HIGHCLIFF METALS CORP. General
We were incorporated under the laws of
The Company is engaged in the exploration, evaluation and development of our
Helmer-
Our principal executive office is located at Suite 880,
To date, we have not earned significant revenues from the operation of our Helmer-Bovill Property. Accordingly, we are dependent on debt and equity financing as our primary source of operating working capital. Our capital resources are largely determined by the strength of the junior resource markets and by the status of our projects in relation to these markets, and its ability to compete for investor support of its projects.
Our Principal Projects
Our activities at the Helmer-Bovill Property are focused on developing the
The Bovill Project
Our lead project, the
Since 2010, our exploration work has focused diamond drilling on the
In
The mineral resources stated in the 2016 FS remain current and have recently
been re-stated in a standalone technical report prepared by SRK Consulting
(
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2020 Pre-Feasibility Study
The Company engaged MillCreek Engineering of
On
Highlights of the PFS include:
• 20% Pre-Tax IRR; 18% After Tax IRR •US$48.3 million Pre-Tax NPV;US$33.7 million After Tax NPV • Initial Capital Cost ofUS$48.3 million • Total Life of Operation Capital Costs ofUS$54.2 million • 25 year mine life with 1.04:1 strip ratio
The 2020 PFS is based on the production of two minerals, halloysite and
kaolinite. The halloysite is beneficiated into two mineral products; HalloPure
which is about 70% halloysite and 30% kaolinite and premium quality
Ultra-Hallopure which is greater than 90% halloysite with the balance kaolinite.
The quality of Bovill Halloysite is regarded as being exceptional and the
research on halloysite applications has dramatically increased over the past 5
years involving polymers, filtration, extruded polystyrene insulation, green
technology and life sciences. The kaolinite is flash calcined to produce
metakaolin, a Supplementary Cementitious Material ("SCM") and highly reactive
pozzolan that when added to concrete increases strength and durability, reduces
permeability, reduces the effect of alkali-silica reactivity and increases
resistance to chloride ingress and sulfate attack. By using metakaolin the
sustainability of the concrete is increased through longer service life and the
carbon footprint is reduced by lowering the quantity of
A conservative approach to the build-up of sales has been assumed with full production being achieved in the first quarter of the 5th year of operation as some product applications will require development. There is potential for full production to be achieved earlier which would have a corresponding positive effect on the NPV and IRR.
Updated Measured and Indicated Resource Estimate
• Measured Resources of 5.7 million tons containing 76.5% quartz/K-spar sand,
12.3% Kaolinite and 4.0% Halloysite.
• Indicated Resources of 15.5 million tons containing 57.0% quartz/K-spar
sand, 15.5% Kaolinite and 2.8% Halloysite.
• 667,000 tons of contained halloysite, 3,119,000 tons of contained kaolinite
and 13,235,000 tons of contained quartz/K-spar.
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Updated Mineral Reserves
Proven Probable Total P&P
K Tons 1,310 1,868 3,178
Halloysite % 8.8 8.0 8.3
Halloysite K Tons 115 149 264
Kaolinite % 11.1 22.4 17.7
Kaolinite K Tons 145 418 563
NSR $ 109 $ 123 $ 117
* Notes on Mineral Reserves:
• Reserves are based on a
• Rounding of numbers in mineral reserves listed above may cause apparent
inconsistencies.
• The reference point for Mineral Reserves is at the plant stockpile
The full 2020 PFS was filed on www.sedar.com on
Plan of Operation and Outlook
The Company is continuing to take a sequential approach to the development of
the
During 2021
Market development for halloysite is ongoing with cutting edge research in epoxy
coatings and new developments in wound care.
