As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 18, 2009.
Registration
No. 333-_______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
APOLLO GOLD
CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
Yukon
Territory, Canada
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Not
Applicable
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
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5655 South
Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Greenwood Village,
Colorado 80111
(720) 886-9656
(Address, including
zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of principal
executive offices)
R. David
Russell
President and Chief
Executive Officer
5655 South
Yosemite Street, Suite 200
Greenwood Village,
Colorado 80111
(720) 886-9656
(Name, address,
including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
With a Copy
to
Patricia Peterson
Davis
Graham & Stubbs LLP
1550 Seventeenth
Street, Suite 500
Denver, Colorado
80202
(303) 892-9400
Approximate date of
commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this
registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered
on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being
registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than
securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, check the following box. þ
If this Form is filed to register
additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective
amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement
pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that
shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e)
under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
If this Form is a post-effective
amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D.
filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities
pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following
box. o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large
Accelerated Filer £
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Accelerated
Filer £
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Non-Accelerated
Filer £ (do not
check if a smaller reporting company
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Smaller
Reporting Company R
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CALCULATION OF
REGISTRATION FEE
Title
of Each Class of
Securities
to Be Registered
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Amount
to be
Registered(1)
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Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share(2)
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Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price(2)
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Amount
of
Registration
Fee
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Common
Shares, no par value
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3,255,000
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$0.26
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$846,300
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$47.22
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(1)
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In the event of a stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction involving the common shares of the
registrant, in order to prevent dilution, the number of common shares
registered hereby shall be adjusted automatically to cover the additional
common shares in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
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(2)
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Estimated solely for the purpose
of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the
high and low prices for the common shares on March 12, 2009, as reported
on the NYSE Alternext U.S.
exchange.
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The registrant hereby amends this
registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its
effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become
effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until
the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the
Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may
determine.
The information in this prospectus
is not complete and may be changed. The selling shareholders may not sell
these securities pursuant to this prospectus until the registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission becomes
effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and
Apollo Gold Corporation is not soliciting offers to buy these securities
in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
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Subject to Completion, dated March 17,
2009
PROSPECTUS
APOLLO GOLD
CORPORATION
3,255,000 Common Shares
The
selling shareholders identified on page 22 may use this prospectus to offer
and resell from time to time up to 3,255,000 common shares of Apollo Gold
Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “we,” “us” or “our
company”). The 3,255,000 common shares offered hereby are comprised
of 3,000,000 common shares
issued on a “flow through” basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada),
which such shares we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as flow through
shares, in a private placement completed on December 31, 2008 and 255,000 common shares issuable upon
exercise of warrants issued to Haywood Securities Inc., which we
sometimes refer to in this prospectus as Haywood, for advisory services rendered
in connection with the December 31, 2008 private placement of flow through
shares. Purchasers of
the flow through shares resold under this prospectus will not receive the
Canadian tax benefits associated with the flow through shares, which benefits
apply only to the initial purchasers in the flow through the private
placement. For more information regarding the foregoing, see
“The Company – Recent Events” on page 6 of this prospectus.
Our common shares are traded on the NYSE
Alternext U.S. exchange under the symbol “AGT” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbol “APG.” On March 16, 2009, the closing price for our
common shares on the NYSE Alternext U.S. exchange was $0.27 per share and
the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange was Cdn$0.35 per
share.
We will not receive any proceeds from
the sale of the shares resold under this prospectus by the selling
shareholders. The issuances of the common shares and warrants
described above were made in private placements in reliance upon exemptions from
registration contained in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
The selling shareholders may sell the
shares in transactions on the NYSE Alternext U.S. exchange or the Toronto Stock
Exchange and by any other method permitted by applicable law. The
selling shareholders may sell the shares at prevailing market prices or at
prices negotiated with purchasers and will be responsible for any commissions or
discounts due to brokers or dealers. The amount of these commissions
or discounts cannot be known at this time because they will be negotiated at the
time of the sales. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on
page 23.
References in this prospectus to “$” are
to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the
symbol “Cdn$”.
The common shares
offered in this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. You should carefully
consider the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of
this prospectus in determining whether to purchase our common
shares.
Neither the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission
has approved or disapproved our common shares, or determined if this prospectus
is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus is
______________.
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1 |
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CURRENCY
AND EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
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1 |
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NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES
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1 |
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INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
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1 |
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STATEMENTS
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
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2 |
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THE
COMPANY
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4 |
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RECENT
EVENTS
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6 |
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RISK
FACTORS
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10 |
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USE
OF PROCEEDS
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21 |
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DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
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21 |
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SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS
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22 |
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PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
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23 |
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TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
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24 |
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LEGAL
MATTERS
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29 |
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EXPERTS
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DISCLOSURE
OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES
ACT
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LIABILITY
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30 |
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You should rely only on information
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See
“Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” on pages 1 and 2 of this
prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
information different from that contained or incorporated in this
prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent
information, you should not rely on it. Information on any of the
websites maintained by us does not constitute a part of this
prospectus.
You should assume that the information
appearing in this prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have
changed since those dates.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which we
sometimes refer to in this prospectus as the Exchange Act), and file annual,
quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which we sometimes refer to in
this prospectus as the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site
(http://www.sec.gov) on which our reports, proxy statements and other
information are made available. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information may also be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the operation of the public reference facilities.
We have filed with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3, under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (which we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as the Securities Act),
with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This
prospectus, which constitutes part of the Registration Statement, does not
contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain
parts of which have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the SEC. Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and
the exhibits to the Registration Statement for further information with respect
to the securities and us.
CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATE
INFORMATION
We report in United States dollars.
Accordingly, all references to “$,” “U.S.$” or “dollars” in this prospectus
refer to United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. References to “Cdn$”
or “Canadian dollars” are used to indicate Canadian dollar
values.
The noon rate of exchange on March 16,
2009 as reported by the Bank of Canada for the conversion of Canadian dollars
into United States dollars was Cdn$1.00 equals $0.7859 and the conversion of
United States dollars was $1.00 equals Cdn$1.2724.
NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES
In this
prospectus or in the documents incorporated herein by reference, we use the
terms “cash operating costs,” “total cash costs,” and “total production costs,”
each of which are considered non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the SEC
Regulation S-K Item 10 and should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
These terms are used by management to assess performance of individual
operations and to compare our performance to other gold producers.
The term
“cash operating costs” is used on a per ounce of gold basis. Cash operating
costs per ounce is equivalent to direct operating cost as found on the
Consolidated Statements of Operations, less production royalty expenses and
mining taxes but includes by-product credits for payable silver, lead and
zinc.
The term
“total cash costs” is equivalent to cash operating costs plus production
royalties and mining taxes.
The term
“total production costs” is equivalent to total cash costs plus non-cash costs
including depreciation and amortization.
These
measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from
operations as determined under U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly
titled measures of other companies. See Item 7, Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and Item 2 —
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 2008 for an explanation of these measures.
The SEC
allows us to “incorporate by reference” our publicly filed reports into this
prospectus, which means that information included in those reports is considered
part of this prospectus. Information that we file with the SEC after
the date of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the
information contained in this prospectus and in prior reports. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made
with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
other than information in a report on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02
or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed in connection with such information,
until all of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus have been
sold:
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1.
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Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the
SEC on March 25, 2008;
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2.
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Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30,
2008, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2008, August 14, 2008 and November 14.
2008, respectively;
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3.
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Our Current Reports on
Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2008; July 1, 2008; July 2,
2008; July 10, 2008; July 24, 2008; July 24, 2008; July 25, 2008; July 30,
2008; August 6, 2008; August 26, 2008, August 27, 2008, August 29, 2008,
October 23, 2008, October 24, 2008, October 27, 2008, December 16, 2008,
December 31, 2008, January 5, 2009, February 13, 2009, February 19, 2009,
February 24, 2009 and February 25, 2009;
and
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4.
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The description of our capital
stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 10, filed
June 23, 2003.
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In
addition, all filings filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of
this registration statement and prior to effectiveness of this registration
statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
We will furnish without charge to you,
on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the above documents, other
than exhibits to such documents that are not specifically incorporated by
reference therein. You should direct any requests for documents to
the Chief Financial Officer, Apollo Gold Corporation, 5655 S. Yosemite
Street, Suite 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-3220, telephone
(720) 886-9656.
The information relating to us contained
in this prospectus is not comprehensive and should be read together with the
information contained in the incorporated documents. Descriptions contained in
the incorporated documents as to the contents of any contract or other document
may not contain all of the information that is of interest to
you. You should refer to the copy of such contract or other document
filed as an exhibit to our filings.
This prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements,
as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect
to our financial condition, results of operations, business prospects, plans,
objectives, goals, strategies, future events, capital expenditures, and
exploration and development efforts. Forward-looking statements can
be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “intends,” “continue,” or
the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These statements
include comments regarding:
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plans
for the development of the Black Fox
project;
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our
ability to finance exploration at
Huizopa;
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the
timing of commencement of mining and milling at Black
Fox;
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contemplated
drawdowns under the Black Fox project facility and our ability to meet our
repayment obligations under the Black Fox project
facility;
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our
ability to repay the convertible debentures issued to RAB due February 23,
2010;
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·
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the
future affect of recent issuances of a significant number of common share
purchase warrants on our share
price;
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future
financing of projects, including the financing required for the M Pit
expansion at Montana Tunnels;
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the
decision to place the Montana Tunnels mine on care and maintenance and the
decision to undertake the M Pit
expansion;
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·
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liquidity
to support operations and debt
repayment;
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acquisition
of new equipment at the Black Fox mill
complex;
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timing
and amount of future cash flows from the Montana Tunnels
mine;
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sufficiency
of future cash flows from the Montana Tunnels mine to repay the Montana
Tunnels’ indebtedness;
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the
establishment and estimates of mineral reserves and
resources;
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daily
production, mineral recovery rates and mill throughput
rates;
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grade
of ore mined and milled;
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anticipated
expenditures for development, exploration, and corporate
overhead;
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timing
and issue of permits;
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expansion
plans for existing properties;
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estimates
of closure costs;
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estimates
of environmental liabilities;
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our
ability to obtain financing to fund our estimated expenditure and capital
requirements;
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factors
impacting our results of operations;
and
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·
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the
impact of adoption of new accounting
standards.
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Although we believe that our plans,
intentions and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot be certain that these plans, intentions or expectations
will be achieved. Our actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk
factors set forth below and other factors described in more detail in this
prospectus:
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changes in business and economic
conditions, including the recent significant deterioration in global
financial and capital
markets;
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significant increases or decreases
in gold and zinc prices;
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·
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changes in interest and currency
exchange rates including the LIBOR
rate;
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·
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changes in availability and cost
of financing;
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timing and amount of
production;
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unanticipated ore grade
changes;
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unanticipated recovery or
production problems;
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changes in operating
costs;
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operational problems at our mining
properties;
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·
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metallurgy, processing, access,
availability of materials, equipment, supplies and
water;
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·
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determination of
reserves;
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·
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costs and timing of development of
new reserves;
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·
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results of current and future
exploration and development
activities;
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results of future feasibility
studies;
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joint venture
relationships;
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political or economic instability,
either globally or in the countries in which we
operate;
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local and community impacts and
issues;
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timing of receipt of government
approvals;
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accidents and labor
disputes;
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environmental costs and
risks;
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competitive factors, including
competition for property
acquisitions;
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availability of external financing
at reasonable rates or at all; and
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the factors discussed in this
prospectus under the heading “Risk
Factors.”
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Overview
Our earliest predecessor was
incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario in 1936. In
May 2003, we reincorporated under the laws of the Yukon Territory. We
maintain our registered office at 204 Black Street, Suite 300, Whitehorse, Yukon
Territory, Canada Y1A 2M9, and the telephone number at that office is (867)
668-5252. We maintain our principal executive office at 5655 S.
Yosemite Street, Suite 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-3220, and the
telephone number at that office is (720) 886-9656. Our internet
address is http://www.apollogold.com. Information contained on
our website is not a part of this prospectus or the documents incorporated
herein by reference.
We are engaged in gold mining including
extraction, processing, refining and the production of by-product metals, as
well as related activities including exploration and development. We
have an advanced stage development project, the Black Fox project, which is
located near the Township of Matheson in the Province of Ontario,
Canada. The Black Fox project consists of a mining operation located
7 miles east of Matheson and the Black Fox mill complex located 12 miles west of
Matheson (therefore 19 miles from the mine). We expect to commence
mining of ores at the Black Fox open pit in March 2009 and commence the milling
of these ores in April 2009. We are also the operator of the Montana
Tunnels mine, which is a 50% joint venture with Elkhorn Tunnels,
LLC. The mine, which is located near Helena, Montana, is an open pit
mine and mill that historically has produced gold doré and lead-gold and
zinc-gold concentrates. We ceased mining at Montana Tunnels on
December 5, 2008 and, following the expected completion of milling of stockpiled
ore at the end of April 2009, we expect to place the mine on care and
maintenance.
We also
own Mexican subsidiaries which own concessions at the Huizopa exploration
project, located in the Sierra Madres in Chihuahua, Mexico. The
Huizopa project is subject to an 80% Apollo Gold /20% Mineras Coronado joint
venture agreement.
