UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F/A
Amendment No. 3 to Form 20-F
[ ] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 (with information to March 30, 2007 except where noted)
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[ ] SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report _______________
Commission file number 0-19476
TASEKO MINES LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant specified in its charter)
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
(Jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
Suite 1020, 800 West Pender Street
Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada, V6C 2V6
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of Each Class | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Shares without Par Value | American Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. None
Number of outstanding shares of the only class of the capital
stock of Taseko Mines Limited as on
September 30, 2006.
128,388,175 Common Shares without Par Value
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well known
seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act.
Yes [ ] No [X]
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by
check mark if the Registrant is not required to
file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period
that Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or non-
accelerated filer. See
definition of "accelerated filer" and "large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b 2 of
the
Exchange Act.
[ ] Large Accelerated Filer [X] Accelerated Filer [ ] Non Accelerated Filer
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item Registrant
has elected to follow:
Item 17 [X] Item
18 [ ]
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the
Registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule 12b 2 of the Exchange
Act):
Yes [ ] No [X]
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS
DURING THE
PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant has filed all
documents and reports required to be filed by
Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of
securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
NOT APPLICABLE
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
Explanation of amendment on Taseko Mines Limited Annual Report on Form 20-F/A Amendment No.1 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006:
The original Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on EDGAR on April 17, 2007 did not contain the attachment for the consolidated balance sheets as at September 30, 2006 and 2005; consolidated statements of operations and deficit, and cash flows for each of the years ended September 30, 2006, 2005 and 2004, together with Report of Independent Public Accounting Firm thereon. This has been included in the Annual Report on Form 20-F/A Amendment No.1
Explanation of amendment on Taseko Mines Limited Annual Report on Form 20-F/A Amendment No.3 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006:
This Amendment No. 3 addresses certain comments raised by the Securities and Exchange Commission in their comment letter to the Company datedSeptember 20, 2007.
Currency and Exchange Rates
On March 30, 2007, the Federal Reserve noon rate for Canadian Dollars was US$1.00: Cdn$1.1529, based on the rates posted on the Bank of Canada website (www.bankofcanada.ca). See Item 3A for further historical Exchange Rate Information.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" and words of similar import, as well as all projections of future results. Such forward-looking statements involved known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Taseko to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of Taseko expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks are discussed in Item 3D "Risk Factors." The statements contained in Item 4B "Business Overview", Item 5 "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and Item 11 "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly.
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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S |
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GENERAL
In this Annual Report on Form 20-F, all references to "Taseko" and the "Company" refer to Taseko Mines Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The Company uses the Canadian dollar as its reporting currency. All references in this document to "dollars" or "$" are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. See also Item 3 - "Key Information" for more detailed currency and conversion information.
The Company's functional currency is the Canadian dollar. Although substantially all the Company's revenues are denominated in US dollars, the cash flows related to the Company's assets and liabilities are primarily in Canadian dollars. The Company's labour, material, and financing costs are primarily in Canadian dollars.
Except as noted, the information set forth in this Annual Report is as of March 30, 2007 and all information included in this document should only be considered correct as of such date.
References to this "Annual Report" mean references to this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2006.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements appear in a number of different places in this Annual Report and can be identified by words such as "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "expects", "intends", "believes", "plans", or their negatives or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The statements, including the statements contained in Item 3D "Risk Factors", Item 4B "Business Overview", Item 5 "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and Item 11 "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk", are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the outlook for the Company's future operations, plans and timing for its exploration programs, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, forecasts of future costs and expenditures, the outcome of legal proceedings, and other expectations, intentions and plans that are not historical facts. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees and may involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing the Company or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying the Company's predictions. Some of these risks and assumptions include:
general economic and business conditions, including changes in interest and exchange rates;
prices of natural resources, costs associated with mineral exploration and other economic conditions;
natural phenomena;
actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulation;
uncertainties associated with legal proceedings;
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changes in the resources market;
future decisions by management in response to changing conditions;
the Company's ability to execute prospective business plans; and misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements.
