OPERATING RESULTS
The discussion and analysis in this section compares the operating results of the year ended November 30, 2005 to the year ended November 30, 2004, and the year ended November 30, 2003 to the year ended November 30, 2002, and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto provided at Item 17, Financial Statements. At the present time the Companys expenditures consist of general and administrative costs, and exploration expenditures. The Company presently has no production from its interest in exploration concessions and has no significant revenue items.
We are involved in mineral exploration activities Argentina, and central British Columbia, Canada. To date, we have no revenue from operations. Expenditures related to mineral exploration and corporate overhead generated items are expensed. Exploration and overhead expenditures fluctuate depending on the exploration stage of our various projects and on the amount of available working capital. We are not restricted in our ability to transfer funds to our subsidiaries.
The Company did not engage, does not currently engage, nor does it expect to engage, in any hedging transactions to protect against fluctuations between Canadian and U.S. currencies. The Companys expenses are denominated in both Canadian and U.S. currencies.
The following discussion of the operating results and financial position should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements (and related notes).
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2005
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005, the Company incurred a loss of $3,176,055compared to $1,630,322 in the prior year. The loss in 2005 increased by $1,545,733 and was primarily comprised of the following expense increases: Stock-based compensation decreased ($335,362 vs. $549,360) due to the different nature and timing of stock option grants. Exploration costs of $1,798,184 have increased significantly and are related to the Companys newly acquired properties in 2005 (see below). The 2004 expenditures were primarily on the Amata property in Peru which was disposed of in 2005. Salaries in 2005 are comprised exclusively of severance costs relating to the Companys former President who resigned in early 2005. During 2003 the Company was relatively inactive with regard to its mineral property holdings, and did not record stock-based compensation on the granting of stock options. In 2004, the Company moved premises, completed four private placements and entered into new property agreements. As a consequence, all other administrative expense categories also increased as compared to 2003. Listing and transfer agent fees increased fourfold to $81,156 in 2004, but returned to more a normal level of $35,340 in 2005. Professional fees and travel both have increased steadily over the past three years commensurate with the Companys overall increase in exploration and business activity.
Total consulting fees of $213,240 (2004 - $234,116) include $105,600 (2004 - $152,500) paid to related parties (see Transactions with Related Parties below). Travel expenses were incurred primarily by directors in respect of property due diligence, to complete private placement financings, and for general corporate purposes.
The Company incurred exploration costs of $1,798,184 in 2005 substantially on its newly acquired properties, compared to $504,262 and $27,783 in 2004 and 2003 respectively on the Amata Project in Peru, and the Nevada, USA claims as follows:
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
|
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
|
Mackenzie Project, BC, Canada |
|||
Acquisition |
$ 178,000 |
- |
- |
Exploration |
542,254 |
- |
- |
Argentina Uranium Project |
|||
Acquisition |
263,760 |
- |
- |
Exploration |
805,030 |
||
Amata Project, Peru |
|||
Acquisition |
- |
426,606 |
- |
Exploration |
8,562 |
58,241 |
- |
Nevada, USA, Properties |
|||
Acquisition |
- |
- |
27,783 |
Exploration |
578 |
19,415 |
- |
Total |
$ 1,798,184 |
504,262 |
27,783 |
The Company recognizes an expense for stock options granted, and a share issuance cost in respect of agents warrants issued in connection with private placements, as determined by the Black-Scholes pricing model. In 2004, options were granted but no agents warrants were issued. As a result of the options granted, $335,362 (2004 - $549,360) was recorded as a credit to contributed surplus. As a result of the exercise of stock options during the year, $42,910 (2004 - $16,800) was debited to contributed surplus and credited to the value of the options exercised.
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2004
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004 the Company incurred a loss of $1,630,322 compared to a loss of $263,199 in the prior year. The loss in 2004 increased by $1,367,123 and was primarily comprised of the following: Stock-based compensation ($549,360), exploration costs (increase of $476,479) and consulting fees (increase of $155,316). These items account for $1,181,155 (86%) of the increase. During 2003 and 2002, the Company was relatively inactive with regard to its mineral property holdings, and did not record stock-based compensation on the granting of stock options. In 2004, the Company moved to its current address at #1901 1177 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C., completed four private placements and entered into new property agreements. As a consequence, general administrative expense categories also increased. Listing and transfer agent fees increased fourfold to $81,156 from $20,730 primarily due to costs associated with the private placements. Professional fees and travel both almost doubled to $86,837 and $44,237 respectively, from $52,900 and $24,702.
Total consulting fees of $238,116 include $156,500 from related parties (see Transactions with Related Parties below). Other consulting fees and salaries were $81,616 (2003 - $22,800). Remuneration to related parties was comprised of $125,000 to the former President, $22,500 to the President, and $4,000 to the CFO. Included in the $125,000 to the former President is a $60,000 severance fee for stepping down upon the appointment of a new President. All payments made to Rosalie Moore were made under the terms of her contracts attached hereto as Exhibit 4.6. All payments for services were made to Gary Freeman under his contract attached hereto as Exhibit 4.6. The lump sum payment paid to Mr. Freeman when he stepped down as President was made pursuant to a Board Resolution passed September 27, 2004.
Travel expenses were incurred primarily by directors in respect of completing private placement financings, for general corporate purposes, for attendance at two trade shows, and for property investigations.
The Company incurred acquisition and exploration costs of $504,262, comprised of $484,847 on the Amata Project in Peru, and $19,415 on the Nevada, USA claims as follows:
Amata Project, Peru |
Betty ONeal Claims, Nevada |
BET 1-23 Claims, Nevada |
Total |
|
|
|
|
||
Acquisition costs |
$ 381,970 |
- |
- |
$ 381,970 |
Taxes and fees |
44,636 |
- |
- |
44,636 |
Claim and filing fees |
- |
11,719 |
4,033 |
15,752 |
Geological consulting |
23,278 |
- |
- |
23,278 |
Insurance |
- |
3,663 |
- |
3,663 |
Surveying |
21,756 |
- |
- |
21,756 |
Travel |
13,207 |
- |
- |
13,207 |
|
|
|
||
Total |
$ 484,847 |
15,382 |
4,033 |
$ 504,262 |
The Amata project acquisition costs are comprised of a cash payment of US$100,000 and the issuance of 200,000 common shares at a fair value of $1.22 per share. The other costs were incurred as a result of examining and evaluating the property. (Refer to Investments above).
The Company recognizes an expense for stock options granted, and a share issuance cost in respect of agents warrants issued in connection with private placements, as determined by the Black-Scholes pricing model. In 2004, options were granted but no agents warrants were issued. As a result of the options granted, $549,360 was recorded as a credit to contributed surplus. As a result of the exercise of stock options during the year, $16,800 was debited to contributed surplus and credited to the value of the options exercised.
Net loss for the year ended November 30, 2004 under US GAAP was $1,630,322 (2003 - $263,199; 2002 - $388,185). The comparison of loss per Canadian GAAP was calculated as follows:
In fiscal 2004, total assets of the Company increased to $3,035,983 from $117,052 as at November 30, 2003. During the 2004 fiscal year, the Company received $3,549,400 from private placements, $161,400 from the exercise of warrants and $10,000 from exercise of stock options subsequent to year end.
In fiscal 2004, the Company expended a total of $2,875 on claim maintenance on the Bet properties in Nevada as compared to $27,783 on exploration programs in 2003.
Year Ended November 30, 2003
Net loss for the year ended November 30, 2003 under US GAAP was $263,199 (2002 - $388,185; 2001 - $679,437).
Total assets of the Company decreased from $185,094 as at November 30, 2002 to $117,052 as at November 30, 2003. During the year, the Company received $97,500 from a private placement, $33,750 from the exercise of warrants and $44,250 from exercise of stock options.
In 2003, the Company expended a total of $27,783 on exploration programs on the Whisky Canyon, and Bet properties in Nevada as compared to $57,664 in 2002.
Year Ended November 30, 2002
Net loss for the year ended November 30, 2002, under Canadian GAAP was $315,085 as compared to $679,437 for the year ended November 30, 2001. The decrease in losses is mainly due to the decreased cost in the acquisition of mineral properties and decreased exploration costs.
The net loss for the twelve months ended November 30, 2002, was $315,085 or $0.06 per share in comparison with $679,427 or $0.24 per share for the same period ending November 30, 2001. The increase in loss is due to the write off of exploration costs of the Standard Creek property and the write off of mineral properties. Fully diluted income (loss) per share for the year ended November 30, 2002, was ($0.06) compared to ($0.24) for the previous year ending November 30, 2001.
During the year ended November 30, 2002 the Company used $309,940 of its cash resources for operating activities and $6,841 in its investing activities. Included in the investing activities was $0 for mineral properties $Nil for exploration costs, and $0 in costs incurred in investigating potential investments. These activities were funded by the initial cash balance on hand at the beginning of the year plus funds raised during the year. During the fiscal year, the Company received $330,500 from private placements $180,250 from the exercise of warrants and $12,750 from the exercise of incentive stock options. As a result, the Company had a positive cash flow of $66,369 and a cash balance of $126,202 as at November 30, 2002.
Options to Purchase Securities from Registrant or Subsidiaries
As at February 27, 2002 we cancelled all previously outstanding stock options and issued rights to purchase or acquire an aggregate of 505,000 common shares pursuant to stock options and other outstanding rights to purchase securities, including the warrants listed in Item 6.B "Director and Employee Stock Options". The closing market price of the common shares on November 30, 2003, on the TSX Venture Exchange was $0.17. In February 2004, the Company re-priced all existing stock options to $0.25 per share. In February 2004, the Company issued 120,000 stock options exercisable at $0.25 per share to directors, officers and a consultant of the Company. In September 2004, the Company issued 900,000 stock options exercisable at $0.70 per share to directors, officers and a consultant of the Company. The following table summarizes stock option transactions for the years ended November 30, 2005 and 2004:
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
|
2005 |
2004 |
|
Outstanding, beginning of year |
920,000 |
95,000 |
Issued exercisable at $0.25 |
- |
120,000 |
Exercised at $0.25 |
(20,000) |
(195,000) |
Issued - exercisable at $0.70 |
585,000 |
900,000 |
Exercised at $0.70 |
(75,000) |
- |
Cancelled |
(425,000) |
- |
Issued - exercisable at $1.05 |
175,000 |
- |
Cancelled |
(25,000) |
- |
Issued - exercisable at $1.00 |
50,000 |
- |
Issued exercisable at $1.12 |
75,000 |
- |
Outstanding, end of year |
1,260,000 |
920,000 |
.
5.B
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our primary source of funds since incorporation has been from the sale of our Common Shares through private placements and the exercise of incentive stock options and share purchase warrants. We have no revenue from mining to date and do not anticipate mining revenues in the foreseeable future. We believe that we have adequate working capital to proceed with the Companys planned exploration programs.
We have no loan agreements or other current financing plans to raise additional capital. However, the Board of Directors may seek to increase the exploration budget through private placements if we receive positive geological results warranting future exploration.
The Company does not know of any trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties that will result in, or that are reasonably likely to result in, the Companys liquidity either materially increasing or decreasing at present or in the foreseeable future. Material increases or decreases in the Companys liquidity are substantially determined by the success or failure of the Companys exploration programs or the future acquisition of projects.
Fiscal year 2005
In June 2005, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 1,000,000 units at a price of $0.56 per unit for total proceeds of $560,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one half a common share at a price of $0.80 per whole common share until December 23, 2006.
In July 2005, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 150,000 units at a price of $0.61 per unit for total proceeds of $91,500. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one half a common share at a price of $0.80 per whole common share until January 5, 2007.
Fiscal year 2004 and prior
In fiscal 2004, the Company raised a total of $3,549,400 through the issuance of a total of 7,666,250 of its common shares by way of private placements as detailed below.
In February 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 850,000 units at a price of $0.24 per unit, for total proceeds of $204,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where one full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share until August 26, 2005. No finders fee was issued. To date, 425,000 warrants remain unexercised.
In March 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 2,500,000 units at a price of $0.27 per unit, for total proceeds of $675,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where one full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share until March 15, 2006. No finders fee was issued. During the year, 150,000 warrants were exercised. If the common shares trade above $1.00 per share on the TSX Venture Exchange for a period of 10 consecutive trading days prior to the expiry of the warrants and after the initial four month hold period has expired, the Company has the right to force the exercise of the warrants. To date 1,306,250 warrants remain unexercised. G.F. Consulting Corp., a private company owned by Gary Freeman purchased 300,000 units under this private placement.
In May 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 3,010,000 units at a price of $0.54 per unit, for total proceeds of $1,625,400. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where one full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.80 per share until May 14, 2006. No finders fee was issued. During the year, no warrants were exercised. If the common shares trade above $1.50 per share on the TSX Venture Exchange for a period of 10 consecutive trading days prior to the expiry of the warrants and after the initial four month hold period has expired, the Company has the right to force the exercise of the warrants. To date 1,505,000 warrants remain unexercised. Amergold Investments, a private corporation owned by Gary Freeman, purchased 200,000 units under this private placement. Gil Atzmon, a former director of the Company, purchased 15,000 units under this private placement.
In September, 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 1,306,250 units at a price of $0.80 per unit, for total proceeds of $1,045,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $1.00 per share until March 7, 2006. Finders fees of $40,200 were paid as follows $3,200 to Windsor Capital, a British Columbia corporation, the principals of which are at arms length to the Company and who introduced individual investors to the Company; $6,000 to Haywood Securities, a British Columbia corporation the principals of which are at arms length to the Company and who introduced individual investors to the Company; $9,600 to National Media, a U.S. corporation the principals of which are at arms length to the Company and who introduced individual investors to the Company; and, $24,000 to Tom Wikstrom, an individual who is at arms length to the Company who introduced individual investors to the Company. During the year, no warrants were exercised. To date, 1,306,350 warrants remain unexercised.
In November 2003, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 225,000 units at a price of $0.30 per unit, for total proceeds of $67,500. Each unit consisted of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.42 per share until November 14, 2005. No finders fee was issued. G.F. Consulting Corp., a company owned by Gary Freeman purchased 100,000 units under this private placement. Mr. Freeman exercised 100,000 of these warrants on May 26, 2005. The balance of these warrants expires in November, 2005. Jerry Pogue, a director of the Company, purchased 100,000 units under this private placement.
During the year ended November 30, 2004, we used $ 1,184,084 of our cash resources for operating activities and $5,732 in investing activities. These activities were funded by initial cash balance on hand at the beginning of the year and funds raised during the year. During the fiscal year, we received $3,765,487 from common share issuances, excluding property acquisitions and other transactions. In February, 2004, the Company issued 850,000 units at $0.24 for proceeds of $204,000. Warrants to purchase an additional 425,000 shares at $0.35were issued on the private placement, these warrants expire August 26, 2005. In March of 2004, the Company issued 2,500,000 units at $0.27 for proceeds of $675,000. Warrants to purchase 1,250,000 common shares at $0.35 were issued on this private placement. These warrants expire in March, 2006. In May of 2004 the Company issued 3,010,000 units at $0.54 for proceeds of $1,625,400. Warrants to purchase 1,625,000 shares at $0.80 were issued on this private placement. These warrants expire in May, 2006. In September 2004, the Company issued 1,306,250 units at $0.80 for proceeds of $1,045,000. Warrants to purchase 1,045,000 shares at $1.00 were issued on this private placement. These warrants expire in March, 2006. The Company received $123,900 from the exercise of warrants and $44,687 from the exercise of options. Subsequent to year end, the Company received $10,000 from the exercise of options and $42,000 from the exercise of warrants. Subsequent to year end, in May 2005, the Company announced it would be issuing 1,000,000 common shares at $0.56 by way of private placement. Warrants to purchase an additional 500,000 common shares at $0.70 are attached to this private placement. These warrants expire in May 2007.