Montana Tunnels
Mine
During the third quarter 2008,
approximately 2,454,000 tons were mined at Montana Tunnels, of which 1,824,000
tons were ore. The mill processed 1,221,000 tons of ore at an average
throughput of 13,300 tons per day for the quarter. As at September
30, 2008, the ore stockpile sitting alongside the mill was 1,982,000
tons. Payable production in the third quarter 2008 was 14,600 ounces
of gold, 144,000 ounces of silver, 4,586,000 pounds of lead and 9,623,000 pounds
of zinc. Our
share of this production is 50%.
Total cash costs for the third quarter
2008 on a by-product basis were $471 per ounce of gold and on a co-product basis
they were $666 per ounce of gold, $9.40 per ounce of silver, $0.69 per lb of
lead and $0.59 per lb of zinc. For the third quarter 2008, the higher
cash costs per ounce of gold on a by-product basis compared to the third quarter
2007 are the result of (1) 37% higher direct costs related to higher cost of
consumables such as diesel fuel and (2) a 19% reduction in by-product credits
due to lower zinc and lead prices. During the third quarter 2008, the
joint venture spent $0.1 million on capital
expenditures. Our share of these capital expenditures is
50%. Also in the third quarter 2008, the joint venture distributed
$3.0 million to its principals, 54% of which went to us and 46% of which went to
Elkhorn.
Open pit mining at Montana Tunnels
ceased on December 5, 2008 and, following the expected completion of
milling of stockpiled ore in April 2009, we expect to place the mine on care and
maintenance. See the
disclosure below under the heading “Recent Events – Cessation of Mining at
Montana Tunnels” for additional information.
Black
Fox
On April
14, 2008, we filed a Canadian Instrument, NI 43-101 Technical
Report. The mineral reserves reflected in the table below are taken
from this report and were calculated based on a gold price of $650 per
ounce.
Black
Fox Probable Reserve Statement as of February 29, 2008
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Grade
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Open
Pit
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0.88 |
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4,350 |
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5.2 |
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730,000
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Underground
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3.0 |
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2,110 |
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8.8 |
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600,000
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Total
Probable Reserves
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1,330,000
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Since April 2008, when we completed the
bankable feasibility study on the Black Fox mine, we have made progress at Black
Fox on a number of fronts. Specifically, we have received all
necessary permits and approvals required to commence mining activities and have
initiated removal of the glacial till material which overlays the open
pit. All mining equipment required to commence mining in the open pit
have been purchased and are present at the Black Fox mine
location.
On July 28, 2008, we completed the
acquisition from St Andrew Goldfields Ltd., which we refer to in this prospectus
as St Andrew, of a mill and related equipment, infrastructure, property rights,
laboratory and tailings facilities, located near Matheson. Under the
terms of the asset purchase agreement pursuant to which we purchased the mill
complex, St Andrew agreed to sell the mill complex to us for a purchase price of Cdn$20 million
and the refund to St Andrew of its bonding commitment at the mill complex in the
amount of approximately Cdn$1.2 million.
In the third quarter of 2008, we awarded
GBM Engineering Limited an engineering, procurement, construction and management
contract, which we refer to in this prospectus as an EPCM contract, to increase
the throughput of the Black Fox mill from its current rate of 1,100 tonnes per
day at a cost of approximately $22.0 million. The mill is scheduled
for commissioning in April 2009 and, as a result of the work performed under the
EPCM contract, is expected to reach a throughput rate of 1,500 tonnes per day in
May 2009.
On February 20, 2009, we entered into a project facility
agreement with Macquarie Bank Limited and RMB Australia Holdings Limited, which
we sometimes refer to as the project finance banks, pursuant to which we may
borrow up to $70,000,000 from the project finance banks at any time between
February 20, 2009 and June 30, 2009, after which time any undrawn portion of the
$70,000,000 commitment will be cancelled and will no longer be available for
drawdown. The project facility agreement refinanced the $15,000,000
bridge facility agreement that we had previously entered into on December 10,
2008, under which we had drawn down $14.8 million as of the closing of the
project facility agreement. See the discussion below under the
heading “Recent Events – Black Fox Financing” for additional
information.
As of September 30, 2008, we had
committed to lease $8.7 million of mining equipment and expend an additional
$1.1 million for improvements to the Black Fox mill complex. As of
March 16, 2009, we have capital commitments outstanding of approximately $18.0
million for further development of the Black Fox mine and
mill.
As a result of the foregoing progress,
we expect to commence mining of the Black Fox open pit in March 2009 and
commission the mill in April 2009.
Huizopa
Project
During
the second quarter 2008, the helicopter assisted core drilling program on two
identified targets (Puma de Oro and Lobo de Oro) at our Huizopa project was
completed. On August 14, 2008, we announced the results of the core
drilling program on the Puma de Oro exploration target. Twenty five
NQ core holes were drilled on a north-trending zone targeted for drilling based
on our geochemical sampling and geologic mapping. The next drill
program is scheduled for 2009 and, in the meantime, we are working on completing
a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 for the Huizopa property.
RECENT
EVENTS
Extension of
Maturity Date for February 2007 Convertible Debentures held by RAB Special
Situations (Master) Fund Limited
On
February 23, 2007, we concluded a private placement pursuant to which we sold
$8,580,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible debentures due February 23,
2009, which debentures we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as the February
2007 convertible debentures. Each $1,000 principal amount of the
February 2007 convertible debentures was convertible at the option of the holder
into 2,000 of our common shares, at any time until February 23,
2009. Additionally, each $1,000 principal amount of the February 2007
convertible debentures included 2,000 common share purchase warrants, which we sometimes refer to herein as
the accompanying warrants, entitling the holder to purchase one of our
common shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, with such accompanying warrants expiring
February 23, 2009. We filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on
February 26, 2007 disclosing the terms of the February 2007 convertible
debentures, the warrants and the
private placement pursuant to which such securities were
issued.
RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund
Limited, which we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as RAB, owns $4,290,000 principal
amount of February 2007 convertible debentures (on which $772,200 of interest was
accrued and unpaid on the original maturity date of February 23,
2009) and 8,580,000 accompanying
warrants. On February 16, 2009, we and RAB agreed to extend the
original maturity date of the February 2007 convertible debentures owned by RAB to February 23,
2010. Furthermore, RAB agreed that we shall have the option to repay
the $772,200 of accrued interest on RAB’s February 2007 convertible debentures in either
our common shares or
cash. If we elected to pay the accrued interest in common shares, the
number of shares issued would be calculated by dividing the accrued interest
owed by the volume weighted average market price of our common shares as quoted
on the Toronto Stock Exchange during the five trading days ending February 23,
2009. We elected to exercise our right to pay the $772,200 of accrued
interest in our common shares and, in accordance with the foregoing formula,
issued 2,444,765 shares to RAB. In consideration for the foregoing,
we agreed to (i) issue 2,000,000 common shares to RAB, (ii) extend the expiration date
of the accompanying warrants issued to RAB to March 5, 2010 and (iii) reduce the
exercise price of the accompanying warrants issued to RAB from $0.50 to
$0.25. The terms and conditions of the $3,148,100 aggregate principal
amount of February 2007 convertible debentures and accompanying warrants not owned by
RAB were not amended and the principal amount and accrued interest thereon was
repaid to the holders thereof in cash on February 23,
2009. Consequently, 8,152,000 of the accompanying warrants not held by RAB
expired unexercised.
In
December 2008, we retained Haywood Securities Inc., which we sometimes refer to
in this prospectus as Haywood, to provide financial and advisory services,
including in connection with the repayment or restructuring of the February 2007
convertible debentures. In consideration for those services, we
agreed to issue 1,000,000 of our common shares to Haywood by February 28,
2009. In addition, the
Black Fox project facility agreement constitutes an “alternative transaction”
under the terms of our agreement with Haywood and requires us to pay certain
compensation to Haywood. Specifically, we are obligated to compensate
Haywood by issuing to it 2,172,840 common shares and 2,567,901 common share
purchase warrants exercisable for a two year period at an exercise price of
Cdn$0.256 per share. The warrants issued to Haywood contain customary
anti-dilution provisions in the event of certain corporate reorganizations or
issuances of securities by us to all of our shareholders.
Black Fox
Financing
On
February 20, 2009, we entered into
a project facility agreement with Macquarie Bank Limited and RMB Australia
Holdings Limited, which we sometimes refer to as the project finance banks, to
act as joint arrangers and underwriters for the Black Fox project finance
facility. The project facility agreement refinanced the
$15,000,000 bridge facility agreement that we had previously entered into on
December 10, 2008 (under which we had drawn down $14.8 million as of the closing
of the project facility agreement). Under the project facility
agreement, we may borrow up to $70,000,000 from the project finance banks at any
time between February 20, 2009 and June 30, 2009, after which time any undrawn
portion of the $70,000,000 commitment will be cancelled and will no longer be
available for drawdown. The project facility agreement requires that
we to use proceeds from the facility only for: (i) the funding of the
development, construction and operation of our Black Fox project; (ii) the
funding of certain fees and costs due under the project facility agreement and
certain related project agreements; (iii) corporate expenditures of up to
$7,000,000 as approved by the project finance banks in our corporate budget
($3,723,939 of which was used to repay the February 2007 convertible
debentures, and interest thereon, not held by RAB); (iv) repayment of $15,341,345 under
the bridge facility agreement and (v) any other purpose that the project finance
banks approve.
The project facility agreement is
subject to an arrangement fee of $3,465,551, which was paid upon the initial
drawdown under the project facility agreement on February 23, 2009, and a
commitment fee equal to 1% per annum calculated on a daily basis on the average
monthly balance of the undrawn commitment, which is payable in arrears on March
31, 2009 and June 30, 2009. Amounts borrowed under the project
facility agreement will bear interest at LIBOR plus 7% per annum and the
interest will be payable quarterly commencing June 30, 2009. The
principal amount will be repayable by us in accordance with the following
schedule:
Repayment
Date
|
Repayment
Amount
|
September 30,
2009
|
$9,300,000
|
December 31,
2009
|
$6,000,000
|
March 31,
2010
|
$4,400,000
|
June 30,
2010
|
$4,000,000
|
September 30,
2010
|
$3,200,000
|
December 31,
2010
|
$2,200,000
|
March 31,
2011
|
$1,800,000
|
June 30,
2011
|
$2,700,000
|
September 30,
2011
|
$2,800,000
|
December 31,
2011
|
$2,900,000
|
March 31,
2012
|
$4,900,000
|
June 30,
2012
|
$6,800,000
|
September 30,
2012
|
$9,000,000
|
December 31,
2012
|
$3,800,000
|
March 31,
2013
|
$6,200,000
|
Under the
terms of the project facility
agreement, all cash proceeds generated from the Black Fox project must be
deposited into a proceeds account and may only be withdrawn and used by us in
accordance with the terms set forth in the project facility
agreement.
In connection with the project facility
agreement, we issued 34,836,111 warrants to the project finance banks
(11,637,775 to RMB Australia Holdings Limited and 23,198,336 to Macquarie Bank
Limited) as partial
consideration for financing services provided in connection with the project
facility agreement. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one
of our common shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
warrant. The warrants expire 48 months from their date of issuance
and have an exercise price of Cdn$0.252 per warrant share, subject to customary
anti-dilution adjustments. We have agreed to use our best
efforts to register the resale of the warrant shares with the SEC promptly
following the execution of the project facility
agreement. The warrants are in addition to the 42,614,254 warrants (21,307,127 to each
project finance bank) issued to the project finance banks in connection with the
bridge facility agreement. Following the issuance of the 34,836,111
warrants provided in connection with the project facility agreement and assuming
exercise by the project finance banks of all warrants held by them, RMB
Australia Holdings Limited and Macquarie Bank Limited would beneficially own
14.51% and 18.11%, respectively, of our issued and outstanding capital stock (on
an otherwise undiluted basis).
Borrowings under the project facility
agreement are secured by a first lien on substantially all of our assets,
including the Black Fox project, and the stock of our
subsidiaries.
The project facility agreement contains
various financial and operational covenants that impose limitations on
us. These include, among other things, limitations and covenants
regarding: (i) the conduct of the Black Fox project and use of
related assets; (ii) the completion of the Black Fox project; (iii) the use of
our funds; (iv) compliance with applicable laws and permits; (v) mining rights
at the Black Fox project; (vi) our corporate budget; (vii) provision of
information; (viii) maintenance of accounting records; (ix) maintenance of
corporate existence; (x) compliance with certain material agreements; (xi)
capital maintenance requirements; (xii) payment of indebtedness and taxes;
(xiii) amendments to existing agreements relating to the Black Fox project or
entry into any such agreements; (xiv) amendments to governing documents; (xv)
disposition of or encumbrance of certain assets; (xvi) engaging in other lines
of business; (xvii) incurrence of indebtedness; (xviii) related party
transactions; (xix) creation of new subsidiaries; (xx) dividends and other
distributions; (xxi) maintenance of the property securing the project facility
agreement; (xxii) insurance; (xxiii) subordination of intercompany claims;
(xxiv) tradeability of the warrant shares under Canadian securities laws; (xxv)
registration of the warrant shares under United States securities laws; (xxvi)
maintenance of listing status on the TSX and status as a reporting issuer under
Canadian securities laws; (xxvii) maintenance of certain financial coverage
ratios and minimum project reserves; (xxviii) satisfaction of a minimum tangible
net worth test; and (xxix) maintenance of the hedging arrangements described
below; and (xxx) the operation of the Black Fox project in compliance with an
agreed cash flow budgeting and operational model.