The Company advises you that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify in their entirety all forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf. You should carefully review the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in this and other documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
GLOSSARY
In this Form 20-F, the following technical terms, abbreviations and units of measurement have been used:
Bio-oxidation |
A process employing oxidation of elements caused by bio-organisms; it is enhanced in a gold recovery process by providing the optimum temperature, acidity (pH) and level of oxygen for the natural oxidation process to work more effectively. |
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Epithermal deposit |
A mineral deposit formed at low temperature (50-200 degrees Celsius), usually within one kilometre of the earths surface, often as structurally controlled veins. |
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Induced polarization ("IP") survey |
A geophysical survey used to identify a feature that appears to be different from the typical or background survey results when tested for levels of electro-conductivity; IP detects both chargeable, pyrite-bearing rock and non-conductive rock that has high content of quartz. IP is one of the best tools for detecting the presence of porphyry deposits, like those at Gibraltar and Prosperity properties. |
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Mineral reserve |
Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7 Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission defines a 'reserve' as that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves consist of: |
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(1) Proven (Measured) Reserves. Reserves for which: (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established. | |
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(2) Probable (Indicated) Reserves. Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation. |
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Mineral resource |
Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") defines a "Mineral Resource" as a concentration or occurrence of natural, solid, inorganic or fossilized organic material in or on the Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. Mineral Resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource. An Indicated Mineral Resource has a higher level of confidence than an Inferred Mineral Resource but has a lower level of confidence than a Measured Mineral Resource. |
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(1) Inferred Mineral Resource. An 'Inferred Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. | |
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(2) Indicated Mineral Resource. An 'Indicated Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. | |
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(3) Measured Mineral Resource. A 'Measured Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. | |
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Industry Guide 7 "Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations" of the Securities and Exchange Commission does not define or recognize resources. As used in this Form 20-F, "resources" are as defined in NI 43-101. | |
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Mineral symbols |
Au Gold; Cu Copper; Pb Lead; Ag Silver; Zn Zinc; Mo molybdenum. |
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Porphyry deposit |
A type of mineral deposit in which mainly metal-bearing sulphide, and sometimes metal-bearing oxide, minerals are widely disseminated. Porphyry deposits are generally of low grade but large tonnage. |
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Solvent extraction electrowinning ("SX-EW") |
A metal extraction technique in which a copper oxide is dissolved into solution, then an electric current is induced through the solution between a pair of electrodes (anode & cathode), and metal is deposited on the cathode. Since this ion deposition is selective, the cathode product is generally high grade and requires little further treatment before it is used in manufacturing processes. |
Conversion of metric units (used in Canada) into imperial (US) equivalents is as follows:
Metric Units | Multiply by | Imperial Units |
hectares | 2.471 | = acres |
metres | 3.281 | = feet |
kilometres | 0.621 | = miles (5,280 feet) |
grams | 0.032 | = ounces (troy) |
tons | 1.102 | = short tons (2,000 lbs) |
grams/ton | 0.029 | = troy ounces per short ton |
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ITEM 1 IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
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ITEM 2 OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
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ITEM 3 KEY INFORMATION
A. Selected Financial Data
The following constitutes selected financial data for Taseko for the last five fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 based on Tasekos financial statements presented in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("CDN GAAP") and reconciled to United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP").
The selected financial data at September 30, 2006 and 2005 and for the years ended September 30, 2006, 2005 and 2004 has been derived from Tasekos consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. Tasekos consolidated financial statements have been audited by KMPG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Summary financial data at September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and for the years ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 has been derived from our consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Annual Report. The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.
These figures are presented in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per-share amounts and number of common shares outstanding.