During the fiscal year ended November 30 2003, we used $263,803 of our cash resources for operating activities and $Nil in investing activities. These activities were funded by initial cash balances on hand at the beginning of the year and funds raised during the year. During the fiscal year we received $97,500 from a private placements in which 225,000 common shares were issued at $0.30 per share with warrants to purchase a further 225,000 shares at $0.42 which expire in November of 2005, and 62,500 shares at $0.48 with 62,500 warrants at $0.60. $33,750 was received from the exercise of warrants and $44,250 from the exercise of options.
5.C
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES, ETC.
Not Applicable.
5.D
TREND INFORMAITON
Not Applicable.
5.E
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Not Applicable
5.F
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Payments Due by Period |
||||
Less than one Year |
1-3 Years |
3-5 Years |
More than 5 Years |
|
Contractual obligations cash payments |
$50,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
$25,000 |
Contractual obligations - shares |
950,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Capital (finance) lease obligations |
N/A |
N/A See note 2 |
N/A See note 2 |
N/A |
Other long term liabilities reflected in the Companys balance sheet under GAAP of the primary financial statements |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
The information used in the above table is as of the latest fiscal year end balance sheet (November 30, 2005).
ITEM 6.
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
6.A
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth the names and addresses of each of our directors and officers, their principal occupations and their respective date of commencement of their term. All directors and officers hold office until the next annual general meeting of our shareholders or until a successor can be appointed.
Name, Municipality of Residence and Position with Company |
Principal Occupation during the Past Five Years |
Number of Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned or directly/indirectly controlled (2) (3) |
Percentage of Issued Share Capital (3) |
GARY FREEMAN(1) Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Vice President and Director September. 2004 to Present President and Director from March 1999 to September 2004 Acting President and CEO from March 2005 to June 2005 |
President and Director of Wealth Minerals Ltd. from March, 2000 to September, 2004. Mr. Freeman has been in the investment community for over 18 years and has been responsible for the financing of many public companies, such as Lion Lake Resources, Palmer Resources and Indico Technologies. He has worked in the development and the structuring of projects from early stages. Mr. Freeman began working with Wealth Minerals Ltd. in 1996 and had worked as project co-coordinator on a contract basis. Mr. Freeman dedicates less than 25% of his time to the Company in the area of business development. |
349,157 direct 301,468 indirect 100,000 options 0 warrants |
3.89% |
JERRY G. POGUE (1) Vancouver, British Columbia President and CEO from 1996 to March 1999, Director from March 1999 to Present, Acting President and CEO from July 2005 to Present |
Acting President and CEO of Wealth Minerals Ltd. Mr. Pogue is a self-employed business consultant and has been a financier since 1994. Mr. Pogue was previously the President, CEO, Chairman and a Director of Palmer Resources Ltd. from May, 1996 to February, 1999; Prior to 1994 was a Registered Representative with National Securities Corp., Seattle, WA, USA from 1981 to 1993 Mr. Pogue dedicates approximately 75% of his time to the Company in business development, finance, property acquisition and personnel. |
223,905 direct 259,800 indirect 175,000 options 15,000 warrants |
2.89% |
HENK VAN ALPHEN(1) North Saanich, British Columbia Canada Director September 2004 to Present |
Henk Van Alphen has 23 years experience in the mining business as an exploration contractor and as the former President of Pacific Rim Mining. He is currently the President of Cardero Resources Ltd., of Vancouver B.C. a TSX Venture listed company. Mr. Van Alphen dedicates approximately 25% of his time to the Company in the areas of business development, property acquisition and finance. |
559,000 common 175,000 options 0 warrants |
3.34% |
MICHAEL BARTLETT(1) Orlando, Florida USA Director 1996 to present |
President and Owner of Leisure Capital & Management Inc., a company which specializes in the pre-development, start-ups in innovative strategic, conceptual, economic and financial solutions from 1989 to present; from 1998 director, chairman and President of Indico Technologies Corporation, a public company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange; from 1996 to present, President & CEO of Creative Entertainment & Technologies, Inc., a public company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange; from January 1995 to 1996 President and CEO of National Maritime Authority. Mr. Bartlett dedicates approximately 10% of his time to the Company in the areas of business development. |
0 common 50,000 options 0 warrants |
N/A |
MICHAEL W. KINLEY Burnaby, British Columbia Canada Chief Financial Officer August 2005 to Present |
Director and CFO of StonePoint Global Brands Inc. since June 2004; CFO of Cardero Resources Corp. since August 2005, CFO of Wealth Mineral Limited since July 2005; Director and CFO of Indico Technologies Ltd. since January, 2005; President, CEO, CFO and Director of Zim Gold Resources Ltd. from February 1997 to present (now Noise Media Inc.); Director and CFO of Strike Resources Ltd. since July 2004 to present; President and Director of WorldStar Energy Corp. (formerly Auteo Media Inc.) since December 2003; President and Director of Abstract Enterprises Corp. from September 1997 to December 2005; President of Winslow Associates Inc., a private consulting firm since 1993; President and Director of Jon Daring Group Inc. since February 2005. Mr. Kinley dedicates approximately 30% of his time to the Company in his position of Chief Financial Officer. |
0 common 50,000 options 0 warrants |
N/A |
ROSALIE MOORE(4) Vancouver, British Columbia Canada President, Director September 2004 to March 2005 |
Ms. Moore obtained her M.S. Geology from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Ms. Moore has worked as a geologist for Texaco Inc. in Louisianna, Touchstone Resources in Nevada, Ivanhoe Capital Corporation of Vancouver and Minera ABX Exploraciones of Cajamarca, Peru. Ms. Moore was the Manager, Geological and Technical Services for Diamond Fields Resources of Vancouver. Ms. Moore has also served as a Mining Analyst for the Natural Resource Group at Yorkton Securities in Vancouver and is the past Vice President of Corporate Relations of Pan American Silver Corp., of Vancouver, B.C. Most recently, Ms. Moore was the Vice President of Corporate Development at Bear Creek Mining Corporation in Vancouver. Ms. Moore dedicated 100% of her time to the Company as its president and geological expert. |
Nil |
N/A |
JON LEVER(5) Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Chief Financial Officer Sept 2004 to July 2005 |
Mr. Lever has been a Certified Management Accountant since October 1991. President, Lever Capital Corporation since September 1995, a private company providing financial and operations management, and regulatory and internal financial reporting for public companies. CFO of Lalo Ventures Limited since February 20, 2004, and CFO of Tournigan Gold Corporation since April 1, 2004. Both companies are involved in mineral exploration and are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Former director of Finance, Digital Pioneer Technologies Corp., a private technology equipment manufacturer, from April 2000 to April 2002. Former director of Consolidated Agarwal Resources Ltd., a public issuer not currently trading, from February 26, 2001 to December 31, 2003. Former director of Player Petroleum Corporation, a public oil and gas producer, from January 1996 to March 1999. Mr. Lever dedicated 20% of his time to the Company as the Chief Financial Officer |
Nil |
N/A |
KATHLEEN MARTIN(6) Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Corporate Secretary March 2005 to December 2005 |
Ms. Martin is an independent corporate finance consultant, with 20 years experience in the public markets. She is the past CEO and founder of Voyageur Film Capital now a CNQ listed Company called Creation Casinos. She is a director of Learnsoft Corporation and TSX Venture listed company. She is the President of St. Andrews Finance Ltd. a private Vancouver based company specializing in corporate finance and debt re-organizations. Ms. Martin dedicated 20% of her time to the Company in the areas of corporate administration, governance and regulatory compliance. |
Nil |
N/A |
(1)
Each Director is a Member of the Audit Committee of the Company
(2)
Common shares and options beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or over which control or direction is exercised, as at the date hereof, based upon information furnished to the Company by individual directors and officers. Unless otherwise indicated, such shares or options are held directly. These figures do not include shares that may be acquired on the exercise of any share purchase warrants held by the respective directors and officers. Details of options held by the directors and officers are set forth under "Options and Other Rights to Purchase Shares - Outstanding Stock Options".
(3)
The directors, officers and other members of management of the Company, as a group beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 1,693,330 common shares of the Company, representing 10.13% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company as at May 26, 2006.
(4)
Ms. Moore resigned as President and Director on March 27, 2005.
(5)
Mr. Lever resigned as Chief Financial Officer on July 31, 2005.
(6)
Ms. Martin was not re-elected to the position of Corporate Secretary at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on December 21, 2005.
MANAGEMENT
At the Annual General Meeting held on December 21, 2005, Gary Freeman, Michael Bartlett, Jerry Pogue and Henk Van Alphen were elected as directors of the Company. Mr. Michael W. Kinley was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer.
Jerry Pogue has been acting President and CEO on a full time basis since July 1, 2005. The Company is currently assessing appropriate candidates for the permanent position of President and CEO. The Company has no other full or part time employees and hires consultants on an as required basis.
INVESTOR RELATIONS
We have entered into an agreement with Institutional Market Communications Inc. for the provision of investor relations services focusing on the European market(s).
We have entered into an agreement with Mr. Glenn Shand to provide investor relations services. Please see 6.B "Termination of Employment, Changes in Responsibility and Employment Contracts".
6. B
COMPENSATION
The following tables set forth all annual and long term compensation for services in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries for each of the past three completed fiscal years in respect of the Companys directors and members of its administrative, supervisory or management bodies.
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation |
Long Term Compensation |
|||||||||
Awards |
Payouts |
|||||||||
Name and Principal Position |
Fiscal Year End |
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Other Annual Comp |
Common Shares Under Options\ SARs granted (#) |
Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units ($) |
LTIP Payout ($) |
All other Compensation ($) |
||
Gary R. Freeman, Director (2) |
Nov 30 / 05 |
$72,500 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Jerry G. Pogue, |
Nov 30 / 05 |
$16,000 |
Nil |
Nil |
25,000 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Michael Bartlett, Director |
Nov 30 / 05 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
50,000 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
||
Rosalie Moore Director, President(1) |
Dec 04 to Mar 05 |
$36,000 |
Nil |
$108,000 |
200,000 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Henk Van Alphen, Director |
Nov 30 / 05 |
$17,100 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
NA |
N/A |
||
Michael Kinley, CFO |
Nov 30 / 05 |
$12,000 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Jon Lever, CFO (4) |
Nov 30 / 05 |
$16,000 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
Kathleen Martin (3) Corporate Secretary |
Nov 30/05 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
(1)
Ms. Moore resigned as the President and Director in March 2005. Ms. Moore received $18,000 under her contract in fiscal 2004 for her duties as President. Ms. Moore received $36,000 in compensation as President during 2005. Ms. Moore received a lump sum payment of $108,000 under the terms of her contract when she resigned as President in March 2005.
(2)
In September 2004 Mr. Freeman stepped aside as President and CEO of the Company and pursuant to a Board resolution, received a lump sum payment of $60,000 in severance. In September 2004 Mr. Freeman entered into an employment contract to provide investor relations, finance and administration services to the Company for a payment of $5,000 per month which, in October 2004, was revised to $7,500 per month in October 2004. The terms of Mr. Freemans agreement were further revised in October 2005 to provide the Company with finance services for a monthly payment of $2,500.00 per month.
(3)
During fiscal 2005, 628894 B.C. Ltd., a private British Columbia Company owned by Kathleen Martin was compensated for administrative and supervisory work in connection with the Companys regulatory filings, audit and quarterly report preparation and filings and business affairs. This compensation amounted to CDN$25,596.
(4)
Jon Lever resigned effective July 31, 2005
No other executive officer received direct or indirect compensation from any source for services provided to the Company during the most recently completed financial year.
Outstanding Warrants from Previous Private Placements
As at May 26, 2006 351,750 share purchase warrants exercisable at $0.80 remain outstanding until December 23, 2006 of which Jerry Pogue has 15,000 warrants. A further 55,000 share purchase warrants are exercisable at $0.80 until January 5, 2007. On May 5, 2005 Jerry Pogue exercised 150,000 share purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $0.35. On May 25, 2005, GF Consulting Corp., a private company owned by Gary Freeman, exercised 100,000 warrants at a price of $0.42. On July 20, 2005 Gary Freeman exercised 100,000 share purchase warrants exercisable at a price of $0.35 and on August 3, 2005 GF Consulting Corp. exercised 50,000 share purchase warrants at a price of $0.35. On November 14, 2005 Jerry Pogue exercised 100,000 warrants at a price of $0.42. On March 26, 2006 Amergold Investments, a private company owned by Jerry Pogue, exercised 95,000 warrants at an exercise price of $0.80. All remaining warrants are owned by private individuals or corporations not related to Wealth.
Defined Benefit or Actuarial Plan Disclosure
We have no defined benefit or actuarial plans.
Termination of Employment, Changes in Responsibility and Employment Contracts
The Company currently has two employment contracts in place.
Mr. Gary Freeman entered into a contract with the Company to provide investor relations, management and administrative services at a rate of $5,000 per month until September 30, 2005 and he was granted 200,000 incentive stock options under this agreement. His rate for contract services was amended to $7,500 per month on October 2, 2004 which was revised in October 2005 whereby the services provided by Mr. Freeman were amended and his monthly fees lowered to $2,500.
The Company entered into a contract with Rosalie Moore to undertake the duties of President of the Company on September 17, 2004. The remuneration was at the rate of $108,000 per annum, subject to a six month review by the Board. Ms. Moore was entitled to 200,000 stock options (granted on September 29, 2004) whereby 50,000 of the options would vest after six months and the balance would vest over the ensuing six month period. At the 6 month anniversary review, either the board or Mr. Moore could elect to terminate the contract by paying one years salary to Ms. Moore. On March 27, 2005, Ms. Moore resigned and a payment of $108,000 was made to her under the terms of the contract. The contract is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.6.
Management and Consulting Contracts
The Company has no other management contracts other than previously disclosed in this Form 20F.
Compensation of Directors
Gary Freeman and Rosalie Moore receive compensation for their services as officers. With the exception of $8,720 paid to Jerry Pogue, all other directors and officers receive compensation based upon services provided to the Company and/or stock options for their services.
Proposed Compensation
We have determined the amount of compensation to be granted to officers for the 12 months beginning December 1, 2005 as follows:
Monthly |
Yearly |
|
Jerry Pogue |
$5,000 |
$60,000 |
Henk Van Alphen |
$5,700 |
$68,400 |
Gary Freeman |
$2,500 |
$30,000 |
Michael Kinley |
$3,000 |
$36,000 |
Except as disclosed above, we have no standard arrangement pursuant to which officers or directors are compensated for their services, except for the granting from time to time of incentive stock options in accordance with policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.
The Company paid $16,000 to Jerry Pogue for services as a director and acting President in fiscal 2005.
The Company paid $30,153 in expense reimbursement to directors in fiscal 2005.
6.C
BOARD PRACTICES
The Company does not have a formal compensation committee. However, the Board meets on an annual basis to review management compensation.
The Board of Directors of the Company adopted an Audit Committee Charter on November 24, 2005 (copy attached as Exhibit 99.1). The Company does not currently have any other committees. The Audit Committee reviews all financial statements prior to any acceptance of the financial statements and filing of the statements with the Regulatory Authorities.
The overall purpose of the Audit Committee is to:
•
Ensure that the management of Wealth Minerals Ltd. has designed and implemented an effective system of internal financial controls for reviewing and reporting on the Companys financial statements;
•
Oversee, review and report on the integrity of the Companys financial disclosure and reporting;
•
Review the Companys compliance and regulatory and statutory requirements as they relate to financial statements, taxation matters and disclosure of material facts; and
•
By directly responsible for:
a.