Subject in certain cases to applicable
notice provisions and cure periods, events of default under the project facility
agreement include, without limitation: (i) failure to make payments when due;
(ii) certain misrepresentations under the project facility agreement and certain
other documents; (iii) breach of financial covenants in the project facility
agreement; (iv) breach of other covenants in the project facility agreement and
certain other documents; (v) loss of certain mineral rights; (vi) compulsory
acquisition or expropriation of certain secured property by a government agency;
(vii) certain cross-defaults on other indebtedness of our company; (viii) entry
of certain judgments against us that are not paid or satisfied; (ix) enforcement
of encumbrances against our material assets (or any such encumbrance becomes
capable of being enforced); (x) events of liquidation, receivership or
insolvency of our company; (xi) maintenance of listing status on the TSX or NYSE
Alternext U.S. exchange and status as a reporting issuer under Canadian
securities laws; or (xii) occurrence of any event which has or is reasonably
likely to have a material adverse effect on our assets, business or operations,
our ability to perform under the project facility agreement and other
transaction documents, the rights of the project finance banks or the
enforceability of a transaction document. The project facility
agreement provides that in the event of default, the project finance banks may
declare that the debts and monetary liabilities of our company are immediately
due and payable and/or cancel the credit facility.
As a part of the project facility
agreement, we and the project finance banks have entered into a hedging program
covering both gold sales and part of our Canadian dollar operating
costs. Specifically, we have entered into a 250,420 ounce gold
forward sales program which will be allocated across the four year term of the
project facility agreement. The weighted average price of the sales
program is $876 per ounce of gold. The foreign exchange hedge program
is for the Canadian dollar equivalent of $60 million, at an exchange rate of
Cdn$1.21 equals US$1.00, over the four year term of the project facility
agreement.
Flow Through
Private Placement
On
December 31, 2008, we completed a private placement to Canadian purchasers of
3,000,000 common shares issued at Cdn$0.30 per share on a “flow through” basis
pursuant to the Income Tax Act
(Canada) for gross proceeds equal to Cdn$900,000. We used the
net proceeds from the sale of the flow through shares at our Black Fox
project. These exploration costs will qualify as “Canadian
Exploration Expenses” as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) and
the tax benefits of such exploration costs will be renounced in favor of the
initial purchasers of the flow through shares. The flow
through shares were offered and sold to residents of Canada in reliance on the
exemption from registration contained in Regulation S of the Securities
Act.
In
consideration for finding the purchasers in the private placement, we paid a
cash finder’s fee of Cdn$40,500 (which is equal to 4.5% of the gross proceeds in
the private placement) to MAK Allen & Day Capital Partners. In
addition, in consideration for advisory services rendered in connection with the
private placement, we paid Haywood Securities Inc. an advisory fee equal to
Cdn$36,000 (which is equal to 4.0% of the gross proceeds in the private
placement), together with 255,000 non-transferable common share purchase
warrants representing the number of our common shares as is equal to 8.5% of the
number of flow through shares sold to purchasers in the private
placement. Each such warrant is immediately exercisable at a
price of Cdn$0.30 into one of our common shares within twenty-four (24) months
of closing of the private
placement. The warrants were issued in reliance on the
exemption from registration contained in Regulation S of the Securities
Act.
Cessation of
Mining at Montana Tunnels
On December 5, 2008, we ceased mining of
ore from the Montana Tunnels open pit operation as a result of exhausting the
ore in our current “L Pit” permit. In connection therewith, we issued
60 day notice of terminations of employment to 87 employees in compliance with
the U.S. Department of Labor’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
Act, which we refer to as the WARN Act. On February 3, 2009, 82 of
these employees were terminated.
We have received all necessary
permits to expand the current pit, which expansion plan we refer to as the M Pit
project. The M Pit project would involve a 12 month pre-stripping
program that would cost approximately $70 million, during which time no ore
would be produced. We are not currently engaged in discussions with
financing sources for our $35 million share of the financing
costs. The decision to proceed with the M Pit project must be agreed
to by both our company and
Elkhorn Tunnels, LLC, our joint venture partner at the mine. We and
our joint venture partner have not yet made a production decision on the M Pit
project and such decision will depend, among other things, on securing financing
for the $70 million and the prices of gold, silver, lead and zinc and available
smelter terms. We expect to continue milling stockpiled ore at
Montana Tunnels until April 2009. If no decision has been made on M
Pit project by the time that the stockpiled ore is exhausted, then the mill will
be placed on care and maintenance. On February 27, 2009, we issued
additional WARN Act notices to all of the remaining 104 employees in
anticipation of the cessation of milling in April 2009. The current
estimate of the reclamation liability for the L Pit and the Montana Tunnels site
is $18.5 million which is covered by $15.3 million in cash in a trust account
plus collateralized land valued at $3.2 million (our share of the liability, cash in trust
and collateralized land is 50% of these amounts).
Early
Repayment of Debt Facility with RMB
Australia Holdings Limited
In
connection with the entry into our October 2007 debt facility with RMB Australia
Holdings Limited (which was arranged by RMB Resources Inc. of Lakewood, CO), we
entered into certain put and call contracts for lead and zinc, which are set
forth below and which were scheduled to expire on September 26,
2008.
Contract Type
|
Base Metal
|
|
Volume Strike
|
|
Price
|
|
Put
|
Lead
|
|
567
Tonnes (1,250,020 pounds)
|
|
$ |
1.40 |
|
Call
|
Lead
|
|
567
Tonnes (1,250,020 pounds)
|
|
$ |
1.898 |
|
Put
|
Zinc
|
|
891
Tonnes (1,964,316 pounds)
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
Call
|
Zinc
|
|
891
Tonnes (1,964,316 pounds)
|
|
$ |
1.539 |
|
On July 1, 2008, we entered into an
amendment to the October 2007 debt facility with RMB Australia Holdings Limited
pursuant to which we borrowed an additional $5,150,000 under that debt
facility. In connection therewith, we entered into additional put and
call contracts for gold, silver, lead and zinc.
On August 22, 2008, we closed
certain of the original put and call contracts put in place in connection with
the October 2007 debt facility early as a debt management decision and realized
a gain of $1,556,000. The net proceeds of $1,556,000 plus additional cash of
$108,000 were used to prepay certain amounts then outstanding under the October
2007 debt facility. The $1,654,000 amount that was prepaid would have
been due on September 30, 2008.
On October 23, 2008, we unwound
additional put and call contracts put in place in connection with the July 2008
amendment early since the current value of the contracts exceeded the December
2008 repayment obligation of $1,716,667 under the debt facility, and the
proceeds therefrom of $2,010,000 were applied as follows:
1. Repayment
of facility principal
|
|
$ |
1,952,000 |
|
2. Interest
due December 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
49,300 |
|
3. Fees
|
|
$ |
8,600 |
|
As of March 16, 2009 and after giving
effect to the $1,952,000 repayment of principal described above and an
additional $75,000 payment made on December 23, 2008, we owed $2,762,000 under the
October 2007 RMB debt
facility, as amended, $1,717,000 of which is payable on March 31, 2009 and
$1,045,000 on June 30, 2009.
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. You
should consider the risk factors set forth below and the other information in
this prospectus before purchasing any of our common shares. In
addition to historical information, the information in this prospectus contains
“forward-looking” statements about our future business and performance. Our
actual operating results and financial performance may be very different from
what we expect as of the date of this prospectus. The risks below address some
of the factors that may affect our future operating results and financial
performance.
Our
substantial debt could adversely affect our financial condition; and our related
debt service obligations may adversely affect our cash flow and ability to
invest in and grow our businesses.
We now
have, and for the foreseeable future will continue to have, a significant amount
of indebtedness. As of March 16, 2009, we had an
aggregate principal amount of approximately $57.1 million in long term debt
outstanding. In addition, we expect to drawdown the remaining
$33 million of the $70 million Black Fox project finance facility on or
before June 30, 2009. While our $70 million project facility is
outstanding, we will have annual principal obligations thereunder of between
approximately $10.2 million and $24.5 million (assuming we drawdown the full $70
million available thereunder). The interest rate on this loan is
floating based on the LIBOR rate plus 7 percent per annum; accordingly, if the
LIBOR rate is increased, interest expense will be higher. The
maturity date on this loan is March 31, 2013. We intend to fulfill
our debt service obligations from cash generated by our Black Fox project, which
is expected to be our only source of significant revenues. Because we
anticipate that a substantial portion of the cash generated by our operations
will be used to service this loan during its term, such funds will not be
available to use in future operations, or investing in our
businesses. The foregoing may adversely impact our ability to repay
the $4,290,000 principal amount of convertible debentures due February 23, 2010
owned by RAB, to finance the
development of the M Pit at Montana Tunnels and conduct all of our planned
exploration activities at our Huizopa property or pursue other corporate
opportunities.
If we do not generate sufficient cash
flow from Black Fox operations in 2009 or by raising additional equity or debt
financing in the near term, then we may not be able to meet our debt obligations
and capital expenditure commitments.
As of
March 16, 2009, we had an
aggregate principal amount of approximately $57.1 million in long term debt
outstanding. In addition, we expect to drawdown an additional
$33 million under the Black Fox project finance facility on or before June
30, 2009, which drawdown will give rise to $22.5 million in principal and
interest repayment obligations and capital lease obligations during fiscal year
2009. Furthermore, as of March 16, 2009, we had aggregate
capital commitments outstanding of approximately $18.0 million, $15.8 million of
which is due during fiscal year 2009. Currently, we are not
generating positive cash flow. If we are unable to satisfy our debt
service and capital commitment requirements, we may not be able to continue our
operations. We may not generate sufficient cash from operations to
repay our debt obligations or satisfy any additional debt obligations when they
become due and may have to raise additional financing from the sale of equity or
debt securities, enter into commercial transactions or otherwise restructure our
debt obligations. There can be no assurance that any such financing
or restructuring will be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, or at
all, and our existing debt agreements prohibit us from incurring additional
indebtedness without the consent of the lenders thereunder. If we are
unable to restructure our obligations, we may be forced to seek protection under
applicable bankruptcy laws. Any restructuring or bankruptcy would
materially impair the value of our common shares.
Operational
problems and start-up issues may prevent or delay us from commencing mining
operations at Black Fox in March 2009 and milling operations in April 2009 or
substantially reduce production once mining commences and milling
commences.
Mine
development projects, including our Black Fox project, inherently involve risks
and hazards. Although we expect to commence mining of the
Black Fox open pit in March 2009 and commence milling in April 2009, development of and any future
production at our Black Fox project could be prevented, delayed or disrupted by,
among other things:
|
·
|
unanticipated
changes in grade and tonnage of material to be mined and
processed;
|
|
·
|
unanticipated
adverse geotechnical conditions;
|
|
·
|
incorrect
data on which engineering assumptions are
made;
|
|
·
|
availability
and cost of labor and other supplies and
equipment;
|
|
·
|
availability
of economic sources of power;
|
|
·
|
adequacy
of water supply;
|
|
·
|
adequacy
of access to the site;
|
|
·
|
unanticipated
transportation costs;
|
|
·
|
government
regulations (including regulations relating to prices, royalties, duties,
taxes, restrictions on production, quotas on exportation of minerals, as
well as the costs of protection of the environment and agricultural
lands);
|
|
·
|
lower
than expected ore grades;
|
|
·
|
the
physical or metallurgical characteristics of the ore being less amenable
to mining or treatment than
expected;
|
·
|
problems
with delivery and installation of equipment necessary to commence
operations as planned; or
|
|
·
|
failure
of our equipment, processes or facilities to operate properly or as
expected.
|
Production
delays or stoppages will adversely affect our sales and operating results, and
could prevent us from meeting our debt repayment obligations under the project
facility agreement.
Furthermore,
we cannot be certain that the Black Fox project will be developed at the
budgeted cost and on schedule. Although we believe that we have
obtained sufficient funds to develop the Black Fox project, we cannot provide
assurance of this. Furthermore, if the actual cost to complete the
Black Fox project is significantly higher than currently expected, there can be
no assurance that we will have sufficient funds to cover these costs or that we
will be able to obtain alternative sources of financing to cover these
costs.
The
Toronto Stock Exchange has indicated to us that it is conducting a review of our
eligibility for continued listing of our common shares on the Toronto Stock
Exchange.
In
connection with the completion of the project finance facility, we issued
34,836,111 common share purchase warrants to the project finance
banks. Each warrant is exercisable for a period of 48 months from
closing at an exercise price of Cdn.$0.252 per share (subject to customary
anti-dilution adjustments). These warrants were in addition to the
42,614,254 common share purchase warrants issued to the project finance banks in
connection with the bridge facility agreement entered into on December 10,
2008. Under the Company Manual of the Toronto Stock Exchange,
which we sometimes refer to herein as the TSX, shareholder approval would be
required for the issuance of these warrants because the number of common shares
issuable upon exercise of these warrants is in excess of 25% of our currently
issued and outstanding common shares. Because we did not have
sufficient time to obtain shareholder approval prior to the anticipated closing
of the project finance facility, we applied to the TSX for a financial hardship
exemption from the shareholder approval requirements. The TSX granted the
financial hardship exemption to us, but as a consequence of relying upon such
exemption, the TSX has informed us that it will commence a review to determine
the eligibility for continued listing of our common shares on the
TSX. The TSX has indicated that we must demonstrate that we meet all
TSX listing requirements on or before September 15, 2009. Following
the completion of the project finance facility on February 20, 2009, we believe
that we meet all the listing requirements of the TSX. However, there
can be no assurance that the TSX will agree and, if we are unable to demonstrate
our compliance, our common shares would be delisted from the TSX.