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CANADIAN GAAP | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||
(restated) | (restated) | (restated) | (restated) | ||||||||||||
BALANCE SHEET | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 297,461 | $ | 190,997 | $ | 130,866 | $ | 49,471 | $ | 47,873 | |||||
Total liabilities | 196,527 | 161,887 | 135,782 | 27,938 | 28,936 | ||||||||||
Share capital | 197,592 | 160,829 | 150,481 | 99,446 | 91,889 | ||||||||||
Tracking preferred shares | 26,642 | 26,642 | 26,642 | 26,642 | 26,642 | ||||||||||
Convertible debenture equity | 13,655 | 9,822 | 9,822 | 9,822 | 9,822 | ||||||||||
Contributed surplus | 3,647 | 5,335 | 4,948 | 65 | | ||||||||||
Deficit | (140,602 | ) | (173,519 | ) | (196,809 | ) | (114,442 | ) | (109,416 | ) | |||||
Shareholders equity (deficit) | 100,934 | 29,110 | (4,916 | ) | 21,533 | 18,937 | |||||||||
Working capital (deficit) | 101,586 | 6,175 | (22,116 | ) | (19 | ) | (6,559 | ) | |||||||
Plant and equipment (net) | 40,817 | 30,708 | 26,980 | 69 | 4 | ||||||||||
Mineral property interests | 2,628 | 3 | 3 | 28,813 | 28,813 | ||||||||||
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||
Revenue | 161,900 | 87,638 | | | | ||||||||||
Cost of sales | 103,628 | 71,347 | | | | ||||||||||
Depletion, depreciation and amortization | 3,412 | 2,657 | 17 | 43 | 2 | ||||||||||
Interest and other income | 7,170 | 10,548 | 5,154 | 721 | 552 | ||||||||||
Accretion of reclamation obligation | 1,732 | 1,574 | 1,431 | 1,300 | 1,183 | ||||||||||
Exploration | 3,544 | 506 | 4,598 | 2,025 | 1,955 | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange | (289 | ) | 34 | | | | |||||||||
Loss (gain) on sale of equipment | | 2,161 | | (132 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 5,286 | 2,412 | 2,693 | 1,058 | 1,972 | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 6,114 | 4,251 | 978 | 889 | 808 | ||||||||||
Premium paid for acquisition of Gibraltar | |||||||||||||||
Reclamation Trust Ltd. Partnership | | | 5,095 | | | ||||||||||
Refinery project | | | | 500 | 1,699 | ||||||||||
Restart project | | 6,347 | 14,982 | | | ||||||||||
Other | 3,500 | | | | | ||||||||||
Stock based compensation | 3,182 | 1,129 | 5,172 | 65 | | ||||||||||
Write downs of mineral property | |||||||||||||||
acquisition costs | | | 28,810 | | 600 | ||||||||||
Current income taxes expense (recovery) | 4,397 | (4,099 | ) | 23,744 | | | |||||||||
Future income taxes expense (recovery) | 1,648 | (13,423 | ) | | | | |||||||||
Income (loss) for the year | $ | 32,916 | $ | 23,290 | $ | (82,366 | ) | $ | (5,027 | ) | $ | (7,666 | ) | ||
Income (loss) per common share - basic | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.23 | $ | (1.10 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | ||
Income (loss) per common share - diluted | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.21 | $ | (1.10 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | ||
Weighted average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||
outstanding (thousands) - basic | 113,554 | 100,022 | 75,113 | 46,984 | 30,338 | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||
outstanding (thousands) - diluted | 126,462 | 110,733 | 75,113 | 46,984 | 30,338 |
Note 1. As discussed in Note 4 of the December 31, 2006 consolidated financial statements, prior years consolidated balance sheets have been amended to present the liability component and equity component separately on the balance sheet. The accretion charges that were previously recorded through deficit are now recorded as interest accretion on convertible debt in the consolidated statement of operations. For the year ended September 30, 2005 this amounted to $1,075,478 (2004 $977,705; 2003 - $889,000; 2002 - $808,000).