The selection of a firm of external auditors to be proposed for election as the external auditors of the Company;
b.
The oversight of the work of the Companys external auditors, and
c.
Subject to the grant by the shareholders of the authority to do so, if required, fixing the compensation of the external auditors of the Company.
All officers and directors will hold office for one year or until the next Annual General Meeting.
The date of expiration of the current term of office for each of the Companys directors can be found in the chart located under Item 6.B Compensation.
For details of directors service contracts with the Company providing for benefits upon termination of employment, please see the discussion found under Item 6.B Compensation.
Jerry Pogue is the acting CEO and President. He will hold this office until the next Annual General Meeting or until a new President and CEO is appointed. The Company is currently assessing candidates for the position of CEO and President.
With the exception of Mr. Freemans current contract with the Company for finance services, the Company and its subsidiary does not currently have any employment contracts with any of its officers and directors.
6.D
EMPLOYEES
The Company does not have any other full time employees who are under contract. The Company hires consultants on an as needed basis.
6.E
SHARE OWNERSHIP
The Company discloses its share ownership for the persons listed in Item 6B in Item 6A.
The following is a summary of the principal terms of the Companys Stock Option Plan.
The Plan provides that stock options may be granted to directors, senior officers, employees, consultants of the Company and any of its affiliate and consultant companies. A consultant (a "Consultant") is defined under B.C. Instrument 45-106 as an individual (or a company wholly owned by individuals) who:
(a)
is engaged to provide on a bona fide basis consulting, technical, management or other services to the issuer or to an affiliated entity of the issuer, other than services provided in relation to a distribution and, in the case of senior-listed issuers only, includes consultants conducting investor relations activities;
(b)
provides the services under a written contract between the issuer or the affiliated entity and the individual or a consultant company or consultant partnership of the individual; and
(c)
in the reasonable opinion of the issuer, spends or will spend a significant amount of time and attention on the affairs and business of the issuer or an affiliated entity of the issuer.
Under the Plan, the Company's board of directors (the "Board") may, from time to time, designate a director or other senior officer or employee of the Company as administrator (the "Administrator") for the purposes of administering the Plan.
The Plan provides for the issuance of stock options to acquire up to that number of the Company's common shares (the "Plan Ceiling") equal to 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital as at the date of grant, subject to standard anti-dilution adjustments. This is a "rolling" Plan Ceiling as the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the grant of stock options will increase as the Company's issued and outstanding share capital increases. The Plan Ceiling includes outstanding stock options granted prior to the implementation of the Plan. If a stock option expires or otherwise terminates for any reason, the number of common shares in respect of that expired or terminated stock option shall again be available for the purposes of the Plan.
The Board may be terminated by the Plan at any time, but such termination will not alter the terms or conditions of any option awarded prior to the date of such termination. The Optionee may exercise any stock option outstanding when the Plan is terminated for a period of thirty (30) days after the date of the termination of the Plan, provided that such options had vested on the date of termination.
The Plan provides that other terms and conditions, including vesting schedules, if any, may be determined by the Board or the Administrator in his or her discretion, such terms and conditions to be included in the option agreement.
The Plan provides that it is solely within the discretion of the Board to determine who should receive stock options and in what amounts. The Board may issue a majority of the options to insiders of the Company. However, in no case will the issuance of common shares upon the exercise of stock options granted under the Plan result in:
(d)
the number of options awarded in a one-year period to any one Consultant exceeding 2% of the issued shares of the Company (calculated at the time of award);
(e)
the number of options awarded in a one-year period to any one individual exceeding 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company (calculated at the time of award);
(f)
the aggregate number of options awarded in a one-year period to Employees undertaking investor relations activities exceeding 2% of the issued shares of the Company (calculated at the time of award); or
(g)
the aggregate number of common shares reserved for issuance to any one individual upon the exercise of options awarded under the Plan or any previously established and outstanding stock option plans or grants, exceeding 5% of the issued shares of the Company (calculated at the time of award) in a one-year period.
Options granted under the Plan will be for a term not to exceed five years from the date of their grant. Unless the Company otherwise decides, in the event an option holder ceases to be a Consultant or employee of the Company (other than by reason of death), the stock option will expire on the earlier of the expiry date stated in the option agreement ("Fixed Expiry Date") and the 90th day following the date of termination, unless the holder holds the stock option as an employee of the Company performing investor relations activities, in which case the stock option will expire on the earlier of the Fixed Expiry Date or 30 days following the date the director or senior officer ceases to be a director or senior officer of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a stock option will expire immediately in the event a director or senior officer ceases to be a director or senior officer of the Company as a result of ceasing to meet the qualifications under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), a special resolution is passed by the shareholders, or an order is made by a regulatory authority. A stock option will also expire immediately in the event an employee ceases to be an employee as a result of termination for cause or an employee or Consultant ceases to be an employee or Consultant as a result of an order made by a regulatory authority. In the event of the death of an option holder, who is a director or an employee who was continuously employed by the Company, the stock option will expire six months after the date of death or on the Fixed Expiry Date, whichever is earlier.
The price at which an option holder may purchase a common share upon the exercise of a stock option will be as set forth in the option agreement issued in respect of such option and in any event will not be less than the discounted market price of the Company's common shares as of the date of the grant of the stock option (the "Award Date"). The market price of the Company's common shares for a particular Award Date would typically be the closing trading price of the Company's common shares on the last trading day immediately preceding the Award Date, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Discounted market price means the market price less a discount to be determined by the Board, which shall in any event not exceed the amount set forth under Policy 1.1 of the Exchange's Corporate Finance Manual.
In no case will a stock option be exercisable at a price less than the minimum prescribed by each of the organized trading facilities or the applicable regulatory that would apply to the award of the stock option in question.
A stock option will be non-assignable except that it will be exercisable by the personal representative of the option holder in the event of the option holder's death or incapacity.
The Plan is a "rolling" stock option plan as described in Exchange Policy 4.4. Under Exchange Policy 4.4, the Company is required to obtain the approval of its shareholders to any stock option plan that is a "rolling" plan. The Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit #5.1.
Outstanding Employee and Director Stock Options as at May 30, 2006
Name of Optionees |
No. of Common |
Date of Grant/ Repriced |
Exercise |
Expiry Date |
Market Value on Date of Grant/Repriced |
Gary Freeman |
100,000 |
Sept. 29/04 |
$0.70 |
Sept. 29/06 |
$70,000 |
Jerry Pogue |
150,000 |
Sept. 29/04 |
$0.70 |
Sept. 29/06 |
$105,000 |
Henk Van Alphen |
175,000 |
Sept. 29/04 |
$0.70 |
Sept. 29/06 |
$122,500 |
James Dawson |
105,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0,70 |
May 26/07 |
$73,500 |
Mark D. Cruise |
105,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0.70 |
May 26/07 |
$73,500 |
Euromerica Capital Group |
75,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0.70 |
May 26/07 |
$52,500 |
Institutional Market Communications |
75,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0.70 |
May 26/07 |
$52,500 |
Marla Ritchie |
25,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0.70 |
May 26/07 |
$52,500 |
Quentin Mai |
75,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0.70 |
May 26/07 |
$52,500 |
Glenn Shand |
75,000 |
May 05/05 |
$0.70 |
May 26/07 |
$52,500 |
Jerry Pogue |
25,000 |
Aug. 29/05 |
$1.05 |
Aug. 29/07 |
$26,250 |
Michael Bartlett |
50,000 |
Aug. 29/05 |
$1.05 |
Aug. 29/07 |
$52,500 |
James Dawson |
25,000 |
Aug. 29/05 |
$1.05 |
Aug. 29/07 |
$26,250 |
Mark Cruise |
25,000 |
Aug. 29/05 |
$1.05 |
Aug. 29/07 |
$26,250 |
Marla Ritchie |
25,000 |
Aug. 29/05 |
$1.05 |
Aug. 29/07 |
$26,250 |
Phyllis Alexander |
25,000 |
Nov. 03/05 |
$1.00 |
Nov. 03/07 |
$25,000 |
Glenn Shand |
25,000 |
Nov. 03/05 |
$1.00 |
Nov. 03/07 |
$25,000 |
Institutional Market Communications Inc. |
75,000 |
Nov. 24/05 |
$1.12 |
Nov. 24/07 |
$84,000 |
Euromerica Capital Group |
75,000 |
Dec. 05/05 |
$1.41 |
Dec. 05/07 |
$105,750 |
Alfredo Minhondo |
20,000 |
May 07/06 |
$1.45 |
May 07/08 |
$29,000 |
Paul Klipfel |
30,000 |
May 07/06 |
$1.45 |
May 07/08 |
$43,500 |
Michael Kinley |
50,000 |
May 07/06 |
$1.45 |
May 07/08 |
$72,500 |
Total |
In May 2005, it was announced that Wealth will issue 560,000 stock options exercisable at $0.70 until May, 2007. At that time, 650,000 of the 900,000 options issued in September 2004 were cancelled as follows, Gary Freeman, 100,000 cancelled, Henk Van Alphen, 25,000 cancelled, David Shaw, 100,000 cancelled. Rosie Moores 200,000 options were cancelled upon her resignation from the Company. On May 26, 2005 the Company amended the options to be issued to 585,000 exercisable at $0.70 until May of 2007. On August 29, 2005 the Company granted 175,000 incentive stock options at an exercise price of $1.05 until August 29 2007, 25,000 of these options were subsequently cancelled. On November 3, 2005 50,000 stock options were granted at an exercise price of $1.00 until November 3, 2007. On November 24, 2005 75,000 options were granted at an exercise price of $1.12. Subsequent to the year end, on December 5, 2005 75,000 options were granted at an exercise price of $1.41 until December 5, 2007 and, on May 7, 2006 a further 100,000 options were granted at an exercise price of $1.45 until May 7, 2008.
All issuances of shares for the past three years are represented in the Companys financial statements incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 7.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
7.A
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The Company has no major shareholders owning greater than 5% of the Company.
7.B
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During fiscal 2005 we paid $105,600 to three directors (Jerry Pogue, Henk Van Alphen and Gary Freeman) and $28,000 to two officers (Michael Kinley and Jon Lever). Also, we paid rent and administration fees of $55,867 to Cardero Resource Corp, a public company related by a common director.
ITEM 8.
8.A
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
See Item 17
There are currently no legal or arbitration proceedings which may have a significant effect on the Companys financial position or profitability.
The Company does not pay dividends on the issued common shares and does not intend to pay dividends on the listed common shares in the foreseeable future. The Company does not have any preference shares issued and as such pays no dividends on any preferred shares.
8.B
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
a)
Subsequent to year end, 632,500 warrants were exercised at $0.35 per share, 883,250 warrants were exercised at $0.80 per share, 1,206,250 warrants were exercised at $1.00 per share, 123,250 warrants were exercised at $0.80 per share and 20,000 warrants were exercised at $0.80 per share.
b)
Stock options
i)
Subsequent to year end, 75,000 options were granted to consultants, exercisable at $1.14 per share until December 5, 2007
ii)
25,000 options were exercised at $0.70 per share.
iii)
Subsequent to year end, 100,000 options were granted to a officers and consultants, exercisable at $1.44 per share until March 7, 2008.
ITEM 9.
The Company was incorporated on October 7, 1994. The Companys common shares currently trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "WML". The common shares commenced trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "EJZ" on August 31, 2004. The Companys shares commenced trading on the OTCBB in 2001, however during the period from August 2004 to October 2004 the Companys shares were traded through the Pink Sheets and not the OTCBB. The Companys common shares currently trade under the symbol "WMLLF" on the OTCBB.
Historical Stock Prices on TSXV (in Canadian Dollars)
Price |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
High |
0.15 |
0.46 |
0.37 |
1.50 |
1.95 |
Low |
0.08 |
0.10 |
0.10 |
0.09 |
0.50 |
Historical Stock Prices on TSXV (in Canadian Dollars) Quarterly from 2003
Price |
Q1 2003 |
Q2 2003 |
Q3 2003 |
Q4 2003 |
Q1 2004 |
Q2 2004 |
Q3 2004 |
Q4 2004 |
Q1 2005 |
Q2 2005 |
Q3 2005 |
Q4 2005 |
Q1 2006 |
High |
0.50 |
0.30 |
0.29 |
0.20 |
0.15 |
1.20 |
1.50 |
1.08 |
0.90 |
0.95 |
1.60 |
1.95 |
2.21 |
Low |
0.315 |
0.175 |
0.20 |
0.09 |
0.09 |
0.335 |
0.67 |
0.65 |
0.53 |
0.50 |
0.88 |
1.15 |
1.50 |
Historical Prices on TSXV (in Canadian Dollars) Monthly from June 1, 2005 to present
Price |
Jun 05 |
Jul 05 |
Aug 05 |
Sep 05 |
Oct 05 |
Nov 05 |
Dec 05 |
Jan 06 |
Feb 06 |
Mar 06 |
Apr 06 |
May 06 |
High |
1.39 |
1.60 |
1.50 |
1.75 |
1.95 |
1.72 |
1.93 |
2.21 |
2.14 |
2.00 |
1.98 |
1.98 |
Low |
0.88 |
0.95 |
1.01 |
1.15 |
1.19 |
1.15 |
1.50 |
1.60 |
1.60 |
1.74 |
1.63 |
1.66 |
Historical Prices on OTCBB (in U.S. Dollars)
Price |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
High |
0.07 |
0.32 |
0.245 |
1.00 |
1.70 |
Low |
0.02 |
0.109 |
0.07 |
0.07 |
0.42 |
Historical Prices on OTCBB ( in U. S. Dollars) Quarterly from 2003
Price |
Q1 2003 |
Q2 2003 |
Q3 2003 |
Q4 2003 |
Q1 2004 |
Q2 2004 |
Q3 2004 |
Q4 2004 |
Q1 2005 |
Q2 2005 |
Q3 2005 |
Q4 2005 |
Q1 2006 |
High |
0.245 |
0.19 |
0.16 |
0.11 |
0.07 |
1.00 |
0.85 |
0.78 |
0.60 |
0.77 |
1.25 |
1.70 |
1.94 |
Low |
0.13 |
0.13 |
0.11 |
0.07 |
0.07 |
0.48 |
0.84 |
0.58 |
0.44 |
0.45 |
0.70 |
0.98 |
1.30 |
Historical Prices on OTCBB (in U.S. Dollars) Monthly from June 2005 to Present
Price |
Jun 05 |
Jul 05 |
Aug 05 |
Sep 05 |
Oct 05 |
Nov 05 |
Dec 05 |
Jan 06 |
Feb 06 |
Mar 06 |
Apr 06 |
May 06 |
High |
1.11 |
1.25 |
1.20 |
1.55 |
1.70 |
1.50 |
1.69 |
1.94 |
1.85 |
1.77 |
1.70 |
1.75 |
Low |
0.70 |
0.80 |
0.82 |
0.98 |
1.02 |
1.01 |
1.30 |
1.39 |
1.38 |
1.50 |
1.43 |
1.45 |
Historical Prices on Frankfurt Exchange (in Euros) Monthly from August 2005 to Present
Price |
Aug 05 |
Sep 05 |
Oct 05 |
Nov 05 |
Dec 05 |
Jan 06 |
Feb 06 |
Mar 06 |
Apr 06 |
May 06 |
High |
0.92 |
1.21 |
1.30 |
1.20 |
1.40 |
1.55 |
1.53 |
1.44 |
1.36 |
1.33 |
Low |
0.73 |
0.87 |
0.90 |
0.82 |
1.10 |
1.13 |
1.25 |
1.30 |
1.16 |
1.18 |
The closing price of the Companys shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on May 26, 2006 was $1.90.