Given the Company's mineral leases were set to expire on
Rather than pursue the lease amendment process that would only result in an
additional 10 year term on the mineral leases, the Company elected to apply for
new mineral leases. In accordance with IDL procedures the availability of the
leases was advertised for 30 days. With no competing bidders forthcoming, in
The ORP, FS and FEED Study is forecasted to take a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months to complete. Estimated costs to complete is estimated as follows:
Feasibility Study and FEED Study$ 885,000 Mineral Marketing 420,000 General and administrative 650,000 Sub total 1,955,000 Contingency 105,000 Total$ 2,060,000 20 Results of Operations
Three months ended
We recorded a net loss of
• Management and consulting fees of
fees to manage our Company and stock-based compensation. The stock-based
compensation recognized in the current period was $nil (2021 - $nil).
Approximately 75% of the fees to manage our Company are charged to management
and consulting fees and the other 25% is charged to mineral property
expenditures.
• Mineral property expenditures of
incurred on our Helmer-Bovill Property. The expenditures in the current
period are pre-development costs that have been expensed during the period.
The main components of costs during the current period included engineering
and consulting ($56,057 ) and metallurgy ($30,788 ). During the current
period, the Company continued to optimize the metallurgical processes and
detailed engineering. Effective January 31, 2019 , the Company returned to
the evaluation stage for accounting purposes and therefore stopped
capitalizing development costs.
• General and miscellaneous expenses of
of office and telephone expenses, payroll taxes, medical benefits, insurance
premiums, travel expenses, promotional expenses, shareholder communication
fees, transfer agent fees and filing fees. The decrease during the current
period was due primarily to a decrease in investor relations and filing and
transfer agent fees.
• Professional fees of $41,514 (2021 - $30,341 ) include legal fees, audit fees
and financial consulting fees. The increase during the period was due to
additional professional tax fees.
• Interest expense of $11,247 (2021 - $962,104 ) is from promissory notes that
bear interest at the rates of 12%-14% per year up to April 30, 2021 and 0.13%
per year effective May 1, 2021 . Interest decreased due to the decrease in
interest rate.
Nine months ended
We recorded a net loss of
• Management and consulting fees of
fees to manage our Company and stock-based compensation. The stock-based compensation recognized in the current period was $nil (2021 - $nil). Approximately 75% of the fees to manage our Company are charged to management and consulting fees and the other 25% is charged to mineral property expenditures.
• Mineral property expenditures of
on our Helmer-Bovill Property. The expenditures in the current period are pre-development costs that have been expensed during the period. The main components of costs during the current period included engineering and consulting ($116,057 ) and metallurgy ($142,695 ). During the current period, the Company continued to optimize the metallurgical processes and detailed engineering. EffectiveJanuary 31, 2019 , the Company returned to the evaluation stage for accounting purposes and therefore stopped capitalizing development costs. • General and miscellaneous expenses of$153,539 (2021 -$145,985 ) are comprised
of office and telephone expenses, payroll taxes, medical benefits, insurance
premiums, travel expenses, promotional expenses, shareholder communication
fees, transfer agent fees and filing fees. The increase during the current
period was due primarily to an increase in insurance.
• Professional fees of
and financial consulting fees. The increase during the period was due to
additional professional tax fees. • Interest expense of$93,107 (2021 -$2,765,757 ) is from promissory notes that bear interest at the rates of 12%-14% per year up toApril 30, 2021 and 0.13% per year effectiveMay 1, 2021 . Interest decreased due to the decrease in interest rate, offset by recognizing$60,000 of interest expense due to theCanada Revenue Agency relating to the withholding tax payable. 21
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our aggregate operating, investing and financing activities during the nine
months ended
During the nine months ended
We have been financed by advances pursuant to promissory notes advanced by
As at
We have not as yet put into commercial production any mineral properties and as such have no operating revenues. Accordingly, we are dependent on debt and equity financing as its primary source of operating working capital. Our capital resources are largely determined by the strength of the junior resource markets and by the status of our projects in relation to these markets, and our ability to compete for investor support of our projects.