Mining of ore at our Montana Tunnels
mine ceased in December 2008.
On December 5, 2008, we ceased mining of
ore from the Montana Tunnels open pit operation as a result of exhausting the
ore in our current L Pit permit. While we have received all necessary
permits to expand the current pit, which expansion plan we refer to as the M Pit
project, the M Pit project would cost approximately $70 million, and we and our
joint venture partner have not yet determined whether to proceed with the M Pit
project. Such decision will depend, among other things, on the
ability to secure financing for the $70 million on acceptable terms and the
prices of gold, silver, lead and zinc and available smelter
terms.
The Montana Tunnels mine is our only
source of revenue and cash flow at this time. If we are unable or
choose not to pursue the M Pit project, the Montana Tunnels mine will cease to
generate revenues and cash flow once the stockpiled ore at the Montana Tunnels
mine has been processed, which stockpile we expect to exhaust in April
2009. We expect that the proceeds from stockpiled ore will be fully
utilized in repaying the $2,762,000 of existing indebtedness outstanding under
the October 2007 debt facility (as increased by the July 2008 amendment thereto)
and completing closure of the mine and milling facilities. In
addition, if we choose to and are able to pursue the M Pit project, we expect
that the pre-stripping program will take approximately 12 months, during which
time no ore will be produced. As a result, there will be a period of
time after the ore stockpiles from the L Pit have been exhausted and prior to
production from the M Pit (which period we expect would be a minimum of twelve
months but could be longer) during which we will have no revenue or cash flow
from the Montana Tunnels mine.
We
do not currently have and may not be able to raise sufficient funds to explore
our Huizopa property and commence the development of the M Pit at Montana
Tunnels.
We do not currently have sufficient
funds to undertake the M Pit expansion at the Montana Tunnels mine and conduct
all of our planned exploration activities at our Huizopa
property. The M Pit expansion and exploration of Huizopa will require
significant capital expenditures. Sources of external financing may
include bank and non-bank borrowings and future debt and equity
offerings. There can be no assurance that financing will be available
on acceptable terms, or at all. The failure to obtain financing would
have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy and our results of
operations and financial condition.
In addition, in recent months, the U.S.
stock market indexes experienced a steep decline and the availability of debt
financing tightened. In light of these developments, concerns by
investors regarding the stability of the U.S. financial system could result in
less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or
costs and tighter operating covenants, thereby preventing us from obtaining the
financing required to develop the M Pit at Montana Tunnels and to conduct all of
our planned exploration activities at our Huizopa property.
The existence of outstanding rights to
purchase common shares may impair our share price and our ability to raise
capital.
Approximately 129.2 million of our
common shares are issuable on exercise of warrants, options or other rights to
purchase common shares at prices ranging from $0.176 to $2.24 and a weighted
average price of $0.29. In addition, there are 8,580,000 common
shares issuable upon the conversion of the $4,290,000 outstanding principal
amount of convertible debentures now due February 23, 2010 held by RAB, which
are convertible at the option of the holder at a conversion price of $0.50 per
share. During the term of the warrants, options, convertible
debentures and other rights, the holders are given an opportunity to profit from
a rise in the market price of our common shares with a resulting dilution in the
interest of the other shareholders. Our ability to obtain additional equity
financing during the period such rights are outstanding may be adversely
affected, and the existence of the rights may have an adverse effect on the
price of our common shares. The holders of the warrants, options, convertible
debentures and other rights can be expected to exercise them at a time when we
would, in all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital by a new offering
of securities on terms more favorable to us than those provided by the
outstanding rights.
Past and future equity issuances could
impair our share price.
If our shareholders sell substantial
amounts of our common shares, the market price of our common shares could
decrease. We have 232,611,195 common shares outstanding as at March 16,
2009. In addition, we may sell additional common shares in subsequent
offerings and issue additional common shares to finance future acquisitions or
as compensation in financing transactions. In the bridge facility
financing completed on December 10, 2008 and the project facility financing
completed February 20, 2009, we issued warrants to purchase 77,450,365 common
shares to the project finance banks (32,944,902 to RMB Australia Holdings
Limited and 44,505,463 to Macquarie Bank Limited), representing approximately
34.3% of our outstanding common shares (on an undiluted basis) as partial
consideration for financing services. In addition, we issued
2,567,901 common share purchase warrants to Haywood Securities Inc. in consideration for financial advisory
services provided in connection with the restructuring of the February 2007
convertible debentures held by RAB and the project finance
facility. We have agreed to register the resale of the common shares
underlying the warrants issued to the project finance banks and Haywood with the
SEC.
We cannot predict the size of future
issuances of common shares or the effect, if any, that future issuances and
sales of common shares will have on the market price of our common shares. Sales
or issuances of large numbers of our common shares, or the perception that such
sales might occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common
shares. With any additional issuance of common shares, investors will suffer
dilution and we may experience dilution in our earnings per
share.
The market price of our common shares
has experienced volatility and could decline significantly.
Our common shares are listed on the NYSE
Alternext U.S. exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Our share
price has declined significantly since 2004, and over the last year the closing
price of our common shares has fluctuated from a low of $0.11 per share to a
high of $0.74 per share. The stock prices of virtually all companies
have decreased since the fall of 2008 as global economic issues have adversely
affected public markets. Furthermore, securities of small-cap
companies have experienced substantial volatility in the past, often based on
factors unrelated to the financial performance or prospects of the companies
involved. These factors include macroeconomic developments in North
America and globally and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular
industries. Our share price is also likely to be significantly
affected by global economic issues, as well as short-term changes in gold and
zinc prices or in our financial condition or liquidity. As a result
of any of these factors, the market price of our common shares at any given
point in time might not accurately reflect our long-term
value. Securities class action litigation often has been brought
against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their
securities. We could in the future be the target of similar
litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs
and damages and divert management’s attention and resources.
We have a history of
losses.
With the exception of the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007, during which we had a net income of $2,416,000, we have
incurred significant losses. Our net losses were $15,587,000 and $22,208,000 for
the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In
addition, the Montana Tunnels mine is our only current source of revenue and
mining of ore at that mine ceased on December 5, 2008. We expect to
continue the milling of ore stockpiles at Montana Tunnels until April
2009. Following the cessation of the milling of these ore stockpiles,
we will no longer have any revenues or cash flow from the Montana Tunnels
mine. In addition, if we choose and are able to pursue the M Pit
expansion, there will be a period of time after the ore stockpiles from the L
Pit have been exhausted and prior to production from the M Pit (which period we
expect would be a minimum of twelve months but could be longer) during which we
will have no revenue or cash flow from the Montana Tunnels
mine. However, during this time we will have obligations under loan
agreements and for the development of the Black Fox project and therefore, we
expect that there could be significant losses until such time as we begin
production from Black Fox and there can be no assurance that we will achieve or
sustain profitability in the future.
Our
earnings may be affected by metals price volatility, specifically the volatility
of gold and zinc prices.
We
historically have derived all of our revenues from the sale of gold, silver,
lead and zinc, and our development and exploration activities are focused on
gold. As a result, our future earnings are directly related to the
price of gold. Since the beginning of 2008, the London P.M. or
afternoon fix gold spot price, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, has
fluctuated from a high of $1,011/oz to a low of $712/oz and was $928/oz on March 13,
2009. Changes in the price of gold significantly affect our
profitability and the trading price of our common shares. Gold prices
historically have fluctuated widely, based on numerous industry factors
including:
·
|
industrial
and jewelry demand;
|
·
|
central
bank lending, sales and purchases of
gold;
|
·
|
forward
sales of gold by producers and
speculators;
|
·
|
production
and cost levels in major gold-producing
regions; and
|
·
|
rapid
short-term changes in supply and demand because of speculative or hedging
activities.
|
Gold
prices are also affected by macroeconomic factors, including:
·
|
confidence
in the global monetary system;
|
·
|
expectations
of the future rate of inflation (if
any);
|
·
|
the
strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in
which the price of gold is generally quoted) and other
currencies;
|
·
|
global
or regional political or economic events, including but not limited to
acts of terrorism.
|
The current demand for, and supply of,
gold also affects gold prices. The supply of gold consists of a
combination of new production from mining and existing shares of bullion held by
government central banks, public and private financial institutions, industrial
organizations and private individuals. As the amounts produced by all
producers in any single year constitute a small portion of the total potential
supply of gold, normal variations in current production do not usually have a
significant impact on the supply of gold or on its
price. Mobilization of gold held by central banks through lending and
official sales may have a significant adverse impact on the gold
price.
All of
the above factors are beyond our control and are impossible for us to
predict. If the market prices for gold, silver, zinc or lead fall
below our costs to produce them for a sustained period of time, that will make
it more difficult to obtain financing for our projects, we will experience
additional losses and we could also be required to discontinue exploration,
development and/or mining at one or more of our properties.
Possible
hedging activities could expose us to losses.
As a part of the project facility
agreement, we and the project finance banks entered into a hedging program
covering both gold sales and part of our Canadian dollar operating costs.
Specifically, we have entered into a 250,420 ounce gold forward sales program
which will be allocated across the four year term of the project facility
agreement. The weighted average price of the sales program is $876 per ounce of
gold. The foreign exchange hedge program is for the purchase of the
Canadian dollar equivalent of $60 million, at an exchange rate of
Cdn$1.21=US$1.00, over the four year term of the project facility
agreement. In addition, in connection with our Montana Tunnels debt
facility financed by RMB Australia Holdings Limited, we were required to enter
into hedges on gold, silver, lead and zinc. These hedges cover the
first quarter 2009 production from the Montana Tunnels mine and represent
approximately 40% of our share of gold and silver and 50% of our share of lead
production from the Montana Tunnels mine. There is no outstanding
hedge on zinc production.
In the future, we may enter into
currency and precious and/or base metals hedging contracts that may involve
outright forward sales contracts, spot-deferred sales contracts, the use of
options which may involve the sale of call options and the purchase of all these
hedging instruments. There can be no assurance that we will be able
to successfully hedge against price, currency and interest rate
fluctuations. Further, there can be no assurance that the use of
hedging techniques will always be to our benefit. Some hedging
instruments may prevent us from realizing the benefit from subsequent increases
in market prices with respect to covered production. This limitation
would limit our revenues and profits. Hedging contracts are also
subject to the risk that the other party may be unable or unwilling to perform
its obligations under these contracts. It is our intention to deliver
the quantity of gold required by our forward sales on a going forward basis;
however, we may cash settle these forward sale obligations if it is beneficial
to us. Any significant nonperformance could have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Disruptions
in the supply of critical equipment and increases in prices of raw materials
could adversely impact our operations.
We are a significant consumer of
electricity, mining equipment, fuels and mining-related raw materials, all of
which we purchase from outside sources. Increases in prices of
electricity, equipment, fuel and raw materials could adversely affect our
operating expenses and profitability. Furthermore, failure to
receive raw materials in a timely manner from third party suppliers could impair
our ability to meet production schedules or our contractual commitments and thus
adversely impact our revenues. From time to time, we obtain critical mining equipment from
outside North America. Factors that can cause delays in the
arrival of such equipment include weather, political unrest in countries from
which equipment is sourced or through which it is delivered, terrorist attacks
or related events in such countries or in the U.S., and work stoppages by
suppliers or shippers. Prolonged disruptions in the supply of any of
our equipment or other key raw materials, implementing use of replacement
equipment or new sources of supply, or a continuing increase in the prices of
raw materials and energy could have a material adverse effect on our operating
results, financial condition or cash flows.
Our investments in auction rate
securities are subject to risks which may cause losses and affect the liquidity
of these investments.
We acquired auction rate securities in
2007 with a face value of $1.5 million. The securities were marketed
by financial institutions with auction reset dates at 28 day intervals to
provide short-term liquidity. All such auction rate securities were
rated AAA when purchased, pursuant to our investment policy. Beginning
in August 2007, a number of auctions failed and there is no assurance that
auctions for the auction rate securities in our investment portfolio, which
currently lack liquidity, will succeed. An auction failure means that
the parties wishing to sell their securities could not do so as a result of a
lack of buying demand. As at December 31, 2008, our auction rate securities held an
adjusted cost basis and fair value of $1.1 million based on liquidity
impairments to these securities and, during the second quarter of 2008, were
downgraded to a AA rating. Uncertainties in the credit and capital
markets could lead to further downgrades of our auction rate securities holdings and
additional impairments. Furthermore, as a result of auction failures,
our ability to liquidate and fully recover the carrying value of our auction
rate securities in the near term may be limited or not
exist.
Substantially all of our assets are
pledged to secure our indebtedness.
Substantially all of the Montana Tunnels
assets and our Black Fox property are pledged to secure indebtedness outstanding
under (i) the Facility Agreement, dated October 12, 2007 and as amended July 1,
2008, by and among Montana Tunnels Mining, Inc., Apollo Gold, Apollo Gold, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Apollo Gold,
RMB Australia Holdings Limited and RMB Resources Inc. and (ii) the Facility
Agreement, dated February 20, 2009, by and among Apollo Gold, Macquarie Bank Limited, RMB Australia
Holdings Limited and RMB Resources Inc. Since these assets represent
substantially all of our assets, we will not have access to additional secured
lending with other financial institutions, which will require us to raise
additional funds through unsecured debt and equity offerings, and covenants in
our borrowing agreements limit our ability to incur unsecured
indebtedness. Default under our debt obligations would entitle our
lenders to foreclose on our assets.