ITEM 10.
10.A
SHARE CAPITAL
Not applicable.
10.B
ARTICLES, MEMORANDUM AND BY-LAWS OF THE COMPANY
The Company was originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (the Alberta Act) but was continued under the Business Corporation Act (British Columbia) (the BC Act) on January 9, 2006 under Certificate of Continuation No. C0745243 issued by the Registrar of Companies (B.C.), and is now subject to and governed by the provisions of the BC Act. In conjunction with the continuation, the Company adopted a new form of Articles (the New Articles) to replace those originally adopted under the Alberta Act. The New Articles are included herein as Exhibit 13.2.
There are no objects or purposes of the Company found in the New Articles, or are there any restrictions on the Company carrying on any business or exercising any powers. Rather, pursuant to the BC Act, the Company has all the capacity and the rights, powers and privileges of an individual of full capacity.
The New Articles, in conjunction with and subject to the provisions of the BC Act, contain provisions with respect to the rights and restrictions of the classes of shares in the capital of the Company, the rights of shareholders, the procedures for the alteration of the rights and privileges of shareholders, the powers and duties of directors, the power of the directors to borrow, the ability of the directors to bind the Company, the calling and holding meetings of shareholders, and the rights of shareholders in the event of liquidation of the Companys assets.
The authorized capital of the Company, following the continuance, consists of an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value (Common Shares), and an unlimited number of preferred shares (Preferred Shares) (collectively, the Shares). The special rights and restrictions attaching to each class of Shares are as follows:
The Common Shares, as a class, have attached thereto the following rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions:
Voting: Except for meetings at which only holders of another specified class or series of Shares are entitled to vote separately as a class or series, each holder of a Common Share is entitled to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of the shareholders of the Company and to one vote in respect of each Common Share held at all such meetings.
Dividends: Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares and any other class of shares ranking senior to the Common Shares, the holders of the Common Shares are entitled to receive and participate rateably in any dividends if, as and when declared by the directors.
Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up: Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Shares and any other class of shares ranking senior to the Common Shares, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or other distribution of the assets of the Company among its shareholders for the purposes of winding up its affairs, the holders of the Common Shares shall participate rateably in the distribution of the assets of the Company.
The Preferred Shares shall, as a class, have attached thereto the following rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions:
Issuance in Series: The Preferred Shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series and, subject to the New Articles and any requirements of the BC Act, the directors are authorized to fix, from time to time before issuance, the number of shares in and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of each series of Preferred Shares.
Ranking of Preferred Shares: The Preferred Shares of each series shall, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of the assets of the Company among its shareholders for the purpose of winding-up its affairs, rank on a parity with the Preferred Shares of every other series and be entitled to preference over the Common Shares and the shares of any other class ranking junior to the Preferred Shares.
Consequence of Unpaid Cumulative Dividends: If any cumulative dividends or amounts payable on the return of capital in respect of a series of Preferred Shares are not paid in full, all series of Preferred Shares shall participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends and return of capital.
Voting: Unless the directors otherwise determine in the resolution designating a series of Preferred Shares, the holders of a series of Preferred Shares shall not, as such, be entitled to receive notice of or vote at any meetings of shareholders, except as otherwise specifically provided in the BC Act.
Approval by Holders of Preferred Shares: The approval by the holders of the Preferred Shares to any matters may, subject to the provisions of the BC Act, be given in writing by the holders of all of the Preferred Shares for the time being outstanding or by resolution duly passed and carried by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast on a poll at a meeting of the holders of the Preferred Shares duly called and held for the purpose of considering the subject matter of such resolution and at which meeting holders of not less than a majority of all Preferred Shares then outstanding are present in person or represented by proxy. Notice of any meeting of the holders of the Preferred Shares shall be given not less than 21 days nor more than 50 days prior to the date fixed for such meeting and shall specify in general terms the purpose for which the meeting is called. The formalities to be observed with respect to the giving of notice of any meeting or adjourned meeting and the conduct thereof shall be those from time to time prescribed in the New Articles with respect to meetings of shareholders.
No Shares have been or may be issued subject to call or assessment. There are no pre-emptive or conversion rights attached to the Common Shares, and there are no provisions for purchase or cancellation, surrender, or any sinking fund or purchase fund. Any such provisions with respect to a particular series of Preferred Shares would be created by the directors at the time such series was created (no series of Preferred Shares has been created and no Preferred Shares have been issued).
Provisions as to the modification, amendment or variation of the rights of shareholders, or the rights and restrictions attaching to the Shares, are contained in the New Articles and the BC Act. Generally, substantive changes to the rights of holders of Shares, including to the authorized capital of the Company, require the approval by the holders of the affected Shares by an ordinary resolution (50% + 1). However, a right or special right attached to issued Shares must not be prejudiced or interfered with unless the holders of series or class of Shares to which the right or special right is attached consent by a separate special resolution (66 2/3%) of those shareholders, and there are specific provisions with respect to a meeting of the holders of Preferred Shares (see above). The Company may, by a resolution of its directors alone, subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued or issued Shares.
There are no restrictions on the transferability of the Shares contained in the New Articles. Requirements as to the applicable documentation to be submitted in connection with any transfer are set out in the New Articles. There are no provisions in the New Articles discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of Shares as a result of any such holder(s) owning a substantial amount of Shares. There are no provisions in the New Articles that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company and that would operate only with respect to an extraordinary corporate transaction involving the Company such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets or liquidation.
With respect to certain matters concerning directors, the New Articles provide as follows:
(a)
A director who holds a disclosable interest (as defined in the BC Act see below) in a contract or transaction into which the Company has entered or proposes to enter is not entitled to vote on any directors resolution to approve that contract or transaction, unless all of the directors have a disclosable interest, in which case any or all of the directors may vote on such resolution.
(b)
There is no requirement for an independent quorum of directors to be present in order for the directors to be able to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body.
(c)
The Company, if authorized by the directors, may:
-
borrow money in the manner and amount, on the security, from the sources and on the terms and conditions that the directors consider appropriate,
-
issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations on such terms as the directors consider appropriate,
-
guarantee the repayment of money by any other person, and
-
mortgage, charge, grant a security interest in or give any other security on, the whole or any part of the present and future assets and undertaking of the Company.
There are no restrictions in the New Articles on the powers of the directors as set out above (save with respect to the ability of any directors with a disclosable interest to vote to approve any such transactions). Such provisions may be varied by an ordinary resolution (50% + 1) of the shareholders.
(d)
There is no provision in the New Articles for the retirement or non-retirement of directors pursuant to any age limit requirement.
(e)
There is no requirement for a director to hold any Shares in order to be qualified to be elected or to act as a director.
The BC Act provides that a director holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction if:
-
the contract or transaction is material to the Company,
-
the Company has entered, or proposes to enter, into the contract or the transaction, and
-
either of the following applies to the director:
-
the director has a material interest in the contract or transaction, or
-
the director has a material interest in a person who has a material interest in the contract or transaction
However, a director does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction merely because:
-
the contract or transaction is an arrangement by way of security granted by the Company for money loaned to, or obligations undertaken by, the director, or a person in whom the director has a material interest, for the benefit of the Company or an affiliate of the Company
-
the contract or transaction relates to an indemnity of the director by the Company or insurance for the benefit of the director
-
the contract or transaction relates to the remuneration of the director in that person's capacity as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of an affiliate of the Company
-
the contract or transaction relates to a loan to the Company, and the director, or a person in whom the director has a material interest, is or is to be a guarantor of some or all of the loan
-
the contract or transaction has been or will be made with or for the benefit of a corporation that is affiliated with the Company and the director is also a director of that corporation or an affiliate of that corporation
The directors may call meetings of shareholders at any time. There are no provisions in the New Articles permitting a meeting of shareholders to be called by shareholders or by a court of competent jurisdiction, but the BC Act contains provisions permitting the holders of not less than 5% of the issued Shares entitled to vote at general meetings to requisition a meeting of the shareholders and authorizing one or more shareholders holding at least 2.5% of the shares entitled to be voted to call a meeting if the directors do not do so. Notice of the time, date and location of a general meeting, together with a description of the general nature of any special business to be conducted at the meeting, is required to be sent to all shareholders entitled to attend the meeting at least 21 days before the meeting. The directors may set a record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting, but such record date must not be less than 21 days before the date of the meeting. Similarly, the directors may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled vote at such meeting, which date may not be more than 60 days before the meeting. A quorum for a general meeting is a person or persons who are, or who represent(s) by proxy, shareholders holding not less than 5% of the Shares entitled to be voted at the meeting. Registered shareholders, and duly appointed shareholders for registered shareholders, together with the directors, the president, the secretary, the assistant secretary, any lawyer for the company, the auditor of the Company and any other persons invited by the directors are entitled to attend any general meeting.
There are no provisions in the New Articles requiring the disclosure of shareholder ownership above any threshold.
There are no limitations under the laws of Canada or in the New Articles on the rights of foreigners to hold or vote Shares, except that the Investment Canada Act (Canada) (the Investment Act) may require review and approval by the Minister of Industry (Canada) of an acquisition of control of the Company by a non-Canadian. The following discussion summarizes the material features of the Investment Act, in its present form, for a non-resident of Canada who proposes to acquire Shares.
The Investment Act regulates the acquisition of control of a Canadian business by a non-Canadian as defined under the Investment Act. With respect to Shares of the Company, an acquisition of control is considered to be the acquisition of the majority of the Shares. However, if a non-Canadian acquires more than one-third of the voting shares of the Company, but less than a majority, there is a presumed acquisition of control unless it can be established that the Company is not controlled in fact by the acquiror. All acquisitions of control of a Canadian business are notifiable (which requires that a notification form be submitted to Investment Canada within thirty days after the implementation of the investment) unless the investment is reviewable. If the investment is reviewable, the investment may not be implemented until the Minister of Industry (Canada) is, or has been deemed to be, satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada, based on undertakings and representations made by the acquiror.
Where either the acquiror is, or the Company is presently controlled by, a WTO investor (as that term is defined in the Investment Act), a direct acquisition of control of the Company will only be reviewable if the value of the Companys gross assets, as shown on its audited financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year, is equal to or greater than CAD 265 million. This threshold figure of CAD 265 million applies during calendar year 2006. The threshold amount is adjusted each year based on the rate of growth in Canadian gross domestic product as determined by Statistics Canada. The threshold for reviewability is reduced to CAD 5 million in respect to the acquisition of control by a non-WTO investor, if the target company is not controlled by a WTO investor; or in respect to the acquisition of control of any Canadian business that provides any financial services or transportation services, is a cultural business as defined in the Investment Canada Act, or is engaged in the production of uranium and owns an interest in a producing uranium property in Canada.
Indirect acquisitions of control (acquisitions of control of an entity which in turn controls the Company) are not reviewable under the Investment Act if the acquiror is a WTO investor or if the Company is controlled by a WTO investor. Otherwise, an indirect acquisition will be reviewable if the value of the Companys assets is CAD 50 million or more, or if 50% or more of the value of the Companys assets acquired in the total transaction is in Canada.
Certain types of transactions are exempt from application of the Investment Act including acquisitions of control of the Company:
(a)
by the acquisition of voting shares or the voting interests by any person in the ordinary course of that persons business as a trader or dealer in securities;
(b)
in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for any purpose related to the Investment Act;
(c)
for facilitating its financing and not for any purpose related to the Investment Act on the condition that the acquiror divest control within two years after control was acquired; or
(d)
by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate or indirect control in fact of the Company through the ownership of voting interests remains unchanged.
10.C
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
There were no material contracts that were not in the normal course of business.
10.D
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There are no laws or legislation that may affect the import or export of capital including the availability of cash or cash equivalents to be used by the Company. Other than the standard withholding tax, there are no other laws that affect the remittance of dividends, interest, or other payments to non-resident holders of the Companys shares.
10.E
TAXATION
ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING THE COMMON SHARES
Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences to United States Investors
The following is a summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax consequences generally applicable to a shareholder (a U.S. holder) acquiring, holding or disposing of Common Shares where, for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ITA) and the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980) (the Convention), the U.S. holder: (a) is a resident of the United States and not a resident, deemed resident or former resident of Canada; (b) does not, and is not deemed to, carry on business in Canada; (c) holds such Common Shares as capital property; and (d) is the beneficial owner of such Common Shares.
This summary is based on the current provisions of the ITA and the regulations thereunder, all specific proposals to amend the ITA and the regulations thereunder publicly announced by the Minister of Finance of Canada to date, the provisions of the Convention, and the Companys understanding of the current administrative practices of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This summary does not otherwise take into account or anticipate any changes in law, whether by legislative, governmental or judicial decision or action, nor does it take into account or consider any provincial, territorial or foreign income tax considerations. This summary is of a general nature only and is not, and should not be interpreted as, legal or tax advice to any particular U.S. holder nor a substitute for independent advice from a U.S. holders own tax advisors.
The provisions of the ITA are generally subject to income tax treaties to which Canada is a party, including the Convention. CRA takes the position that a limited liability company (LLC) does not qualify as resident of the United States for purposes of the Convention and is, therefore, not entitled to relief under the Convention from tax imposed under the ITA.
Dividends on Common Shares
Under the ITA, a non-resident of Canada is generally subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 25% of the gross amount of dividends paid or credited to the non-resident by a corporation resident in Canada. The Convention reduces the rate of Canadian withholding tax to 15% of the gross amount of the dividends on Common Shares paid or credited to a U.S. holder who is the beneficial owner of such dividends. The Convention further reduces the rate of Canadian withholding tax to 5% of the gross amount of the dividends where the U.S. holder who is the beneficial owner of the dividends is a corporation that owns at least 10% of the voting stock of the Company.
The Convention generally exempts from Canadian withholding tax dividends paid to a religious, scientific, literary, educational or charitable organization or to an organization exclusively administering a pension, retirement or employee benefit fund or plan, if the organization is resident in the United States and exempt from income tax under the laws of the United States. However, the Company will be required to withhold and remit the Canadian withholding tax (which may be refundable upon application by the organization) unless the organization has obtained a valid letter of exemption from CRA.
Disposition of Common Shares
Provided that the Common Shares held by a U.S. holder do not constitute taxable Canadian property (as that term is defined in the ITA) of the U.S. holder at the time of disposition, the U.S. holder will generally not be subject to tax under the ITA in respect of any capital gain realized on the disposition. If the Common Shares held by a U.S. holder are listed on a prescribed stock exchange (which includes Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the TSX Venture Exchange) at the time of their disposition, the Common Shares will generally not constitute taxable Canadian property at that time, unless, at any time during the five-year period immediately preceding that time, 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of a class of the Companys capital stock was owned by the U.S. holder, persons with whom the U.S. holder did not deal at arms length or any combination of such persons.
If the Common Shares constitute taxable Canadian property of a U.S. holder at the time of their disposition, subject to relief under the Convention, the U.S. holder will be subject to Canadian income tax on one-half of any capital gain (the taxable capital gain) realized on the disposition of the Common Shares. A capital gain (or capital loss) realized on the disposition of Common Shares will be the amount, if any, by which the proceeds of disposition of the Common Shares, less any costs of disposition, exceed (or are less than) the adjusted cost base to the U.S. holder immediately prior to the disposition. One-half of any capital loss (the allowable capital loss) may, subject to the detailed rules in the ITA which deny or restrict the ability to utilize losses, be applied to reduce taxable capital gains realized in the year, the three preceding taxation years or future taxation years.