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US GAAP | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||
BALANCE SHEET | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 301,736 | $ | 1,958,986 | $ | 132,300 | $ | 33,108 | $ | 33,066 | |||||
Total liabilities | 204,249 | 167,057 | 138,141 | 35,556 | 37,048 | ||||||||||
Convertible debenture liability | 50,496 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | ||||||||||
Share capital | 197,013 | 160,251 | 149,903 | 98,868 | 91,889 | ||||||||||
Tracking preferred shares | 13,391 | 13,391 | 13,391 | 13,391 | 13,391 | ||||||||||
Contributed surplus | 4,303 | 5,990 | 5,603 | 720 | 655 | ||||||||||
Deficit | (117,220 | ) | (150,702 | ) | (174,737 | ) | (115,428 | ) | (109,917 | ) | |||||
Shareholders equity (deficit) | 97,487 | 28,929 | (5,841 | ) | (2,449 | ) | (3,982 | ) | |||||||
Working capital (deficit) | 101,279 | 6,175 | (22,116 | ) | (19 | ) | (6,559 | ) | |||||||
Plant and equipment (net) | 45,399 | 35,698 | 28,412 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
Mineral property interests | 2,628 | 3 | 3 | 12,515 | 14,006 | ||||||||||
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||
Revenue | 161,900 | 87,638 | | | | ||||||||||
Cost of sales | 103,627 | 71,348 | | | | ||||||||||
Amortization | 3,820 | 2,988 | 17 | 43 | 2 | ||||||||||
Interest and other income | 7,170 | 10,549 | 5,154 | 721 | 552 | ||||||||||
Accretion of reclamation obligation | 1,732 | 1,574 | 1,431 | 1,300 | 1,183 | ||||||||||
Exploration | 3,544 | 506 | 4,202 | 1,842 | 1,955 | ||||||||||
Loss (gain) on sale of equipment | | 2,161 | | (132 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 5,286 | 2,412 | 2,693 | 1,058 | 1,972 | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 4,834 | 3,175 | | | | ||||||||||
Premium paid for acquisition of Gibraltar | |||||||||||||||
Reclamation Trust Ltd. Partnership | | | 5,095 | | | ||||||||||
Refinery project | | | | 500 | 1,699 | ||||||||||
Restart project | | 6,347 | 14,982 | | | ||||||||||
Stock based compensation | 3,182 | 1,129 | 5,172 | 65 | 546 | ||||||||||
Write downs of mineral property | |||||||||||||||
acquisition costs | | | 11,963 | 1,117 | 1,756 | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange | (289 | ) | 34 | ||||||||||||
Change in fair value of financial instruments | 307 | | | | | ||||||||||
Current income taxes expense (recovery) | 4,397 | (4,099 | ) | 23,744 | | | |||||||||
Future income taxes expense (recovery) | 1,648 | (13,423 | ) | | | | |||||||||
Other | 3,500 | | | (11,651 | ) | | |||||||||
Income (loss) for the year | $ | 33,482 | $ | 24,035 | $ | (64,145 | ) | $ | 6,579 | $ | (8,560 | ) | |||
Income (loss) per common share - basic | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.24 | $ | (0.85 | ) | $ | 0.14 | $ | (0.28 | ) | |||
Income (loss) per common share - diluted | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.22 | $ | (0.85 | ) | $ | 0.14 | $ | (0.28 | ) | |||
Weighted average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||
outstanding (thousands) - basic | 113,554 | 100,022 | 75,113 | 46,984 | 30,338 | ||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||
outstanding (thousands) - diluted | 126,462 | 110,733 | 75,113 | 46,984 | 30,338 |
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Exchange Rates
On March 30, 2007, the Federal Reserve noon rate for Canadian Dollars was US$1.00: Cdn$1.1529. The following table sets out the exchange rates, based on the rates posted on the Bank of Canada website (www.bankofcanada.ca).
For year ended September 30 | |||||
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |
End of the period | 1.1177 | 1.1627 | 1.2616 | 1.3499 | 1.5872 |
Average for the period | 1.1428 | 1.2233 | 1.3250 | 1.4645 | 1.5730 |
High for the period | 1.1961 | 1.2725 | 1.3968 | 1.5942 | 1.6132 |
Low for the period | 1.0990 | 1.1611 | 1.2616 | 1.3342 | 1.5110 |
Monthly Low and High Exchange Rates
Month | Low | High |
March 2007 | 1.1529 | 1.1811 |
February 2007 | 1.1585 | 1.1853 |
January 2007 | 1.1649 | 1.1824 |
December 2006 | 1.1417 | 1.1653 |
November 2006 | 1.1277 | 1.1474 |
October 2006 | 1.1153 | 1.1385 |
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D. Risk Factors
An investment in Tasekos common shares is highly speculative and subject to a number of risks. Only those persons who can bear the risk of the entire loss of their investment should participate. An investor should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information that Taseko files with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with Canadian securities regulators before investing in its common shares. The risks described below are not the only ones faced. Additional risks that Taseko is unaware of or that Taseko currently believes are immaterial may become important factors that affect Tasekos business and financial condition. If any of the following risks occur, or if others occur, Tasekos business, operating results and financial condition could be seriously harmed.