Our Huizopa exploration project is
subject to political and regulatory uncertainty.
Our Huizopa exploration project is
located in the northern part of the Sierra Madres in the State of Chihuahua,
Mexico. There are numerous risks inherent in conducting business in Mexico,
including political and economic instability, exposure to currency fluctuations,
greater difficulties in accounts receivable collection, difficulties in staffing
and managing operations and potentially adverse tax consequences. In addition,
our ability to explore and develop our Huizopa exploration project is subject to
maintaining satisfactory relations with the Ejido Huizopa, which is a group of
local inhabitants who under Mexican law are granted rights to conduct
agricultural activities and control surface access on the property. In 2006, we
entered into an agreement with the Ejido Huizopa pursuant to which we agreed to
make annual payments to the Ejido Huizopa in exchange for the right to use the
land covering our mining concessions for all activities necessary for the
exploration, development and production of potential ore deposits. There can be
no assurances that the Ejido Huizopa will continue to honor the agreement. If we
are unable to successfully manage our operations in Mexico or maintain
satisfactory relations with the Ejido Huizopa, our development of the Huizopa
property could be hindered or terminated and, as a result, our business and
financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our reserve estimates are potentially
inaccurate.
We estimate our reserves on our
properties as either “proven reserves” or “probable reserves.” Our ore reserve
figures and costs are primarily estimates and are not guarantees that we will
recover the indicated quantities of these metals. We estimate proven
reserve quantities based on sampling and testing of sites conducted by us and by
independent companies hired by us. Probable reserves are based on
information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites for sampling
are less extensive, and the degree of certainty is less. Reserve
estimation is an interpretive process based upon available geological data and
statistical inferences and is inherently imprecise and may prove to be
unreliable.
Our reserves are reduced as existing
reserves are depleted through production. Reserves may be reduced due
to lower than anticipated volume and grade of reserves mined and processed and
recovery rates.
Reserve estimates are calculated using
assumptions regarding metals prices. Our reserves at our Black Fox
project were estimated using a gold price of $650/oz. These prices
have fluctuated widely in the past. Declines in the market price of
metals, as well as increased production costs, capital costs and reduced
recovery rates, may render reserves uneconomic to exploit, and lead to a
reduction in reserves. Any material reduction in our reserves may
lead to lower earnings or higher losses, reduced cash flow, asset write-downs
and other adverse effects on our results of operations and financial condition,
including difficulty in obtaining financing and a decrease in our stock
price. Reserves should not be interpreted as assurances of mine life
or of the profitability of current or future operations. No assurance
can be given that the amount of metal estimated will be produced or the
indicated level of recovery of these metals will be
realized.
Operational problems may occur in our
Montana Tunnels mining and milling operations.
It is common to encounter operational
issues in mining and milling of gold ores. Since 2005, all of our
revenues have been derived from our operations at the Montana Tunnels mine,
which is a low-grade mine. During 2004, we experienced problems
related to the milling of low-grade ore at the Montana Tunnels mine, which
negatively affected our revenues and earnings. Throughout 2005, we
experienced operational problems, particularly in the open pit, leading to the
suspension of mining on October 21, 2005 for safety reasons due to increased
wall activity in the open pit. After the suspension of mining and
until May 12, 2006, we were able to continue to produce gold doré, lead-gold and
zinc-gold concentrates from milling low-grade stockpiled
ore. However, on May 12, 2006, all operations ceased at the mine and
it was placed on care and maintenance. On July 28, 2006, we entered
into a joint venture agreement with Elkhorn Tunnels, LLC, in respect of the
Montana Tunnels mine pursuant to which Elkhorn Tunnels made financial
contributions in exchange for a 50% interest in the mine. Mill
operations recommenced in March 2007. In April and May 2008, the mill
at the Montana Tunnels mine was shut down for approximately three weeks due to a
crack in the exterior shell of the ball mill. There can be no
assurances that we will not encounter additional operational problems at our
Montana Tunnels mine or mill or other mines or mills we may operate in the
future.
We may not achieve our production
estimates.
We prepare estimates of future
production for our operations. We develop our estimates based on,
among other things, mining experience, reserve estimates, assumptions regarding
ground conditions and physical characteristics of ores (such as hardness and
presence or absence of certain metallurgical characteristics) and estimated
rates and costs of mining and processing. In the past, our actual
production from time to time has been lower than our production estimates and
this may be the case in the future.
Each of these factors also applies to
future development properties not yet in production and to the Montana Tunnels M
Pit. In the case of mines we may develop in the future, we do not
have the benefit of actual experience in our estimates, and there is a greater
likelihood that the actual results will vary from the estimates. In
addition, development and expansion projects are subject to financing
contingencies, unexpected construction and start-up problems and
delays.
Our future profitability depends in part
on actual economic returns and actual costs of developing mines, which may
differ significantly from our estimates and involve unexpected problems, costs
and delays.
We are engaged in the development of new
ore bodies. Our ability to sustain or increase our present level of
production is dependent in part on the successful exploration and development of
new ore bodies and/or expansion of existing mining
operations. Decisions about the development of the M Pit expansion at
Montana Tunnels and other future projects, such as Huizopa, are subject to the
successful completion of feasibility studies, issuance of necessary governmental
permits and receipt of adequate financing.
Development projects have no operating
history upon which to base estimates of future cash flow. Our
estimates of proven and probable ore reserves and cash operating costs are, to a
large extent, based upon detailed geologic and engineering
analysis. We also conduct feasibility studies that derive estimates
of capital and operating costs based upon many factors.
It is possible that actual costs and
economic returns may differ materially from our best estimates. It is
not unusual in the mining industry for new mining operations to experience
unexpected problems during the start-up phase and to require more capital than
anticipated. There can be no assurance that the Black Fox property
that we are developing or any future M Pit expansion at Montana Tunnels will be
profitable.
Our operations may be adversely affected
by risks and hazards associated with the mining industry.
Our business is subject to a number of
risks and hazards including adverse environmental effects, technical
difficulties due to unusual or unexpected geologic formations, and pit wall
failures as well as the associated risks of underground
mining.
Such risks could result in personal
injury, environmental damage, damage to and destruction of production
facilities, delays in mining and liability. For some of these risks,
we maintain insurance to protect against these losses at levels consistent with
our historical experience and industry practice. However, we may not
be able to maintain current levels of insurance, particularly if there is a
significant increase in the cost of premiums. Insurance against
environmental risks is generally too expensive or not available for us and other
companies in our industry, and, therefore, we do not maintain environmental
insurance. To the extent we are subject to environmental liabilities,
we would have to pay for these liabilities. Moreover, in the event
that we are unable to fully pay for the cost of remediating an environmental
problem, we might be required to suspend or significantly curtail operations or
enter into other interim compliance measures.
Mineral exploration in general, and gold
exploration in particular, are speculative and are frequently
unsuccessful.
Mineral exploration is highly
speculative in nature, capital intensive, involves many risks and frequently is
nonproductive. There can be no assurance that our mineral exploration
efforts will be successful. If we discover a site with gold or other
mineralization, it will take a number of years from the initial phases of
drilling until production is possible, during which time the economic
feasibility of production may change. Substantial expenditures are
required to establish ore reserves through drilling, to determine metallurgical
processes to extract the metals from the ore and, in the case of new properties,
to construct mining and processing facilities. As a result of these
and other uncertainties, no assurance can be given that our exploration programs
will result in the expansion or replacement of existing ore reserves that are
being depleted by current production.
We have a limited operating history on
which to evaluate our potential for future success.
We were formed as a result of a merger
in June 2002 and have only a limited operating history upon which you can
evaluate our business and prospects. Over this period, with the
exception of the fiscal year 2007, we have not generated sufficient revenues to
cover our expenses and costs.
The titles to some of our properties may
be uncertain or defective.
Certain of our United States mineral
rights of the Montana Tunnels mine consist of “unpatented” mining claims created
and maintained in accordance with the U.S. General Mining Law of
1872. Unpatented mining claims are unique U.S. property interests,
and are generally considered to be subject to greater title risk than other real
property interests because the validity of unpatented mining claims is often
uncertain. This uncertainty arises, in part, out of the complex
federal and state laws and regulations that supplement the General Mining
Law. Also, unpatented mining claims and related rights, including
rights to use the surface, are subject to possible challenges by third parties
or contests by the federal government. The validity of an unpatented
mining claim, in terms of both its location and its maintenance, is dependent on
strict compliance with a complex body of federal and state statutory and
decisional law. In addition, there are few public records that
definitively control the issues of validity and ownership of unpatented mining
claims.
In recent years, the U.S. Congress has
considered a number of proposed amendments to the General Mining
Law. Although no such legislation has been adopted to date, there can
be no assurance that such legislation will not be adopted in the
future. If ever adopted, such legislation could, among other things,
impose royalties on gold production from unpatented mining claims located on
federal lands or impose fees on production from patented mining
claims. If such legislation is ever adopted, it could have an adverse
impact on earnings from our operations, could reduce estimates of our reserves
and could curtail our future exploration and development activity on federal
lands or patented claims.
While we have no reason to believe that
our rights to mine on any of our properties are in doubt, title to mining
properties are subject to potential claims by third parties claiming an interest
in them and, in September 2006 some of our claims associated with our Black Fox
project were listed as reopened for staking on the Ministry of Northern
Development and Mines (MNDM) website. Five of these claims totaling
185 acres were immediately staked by local prospectors. None of our
reserves or resources at our Black Fox project are located on the properties
related to these claims. All of these overstaked claims have since
been returned to us.
We
may lose rights to properties if we fail to meet payment requirements or
development or production schedules.
We derive the rights to most of our
mineral properties from unpatented mining claims, leaseholds, joint ventures or
purchase option agreements which require the payment of maintenance fees, rents,
purchase price installments, exploration expenditures, or other
fees. If we fail to make these payments when they are due, our rights
to the property may lapse. There can be no assurance that we will
always make payments by the requisite payment dates. In addition,
some contracts with respect to our mineral properties require development or
production schedules. There can be no assurance that we will be able
to meet any or all of the development or production schedules. Our
ability to transfer or sell our rights to some of our mineral properties
requires government approvals or third party consents, which may not be
granted.
We
face substantial governmental regulation.
Canadian
Regulation. Our Black Fox mining operations and exploration
activities in the Province of Ontario are subject to various laws and
regulations governing the environment, agricultural zoning, prospecting,
development, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health,
waste disposal, toxic substances, mine safety and other matters. The Canadian
mining industry is subject to federal and provincial environmental protection
legislation. This legislation imposes high standards on the mining industry in
order to reduce or eliminate the effects of waste generated by extraction and
processing operations and subsequently emitted into the air or water.
Consequently, drilling, refining, extracting and milling are all subject to the
restrictions imposed by this legislation. In addition, the construction and
commercial operation of a mine typically entail compliance with applicable
environmental legislation and review processes, as well as the obtaining of
permits, particularly for the use of the land, permits for the use of water, and
similar authorizations from various government bodies. Canadian federal,
provincial, and local laws and regulations relating to the exploration for and
development, production and marketing of mineral production, as well as
environmental and safety matters have generally become more stringent in recent
years, often imposing greater liability on a larger number of potentially
responsible parties. Because the requirements imposed by such laws and
regulations are frequently changed, we are unable to predict the ultimate cost
of compliance with such requirements. There is no assurance that laws and
regulations enacted in the future will not adversely affect our financial
condition and results of operations. We believe that it is in substantial
compliance with all current laws and regulations material to our activities.
However, changing government regulations may have an adverse effect on
us.
United States
Regulation. Our
U.S. mining operation is subject to inspection and regulation by the Mine Safety
and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor (“MSHA”)
under the provisions of the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) also has jurisdiction
over safety and health standards not covered by MSHA. Our policy is
to comply with applicable directives and regulations of MSHA and
OSHA. We have made and expect to make in the future, significant
expenditures to comply with these laws and regulations.
We must comply with environmental
standards, laws and regulations that may result in increased costs and delays
depending on the nature of the regulated activity and how stringently the
regulations are implemented by the regulatory authority. The costs
and delays associated with compliance with such laws and regulations could stop
us from proceeding with the exploration of a project or the operation or future
exploration of a mine. Laws and regulations involving the protection
and remediation of the environment and the governmental policies for
implementation of such laws and regulations are constantly changing and are
generally becoming more restrictive. We have made, and expect to make
in the future, significant expenditures to comply with such laws and
regulations.
Some of our properties are located in
historic mining districts with past production and abandoned
mines. The major historical mine workings and processing facilities
owned (wholly or partially) by us in Montana are being targeted by the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality (“MDEQ”) for publicly funded cleanup, which
reduces our exposure to financial liability. We are participating
with the MDEQ under Voluntary Cleanup Plans on those sites. Our
cleanup responsibilities have been completed at the Corbin Flats Facility and at
the Gregory Mine site, both located in Jefferson County, Montana, under programs
involving cooperative efforts with the MDEQ. MDEQ is also
contemplating remediation of the Washington Mine site at public expense under
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (“SMCRA”). In
February 2004, we consented to MDEQ’s entry onto the portion of the Washington
Mine site owned by us to undertake publicly funded remediation under
SMCRA. In March 2004, we entered into a definitive written settlement
agreement with MDEQ and the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) under which MDEQ
will conduct publicly funded remediation of the Wickes Smelter site under SMCRA
granted us a site release in exchange for our donation of the portion of the
site owned by us to BLM for use as a waste repository. There can be
no assurance that we will continue to resolve disputed liability for historical
mine and ore processing facility waste sites on such favorable terms in the
future. We remain exposed to liability, or assertions of liability,
that would require expenditure of legal defense costs, under joint and several
liability statutes for cleanups of historical wastes that have not yet been
completed.