The Convention generally provides relief from Canadian income tax on capital gains derived on the disposition of Common Shares that are taxable Canadian property by a U.S. holder, provided that the value of the Common Shares is not derived principally from real property situated in Canada. For these purposes real property includes rights to explore for or exploit mineral deposits, sources and other such natural resources in Canada and rights to amounts computed by reference to the amount or value of production from such resources. At the present time, the Company does not believe that the value of the Common Shares is not derived principally from real property situated in Canada.
Provided that the Common Shares are listed on a prescribed stock exchange at the time of their disposition by a U.S. holder, the U.S. holder will not be required to notify CRA of the disposition and obtain a clearance certificate. If the Common Shares are not so listed, the U.S. holder will be required to obtain a clearance certificate from CRA within 30 days after the end of the month in which the U.S. holder disposes of such Common Shares and to provide such certificate to the purchaser of those Common Shares.
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences to United States Investors
The following general discussion sets forth a summary of the material Unites States federal income tax consequences that are applicable to the following persons who invest in and hold common shares as capital assets (U.S. Shareholders): (i) citizens or residents (as specifically defined for federal income tax purposes) of the United States, (ii) corporations or partnerships created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the Unites States or of any state and (iii) estates or trusts the income of which is subject to Unites States federal income taxation regardless of its source. This discussion does not deal with (a) all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular U.S. Shareholder based on such U.S. Shareholders particular circumstances (including potential application of the alternative minimum tax), (b) certain U.S. shareholders subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws or foreign individuals or entities, (c) U.S. Shareholders owning directly or by attribution 10% or more of the common shares, or (d) any aspect of state, local or non-United States tax laws. Additionally, the following discussion assumes that the Company will not be classified as a foreign personal holding company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)
THIS SUMMARY IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSTRUED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO ANY SHAREHOLDER. FURTHERMORE, THIS SUMMARY WAS NOT WRITTEN OR INTENDED TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY ANY PERSON FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF ANY PENALTIES WITH RESPECT TO TAXES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON SUCH PERSON. NO LEGAL OPINION FROM U.S. LEGAL COUNSEL OR RULING FROM THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (THE IRS) HAS BEEN REQUESTED, OR WILL BE OBTAINED, REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. ACCORDINGLY, SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN U.S. TAX ADVISORS FOR ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
For any taxable year of the Company, if 75% or more of the Companys gross income is passive income (as defined in the Code) or if at least 50% of the Companys assets, by average fair market value (or by adjusted income tax bases if the Company elects), are assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income, the Company will be a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC). The Company may be a PFIC and, if so, may continue to be a PFIC for the foreseeable future.
A U.S. Shareholder of a PFIC is subject to special U.S. federal income tax rules in Sections 1291 to 1297 of the Code. As described below, these provisions set forth two alternative tax regimes at the election of each such U.S. Shareholder, depending upon whether the U.S. Shareholder elects to treat the Company as a qualified electing fund (a QEF Election)
U.S. SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSIDER MAKING A QEF ELECTION TO AVOID CERTAIN POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES
1.
The QEF Election Alternative
Each U.S. Shareholder is strongly urged to consider making a QEF Election because of the potential benefits of such election that are discussed below and because the Company anticipates that it will not have any earnings and profits (as computed for United States federal income tax purposes) for the current taxable year and little, if any, earnings and profits for any future taxable year in which the Company is a PFIC. (There can be no assurance, however, that this will be the case.) Accordingly, the timely making of the QEF Election as discussed below, generally should, subject to the discussion below under Other PFIC Rules, minimize any significant adverse United States federal income tax consequences resulting form any classification of the Company as a PFIC, although this may depend on a particular U.S. Shareholders particular circumstances.
A U.S. Shareholder who elects in a timely manner to treat the Company as a QEF (an Electing U.S. Shareholder) will be subject under Section 1293 of the Code, to current federal income tax for any taxable year in which the Company is a PFIC (or is treated as a PFIC with respect to the U.S. shareholder) on such Electing U.S. Shareholders pro rata share of the Companys (i) net capital gain (the excess of net long term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), which will be taxed as long-term capital gain to the Electing U.S. Shareholder and (ii) ordinary earnings (the excess of earnings and profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income to the Electing U.S. Shareholder, in each case, for the shareholders taxable year in which (or with which) the Companys taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amount actually are distributed. An Electing U.S. Shareholder, however, would not take into account any income with respect to any taxable year of the Company for which it has no earnings and profits. Adjustments are provided generally to prevent double taxation at the time of later distributions on or dispositions of common shares.
The QEF election also allows the electing U.S. Shareholder to (i) generally treat any gain realized on the disposition of common shares (or deemed to be realized on the pledge of such shareholders common shares) as capital gain; and (ii) treat such shareholders share of the Companys net capital gain, if any, as long-term capital gain instead of ordinary income; and (iii) generally avoid interest charges resulting from PFIC status.
It is anticipated that the Company will be characterized as a PFIC, and, the Company intends to comply with the reporting requirements prescribed by Treasury regulations. In particular, the Company will maintain information so that the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the Company may be determined. However, future regulations may contain reporting and record-keeping requirements that are so onerous that it would not be practicable for the Company to comply. If, after review of the requirements, the Company decides not to comply with the PFIC record-keeping requirements, the Company will so notify its shareholders.
A QEF election must be made by attaching Form 8621, completed in the manner required by the form, to the timely filed US. Federal income tax return for the first taxable year of the U.S. Shareholder in which or with which a taxable year of the company during which the Company was a PFIC and the U.S. Shareholder held (or was considered to have held) common shares ends. The shareholder must also receive and reflect in Form 8621 the information provided in the PFIC Annual Information Statement, the Annual Intermediary Statement, or applicable combined statement. In addition, the Electing U.S. Shareholder must file a copy of the Form 8621 with the Internal Revenue Service Center, P.O. Box 21086, Philadelphia, PA 19114 by the election due date. In the case of common shares owned through a U.S. entity, the election is made at the entity level.
The following three paragraphs apply to Electing U.S. Shareholders:
Dividends Paid on Common shares. Dividends paid on common shares (including any Canadian taxes withheld) to an Electing U.S. Shareholder will be treated as ordinary dividend income for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent of the Companys current and accumulated earnings and profits (as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes) unless paid out of earnings and profits that were taxed to the Electing U.S. Shareholder under the QEF rules. Such dividends generally will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporation. Amounts in excess of such earnings and profits will be applied against the Electing U.S. Shareholders tax basis in the common shares, and to the extent in excess of such tax basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such common shares.
Credit for Canadian Taxes withheld. Canadian withholding tax on dividend distributions, if any, is generally reduced to 15% pursuant to the U.S.-Canada tax treaty. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 904 of the Code (which generally restricts the availability of foreign tax credits to a U.S. Shareholders tax liability attributable to foreign source income of the same type as the income with respect to which the tax was imposed, as determined under complex U.S. tax rules), the Canadian tax withheld or paid with respect to dividends on the common shares generally may be taken as a foreign tax credit again United States federal income taxes by an Electing U.S. Shareholder who chooses to claim such a credit for the taxable year. Electing U.S. Shareholders who do not choose to claim foreign tax credits for a taxable year may claim a United States Tax deduction for such Canadian tax in such taxable year.
Disposition of common shares. Any gain or loss on a sale or exchange of common shares by an Electing U.S. Shareholder will be capital gain or loss measured by the difference, if any, between the amount realized on the sale or other taxable disposition and the Electing U.S. Shareholders adjusted tax basis. Any such gain will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares have been held for more than one year at the time of the sale or taxable disposition, and otherwise will be short-term capital gain or loss. The sale of common shares through certain brokers may be subject to the information reporting and back-up withholding rules of the Code.
2.
The Non-QEF Alternative
If a U.S. Shareholder does not timely make a QEF election for the first taxable year of the Company during which he holds (or is considered to hold) the common shares in question and the Company is a PFIC (a Non-electing U.S. Shareholder), then special rules under Section 1291of the Code will apply to (i) gains realized on the disposition (or deemed to be realized by reason of a pledge) of common shares, and (ii) certain excess distributions (as defined in the Code) by the Company. The Company has never made any distributions with respect to the common shares and it does not anticipate making any such distributions in the foreseeable future. A non-electing U.S. Shareholder generally would be required to pro-rate all gains realized on the disposition of common shares and all excess distributions over such shareholders entire holding period of the common shares. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior years of the U.S. Shareholder (other than years prior to the first day of the first taxable year of the Company during such U.S. Shareholders holding period and beginning after December 31, 1986 for which it was a PFIC) would be taxed at the highest marginal tax rates for each such prior year applicable to ordinary income. (Special foreign tax credit rules apply with respect to withholding taxes imposed on amounts that are treated as excess distributions.) The Non-electing U.S. Shareholder also would be liable for interest on the foregoing tax liability for each such prior year calculated as if such liability had be due with respect to teach such prior year. A non-electing U.S. Shareholder that is not a corporation must treat this interest charge as personal interest which is non-deductible. The balance of the gain or the excess distribution will be treated as ordinary income in the year of the disposition or distribution and no interest charge will be incurred with respect to such balance.
If the Company is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-electing U.S. Shareholder holds (or is considered to hold) common shares, then the Company will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such common shares, even if it is no longer definitely a PFIC. A Non-electing U.S. Shareholder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules discussed above for Non-electing U.S. Shareholders) as if such common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a PFIC. Certain other elections are also available to Non-electing U.S. Shareholders.
Other PFIC Rules: Certain special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to the common shares while the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether the common shares are held (or considered to be held) by an Electing or Non-electing U.S. Shareholder. For example, under Section 1297(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S. Shareholder who uses PFIC stock as security for a loan (including a margin loan) will, except as may be provided in regulations, be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such stock. In addition, under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the Treasury has the authority to issue regulations that would treat as taxable certain transfers that are generally not so treated, such as gifts, exchanges, pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death, although it is not clear that such authority extends to transfers by Electing U.S. Shareholders.
ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING THE COMMON SHARES.
10.H
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
All documents exhibited hereto or incorporated by reference are available for viewing at the corporate offices of the Company at Suite 1901 1177 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, upon reasonable notice given to the Company.
10. I
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
The Company has one wholly owned subsidiary, Triband Resources Inc. located at 6171 Riverside Dr., Reno, Nevada.
ITEM 11.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not Applicable.
ITEM 12.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not Applicable.
PART II
ITEM 13.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARS AND DELINQUENCIES
Not Applicable.
ITEM 14.
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not Applicable
ITEM 15.
Jerry Pogue, Acting President and CEO of the Company, and Michael Kinley, CFO of the Company, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in U.S. Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(c)) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 20-F, have concluded that, as of such date, the Companys disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company was made known to them by others within the Company during the period in which this Form 20-F was being prepared.
There were no significant changes in the Companys internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date Messrs Freeman and Lever completed their evaluation, nor were there any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Companys internal controls requiring corrective actions.
16. A
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our audit committee does not have a financial expert since no member of the Companys Board of Directors meets the definition of financial expert. However, all Board members possess significant financial experience within the mining industry and are therefore considered financially literate.
16.B
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has prepared a code of ethics for its CEO, CFO, Directors and Officers which are incorporated herein by reference. The Codes of Ethics are contained in the Form 20-F/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2004 and are incorporated by reference herein.
16.C
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The nature of the services provided by STS Partners under each of the categories indicated in the table is described below.
Principal Accountant Service |
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005 |
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004 |
Audit Fees |
$45,000 |
$25,700 |
Audit Related Services |
$Nil |
$6,000 |
Tax Fees |
$Nil |
$5,000 |
All Other Fees |
$Nil |
$1,696 |
Audit Fees
Audit fees were for professional services rendered by STS Partners for the audit of the Registrants annual consolidated financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filing or engagements.
Audit Related Fees
Audit related fees were for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the annual consolidated statements or bi-annual states that are not reported under "Audit Fees" above.
Tax Fees
Tax fees were for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning professional services. These services consisted of: tax compliance including the review of tax returns, and tax planning and advisory services relating to common forms of domestic and international taxation (i.e. income tax, capital tax, goods and services tax, payroll tax and value added tax).
All Other Fees
Fees disclosed in the table above under the item "all other fees" were incurred for services other than the audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees described above. These services consist of assistance in the review and documentation of processes and controls.
Pre-Approved Policies and Procedures
It is within the mandate of the Registrants Audit Committee to approve all audit and non-audit related fees. The Audit Committee has pre-approved specifically identified non-audit related services, including tax compliance, review of tax returns and documentation of processes and controls as submitted to the Audit Committee from time to time. The auditors also present the estimate for the annual audit related services to the Committee for approval prior to undertaking the annual audit of the consolidated financial statements. The Company adopted a formal Audit Committee Charter on November 24, 2005.
ITEM 17.
The following items are included herein:
Description of Statement |
|||
(a) Auditors Report
(b) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2005 and 2004
(c) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Cumulative Loss for each of the three years ended November 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003
(d) Consolidates Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years ended November 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003
(e) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity for each of the four years ended November 30, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(f) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements |
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
(Formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
NOVEMBER 30, 2005
AUDITORS REPORT
To the Shareholders of
Wealth Minerals Ltd.
(Formerly Triband Resource Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Wealth Minerals Ltd. (formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.) as at November 30, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated statements of operations and cumulative loss, cash flows and shareholders equity and deficit for each of the years in the three-year period ended November 30, 2005, and the consolidated statements of operations and cumulative loss and cash flows for the period from the date of incorporation on October 7, 1994 to November 30, 2005. These consolidated financial statements, expressed in Canadian dollars, are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at November 30, 2005 and 2004, and the results of its operations and cumulative loss, cash flows and changes in shareholders equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended November 30, 2005 and the consolidated statements of operations and cumulative loss and cash flows for the period from the date of incorporation on October 7, 1994 to November 30, 2005, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles vary in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States would have affected results of operations and shareholders equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended November 30, 2005, to the extent summarized in Note 18 of the consolidated financial statements.