The principal risks affecting Taseko and the value of Tasekos common shares are:
Metals Prices Tasekos Gibraltar mine is a swing producer meaning it is a mine which is economic to operate only when copper prices are relatively high. This is because by world standards, Gibraltar mines low grade ore and hence operations become uneconomic when copper prices decline. Mineralization
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referred to herein as reserves at Gibraltar may lose that status if copper prices return to near historical lows (sub US$1.25/lb copper). Low metals prices will also adversely impact the likelihood that Prosperity or Harmony will achieve commercial mine development.
Limited Reserves The Company's ability to sustain or increase its current levels of copper and molybdenum production is dependent upon the successful identification of additional reserves at the Gibraltar mine. If the Company is unable to develop new ore bodies, it will not be able to sustain present production levels beyond the current planned life of the Gibraltar mine. Reduced production could have a material adverse impact on future years cash flows, results of operations and financial condition of the Company.
Tasekos Prosperity and Harmony Properties Contain No Known Reserves of Ore Although there are known bodies of mineralization on the Prosperity and Harmony Properties, there are currently no known reserves or body of commercially viable ore. Additional work is required before Taseko can ascertain if any mineralization may be economic. Exploration for minerals is a speculative venture necessarily involving substantial risk. If the expenditures Taseko makes on these properties do not result in discoveries of commercial quantities of ore, the value of exploration and acquisition expenditures will be totally lost and the value of Taseko stock may be negatively impacted.
Exchange Rate Risk The Company is subject to currency exchange rate risk. The prices of copper and molybdenum oxide are denominated in United States dollars and, accordingly, the Companys revenues will be received in United States dollars. The Companys expenses are almost entirely paid for in Canadian dollars, which has recently shown strength against the United States dollar. The further strengthening in the Canadian dollar, if it continues, will negatively impact the profitability of the Companys mining operations.
Uncertain Project Realization Values Taseko capitalizes acquisition costs incurred in connection with its projects. Due to the extended depressed price conditions in the metals markets at the time, and in accordance with the its accounting policy, the Company wrote down the acquisition costs of each of the Prosperity and Gibraltar projects to $1,000 during fiscal 2001. As a result of inactivity, the Company wrote down the Harmony Project to $1,000 in fiscal 2004.
General Mining Risks Mining is an inherently risky business with large capital expenditures and cyclical metals markets. Factors beyond the control of Taseko will affect the marketability of any substances discovered and mined. The mining industry in general is intensely competitive and there is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of ore are discovered at Prosperity and Harmony, a profitable market will exist for the sale of minerals produced by Taseko. Factors beyond the control of Taseko may affect the marketability of any substances discovered. Metal prices, in particular copper, molybdenum and gold prices, have fluctuated widely in recent years. Prices are determined in international markets over which the Company has no influence.
The operations of Taseko may require licenses and permits from various governmental authorities. There can be no assurances that Taseko will be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required to carry out exploration, development and operations at its projects.
Environmental concerns about mining in general are also a factor that may affect Taseko.
Taseko also competes with many companies possessing far greater financial resources and technical facilities than itself for the acquisition of mineral concessions, claims, leases and other mineral interests, as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees.
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Additional mining risks include the following: reserves may not be as estimated, adverse ground conditions, adverse weather conditions, potential labor problems, and availability and cost of equipment and supplies.