Environmental laws and regulations may
also have an indirect impact on us, such as increased costs for electricity due
to acid rain provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of
1990. Charges by refiners to which we sell our metallic concentrates
and products have substantially increased over the past several years because of
requirements that refiners meet revised environmental quality
standards. We have no control over the refiners’ operations or their
compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
Changes
to the current laws and regulations governing the operations and activities of
mining companies, including changes to the U.S. General Mining Law of 1872, and
permitting, environmental, title, health and safety, labor and tax laws, are
actively considered from time to time. We cannot predict which
changes may be considered or adopted and changes in these laws and regulations
could have a material adverse impact on our business. Expenses
associated with the compliance with new laws or regulations could be
material. Further, increased expenses could prevent or delay
exploration or mine development projects and could therefore affect future
levels of mineral production.
We
are subject to environmental risks.
Environmental
Liability. We
are subject to potential risks and liabilities associated with environmental
compliance and the disposal of waste rock and materials that could occur as a
result of our mineral exploration and production. To the extent that
we are subject to environmental liabilities, the payment of such liabilities or
the costs that we may incur to remedy any non-compliance with environmental laws
would reduce funds otherwise available to us and could have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition or results of operations. If we are
unable to fully remedy an environmental problem, we might be required to suspend
operations or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the
required remedy. The potential exposure may be significant and could
have a material adverse effect on us. We have not purchased insurance
for environmental risks (including potential liability for pollution or other
hazards as a result of the disposal of waste products occurring from exploration
and production) because it is not generally available at a reasonable price or
at all.
Environmental
Permits. All of
our exploration, development and production activities are subject to regulation
under one or more of the various state, federal and provincial environmental
laws and regulations in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Many of the
regulations require us to obtain permits for our activities. We must
update and review our permits from time to time, and are subject to
environmental impact analyses and public review processes prior to approval of
the additional activities. It is possible that future changes in
applicable laws, regulations and permits or changes in their enforcement or
regulatory interpretation could have a significant impact on some portion of our
business, causing those activities to be economically reevaluated at that
time. Those risks include, but are not limited to, the risk that
regulatory authorities may increase bonding requirements beyond our financial
capabilities. The posting of bonds in accordance with regulatory
determinations is a condition to the right to operate under all material
operating permits, and therefore increases in bonding requirements could prevent
our operations from continuing even if we were in full compliance with all
substantive environmental laws.
We
face strong competition from other mining companies for the acquisition of new
properties.
Mines
have limited lives and as a result, we may seek to replace and expand our
reserves through the acquisition of new properties. In addition,
there is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available in the United
States, Canada and Mexico and other areas where we would consider conducting
exploration and/or production activities. Because we face strong
competition for new properties from other mining companies, most of which have
greater financial resources than we do, we may be unable to acquire attractive
new mining properties.
We
are dependent on certain key personnel.
We are
currently dependent upon the ability and experience of R. David Russell, our
President and Chief Executive Officer; Richard F. Nanna, our Senior Vice
President-Exploration; and Melvyn Williams, our Chief Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President-Finance and Corporate Development. We believe
that our success depends on the continued service of our key officers and there
can be no assurance that we will be able to retain any or all of such
officers. We currently do not carry key person insurance on any of
these individuals, and the loss of one or more of them could have a material
adverse effect on our operations.
There
may be certain tax risks associated with investments in our
company.
U.S. persons who are potential
holders of our common shares, warrants or options to purchase our common
shares, or debentures convertible into our common shares, which we sometimes
refer to in this prospectus as equity securities, should be aware that we could constitute
a “passive foreign investment company” (or a “PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. The tests for determining PFIC status for a
taxable year depend upon the relative values of certain categories of assets and
the relative amounts of certain kinds of income. The application of
these factors depends upon our financial results for the year, which is beyond
our ability to predict or control, and may be subject to legal and factual
uncertainties. While we do not believe that we were a PFIC for 2008
and do not expect to be a PFIC in 2009, we cannot guarantee that we were not a
PFIC for 2008, and we are unable to predict whether we will be a PFIC in 2009 or
in later years. We undertake no obligation to advise investors as to
our PFIC status for any year.
If we are a PFIC for any
year, any holder of our
equity securities who is a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
which we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as a U.S. holder, and whose
holding period for the equity securities includes any portion of a year in which
we are a PFIC generally would be subject to a special adverse tax regime in
respect of “excess distributions.” Excess distributions would include
certain distributions received with respect to our common
shares. Gain recognized by a U.S. holder on a sale or other transfer
of our equity securities also would be treated as an excess
distribution. Under the
PFIC rules, excess distributions would be allocated ratably to a U.S.
holder’s holding period. For this purpose, the holding period of
common shares acquired through either an exercise of warrants or options or a
conversion of debentures includes the holder’s holding period in those warrants,
options, or convertible debentures.
The
portion of any excess distributions (including gains treated as excess
distributions) allocated to the current year would be includible as ordinary
income in the current year. In contrast, the portion of any excess
distributions allocated to prior years would be taxed at the highest marginal
rate applicable to ordinary income for each year (regardless of the taxpayer’s
actual marginal rate for that year and without reduction by any losses or loss
carryforwards) and would be subject to interest charges to reflect the value of
the U.S. federal income tax deferral.
Elections
may be available to mitigate the adverse tax rules that apply to PFICs (the
so-called “QEF” and “mark-to-market” elections), but these elections may
accelerate the recognition of taxable income and may result in the recognition
of ordinary income. The QEF and mark-to-market elections are not
available to U.S. holders with respect to warrants, options, or convertible
debentures. We
have not decided whether we will provide the U.S. Holders of our common shares
with the annual information required to make a QEF election.
Additional
special adverse rules could apply to our equity securities if we are a PFIC and
have a non-U.S. subsidiary that is also a PFIC. Finally, special
adverse rules that impact certain estate planning goals could apply to our
equity securities if we are a PFIC.
The PFIC
rules are extremely complex, and shareholders are urged to consult their own tax
advisers regarding the potential consequences to them of Apollo being classified
as a PFIC.
You
could have difficulty or be unable to enforce certain civil liabilities on us,
certain of our directors and our experts.
We are a Yukon Territory, Canada,
corporation. While our chief executive officer is located in the
United States, many of our assets are located outside of the United
States. Additionally, a number of our directors and the experts named
in this prospectus are residents of Canada. It might not be possible
for investors in the United States to collect judgments obtained in United
States courts predicated on the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities
legislation. It could also be difficult for you to effect service of
process in connection with any action brought in the United States upon such
directors and experts. Execution by United States courts of any
judgment obtained against us, or any of the directors, executive officers or
experts identified in this prospectus or documents incorporated by reference
herein, in United States courts would be limited to the assets, or the assets of
such persons or corporations, as the case might be, in the United
States. The enforceability in Canada of United States judgments or
liabilities in original actions in Canadian courts predicated solely upon the
civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States
is doubtful.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
All of the common shares covered by this
prospectus are being sold by the selling shareholders identified in this
prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by the
selling shareholders of these common shares. See “Selling
Shareholders.”
We are authorized to issue an unlimited
number of common shares, without par value. As of March 16, 2009,
there were 232,611,195 common shares outstanding.
Dividend
Rights
Holders of our common shares may receive
dividends when, as and if declared by our board on the common shares, subject to
the preferential dividend rights of any other classes or series of shares of our
company. In no event may a dividend be declared or paid on the common
shares if payment of the dividend would cause the realizable value of our
company’s assets to be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and the amount
required to redeem all of the shares having redemption or retraction rights
which are then outstanding.
We have not declared or paid cash
dividends on our common shares since our inception. Future dividend
decisions will consider our then-current business results, cash requirements and
financial condition. The Montana Tunnels debt facility with RMB
Australia Holdings Limited and its affiliated entities, as amended, and the
Black Fox project facility agreement with the project finance banks currently
restrict our ability to pay dividends.
Voting
and Other Rights
Holders of our common shares are
entitled to one vote per share, and in general, all matters will be determined
by a majority of votes cast.
Election
of Directors
All of the directors serve from the date
of election or appointment until the earlier of the next annual meeting of the
company’s shareholders or the date on which their successors are elected or
appointed in accordance with the provisions of our By-laws and Articles of
Incorporation. Directors are elected by a majority of votes
cast.
Liquidation
In the event of any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of our company, holders of the common shares have the
right to a ratable portion of the assets remaining after payment of liabilities
and liquidation preferences of any preferred shares or other securities that may
then be outstanding.
Redemption
Our common shares are not redeemable or
convertible.
Other
Provisions
All outstanding common shares are fully
paid and non-assessable.
This section is a summary and may not
describe every aspect of our common shares that may be important to
you. We urge you to read our Articles of Incorporation, as amended,
and our By-laws, because they, and not this description, define your rights as a
holder of our common shares. See “Where You Can Find More
Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these
documents.
CIBC Mellon Trust Company, 320 Bay
Street, P. O. Box 1, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A6, Canada, is the transfer
agent and registrar for our common shares.
The selling shareholders identified
below are offering for resale all of the common shares being offered under this
prospectus. The 3,255,000 common shares offered hereby are comprised
of 3,000,000 common shares issued on a “flow through” basis pursuant to the
Income
Tax Act (Canada), which
such shares we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as flow through shares, in
a private placement completed on December 31, 2008 and 255,000 common shares
issuable upon exercise of warrants issued to Haywood Securities Inc., which we
refer to in this prospectus as Haywood, for advisory services rendered in
connection with the December 31, 2008 private placement of flow through
shares. Purchasers of the flow through shares resold under this
prospectus will not receive the Canadian tax benefits associated with the flow
through shares, which benefits apply only to the initial purchasers in the flow
through the private placement. For more information regarding the
foregoing, see “The Company – Recent Events” on page 6 of this
prospectus.
The table
below includes information regarding ownership of our common stock by the
selling shareholders named herein and the number of shares that may be sold by
them under this prospectus. Other than as described herein, no
selling shareholder has had any material relationship with us for the past three
years. We have prepared this table based on information supplied to
us by or on behalf of the selling shareholders.
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Common
Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering(1)
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Name
of Selling Shareholder
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Common
Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering(1)
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Common
Shares Offered Hereby
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Number(2)
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Percentage
of Class(3)
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FrontierAlt
2007 Energy & Precious Metals Flow-Through LP(4)
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716,666 |
(8) |
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716,666 |
(8) |
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0 |
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* |
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FrontierAlt
2008 Energy & Precious Metals Flow-Through LP(5)
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1,950,000 |
(8) |
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1,950,000 |
(8) |
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0 |
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|
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* |
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Trinity
Wood Mining 2008-1 Flow Through Limited Partnership(6)
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333,334 |
(8) |
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333,334 |
(8) |
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0 |
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* |
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Haywood
Securities Inc.
(7)
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9,959,278 |
(9) |
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255,000 |
(10) |
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9,704,278 |
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4.17 |
% |
Total
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12,959,278 |
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3,255,000 |
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9,704,278 |
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4.17 |
% |
* Less
than 1%
(1)
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Pursuant
to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, a person is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days, including the
right to acquire through the exercise of an option or warrant or through
the conversion of a security.
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(2)
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Assumes
that all of the shares currently beneficially owned by the selling
shareholders and registered hereunder are sold and the selling
shareholders acquire no additional common shares before the completion of
this offering.
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(3)
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The percentage ownership for the
selling shareholders is based on 232,611,195 common shares outstanding as
of March 16, 2009. In accordance with SEC rules, common
shares that may be acquired pursuant to options, warrants or convertible
securities that are exercisable as of March 16, 2009, or will
become exercisable within 60 days thereafter, are deemed to be
outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding such securities
for the purpose of computing such person’s percentage ownership, but are
not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person.
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(4)
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Kurankye
Sekyhotu is the President of FrontierAlt 2007 Energy & Precious Metals
Flow-Through LP and exercises the voting and dispositive powers with
regard to the common shares being offered by this selling
shareholder.
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(5)
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Kurankye
Sekyhotu is the President of FrontierAlt 2008 Energy & Precious Metals
Flow-Through LP and exercises the voting and dispositive powers with
regard to the common shares being offered by this selling
shareholder.
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(6)
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Peter
Browning is a director of this selling shareholder’s general partner and
exercises the voting and dispositive powers with regard to the common
shares being offered by this selling
shareholder.
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(7)
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Haywood
Securities Inc. has served as an underwriter, placement agent and/or
advisor to us (and received compensation from us for such services) in
connection with numerous corporate finance transactions, including (i) our
project facility agreement dated February 20, 2009, (iii) our flow through
private placement completed on December 31, 2008, (iv) our flow through
private placement completed on August 21, 2008, (v) our unit offering
completed on July 24, 2008 and (vi) our flow through private placement
completed on October 31, 2007. Robert C. Blanchard, Robert J.
Disbrow, Charles J. Dunlap, David B. Elliott, David M. Lyall, Enrico L.
Paolone, John Stephen T. Rybinski, Eric Savics, John D. Shepherd, John P.