/s/ STS PARTNERS LLP
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, BC
February 24, 2006
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
(Formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
AS AT NOVEMBER 30
Notes |
2005 |
2004 |
ASSETS |
||
Current |
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 2,006,409 |
$ 2,798,485 |
Restricted cash |
40,425 |
25,810 |
Receivables |
32,085 |
16,978 |
Prepaid expenses |
58,498 |
181,246 |
Refundable acquisition fee 5 |
100,000 |
- |
2,237,417 |
3,022,519 |
|
Property, plant and equipment 4 |
14,817 |
13,463 |
Investment 7 |
1 |
1 |
$ 2,252,235 |
$ 3,035,983 |
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||
Current |
||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
$ 201,211 |
$ 65,700 |
Due to related parties 11 |
40,084 |
25,525 |
241,295 |
91,225 |
|
NATURE AND CONTINUANCE OF OPERATIONS 1 |
||
CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS 14 |
||
Shareholders equity |
||
Capital stock 8 |
10,911,313 |
8,991,903 |
Contributed surplus 9 and 10 |
825,012 |
532,560 |
Share subscriptions
|
- |
(30,375) |
Deficit accumulated during the exploration stage |
(9,725,385) |
(6,549,330) |
2,010,940 |
2,944,758 |
|
$ 2,252,235 |
$ 3,035,983 |
On behalf of the Board:
Henk Van Alphen
Jerry Pogue
_______________________
Director
_______________________
Director
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
(Formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CUMULATIVE LOSS
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
Years Ended November 30, |
Cumulative Amounts From October 7, 1994 to November 30, |
|||
Notes |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2005 |
OPERATING EXPENSES |
||||
Amortization |
$ 4,051 |
$ 2,438 |
$ 2,974 |
$ 28,790 |
Consulting fees 11 |
213,240 |
238,116 |
82,800 |
938,852 |
Exploration costs 6 |
1,798,184 |
504,262 |
27,783 |
3,956,589 |
Listing and transfer agent fees |
35,340 |
81,156 |
20,730 |
281,818 |
Office |
54,420 |
25,061 |
23,026 |
350,527 |
Professional fees |
125,413 |
86,837 |
52,900 |
421,842 |
Property investigation |
64,180 |
- |
- |
250,743 |
Rent 11 |
51,673 |
21,845 |
17,333 |
169,803 |
Salaries and benefits 11 |
146,023 |
5,519 |
- |
231,850 |
Shareholders communications |
157,287 |
30,938 |
11,853 |
577,699 |
Stock-based compensation 10 |
335,362 |
549,360 |
- |
884,722 |
Travel |
131,166 |
44,237 |
24,702 |
289,627 |
(3,116,339) |
(1,589,769) |
(264,101) |
(8,382,862) |
|
B.C. Capital taxes |
- |
(31,909) |
- |
(31,909) |
Gain on write-down of Due to affiliated company |
- |
2,594 |
- |
2,594 |
Gain on sale of marketable securities |
- |
- |
- |
100,703 |
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange |
(18,734) |
577 |
438 |
141,501 |
Gain (loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment |
131 |
- |
- |
(7,058) |
Interest income |
46,627 |
15,749 |
464 |
260,033 |
Impairment of mineral properties |
(87,740) |
- |
- |
(1,188,462) |
Investment income |
- |
- |
- |
27,565 |
Write-down of investments |
- |
(27,564) |
- |
(272,964) |
Write-down of marketable securities |
- |
- |
- |
(374,526) |
Net loss for the period |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
$ (263,199) |
$ (9,725,385) |
Basic and diluted loss per share |
$ (0.27) |
$ (0.24) |
$ (0.14) |
|
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding |
11,648,823 |
6,732,969 |
1,920,270 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
(Formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
Years Ended November 30, |
Cumulative Amounts From October 7, 1994 to November 30, |
|||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2005 |
|
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
||||
Net loss for the period |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
$ (263,199) |
$ (9,725,385) |
Items not affecting cash |
||||
Amortization |
4,051 |
2,438 |
2,974 |
28,790 |
Investment income |
- |
- |
- |
(27,565) |
Gain on sale of marketable securities |
- |
- |
- |
(100,703) |
Gain (loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment |
(131) |
- |
- |
7,058 |
Impairment of mineral properties |
87,740 |
- |
1,188,462 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
335,362 |
549,360 |
884,722 |
|
Write-down of marketable securities |
- |
- |
- |
374,526 |
Write-down of investments |
- |
27,564 |
- |
272,964 |
Changes in non-cash working capital items: |
||||
(Increase) decrease in receivables |
(15,107) |
(13,984) |
4,176 |
(32,085) |
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses |
122,748 |
(175,171) |
4,939 |
(58,498) |
Refundable acquisition fee |
(187,740) |
- |
- |
(187,740) |
Decrease in due from related parties |
- |
5,350 |
(5,350) |
- |
(Increase) decrease in due to related parties |
14,559 |
25,525 |
- |
40,084 |
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
135,511 |
27,750 |
19,657 |
291,044 |
Advances to affiliated company Increase (decrease) |
- |
(2,594) |
- |
- |
Net cash used in operating activities |
(2,679,062) |
(1,184,084) |
(236,803) |
(7,044,326) |
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
||||
Proceeds on sale of marketable securities |
- |
- |
- |
488,027 |
Property, plant and equipment acquired |
(8,854) |
(5,732) |
- |
(60,429) |
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment |
3,580 |
- |
- |
9,763 |
Acquisition of mineral properties |
- |
- |
- |
(500,722) |
Acquisition of marketable securities |
- |
- |
- |
(761,850) |
Increase in investments |
- |
- |
- |
(245,400) |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
$ (5,274) |
$ (5,732) |
$ - |
$ (1,070,611) |
Years Ended November 30, |
Cumulative Amounts From October 7, 1994 to November 30, |
||||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2005 |
||
Continued |
|||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|||||
Issuance of capital stock, net of issuance costs |
$ 1,876,500 |
$ 3,979,587 |
$ 175,500 |
$ 10,161,771 |
|
Share subscriptions receivable |
30,375 |
(30,375) |
- |
- |
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
1,906,875 |
3,949,212 |
175,500 |
10,161,771 |
|
Net change in cash and cash equivalents during the period |
(777,461) |
2,759,396 |
(61,303) |
2,046,834 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
2,824,295 |
64,899 |
126,202 |
- |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ 2,046,834 |
$ 2,824,295 |
$ 64,899 |
$ 2,046,834 |
Represented by:
November 30, |
||
2005 |
2004 |
|
|
||
Interest bearing deposits with banks |
$ 494,280 |
$ 481,826
|
Term deposits |
1,512,129 |
2,316,659 |
Term deposits - restricted |
40,425 |
25,810 |
$ 2,046,834 |
$ 2,824,295 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
(Formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
Number of Shares |
Price |
Value of Common Shares Issued and Fully Paid |
Subscriptions Receivables |
Contributed Surplus |
Deficit Accumulated During the Exploration Stage |
Total |
|
Balance at November 30, 2002 |
|
$4,820,016 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ (4,655,809) |
$ 164,207 |
|
Issuance of shares for cash |
|||||||
Private placement |
62,500 |
0.48 |
30,000 |
- |
- |
- |
30,000 |
Exercise of options |
56,250 |
0.68 |
38,250 |
- |
- |
- |
38,250 |
Exercise of options |
6,250 |
0.96 |
6,000 |
- |
- |
- |
6,000 |
Exercise of warrants |
28,125 |
1.20 |
33,750 |
- |
- |
- |
33,750 |
Private placement |
225,000 |
0.30 |
67,500 |
- |
- |
- |
67,500 |
Net loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
(263,199) |
(263,199) |
||
|
|||||||
Balance at November 30, 2003 |
2,149,559 |
4,995,516 |
- |
- |
(4,919,008) |
76,508 |
|
Issuance of shares for cash: |
|||||||
Private placement |
850,000 |
0.24 |
204,000 |
- |
- |
- |
204,000 |
Private placement |
2,500,000 |
0.27 |
675,000 |
- |
- |
- |
675,000 |
Exercise of warrants |
62,500 |
0.60 |
37,500 |
- |
- |
- |
37,500 |
Private placement |
3,010,000 |
0.54 |
1,625,400 |
(13,500) |
- |
- |
1,611,900 |
Exercise of warrants |
59,500 |
1.20 |
71,400 |
- |
- |
- |
71,400 |
Exercise of warrants |
150,000 |
0.35 |
52,500 |
- |
- |
- |
52,500 |
Private placement |
1,306,250 |
0.80 |
1,045,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1,045,000 |
Exercise of options |
178,750 |
0.25 |
44,687 |
(16,875) |
- |
- |
27,812 |
Shares issued for property |
200,000 |
1.22 |
244,000 |
- |
- |
- |
244,000 |
Settlement of debts |
84,583 |
0.24 |
20,300 |
- |
- |
- |
20,300 |
Stock-based compensation |
16,800 |
- |
532,560 |
- |
549,360 |
||
Share issuance costs |
(40,200) |
- |
- |
- |
(40,200) |
||
Net loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
(1,630,322) |
(1,630,322) |
||
Balance at November 30, 2004 |
10,551,142 |
8,991,903 |
(30,375) |
532,560 |
(6,549,330) |
2,944,758 |
|
Issuance of shares for cash: |
|||||||
Exercise of warrants |
780,000 |
0.35 |
273,000 |
- |
- |
- |
273,000 |
Exercise of warrants |
225,000 |
0.42 |
94,500 |
- |
- |
- |
94,500 |
Exercise of options |
95,000 |
0.25 /0.75 |
57,500 |
- |
- |
- |
57,500 |
Exercise of warrants |
577,500 |
0.80 |
462,000 |
- |
- |
- |
462,000 |
Exercise of warrants |
100,000 |
1.00 |
100,000 |
- |
- |
- |
100,000 |
Private placement |
1,000,000 |
0.56 |
560,000 |
- |
- |
- |
560,000 |
Private placement |
150,000 |
0.61 |
91,500 |
- |
- |
- |
91,500 |
Shares issued for property |
200,000 |
0.98 / 1.40 |
238,000 |
- |
- |
- |
238,000 |
Subscriptions received |
- |
30,375 |
- |
- |
30,375 |
||
Stock-based compensation |
|
42,910 |
- |
292,452 |
- |
335,362 |
|
Net loss for the year |
|
- |
- |
- |
(3,176,055) |
(3,176,055) |
|
Balance at November 30, 2005 |
|
$ 10,911,313 |
$ - |
$ 825,012 |
$ (9,725,385) |
$ 2,010,940 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
(Formerly Triband Enterprise Corp.)
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
November 30, 2005
1.
NATURE AND CONTINUANCE OF OPERATIONS
The Companys principal business activity is the exploration and development of mineral properties.
On January 14, 2004 the Company changed its name to Wealth Minerals Ltd. from Triband Enterprise Corp. and consolidated its capital stock, warrants and options on a basis of four old shares for one new share. All share, warrant, option and per unit data included in these consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to retroactively reflect this consolidation.
The Company is in the process of exploring and developing its mineral properties and has not yet determined whether these properties contain mineral reserves that are economically recoverable.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Accounts specifically requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions in determining carrying values are receivables, prepaid expenses, property, plant and equipment, investments, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, due to related parties and future income taxes.
Principles of consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Triband Resource US Inc. (incorporated in Nevada, U.S.A.). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in bank accounts and highly liquid investments with original maturities of nine months or less.
Restricted cash
Under the terms of MasterCards corporate credit policy, the Company is required to pledge a defined amount of term deposit to the financial institution as collateral. This deposit is interest bearing and refundable upon cancellation of the credit cards.
Financial instruments
The Companys financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, secured deposit, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and due to related parties. Unless otherwise noted, it is Managements opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments. The fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values, unless otherwise noted.
Acquisition costs
Acquisition costs will be capitalized on properties when proven and provable reserves are defined. No mineral resource estimates have been defined on any Company property interests to date. Mineral property costs include initial acquisition costs and related option payments, which are recorded when paid.
Exploration and development costs
The Company has adopted the policy of expensing exploration and development costs as incurred. The Company will expense future exploration and development costs until such time as the existence of proven and probable reserves is determined, or sufficient objective evidence in the opinion of Management to support the recognition of an asset. Option payments receivable by the Company would be credited against mineral property exploration costs when received.
Property evaluations
The Company reviews and evaluates the carrying amounts of its mineral properties when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the net recoverable amount is significantly less than the carrying value and the impairment in value is likely to be permanent, a reduction in the carrying amount of mineral properties with a corresponding charge to operation are recorded.
Cost of maintaining mineral properties
The Company does not accrue the estimated future costs of maintaining its mineral properties in good standing.
Environmental protection and reclamation costs
The operations of the Company have been, and may be in the future be affected from time to time in varying degrees by changes in environmental regulations, including those for future removal and site restorations costs. Both the likelihood of new regulations and their overall effect upon the Company may vary from region to region and are not predictable.
The Companys policy is to meet or, if possible, surpass standards set by relevant legislation, by application of technically proven and economically feasible measures. Environmental expenditures that relate to ongoing environmental and reclamation programs will be charged against statements of operations as incurred or capitalized and amortized depending upon their future economic benefits. The Company does not currently anticipate any material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities because all property holdings are at early stages of exploration. Therefore, estimated future removal and site restoration costs are presently considered minimal.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and are being amortized over their estimated useful lives at the following rates:
Computer equipment |
30% declining balance basis |
Office furniture and equipment |
20% declining balance basis |
Investment
The Companys long-term investment is accounted for on the cost basis. The investment is written-down to their estimated net realizable value when there is evidence of a decline in value below carried cost that is other than temporary.
Foreign exchange
Transaction amounts denominated in foreign currencies are translated into their Canadian dollar equivalents at exchange rates prevailing at the transaction date. Monetary assets and liabilities are adjusted at each balance sheet date to reflect exchange rates prevailing at that date, and non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the historical rate of exchange. Gains and losses arising from restatement of foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities at each period-end are included in statements of operations.
Basic and diluted loss per share
The Company uses the "treasury stock method" in computing loss per share. Under this method, basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares consist of the shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and warrants calculated using the treasury stock method. Common equivalent shares are not included in the calculation of the weighted average number of shares outstanding for diluted net loss per common share when the effect would be anti- dilutive.
Stock-based compensation
The Company has a stock option plan as described in Note 9. The Company uses the accounting recommendations of CICA Handbook Section 3870, "Stock-Based Compensation and Other Stock-Based Payments". At the beginning of the 2004 fiscal year, the Company began recording compensation cost on the granting of stock options to employees and directors that are not direct awards of stock or stock appreciation rights. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of each stock option at the date of grant. Any consideration received on the exercise of stock options is credited to capital stock. The adoption of the new standard results in expense recognition for options granted after November 30, 2003.
Income taxes
Future income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, future tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Future tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted or substantially enacted tax rates expected to apply when the asset is realized or the liability settled.
The effect on future tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that enactment or substantive enactment occurs. To the extent that the Company does not consider it to be more likely than not that a future tax asset will be recovered, it provides a valuation allowance against the excess.
Segmented Information
The Company follows CICA Handbook Section 1701, Segment Disclosures about operating segments in financial statements, as well as additional disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from the sale of minerals is recognized when the risks and rewards of ownership pass to the purchaser, including delivery of the product, the selling price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Settlement adjustments, if any, are reflected in revenue when the amounts are known.
Credit Risk
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash have been placed with a major Canadian chartered bank, and to date has not experienced losses on any of its balances.
3. DUE TO RELATED PARTIES
Amounts due to related parties include directors, officers, companies they control, and companies with common directors and/or officers. The amounts are unsecured, without interest or fixed terms of repayment (see Note 11).
4.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Net Book Value |
|||||
Accumulated |
|||||
Cost |
Amortization |
2005 |
2004 |
||
Computer equipment |
$ 20,129 |
$ 10,656 |
$ 9,473 |
$ 6,839 |
|
Office furniture and equipment |
14,274 |
8,930 |
5,344 |
6,624 |
|
$ 34,403 |
$ 19,586 |
$ 14,817 |
$ 13,463 |
5.
REFUNDABLE ACQUISITION FEE
Mexico / Columbia Letter of Intent
On February 28, 2005, the Company announced that it had elected not to pursue a property position in Columbia through Minera San Jorge S.A. de C.V. (MSJ), a Mexican corporation, and in April, 2005 advised MSJ that it would not pursue a property position through MSJ in Mexico.
Under the letter of intent, the Company advanced US$150,000 as a refundable acquisition fee to MSJ. The advance is secured by a promissory note from MSJ and marketable securities comprised of 250,000 shares of Tumi Resources Ltd. (Tumi), a TSX Venture Exchange listed company. As at November 30, 2005, shares of Tumi closed at $0.32, representing a value of $80,000. The Company has written down the deposit to a value of $100,000, and has requested the return of the secured advance of US$150,000. Management of the Company has determined that the decline in value is temporary in nature and as a result, no further write-down was recorded.
6.