We remain dependent on additional financing to fund development requirements on
the Helmer-
We do not have the ability to internally generate sufficient cash flows to support our operations for the next twelve months. We have been receiving funds from a company controlled by a director of the Company through promissory notes. We have no formal plan in place to address this going concern issue but consider that we will be able to obtain additional funds by equity financing and/or debt financing; however, there is no assurance of additional funding being available. As a result, there is substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
During 2020 and 2021, there was an outbreak of COVID-19 that has impacted the economic environment and the capital markets. As the Company is at the stage of exploration and evaluation and is looking to fund mine development leading to production, the impacts of COVID-19 are not determinable at this date. COVID-19 however, could have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operation and cash flows. The Company's liquidity and its ability to continue as a going concern may also be impacted.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to shareholders.
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Critical Accounting Policies
Measurement Uncertainty
The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We regularly evaluate estimates and assumptions related to the useful life and recoverability of long lived assets, stock-based compensation, valuation of convertible debentures and derivative liabilities, and deferred income tax asset valuation allowances. We base our estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by us may differ materially and adversely from our estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected. The most significant estimates with regard to our condensed consolidated financial statements relate to the determination of fair values of derivative liabilities and stock-based transactions.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for all stock-based payments and awards under the fair value based method. Stock-based payments to non-employees are measured at the fair value of the consideration received, or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, or liabilities incurred, whichever is more reliably measurable.
We account for the granting of stock options using the fair value method whereby all awards will be recorded at fair value on the date of the grant. The fair value of all stock options is expensed over their vesting period with a corresponding increase to additional paid-in capital.
Compensation costs for stock-based payments that do not include performance conditions are recognized on a straight-line basis. Compensation cost associated with a share based award having a performance condition is recognized on the probable outcome of that performance condition during the requisite service period. Share based awards with a performance condition are accrued on an award by award basis.
We use the Black-Scholes option valuation model to calculate the fair value of stock options at the date of the grant. Option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected price volatility. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates.
Mineral Property Acquisition and Exploration Costs
Mineral property acquisition costs are capitalized when incurred. Acquisition costs include cash consideration and the fair market value of shares issued on the acquisition of mineral property claims.
Costs related to the development of our mineral reserves are capitalized when it has been determined an ore body can be economically developed. The development stage begins when an ore body is determined to be economically recoverable based on proven and probable reserves and appropriate permits are in place, and ends when the production stage or exploitation of reserves begins. Major mine development expenditures are capitalized, including primary development costs such as costs of building access ways, tailings impoundment, development of water supply and infrastructure developments.
Exploration costs include those relating to activities carried out (a) in search of previously unidentified mineral deposits, or (b) at undeveloped concessions. Pre-development activities involve costs incurred in the exploration stage that may ultimately benefit production that are expensed due to the lack of evidence of economic development, which is necessary to demonstrate future recoverability of these expenses. Secondary development costs are incurred for preparation of an ore body for production in a specific ore block or work area, providing a relatively short-lived benefit only to the mine area they relate to, and not to the ore body as a whole.
Once production has commenced, capitalized costs will be depleted using the units-of-production method over the estimated life of the proven and probable reserves. If mineral properties are subsequently abandoned or impaired, any capitalized costs will be charged to the Consolidated Statements of Loss in that period.
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We assess the carrying cost of our mineral properties for impairment whenever information or circumstances indicate the potential for impairment. Such evaluations compare estimated future net cash flows with our carrying costs and future obligations on an undiscounted basis. If it is determined that the future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, a write down to the estimated fair value is charged to the Consolidated Statements of Loss for the period. Where estimates of future net cash flows are not available and where other conditions suggest impairment, management assesses if the carrying value can be recovered.
For significant exploration and development projects, interest is capitalized as part of the historical cost of developing and constructing assets in accordance with ASC 835-20. Interest is capitalized until the asset is ready for service. Capitalized interest is determined by multiplying the Company's weighted-average borrowing cost on general debt by the average amount of qualifying costs incurred. Once an asset subject to interest capitalization is completed and placed in service, the associated capitalized interest is expensed through depletion or impairment.
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