Tognetti and John David W. Willett are officers and/or directors of
Haywood Securities Inc. and exercise the voting and dispositive powers
with regard to the common shares being offered by this selling shareholder
hereby. Haywood Securities Inc. is an affiliate of Haywood
Securities (USA), Inc., a registered broker-dealer. At the time
of its acquisition of our common shares and warrants to purchase our
common shares, this selling shareholder had no agreements or
understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the
securities registered for resale
hereunder.
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(8)
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Represents
flow through shares purchased in the flow through private placement
completed by us on December 31,
2008.
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(9)
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Represents
(i) 2,172,840 common shares
and 2,567,901 common share purchase warrants exercisable until February
20, 2011 at an exercise price of Cdn$0.256 per share issued to this
selling shareholder as consideration for financial advisory services
provided to us in connection with the project facility agreement, (ii)
1,000,000 common shares issued to this selling shareholder as
consideration for advisory services provided to us in connection with the
extension of maturity date of the February 2007 convertible debentures
owned by RAB, (iii) 255,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of
255,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable until December 10, 2010
at an exercise price of Cdn$0.30 per share, which warrants were issued to
this selling shareholder as compensation for advisory services provided in
connection with our private
placement of flow through shares completed on December 31, 2008,
(iv) 1,020,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of compensation
options exercisable until February 18, 2010 at Cdn$0.50 per share, which
options were issued to this selling shareholder as compensation for
services provided in connection the August 21, 2008 private placement of flow
through shares, (v) 372,727 common shares issuable upon exercise of
compensation options exercisable until April 30, 2009 at Cdn$0.55 per
share, which options were granted to this selling shareholder as
compensation for services provided in connection with our private placement of flow
through shares completed on October 31, 2007 and (vi) 2,570, 810 common
shares issuable upon exercise of an option to acquire 1,713,873 units at a
price per unit of Cdn$0.60, which option was granted to this selling
shareholder as compensation for services provided in connection with our
public offering of units completed July 24, 2008. Each unit is
comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase
warrant, with each such warrant entitling the selling shareholder to
purchase one of our common shares at an exercise price of Cdn$0.78 for a
period commencing 180 days following July 24, 2008 and continuing for 48
months from such date.
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(10)
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Represents
255,000 common shares issuable upon exercise of 255,000 common share
purchase warrants issued to this selling shareholder as compensation for
advisory services provided in the December 31, 2008 private placement of flow
through shares.
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The
common shares covered by this prospectus are being registered to permit public
secondary trading of these securities by the holders thereof from time to time
after the date of this prospectus. All of the common shares covered
by this prospectus are being sold by the selling shareholders or their pledgees,
donees, assignees, transferees or other successors-in-interest. We
will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these shares.
The
selling shareholders and their pledgees, assignees, donees, or other
successors-in-interest who acquire their shares after the date of this
prospectus may sell the common shares directly to purchasers or through
broker-dealers or agents.
The
common shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at
the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Sales may be effected in
transactions, which may involve block transactions or crosses:
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through
the NYSE Alternext U.S. exchange or on any national securities exchange or
quotation service on which the common shares may be listed or quoted at
the time of sale;
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·
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through
the Toronto Stock Exchange in compliance with Canadian securities laws and
rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange through registered
brokers;
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·
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in
the over-the-counter market;
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·
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in
transactions otherwise than on exchanges or quotation services, or in the
over-the counter market;
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·
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through
the exercise of purchased or written options;
or
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·
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through
any other method permitted under applicable
law.
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In
connection with sales of the common shares or otherwise, the selling
shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may
in turn engage in short sales of the shares in the course of hedging the
positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell short the shares
and deliver the shares to close out short positions, or loan or pledge the
shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell the shares.
The
aggregate proceeds to the selling shareholders from the sale of the common
shares offered hereby will be the purchase price of the common shares less
discounts and commissions, if any, paid to broker-dealers. The selling
shareholders reserve the right to accept and, together with its agents from time
to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common shares
to be made directly or through agents.
In order
to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common
shares may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares may not be sold
unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from
registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied
with.
The
selling shareholders may sell the shares to or through broker-dealers, who may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from
the selling shareholders or the purchasers. The selling shareholders and any
broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common shares may
be determined to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on
any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. If any selling shareholder is an “underwriter” within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, it will be subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
We are
not aware of any plans, arrangements or understandings between the selling
shareholders and any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent regarding the sale of
the common shares by the selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may
decide not to sell any or all of the shares offered by it pursuant to this
prospectus and may transfer, devise or gift the shares by other means not
described in this prospectus. Moreover, any shares covered by this prospectus
that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act may be sold
under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
If
required, we will distribute a supplement to this prospectus describing any
material changes in the terms of this offering. We may suspend the use of this
prospectus if we notify the selling shareholders that our board of directors has
determined that the sale of our common shares at such time would be detrimental
to us and our stockholders or if material non-public information exists that
must be disclosed so that this prospectus, as in effect, does not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
make the statements in this prospectus not misleading.
TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations
The
following is a summary of the material anticipated U.S. federal income tax
consequences regarding the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common
shares. This summary applies to you only if you hold such common shares as a
capital asset and are eligible for benefits under the Convention between the
United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on
Capital signed on September 26, 1980, as amended and currently in force, which
we refer to as the U.S.-Canada tax treaty. This summary is based upon the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code,
regulations promulgated under the Code, administrative rulings and judicial
decisions and the U.S.-Canada tax treaty as in effect on the date of this
prospectus. Changes in the laws may alter the tax treatment of our common
shares, possibly with retroactive effect.
This
summary is general in nature and does not address the effects of any state or
local taxes, or the tax consequences in jurisdictions other than the United
States. In addition, it does not address all tax consequences that may be
relevant to you in your particular circumstances, nor does it apply to you if
you are a holder with a special status, such as:
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a
person that owns, or is treated as owning under certain ownership
attribution rules, 10% or more of our voting
shares;
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a
broker, dealer or trader in securities or
currencies;
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a
bank, mutual fund, life insurance company or other financial
institution;
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a
tax-exempt organization;
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a
qualified retirement plan or individual retirement
account;
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a
person that holds our common shares as part of a straddle, hedge,
constructive sale or other integrated transaction for tax
purposes;
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a
partnership, S corporation or other pass-through
entity;
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an
investor in a partnership, S corporation or other pass-through
entity;
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a
person whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S.
dollar;
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a
person liable for alternative minimum
tax;
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a
U.S. Holder (as defined below) who is a resident or deemed to be a
resident in Canada pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada);
and
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·
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a
Non-U.S. Holder (as defined below) that has a trade or business in the
United States or that is an individual that either has a tax home in the
United States or is present within the United States for 183 days or more
(computed in a manner that
gives partial credit for days present in certain prior taxable years)
during the taxable year.
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If a
partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common shares, the tax treatment of
a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the
activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership that owns or may
acquire our common shares should consult the partner’s tax advisor regarding the
specific tax consequences of the acquisition and ownership of our common
shares.
We
believe that we are not, have not at any time been, and will not be after this
offering a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957(a) of the
Code, although we can provide no certainty regarding this position.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISOR
REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF
OUR COMMON SHARES IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
U.S.
Holders
The
following discussion applies to you if you are a “U.S. Holder.” For purposes of
this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a common share that
is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an
individual citizen or resident of the United States (including an alien
who is a “green card” holder or who is present in the United States for 31
days or more in the calendar year and meets certain other
requirements);
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a
corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States
or any political subdivision
thereof;
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·
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an
estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source; or
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·
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a
trust (1) that validly elects to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, or (2) the administration over which a U.S.
court can exercise primary supervision and all of the substantial
decisions of which one or more U.S. persons have the authority to
control.
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Distributions
We do not
anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. However, subject to the
discussion under “— Passive foreign investment company,” below, the gross amount
of distributions, if any, payable by us on our common shares generally would be
treated as dividend income to the extent paid out of current or accumulated
earnings and profits. Such dividends will generally be “qualified dividends” in
the hands of individual U.S. Holders and will be generally subject to a 15%
maximum individual U.S. federal income tax rate for qualified dividends received
in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. A corporation may
be eligible for a dividends received deduction under Section 243 of the
Code.
A
distribution on our shares in excess of current or accumulated earnings and
profits will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the
U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in such shares and then as capital gain. See “—
Sale or other disposition of common shares” below.
Canadian
withholding tax on dividend distributions paid by us to a U.S. Holder is
generally reduced to 15% pursuant to the U.S.-Canada tax treaty. U.S. Holders
generally may claim the amount of any Canadian income taxes withheld either as a
deduction from gross income or as a credit against U.S. federal income tax
liability, subject to numerous complex limitations that must be determined and
applied on an individual basis. A U.S. Holder’s ability to claim such a credit
against U.S. federal income tax liability may be limited to the extent that
dividends on our common shares are treated as U.S.-source income for U.S.
foreign tax credit purposes. To the extent that a distribution with
respect to our common shares is paid from earnings and profits accumulated by a
domestic corporation engaged in a U.S. trade or business (such as a U.S.
subsidiary), any such income would be treated as U.S.-source income for U.S.
foreign tax credit purposes.
Sale
or other disposition of common shares
Subject
to the discussion under “— Passive foreign investment company” below, in
general, if you sell or otherwise dispose of our common shares in a taxable
disposition:
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you
will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference (if any) between the
U.S. dollar value of the amount realized on such sale or other taxable
disposition and your adjusted tax basis in such common
shares;
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·
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any
gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital
gain or loss if your holding period for the common shares sold is more
than one year at the time of such sale or other taxable disposition;
and
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·
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any
gain or loss will generally be treated as U.S.-source income for U.S.
foreign tax credit purposes, although special rules apply to U.S. Holders
who have a fixed place of business outside the United States to which this
gain is attributable.
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Long-term
capital gains of individual taxpayers are generally subject to a 15% maximum
U.S. federal income tax rate for capital gains recognized in taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2011. The deductibility of capital losses is subject
to limitations.
If you
are a cash basis taxpayer who receives foreign currency, such as Canadian
dollars, in connection with a sale or other taxable disposition of our common
shares, the amount realized will be based on the U.S. dollar value of the
foreign currency received with respect to such common shares, as determined on
the settlement date of such sale or other taxable disposition.
If you
are an accrual basis taxpayer who receives foreign currency in a sale or other
taxable disposition of our common shares, you generally may elect the same
treatment required of cash basis taxpayers with respect to a sale or other
taxable disposition of such common shares, provided the election is applied
consistently from year to year. The election may not be changed without the
consent of the IRS. If you are an accrual basis taxpayer and do not elect to be
treated as a cash basis taxpayer (pursuant to the U.S. Treasury Regulations
applicable to foreign currency transactions) for this purpose, you might have a
foreign currency gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of
differences between the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency received on
the date of the sale (or other taxable disposition) of our common shares and the
date of payment. Any such currency gain or loss generally will be treated as
ordinary income or loss and would be in addition to gain or loss, if any,
recognized on the sale (or other taxable disposition) of our common
shares.
Passive
foreign investment company
PFIC
Rules Generally. U.S. persons who
are potential holders of our common shares, warrants or options to
purchase our common shares, or debentures convertible into our common shares,
which we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as equity securities, should be aware that we could constitute
a “passive foreign investment company” (or a “PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. The tests for determining PFIC status for a
taxable year depend upon the relative values of certain categories of assets and
the relative amounts of certain kinds of income. The application of
these factors depends upon our financial results for the year, which is beyond
our ability to predict or control, and may be subject to legal and factual
uncertainties. While we do not believe that we were a PFIC for 2008
and do not expect to be a PFIC in 2009, we cannot guarantee that we were not a
PFIC for 2008, and we are unable to predict whether we will be a PFIC in 2009 or
in later years.
In
general terms, we will be a PFIC for any tax year in which either (i) 75% or
more of our gross income is passive income (the “income test”) or (ii) the
average percentage, by fair market value, of our assets that produce or are held
for the production of passive income is 50% or more (the “asset test”). “Passive
income” includes, for example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties,
certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from
commodities transactions. For example, we could be a PFIC for a tax year if we
have (i) losses from sales activities but interest income (and/or other passive
income) that exceeds those losses or (ii) positive gross profit from sales but
interest income (and/or other passive income) constitutes 75% or more of our
total gross income. In such situations, we could be a PFIC even without
recognizing substantial amounts of passive income.
If we are a PFIC for any
year, any U.S. Holder whose
holding period for common shares includes any portion of a year in which we are
a PFIC generally would be subject to a special adverse tax regime in respect of
“excess distributions.” Excess distributions would include certain
distributions received with respect to our common shares. Gain
recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other transfer of our common shares
also would be treated as an excess distribution. Such gains and
excess distributions would be allocated ratably to the U.S. Holder’s holding
period. For this purpose, the holding period of common shares
acquired through either an exercise of warrants or options or a conversion of
debentures includes the holder’s holding period in those warrants, options, or
convertible debentures.
The
portion of any excess distributions (including gains treated as excess
distributions) allocated to the current tax year would be includible as ordinary
income in the current tax year. In contrast, the portion of any excess
distributions allocated to prior years would be taxed at the highest marginal
rate applicable to ordinary income for each year (regardless of the taxpayer’s
actual marginal rate for that year and without reduction by any losses or loss
carryforwards) and would be subject to interest charges to reflect the value of
the U.S. federal income tax deferral. U.S. Holders must report any gains or
distributions received from a PFIC by filing a Form 8621, Return by a
Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund,
with their returns.