Tasekos Share Price is Volatile The market price of a publicly traded stock, especially a resource issuer like Taseko, is affected by many variables not directly related to the exploration results of Taseko, including the market for resource stocks, the strength of the economy generally, the availability and attractiveness of alternative investments, and the breadth of the public market for the stock. The effect of these and other factors on the market price of the common shares on the TSX and the American Stock Exchange suggests Tasekos shares will continue to be volatile. Taseko shares have ranged between approximately $0.36 and $20.00 in the last 15 years.
Environmental Considerations The $38.6 million (in 2006 dollars) in existing reclamation liability related to the Gibraltar mine, and potential acid rock drainage issues at the Harmony and Prosperity projects, if developed, are the main environmental concerns relating to Taseko. Mining always entails risk of spills, pollution, reclamation, and other liabilities and obligations respecting which Taseko, like other mining companies, may be adversely affected. If these challenges are not properly assessed or if rules change that increase responsibility for such matters, Taseko could be materially adversely affected.
Labour Negotiations A significant portion of the Company's employees are unionized. In the event that, from time to time, labour agreements are not concluded with these employees, labour actions could occur, including strikes and/or lockouts. Consequently this could cause disruptions in operations.
Significant Potential Equity Dilution At March 30, 2007, Taseko had 128,658,125 common shares and 6,111,884 share purchase options outstanding. The resale of outstanding shares from the exercise of dilutive securities could have a depressing effect on the market for Tasekos shares. At March 30, 2007, dilutive securities represented approximately 9.5% of Tasekos currently issued shares. Certain of these dilutive securities are exercisable at prices below current market price and, accordingly, will result in dilution to existing shareholders if exercised.
Further, there is a risk of dilution to existing shareholders as a result of the potential conversion of (a) the Boliden convertible debentures (currently 3,476,483 potential shares), (b) the Gibraltar tracking preferred shares, and (c) the convertible bonds held by qualified institutional buyers (currently 8,955,244 potential shares).
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ITEM 4 INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
Incorporation
Taseko Mines Limited was incorporated on April 15, 1966, pursuant to the Company Act of the Province of British Columbia (superseded in 2004 by the British Columbia Corporations Act).
Offices
The head office of Taseko is located at Suite 1020, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2V6. The telephone number for Tasekos head office is (604) 684-6365 and its facsimile number is (604) 684-9203. Taseko also has field offices in Williams Lake, BC and at its Gibraltar mine site in McLeese Lake near Williams Lake, BC.
Corporate Organization
Taseko is based in Vancouver, British Columbia and its mining operations and two principal exploration stage properties are all located in British Columbia.
Taseko has one active wholly controlled subsidiary, Gibraltar Mines Ltd. (Gibraltar), and three non-material, inactive subsidiaries, Cuisson Lake Mines Ltd. (which is 70% owned), 688888 BC Ltd. (which is wholly owned) and Taseko Acquisitionsub Ltd. (which is wholly owned). Taseko owns 100% of the common shares of Gibraltar but none of Gibraltars issued preferred shares.
Taseko itself owns the Prosperity Project, and Gibraltar owns the Gibraltar Mine and the Harmony Gold Project. Both companies are British Columbia companies and all operations are in British Columbia.
Development
The principal business events in Tasekos 40-year history are (most important matters first):
(i) |
the acquisition of the mothballed Gibraltar copper mine (July 1999) and its restart in October 2004; |
(ii) |
the acquisition of the Prosperity project and exploration and pre-feasibility engineering thereof (principally 1991 to date). Exploration expenses to the extent of some $44.7 million have been incurred in 155,000 metres of drilling which has demonstrated continuity of a deposit with estimated measured and indicated resources of 1.0 billion tonnes grading 0.41 grams gold per tonne and 0.24 percent copper; and |
(iii) |
the acquisition of the Harmony Project in 2002. |
Capital Expenditures and Divestitures
For a discussion of Tasekos capital expenditures see Item 5B. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Liquidity and Capital Resources and Item 4(d) Property, Plant and Equipment.