MINERAL PROPERTIES
The Company incurred the following expenditures on its mineral properties:
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
|
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
|
Mackenzie Project, BC, Canada |
|||
Acquisition |
$ 178,000 |
$ - |
$ - |
Exploration |
542,254 |
- |
- |
Argentina Uranium Project |
|||
Acquisition |
263,760 |
- |
- |
Exploration |
805,030 |
- |
- |
Amata Project, Peru |
|||
Acquisition |
- |
426,606 |
- |
Exploration |
8,562 |
58,241 |
- |
Nevada, USA, Properties |
|||
Acquisition |
- |
- |
27,783 |
Exploration |
578 |
19,415 |
- |
Total |
$ 1,798,184 |
$ 504,262 |
$ 27,783 |
a)
Mackenzie Project, British Columbia, Canada
In May 2005, the Company announced the acquisition of the Mackenzie Project, a newly discovered zone of gold geochemical anomalies, comprised of 118 mineral claims located in east-central British Columbia approximately 150 kilometers north of Prince George. Terms of the acquisition are:
Payment of $80,000 (paid) and issuance of 100,000 common shares (issued) within 10 days of TSX Venture Exchange approval of the acquisition (received June 10, 2005);
i)
Payment of $25,000 and issuance of 200,000 common shares after one year;
ii)
Payment of $25,000 and issuance of 250,000 common shares after two years;
iii)
Payment of $25,000 and issuance of 250,000 common shares after three years;
iv)
Vendors retain a 2% Net Smelter Return (NSR) on any production;
v)
The Company will pay an advance NSR royalty of $25,000 per year, beginning with the fourth year after signing the letter of intent; and
vi)
The Company may purchase 50% of the NSR, being 1%, for payment of $1,000,000 at any time.
b)
Argentinean Uranium Project
On July 12, 2005 the Company announced the acquisition of an option to acquire a 100% interest in a private Argentinean corporation which owns 20 separate parcels of land, of which 16 are known to have one or more uranium occurrences. Subject to regulatory approval (received October 21, 2005), the Company can acquire 100% of Madero Minerals S.A. and its assets for the payment of US$100,000 (paid) and the issuance of 600,000 common shares, 100,000 shares 10 days after regulatory approval (issued), 200,000 shares on the first anniversary thereof, and 300,000 shares on the second anniversary thereof.
c)
BET Claims, Nevada, USA
The Companys wholly owned subsidiary holds title to twenty-three unpatented mining claims, referred to as the BET 1-23 Claims, located in Whisky Canyon, Lander County, Nevada. To earn and maintain 100% interest in the BET 1-23 claims, the Company is required to pay annual fees of US$8.50 per claim plus total maintenance fees of US$2,875 per year. The Company does not intend to continue maintaining these claims.
d)
Amata Project, Peru
On May 20, 2005 the Company withdrew from its agreement with Minera Koripampa del Peru S.A. (Koripampa), a private Peruvian company. In 2004, the Company had entered into the agreement with Koripampa, acquiring a 100% interest in the 70% interest in the Amata Project in Southern Peru held by Koripampa, for initial consideration of 200,000 common shares (issued at a fair value of $1.22 per share), US$100,000 on closing (paid), and 200,000 common shares one year after closing (not issued).
Title to mineral properties
Title to mineral properties involves certain inherent risks due to the difficulties of determining the validity of certain claims as well as the potential for problems arising from the frequently ambiguous conveyancing history characteristic of many mineral properties. The Company has investigated title to all of its mineral properties and, to the best of its knowledge, title to all of its properties are in good standing.
7.
INVESTMENT
Fair Value |
Net Book Value |
||||
Number of Shares |
2005 |
2004 |
2005 |
2004 |
|
Clearant, Inc. |
21,135 |
$ 75,278 |
$ 1 |
$ 1 |
$ 1 |
The shares of Clearant, Inc. were acquired pursuant to a distribution of assets of an amalgamated company in which the Company originally invested in 1999. Clearant began trading in April 2005 on the OTC BB market under the symbol CLRI. In 2004 the Company wrote down its investment to a nominal value of $1. Fair value is based upon a closing price of US$3.05 at November 30, 2005.
8.
CAPITAL STOCK
Number |
||
of Shares |
Amount |
|
Authorized |
||
Unlimited number of common voting shares without par value |
||
Unlimited number of preferred shares, issuable in series |
||
Common shares issued (reflecting 4:1 consolidation in January 2004) |
||
As at November 30, 2003 |
2,149,559 |
$ 4,995,516 |
For cash private placements |
7,666,250 |
3,549,400 |
For cash exercise of options |
178,750 |
44,687 |
For cash exercise of warrants |
272,000 |
161,400 |
For acquisition of property (Note 6(d)) |
200,000 |
244,000 |
For settlement of debts |
84,583 |
20,300 |
Share issuance costs |
- |
(40,200) |
Share-based compensation |
- |
16,800 |
As at November 30, 2004 |
10,551,142 |
8,991,903 |
For cash exercise of options |
95,000 |
57,500 |
For cash exercise of warrants |
1,682,500 |
929,500 |
For cash private placements |
1,150,000 |
651,500 |
For acquisition of property (Note 6(a and b)) |
200,000 |
238,000 |
Share-based compensation |
- |
42,910 |
As at November 30, 2005 |
13,678,642 |
$ 10,911,313 |
Share subscriptions
The Company issued securities in 2004 for which payment of $30,375 was received in full during the first quarter of 2005. These securities consisted of 25,000 private placement units at $0.54 per unit and 67,500 stock options at $0.25 per share, for total amounts of $13,500 and $16,875 respectively. The Company recorded the total amount of $30,375 as a debit against shareholders equity for the year ended November 30, 2004, and as a credit to shareholders equity when received.
Private Placements
The following table summarizes the Companys recent private placements:
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
||
First placement during the year: |
||||
Private placement proceeds |
$560,000 |
$204,000 |
$30,000 |
|
Number of units |
1,000,000 |
850,000 |
62,500 |
|
Number of whole warrants |
500,000 |
425,000 |
62,500 |
|
Unit price |
$0.56 |
$0.24 |
$0.48 |
|
Warrant exercise price |
$0.80 |
$0.35 |
$0.60 |
|
Warrant expiry date |
December 23, 2006 |
August 26, 2005 |
December 3, 2004 |
|
Second placement during the year: |
||||
Private placement proceeds |
$91,500 |
$675,000 |
$67,500 |
|
Number of units |
150,000 |
2,500,000 |
225,000 |
|
Number of whole warrants |
75,000 |
1,250,000 |
225,000 |
|
Unit price |
$0.61 |
$0.27 |
$0.30 |
|
Warrant exercise price |
$0.80 |
$0.35 |
$0.42 |
|
Warrant expiry date |
January 5, 2007 |
March 15, 2006 |
November 14, 2005 |
|
Third placement during the year: |
||||
Private placement proceeds |
n/a |
$1,625,400 |
n/a |
|
Number of units |
3,010,000 |
|||
Number of whole warrants |
1,505,000 |
|||
Unit price |
$0.54 |
|||
Warrant exercise price |
$0.80 |
|||
Warrant expiry date |
May 14, 2006 |
|||
Fourth placement during the year: |
||||
Private placement proceeds |
n/a |
$1,045,000 |
n/a |
|
Number of units |
1,306,250 |
|||
Number of whole warrants |
1,306,250 |
|||
Unit price |
$0.80 |
|||
Warrant exercise price |
$1.00 |
|||
Warrant expiry date |
March 7, 2006 |
In November 2003, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 225,000 units at a price of $0.30 per unit, for total proceeds of $67,500. Each unit consisted of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.42 per share until November 14, 2005. No finders fee was issued. During the year ended November 30, 2005, 225,000 (years ended November 30, 2004 and 2003 Nil) warrants were exercised.
In February 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 850,000 units at a price of $0.24 per unit, for total proceeds of $204,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where one full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share until August 26, 2005. No finders fee was issued. During the year ended November 30, 2005, 425,000 (year ended November 30, 2004 Nil) full warrants were exercised.
In March 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 2,500,000 units at a price of $0.27 per unit, for total proceeds of $675,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where one full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.35 per share until March 15, 2006. No finders fee was issued. During the year ended November 30, 2005, 355,000 (year ended November 30, 2004 150,000) full warrants were exercised. If the common shares trade above $1.00 per share on the TSX Venture Exchange for a period of 10 consecutive trading days prior to the expiry of the warrants and after the initial four month hold period has expired, the Company has the right to force the exercise of the warrants.
In May 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 3,010,000 units at a price of $0.54 per unit, for total proceeds of $1,625,400. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, where one full warrant entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.80 per share until May 14, 2006. No finders fee was issued. During the year ended November 30, 2005, 552,500 (year ended November 30, 2004 Nil) warrants were exercised. If the common shares trade above $1.50 per share on the TSX Venture Exchange for a period of 10 consecutive trading days prior to the expiry of the warrants and after the initial four month hold period has expired, the Company has the right to force the exercise of the warrants.
In September, 2004, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 1,306,250 units at a price of $0.80 per unit, for total proceeds of $1,045,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $1.00 per share until March 7, 2006. Finders fees of $40,200 were paid. During the year ended November 30, 2005, 100,000 (year ended November 30, 2004 Nil) warrants were exercised.
In June 2005, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 1,000,000 units at a price of $0.56 per unit for total proceeds of $560,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one half a common share at a price of $0.80 per whole common share until December 23, 2006.
In July 2005, the Company completed a private placement consisting of 150,000 units at a price of $0.61 per unit for total proceeds of $91,500. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase one half a common share at a price of $0.80 per whole common share until January 5, 2007.
Escrow shares
As at November 30, 2005 and 2004, there were no common shares held in escrow.
Warrants
|
Year ended November 30, |
Year ended November 30, |
2005 |
2004 |
|
Outstanding, beginning of year |
4,561,250 |
462,917 |
Exercised at $0.42 |
(225,000) |
- |
Exercised at $1.20 |
- |
(59,500) |
Expired |
- |
(115,917) |
Exercised at $0.60 |
- |
(62,500) |
Issued- exercisable at $0.35 |
- |
1,675,000 |
Exercised at $0.35 |
(780,000) |
(150,000) |
Issued- exercisable at $0.80 |
575,000 |
1,505,000 |
Exercised at $0.80 |
(577,500) |
- |
Issued- exercisable at $1.00 |
- |
1,306,250 |
Exercised at $1.00 |
(100,000) |
- |
Outstanding, end of year |
3,453,750 |
4,561,250 |
The following warrants were outstanding at November 30, 2005:
Number |
Exercise |
||
of Warrants
|
Price
|
Expiry Date |
|
|
|
||
1,206,250 |
$1.00 |
March 7, 2006 |
|
745,000 |
$0.35 |
March 15, 2006 |
|
952,500 |
$0.80 |
December 23, 2006 |
|
475,000 |
$0.80 |
May 14, 2006 |
|
75,000 |
$0.80 |
January 5, 2007 |
|
3,453,750 |
The following warrants were outstanding at November 30, 2004
Number |
Exercise |
||
of Warrants
|
Price
|
Expiry Date |
|
|
|
||
425,000 |
$0.35 |
August 26, 2005 |
|
225,000 |
$0.42 |
November 14, 2005 |
|
1,306,250 |
$1.00 |
March 7, 2006 |
|
1,100,000 |
$0.35 |
March 15, 2006 |
|
1,505,000 |
$0.80 |
May 14, 2006 |
|
4,561,250 |
Refer to Note 14 for commitments to issue additional common shares.
9.
STOCK OPTION PLAN AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Under its existing accounting policy for stock options, the Company recognizes an expense for the fair value of options granted on or after November 30, 2003, and provided certain pro-forma disclosure for the fair value of options granted up to November 30, 2003. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value stock options granted. The Black-Scholes model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The model requires management to make estimates, which are subjective and may not be representative of actual results. Changes in assumptions can materially affect estimates of fair values. For purposes of the calculation and disclosures, the following assumptions were used:
Options granted on |
|||||
January 29, 2004 |
September 29, 2004 |
May 5, 2005 |
August 29, 2005 |
November 3 and 24, 2005 |
|
Risk free interest rate |
2.5% |
3.22% |
3.03% |
3.10% |
3.80% |
Expected life |
2 years |
2 years |
2 years |
2 years |
2 years |
Expected volatility |
136% |
165% |
129% |
51% |
68% / 74% |
Expected dividends |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
The Company, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, is authorized to grant options to directors, employees and consultants, up to 10% of issued and outstanding common stock. The exercise price of each option is not less than the average market price of the Companys stock as calculated over the ten trading days preceding the date of grant, and may also be set at a higher price. The options can be granted for a maximum term of 5 years. The consolidation of the Companys outstanding options on a one new for every four old basis on January 14, 2004, and the repricing of all consolidated options to $0.25 per share on February 24, 2004, have been applied on a retroactive basis.
Current year stock-based compensation of $335,362 from the May, August and November 2005 grants to directors, officers and consultants of 885,000 options exercisable at $0.70 to $1.12 per share for two years was calculated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. The amounts were charged against income in the period granted, with the corresponding credit to contributed surplus. Upon exercise, a proportionate amount is credited to capital stock.
The following 1,260,000 incentive stock options were outstanding at November 30, 2005:
Number |
Exercise |
||
of Shares |
Price
|
Expiry Date |
|
|
|||
425,000 |
$0.70 |
September 29, 2006 |
|
560,000 |
$0.70 |
May 5, 2007 |
|
150,000 |
$1.05 |
August 29, 2007 |
|
50,000 |
$1.00 |
November 3, 2007 |
|
75,000 |
$1.12 |
November 24, 2007 |
The following 920,000 incentive stock options were outstanding at November 30, 2004:
Number |
Exercise |
||
of Shares |
Price
|
Expiry Date |
|
|
|||
20,000 |
$0.25 |
January 29, 2009 |
|
900,000 |
$0.70 |
September 29, 2006 |
Year ended November 30,
|
Year Ended November 30, |
|
2005 |
2004 |
|
Outstanding, beginning of year |
920,000 |
95,000 |
Issued exercisable at $0.25 |
- |
120,000 |
Exercised at $0.25 |
(20,000) |
(195,000) |
Issued- exercisable at $0.70 |
585,000 |
900,000 |
Exercised at $0.70 |
(75,000) |
- |
Cancelled |
(425,000) |
- |
Issued- exercisable at $1.05 |
175,000 |
- |
Cancelled |
(25,000) |
- |
Issued- exercisable at $1.00 |
50,000 |
- |
Issued exercisable at $1.12 |
75,000 |
- |
Outstanding, end of year |
1,260,000 |
920,000 |
10.
CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS
The Companys contributed surplus is comprised of the following:
2005 |
2004 |
|
Balance beginning of year |
$ 532,560 |
$ - |
Stock-based compensation (Note 9) |
335,362 |
549,360 |
Stock options exercised |
(42,910) |
(16,800) |
Balance end of year |
$ 825,012 |
$ 532,560 |
11.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
These consolidated financial statements include transactions during the current year with related parties as follows:
a)
The Company paid consulting fees of $105,600 (2004 - $152,500; 2003 - $60,000) to three directors, $28,000 (2004 $Nil; 2003 - $Nil) to officers, and paid wages (including severance) of $144,000 (2004 - $Nil; 2003 - $Nil) to a director;
b)
The Company paid rent and administration fees of $55,867 (2004 $Nil; 2003 - $Nil) to Cardero Resource Corp. (Cardero), a public company related by a common director;
c)
The Company paid rent of $Nil (2004 - $3,996;2003 - $Nil) to a company controlled by a director;
d)
Amounts due to related parties of $40,084 (November 30, 2004 - $25,525) is comprised of $5,000 (2004 - $8,780) to directors and officers for consulting, $4,931 (2004 - $2,461) to Cardero for rent and administration expenses, and $30,153 (2004 - $14,284) to directors for expense reimbursements;
e)
Directors participated in the following transactions during the year:
f)
A director subscribed for 30,000 private placement units at $0.56 per unit;
g)
A director exercised 20,000 stock options at $0.25 per share.