Certain
elections may sometimes be used to reduce the adverse impact of the PFIC rules
on U.S. Holders (“qualifying electing fund” (“QEF”) and “mark-to-market”
elections), but these elections may accelerate the recognition of taxable income
and may result in the recognition of ordinary income.
QEF
Election to Reduce Impact of PFIC Rules. The rules described above for "excess
distributions" will not apply to a U.S. Holder if the U.S. Holder makes a QEF
election for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder's holding period for our
common shares during which we are a PFIC and we comply with specified reporting
requirements. A QEF election for a taxable year generally must be made on or
before the due date (as may be extended) for filing the taxpayer's U.S. federal
income tax return for the year. A U.S. Holder who makes a QEF election generally
must report on a current basis his or her pro rata share of our ordinary income
and net capital gain for any taxable year in which we are a PFIC, whether or not
we distribute those earnings. A U.S. Holder who makes a QEF election must file a
Form 8621 with their annual return. We have not decided whether we will provide
the U.S. Holders of our common shares with the annual information required to
make a QEF election.
Mark-to-Market
Election to Reduce Impact of PFIC Rules. If we become a PFIC, a U.S. Holder of
our common shares may elect to recognize any gain or loss on our common shares
on a mark-to-market basis at the end of each taxable year, so long as the common
shares are regularly traded on a qualifying exchange. The mark-to-market
election under the PFIC rules is an alternative to the QEF election. We believe
our common shares will be regularly traded on a qualifying exchange, but we
cannot provide assurance that our common shares will be considered regularly
traded on a qualifying exchange for all years in which we may be a PFIC. A U.S.
Holder who makes a mark-to-market election generally must recognize as ordinary
income all appreciation inherent in the U.S. Holder’s investment in our common
shares on a mark-to-market basis and may recognize losses inherent in our common
shares only to the extent of prior mark-to-market gain recognition. The
mark-to-market election must be made by the due date (as may be extended) for
filing the taxpayer's federal income tax return for the first year in which the
election is to take effect. A U.S. Holder who makes a mark-to-market
election must file a Form 8621 with their annual return.
Rules for
Lower-Tier PFIC Subsidiaries. Special adverse rules apply to U.S. Holders of our
common shares for any year in which we are a PFIC and have a non-U.S. subsidiary
that is also a PFIC (a “lower tier PFIC”). If we are a PFIC and a U.S. Holder of
our common shares does not make a QEF election (as described above) in respect
of any lower tier PFIC, the U.S. Holder could incur liability for the deferred
tax and interest charge described above if (i) we receive a distribution from,
or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower tier PFIC or
(ii) the U.S. Holder disposes of all or part of our common shares. A
QEF election that is made for our common shares will not apply to a lower tier
PFIC although a separate QEF election might be made with respect to a lower-tier
PFIC. We will use reasonable best efforts to cause a lower-tier PFIC to provide
the information necessary for an effective QEF election to be made with respect
to such lower-tier PFIC. Moreover, a mark-to-market election (as described
above) is not available for lower-tier PFICs.
Estate
Planning. Special adverse rules that impact certain estate planning
goals could apply to our common shares if we are a PFIC.
Tax
advice. The PFIC rules are extremely complex, and shareholders are
urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the potential consequences to
them of us being classified as a PFIC.
Non-U.S.
Holders
The
following summary applies to you if you are a non-U.S. Holder of our common
shares. A non-U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of a common share that is not a
U.S. Holder.
Distributions
In
general, you will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax
on dividends, if any, received from us with respect to our common shares, unless
such income is (i) effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or
business in the United States or (ii) if a treaty applies, such income is
attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base you maintain in the
United States.
Sale
or other disposition of common shares
In
general, you will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized
upon the sale or other disposition of our common shares unless:
·
|
such
gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or
business or, if a treaty applies, such gain is attributable to a permanent
establishment or fixed base you maintain in the United States;
or
|
·
|
you
are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more
during the taxable year of disposition or have a tax home in the United
States, and certain other requirements are
met.
|
U.S.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax
U.S.
Holders of our common shares may be subject to information reporting and may be
subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) on distributions on
our common shares or on the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our
common shares paid within the United States. Payments of distributions on, or
the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common shares to or
through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to backup
withholding, although information reporting may apply to those payments in
certain circumstances. Backup withholding will generally not apply, however, to
a U.S. Holder who:
·
|
furnishes
a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that the U.S.
Holder is not subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9, Request for
Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (or substitute form);
or
|
·
|
is
otherwise exempt from backup
withholding.
|
In
general, a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to information reporting and
backup withholding. However, a non-U.S. Holder may be required to establish an
exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying the
non-U.S. Holder’s non-U.S. status on Form W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status
of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding.
Backup
withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a
holder under the backup withholding rules may be credited against the holder’s
U.S. federal income tax liability, and a holder may obtain a refund of any
excess amounts withheld by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS
in a timely manner.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Lackowicz, Shier & Hoffman has
provided its opinion on the validity of the common shares offered by this
prospectus.
The consolidated financial statements
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered chartered
accountants, as stated in their report, which report expresses an
unqualified opinion on the financial statements and includes a separate report
titled Comments by Independent Registered Chartered Accountants on Canada —
United States of America Reporting Differences referring to changes in
accounting principles and substantial doubt on our ability to continue as a
going concern, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Our
Montana Tunnels reserves at December 31, 2007 incorporated by reference
herein were prepared by us and SRK Consulting (US), Inc. All
information regarding reserves incorporated by reference herein is in reliance
upon the authority of that form as experts in such matters.
DISCLOSURE
OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT
LIABILITY
The Business Corporations Act (Yukon
Territory) imposes liability on officers and directors for breach of fiduciary
duty except in certain specified circumstances, and also empowers corporations
organized under Yukon Territory law to indemnify officers, directors, employees
and others from liability in certain circumstances such as where the person
successfully defended himself on the merits or acted in good faith in a manner
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
corporation.
Our By-laws, with certain exceptions,
eliminate any personal liability of our directors and officers to us or our
shareholders for monetary damages arising from such person’s performance as a
director or officer, provided such person has acted in accordance with the
requirements of the governing statute. Our By-laws also provide for
indemnification of directors and officers, with certain exceptions, to the full
extent permitted under law which includes all liability, damages and costs or
expenses arising from or in connection with service for, employment by, or other
affiliation with us to the maximum extent and under all circumstances permitted
by law.
We maintain insurance policies under
which our directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to
the limitations of the policies, against expenses in connection with the defense
of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed
as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are parties by
reason of being or having been a director or officer of
Apollo.
You should rely only on the information
incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement to
this prospectus. We have authorized no one to provide you with different
information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where
the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this
prospectus.
APOLLO GOLD
CORPORATION
3,255,000
COMMON SHARES
PROSPECTUS
PART II
INFORMATION NOT
REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14.
Other
Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
We will pay all expenses in connection
with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. The
following table is an itemized statement of these expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions:
|
|
|
|
SEC
registration fee
|
|
$ |
47.22 |
|
NYSE
Alternext U.S. exchange listing fee
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Legal
fees and expenses
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
Accountant’s
fees and expenses
|
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
Trustee
and transfer agent fees
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Printing
and engraving
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
25,047.22 |
|
All of the above expenses are estimated
except the NYSE Alternext U.S. exchange listing fee and the SEC registration
fee.
Item 15.
Indemnification
of Officers and Directors.
The Business Corporations Act (Yukon
Territory) imposes liability on officers and directors for breach of fiduciary
duty except in certain specified circumstances, and also empowers corporations
organized under Yukon Territory law to indemnify officers, directors, employees
and others from liability in certain circumstances such as where the person
successfully defended himself on the merits or acted in good faith in a manner
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
corporation.
Our By-laws, with certain exceptions,
eliminate any personal liability of our directors and officers to us or our
shareholders for monetary damages arising from such person’s performance as a
director or officer, provided such person has acted in accordance with the
requirements of the governing statute. Our By-laws also provide for
indemnification of directors and officers, with certain exceptions, to the full
extent permitted under law which includes all liability, damages and costs or
expenses arising from or in connection with service for, employment by, or other
affiliation with us to the maximum extent and under all circumstances permitted
by law.
We maintain insurance policies under
which our directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to
the limitations of the policies, against expenses in connection with the defense
of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed
as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are parties by
reason of being or having been a director or officer of
Apollo.
Item 16.
Exhibits.
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Sample
Certificate of Common Shares of Apollo Gold Corporation, filed with the
SEC on June 23, 2003 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form
10
|
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Shareholder
Rights Plan Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Apollo Gold
Corporation and CIBC Mellon Trust Company filed with the SEC on January
19, 2007 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form
8-K
|
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
Form
of Subscription Agreement for Flow-Through Shares by and among Apollo Gold
Corporation and certain investors, filed with the SEC on December 31, 2008
as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K.
|
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement for Flow-Through Shares by and among
Apollo Gold Corporation and certain investors, filed with the SEC on
December 31, 2008 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form
8-K.
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
Form
of Warrant Certificate issued by Apollo Gold Corporation to Haywood
Securities Inc., filed with the SEC on December 31, 2008 as Exhibit 10.1
to the Current Report on Form 8-K.
|
|
|
|
5.1
|
|
Opinion
of Lackowicz, Shier & Hoffman *
|
|
|
|
23.1
|
|
Consent
of Lackowicz, Shier & Hoffman (included in
Exhibit 5.1)
|
|
|
|
23.2
|
|
Consent
of Deloitte & Touche LLP *
|
|
|
|
23.3
|
|
Consent
of SRK Consulting (US), Inc. filed with the SEC on March 25, 2008 as
Exhibit 23.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
|
|
|
|
24.1
|
|
Power
of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration
statement)
|
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)
|
The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
|
(1)
|
To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration
statement:
|
|
(i)
|
To
include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
of 1933;
|
|
(ii)
|
To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would
not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the
form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a
20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
“Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration
statement;
|
|
(iii)
|
To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration
statement;
|
(B) Paragraphs
(a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required
to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a
form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the
registration statement.
(2)
|
That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
|
(3)
|
To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
|
…
(5)
|
That,
for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933
to any purchaser:
|
|
(i)
|
If
the registrant is relying on Rule
430B: |
(A) Each
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to
be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was
deemed part of and included in the registration statement;
and
(B) Each
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as
part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an
offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of
providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of
1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as
of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after
effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the
offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability
purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such
date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement
relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that
prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a
registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement
or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the
registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement
will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective
date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration
statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in
any such document immediately prior to such effective date;
or
(ii)
|
If
the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering,
other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than
prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of
and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used
after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in a
registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration
statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by
reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of
the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract
of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that
was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to
such date of first use.
|
…
(b)
|
The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of
an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
|
(h)
|
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing a registration
statement on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Denver, State of Colorado, on March 16, 2009.
APOLLO GOLD
CORPORATION
By: /s/
Melvyn
Williams
Melvyn Williams, Chief Financial Officer
and Senior Vice President -
Finance and Corporate
Development
By: /s/
R. David
Russell
R. David
Russell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
and
Authorized
U.S. Representative
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
Each individual whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of R. David Russell and Melvyn
Williams, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments
and any Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933) to this registration statement on Form S-3, and to file
the same with all exhibits and schedules thereto and all documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each of
attorney-in-fact and his agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ R. David Russell
|
|
President
and Chief Executive
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
R. David
Russell
|
|
Officer,
and Director
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Melvyn Williams
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Senior
Vice President -
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
Melvyn
Williams
|
|
Finance
and Corporate Development (Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Charles E. Stott
|
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
Charles
E. Stott
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ G. Michael Hobart
|
|
Director
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
G. Michael
Hobart
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert W. Babensee
|
|
Director
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
Robert
W. Babensee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ W. S. Vaughn
|
|
Director
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
W.
S. Vaughan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ David W. Peat
|
|
Director
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
David
W. Peat
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Marvin K. Kaiser
|
|
Director
|
|
March
16, 2009
|
Marvin
K. Kaiser
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Sample
Certificate of Common Shares of Apollo Gold Corporation, filed with the
SEC on June 23, 2003 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form
10
|
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Shareholder
Rights Plan Agreement, dated January 17, 2007, by and between Apollo Gold
Corporation and CIBC Mellon Trust Company filed with the SEC on January
19, 2007 as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form
8-K
|
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
Form
of Subscription Agreement for Flow-Through Shares by and among Apollo Gold
Corporation and certain investors, filed with the SEC on December 31, 2008
as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K.
|
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement for Flow-Through Shares by and among
Apollo Gold Corporation and certain investors, filed with the SEC on
December 31, 2008 as Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form
8-K.
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
Form
of Warrant Certificate issued by Apollo Gold Corporation to Haywood
Securities Inc., filed with the SEC on December 31, 2008 as Exhibit 10.1
to the Current Report on Form 8-K.
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|
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5.1
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Opinion
of Lackowicz, Shier & Hoffman *
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23.1
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Consent
of Lackowicz, Shier & Hoffman (included in
Exhibit 5.1)
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23.2
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|
Consent
of Deloitte & Touche LLP *
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23.3
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Consent
of SRK Consulting (US), Inc. filed with the SEC on March 25, 2008 as
Exhibit 23.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
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24.1
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Power
of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration
statement)
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