All transactions with related parties have occurred in the normal course of operations and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed upon by the related parties (see Note 3).
12.
INCOME TAXES
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant components of future income tax assets and liabilities by applying the combined Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate of 34.99% (2004 35.79%) are as follows:
2005 |
2004 |
|
Net loss for the year |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
Income tax recovery at combined basic |
||
Canadian Federal and Provincial tax rate: |
||
34.99% (2004 35.79%) |
1,111,302 |
583,476 |
Foreign tax rates differentials |
(116) |
(4,143) |
Tax benefit of losses not recognized in current year |
(1,111,186) |
(579,333) |
Income tax recovery |
$ - |
$ - |
A reconciliation of the income tax benefit (provisions) with amounts determined by applying the Canadian income tax rates to the consolidated loss for completed financial periods is as follows:
2005 |
2004 |
|
Future income tax: |
||
Property, plant and equipment |
$ 7,208 |
$ 5,969 |
Exploration and development expenditures |
1,235,919 |
620,589 |
Issuance costs |
204,561 |
209,232 |
Losses available for future periods |
1,294,289 |
1,038,433 |
2,741,977 |
1,874,223 |
|
Valuation allowance |
(2,741,977) |
(1,874,223) |
$ - |
$ - |
The above loss available for future periods include US operating losses by applying the income tax rates of 34% (2004 34%). These tax benefits have not been recognized in the consolidated financial statements, as there is no certainty that they will be utilized.
Subject to certain restrictions, the Company has exploration and development expenditures of approximately $3,532,207 (2004 - $1,766,000) and operating losses of approximately $2,704,034 (2004 - $1,913,822) available to reduce future Canadian taxable income. The Company also has operating losses from US subsidiary of approximately $1,023,964 (2004 - $1,023,386) available to reduce US taxable income. These losses expire as follows:
Canada |
U.S. |
|
2006 |
$ 283,378 |
$ - |
2007 |
243,750 |
- |
2008 |
210,167 |
- |
2009 |
254,374 |
- |
2010 |
235,356 |
- |
2014 |
538,975 |
|
2015 |
938,034 |
|
2018 |
- |
523,786 |
2019 |
- |
255,021 |
2020 |
- |
168,818 |
2021 |
- |
34,215 |
2022 |
- |
5,182 |
2023 |
- |
18,488 |
2024 |
- |
17,876 |
2025 |
- |
578 |
$ 2,704,03 |
$ 1,023,964 |
13.
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS:
Cumulative Amounts From October 7, 1994 to November 30, 2005 |
||||||
Years Ended November 30, |
||||||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
||||
|
||||||
Cash paid during the year for: |
|
|||||
Interest |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
||
Income taxes |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
Since inception of the exploration stage, the Company has issued a total of 800,410 common shares (adjusted for roll-backs) for non-cash consideration as follows:
Number |
|||
Year |
of Shares |
Amount |
Consideration |
2005 |
200,000 |
$ 238,000 |
Acquisition of mineral property |
2004 |
200,000 |
244,000 |
Acquisition of mineral property |
2004 |
84,583 |
20,300 |
Shares for debt owing |
2002 |
23,750 |
15,350 |
Finders fees |
2002 |
139,402 |
66,457 |
Shares for debt owing |
1999 |
2,675 |
8,025 |
Finders fees |
1996 |
150,000 |
600,000 |
Acquisition of mineral property |
14.
CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS
a)
The Company has entered into a month to month office lease arrangement with no annual lease commitments.
b)
All phases of the Companys operations are subject to environmental regulations. Environmental legislation, in the countries in which the Company is currently performing exploration work, is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and heightened degree of responsibilities for companies and their officers, directors and employees. Although presently, compliance with such laws is not a significant factor in the Companys operations, there is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulations, if any, will not adversely affect the Companys operations.
c)
As at November 30, 2005, the Company has the following mineral property commitments over the next two years:
Canada |
Argentina |
|||
Non - Cash |
Cash |
Non - Cash |
Cash |
|
2006 |
||||
Number of common shares to issue |
200,000 |
|
200,000 |
|
Annual option payment |
$ 25,000 |
$ - |
||
2007 |
||||
Number of common shares to issue |
250,000 |
300,000 |
||
Annual option payment |
25,000 |
- |
||
450,000 |
$ 50,000 |
500,000 |
$ - |
15.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
a)
Subsequent to year end, 274,750 warrants were exercised at $0.80 per share, 225,000 warrants were exercised at $0.35 per share, and 93,750 warrants were exercised at $1.00 per share.
b)
Stock options
i)
Subsequent to year end, 75,000 options were granted to consultants, exercisable at $1.14 per share until December 5, 2007
ii)
25,000 options were exercised at $0.70 per share
16.
SEGMENTED INFORMATION
The Company operates in a single industry segment, mineral acquisition, exploration and development. As the Company expenses its acquisition, exploration, and development costs, no assets outside of Canada are shown on the balance sheet. Thus, no capital asset geographic segment disclosure is made here. However, significant losses due to mineral property expenses are incurred outside of Canada. Consequently, the following segmented information is provided:
Years ended November 30 |
||||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
||
Net loss for the year- Canada |
|
$ (2,098,125) |
$ (1,126,060) |
$ (235,416) |
Net loss for the year- Peru |
(8,562) |
(484,847) |
- |
|
Net loss for the year- Argentina |
(1,068,790) |
- |
- |
|
Net loss for the year- US |
(578) |
(19,415) |
(27,783) |
|
Consolidated net loss for the year |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
$ (263,199) |
17.
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the financial statement presentation adopted in the current year.
18.
UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada. Except as set out below, these consolidated financial statements also comply, in all material respects, with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stock-Based Compensation
The United States Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB25). This statement uses the intrinsic value based method whereby compensation cost is recorded for the excess, if any, of the quoted market price over the exercise price, at the date the stock options are granted. As at November 30, 2003, no compensation cost would have been recorded for any period under this method.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation (SFAS 123), issued in October 1995, requires the use of the fair value based method of accounting for stock options. Under this method, compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the options granted and is recognized over the exercise period. SFAS 123 allows the Company to continue to measure the compensation cost of employees and directors in accordance with APB 25.
Prior to 2004, Canadian generally accepted accounting principles did not require the reporting of any stock based compensation expense in the Companys consolidated financial statements.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model to determine the fair value of incentive stock options at the grant date. As at November 30, 2005 cumulative compensation expense totaling $884,722 (November 30, 2004 - $549,360) has been incurred. Cumulative compensation expense does not include the value of options granted and subsequently forfeited or exercised. In determining the fair value of the incentive stock options, the following assumptions, on a weighted average basis, were used:
Options granted on |
|||||
January 29, 2004 |
September 29, 2004 |
May 5, 2005 |
August 29, 2005 |
November 3 and 24, 2005 |
|
Risk free interest rate |
2.5% |
3.22% |
3.03% |
3.10% |
3.80% |
Expected life |
2 years |
2 years |
2 years |
2 years |
2 years |
Expected volatility |
136% |
165% |
129% |
51% |
68% / 74% |
Expected dividends |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
The following is a summary of the status of stock options outstanding at November 30, 2005:
Outstanding Options |
Exercisable Options |
|||||
Range of Exercise Prices |
Number |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Number |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
$0.70 - $1.12 |
1,260,000 |
1.32 |
$0.78 |
1,166,250 |
$0.76 |
The following is a summary of the stock-based compensation plan during 2005, 2004, and 2003:
Weighted |
||
Average |
||
Number |
Exercise |
|
of Shares |
Price |
|
Outstanding and exercisable at November 30, 2003 |
95,000 |
$ 0.80 |
Forfeited |
(16,250) |
0.68 |
Repricing of all options- February 24, 2004 |
78,750 |
0.25 |
Granted |
120,000 |
0.25 |
Granted |
900,000 |
0.70 |
Exercised |
(178,750) |
0.25 |
Outstanding and exercisable at November 30, 2004 |
920,000 |
0.69 |
Granted |
860,000 |
0.79 |
Forfeited |
(425,000) |
0.70 |
Exercised |
(95,000) |
0.61 |
Outstanding and exercisable at November 30, 2005 |
1,260,000 |
$ 0.78 |
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (SFAS No. 109). SFAS No. 109 requires a company to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in a companys financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the tax rates in effect in the years when the temporary differences are expected to reverse.
Mineral properties
The Companys policy of expensing acquisition, exploration and development costs except in the case where an outright property interest has been acquired has resulted in an accounting treatment for these costs which the Company considers to be, in substance, congruent with US generally accepted accounting principles.
Trading securities and available-for-sale securities
Under Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, marketable securities are recorded at the lower of cost or quoted market value. Long-term investments are recorded at cost and only written down when there is evidence of a decline in value below carried value that is other than temporary. Holding gains are never recognized.
Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (SFAS No. 115), unrealized holding gains and losses for trading securities are included in statements of operations. Temporary unrealized holding gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are excluded from statements of operations and reported as a net amount in a separate component of shareholders equity until realized.
Comprehensive Income
SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, addresses standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components.
Comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income represents revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are excluded from net income under United States generally accepted accounting principles.
For the years ended November 30, 2005 and 2004 there were no other items of comprehensive income.
Loss per share
SFAS No. 128 Earnings Per Share simplifies the computation of income (loss) per share by replacing the presentation of primary earnings (loss) per share with a presentation of basic earnings (loss) per share, as defined. The statement requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share by entities with complex capital structures. Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity similar to fully diluted earnings per share.
Recent accounting pronouncements
The following accounting pronouncements have been introduced since the filing of the Companys Form 20F filed on May 31, 2005:
a)
In March 2005, the Emerging Issue Task Force issued EITF Issue 04-6, Accounting for Stripping Costs in the Mining Industry (EITF Issue 04-6), stating that post-production stripping costs are a component of mineral inventory costs subject to the provisions of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Accounting Research Bulletin No.43, Restatement and Revision of Accounting Research Bulletins, Chapter 4, Inventory Pricing, (ARB No.43). Based upon this statement, post production stripping costs are considered as costs of the extracted minerals under a full absorption costing system and are recognized as a component of inventory to be recognized in costs of coal sales in the same period as the revenue from the sale of the inventory. In addition, capitalization of such costs would be appropriate only to the extent inventory exists at the end of a reporting period. The provisions will be effective for financial statements issued for the first reporting period in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, with early adoption permitted. The Company has determined that the adoption of EITF Issue 04-6 does not have an impact on its results of operations or financial position since the Company is still in the exploration stage and has not yet realized any revenues from its operations.
b)
In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 47 (FIN 47) Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143. A conditional asset retirement obligation refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the timing and (or) method of settlement. Thus, the timing and (or) method of settlement may be conditional on a future event. FIN 47 requires an entity to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005 (December 31, 2005, for calendar-year enterprises). Retrospective application for interim financial information is permitted but is not required. The Company does not have any conditional asset retirement obligations.
c)
The following standards issued by the FASB do not impact the Company at this time:
SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costsan amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4 effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005.
SFAS No. 153, Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assetsan amendment of APB Opinion No. 29 effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005.
The impact of the above differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles on consolidated statements of loss, as reported, is as follows:
Cumulative amount from October 7, 1994 to November 30, 2005 |
|||||
Years Ended November 30, |
|||||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
|||
Loss for the period as reported |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
$ (263,199) |
$ (9,725,385) |
|
Less: Compensation expense - stock options |
- |
- |
- - |
(350,111) |
|
Loss for the period in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
$ (263,199) |
$ (10,075,496) |
The impact of the above differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles on the consolidated statements of deficit, as reported, is as follows:
Years Ended November 30, |
||||||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
||||
Deficit, as reported |
$ (9,725,385) |
$ (6,549,330) |
$ (4,919,008) |
|||
Cumulative compensation expense - stock options |
(350,111) |
(350,111) |
(350,111) |
|||
Deficit in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles |
$ (10,075,496) |
$ (6,899,441) |
$ (5,269,119) |
The impact of the above differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles on the loss per share, as reported, is as follows:
Years ended November 30 |
|||
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss for the period under United States generally accepted accounting principles |
$ (3,176,055) |
$ (1,630,322) |
$ (263,199) |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding under United States |
|||
generally accepted accounting principles |
11,648,823 |
6,732,969 |
1,908,609 |
Basic loss per share |
$ (0.27) |
$ (0.24) |
$ (0.14) |
Diluted EPS has not been disclosed as the effect of the exercise of the Companys outstanding options and warrants would be anti-dilutive.
The impact of the above differences between Canadian and United States generally accepted accounting principles on the statements of shareholders equity, as reported, is as follows:
|
|
|
Deficit |
|
||
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
||
Capital Stock |
Additional |
during the |
|
|||
Number |
|
Subscriptions |
Paid-In |
Exploration |
|
|
of shares |
Amount |
receivable |
Capital |
Stage |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Shareholders equity as |
||||||
reported November 30, 2004 |
10,551,142 |
$ 8,991,903 |
$ (30,375) |
$ 532,560 |
$ (6,549,330) |
$ 2,944,758 |
Cumulative compensation |
||||||
expense - stock options |
- |
- |
- |
350,111 |
(350,111) |
- |
Shareholders equity in |
||||||
accordance with United |
||||||
States generally accepted accounting |
||||||
principles at November |
||||||
30, 2004 |
10,551,142 |
$ 8,991,903 |
$ (30,375) |
$ 882,671 |
$ (6,899,441) |
$ 2,944,758 |
Shareholders equity as |
||||||
Reported November 30, 2005 |
13,678,642 |
$ 10,911,313 |
$ - |
$ 825,012 |
$ (9,725,385) |
$ 2,010,940 |
Cumulative compensation |
||||||
expense - stock options |
- |
- |
- |
350,111 |
(350,111) |
- |
Shareholders equity in |
||||||
accordance with United |
||||||
States generally accepted accounting |
||||||
principles at November |
||||||
30, 2005 |
13,678,642 |
$ 10,911,313 |
$ - |
$ 1,175,123 |
$ (10,075,496) |
$ 2,010,940 |
ITEM 18.
See Item 17
ITEM 19.
Exhibit Number |
Page |
|
1.2 |
Certificates of Name Change dated July 18, 1996 and October 17, 1996. |
* |
1.3 |
Certificate of Incorporation dated October 7, 1994. |
* |
1.4 |
Articles (Bylaws) of the Corporation |
* |
1.5 |
Amendments to Articles of the Corporation, dated July 18, 1996 and October 16, 1996 |
* |
1.6 |
Certificate of Name Change and Amendment to Articles of the Corporation dated August 22, 2001 |
* |
1.7 |
Certificate of Amendment and Name Change of the Corporation dated December 12, 2003 |
* |
2.1 |
Option Agreements between the Company and Management, Employees and Director. |
* |
4.1 |
Mining Lease and Option Agreement between St. George Metals, Inc. and Triband Resource US Inc. dated June 29,1998 |
* |
4.2 |
Letter of Engagement dated February 18, 1997 between the Company and Timothy J. Percival. |
* |
4.3 |
Option Assignment Agreement between Minera Koripampa del Peru S.A. and Wealth Minerals dated July 6, 2004 |
* |
4.4 |
Property Agreement, Mackenzie Property |
* |
4.5 |
Property Agreement, Uranium Projects, Argentina |
* |
4.8 |
Mackenzie Project, British Columbia Location Map |
* |
5.1 |
Stock Option Plan |
* |
11.1 |
CEO Code of Ethics |
* |
11.2 |
CFO Code of Ethics |
* |
11.3 |
Directors and Officers Codes of Ethics |
* |
* Indicates the named document has been previously filed and is incorporated by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WEALTH MINERALS CORP.
By:
/s/ Jerry G. Pogue
Acting President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: May 26, 2006