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B. Business Overview
Tasekos Business Strategy and Principal Activities
Tasekos business is focused on enhancing production of copper and molybdenum from its Gibraltar mine and on acquiring and advancing development of large tonnage mineral deposits which, under metals price assumptions that fall within historical averages, are potentially capable of supporting a mine for 10 years and longer. Taseko endeavours to apply advanced mining and recovery techniques to these projects. Tasekos operating Gibraltar mine as well as its undeveloped copper/gold projects, known as Prosperity and Harmony, each host such larger tonnage mineral deposits. The Gibraltar mine is a copper and molybdenum mine that restarted operations in October 2004 after being on standby for several years. The Prosperity and Harmony projects are advanced stage exploration projects although mineralization at Prosperity and Harmony has not at this time been determined to constitute a proven or probable reserve of ore.
After focusing on recommence of production at Gibraltar over fiscal 2005, fiscal 2006 saw the Company re-initiate environmental and economic assessments of the Prosperity project. Assessments and related work will continue because prevailing copper and gold prices suggest new opportunities for the Prosperity project. Taseko believes much of the investment value in its common shares is derived from the potential economic value that can be derived from the large amount of contained metals on its projects. Taseko management believes that there will continue to be relatively strong demand for copper, molybdenum and gold for the near future in any event and longer term there will be a continuing need to replace depleted reserves, ultimately causing value of the resources on Tasekos projects to appreciate. Tasekos management believes that metal prices are presently sufficient to warrant detailed reassessment of the development potential of Prosperity currently, and at the Harmony project at some future time.
Taseko and its subsidiaries own their mining projects outright. Mining operations are subject to extensive government regulations which affect the right to exploit ownership. In fiscal 2004, the Gibraltar mine obtained government permitting and re-started the mine in early October 2004; commercial production started on January 1, 2005. The Prosperity project is well advanced in the requisite preparatory engineering and analysis in order to initiate mine development permitting applications to the relevant government authorities. The capital costs of placing the Prosperity project into production are dependent on a final mining throughput decision which has not been determined. The Harmony project has not been significantly moved towards mine development permitting since a period of active exploration during the late 1990s further described herein.
The provincial government of British Columbia (the Province) and the federal government of Canada both have jurisdiction over a wide variety of activities and persons affected by mining including local communities, habitat users and others claiming to hold a stake in the outcome of mining activity. The Companys management believes there is an improving level of public acceptance in British Columbia that responsible mining projects can make a positive contribution to the Province and the local communities where these projects are located. This has enabled the Company to have a positive dialogue with local communities and government agencies about moving Prosperitys mine evaluation process forward.
The Gibraltar Mine
Tasekos subsidiary, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., owns the Gibraltar open pit mine in south central British Columbia near the City of Williams Lake. During fiscal 2006, the mine was operated by Gibraltars partner, Ledcor CMI Ltd. (Ledcor). Gibraltar had an 85% interest in any residual profits of the operations (i.e. profits after payment of usage fees to the participants for contributed assets and services)
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and Ledcor had a 15% interest in any residual profits. Subsequent to fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the operating agreement established with Ledcor was terminated upon Tasekos notice of voluntary withdrawal. Commencing November 2006, the Company assumed responsibility for all operational matters, including the recruitment of personnel and maintenance of the equipment and facilities, in connection with the Gibraltar Mine.
The Gibraltar Mine is an open pit copper mine operation that utilizes drilling, blasting, cable shovel loading, and truck hauling to excavate the ore. A mill operation then crushes, grinds and processes mineralized material through froth flotation to create a concentrate. The concentrates contain approximately 30% copper and just under 1% of molybdenum respectively. The Gibraltar Mine began restart in 2004 and was brought back into production in 2005 after significant investments in mining equipment.
The Gibraltar Mine currently operates under a 21 year mine plan and produces and sells copper and molybdenum concentrates. During the year ended September 30, 2006, Gibraltar mined 38.4 million tons of ore and waste material (at a 2.4:1 stripping ratio), and milled approximately 10.9 million tonnes at a grade of 0.285% copper and 0.009% molybdenum. With copper recoveries of 79% and molybdenum recovery of 41%, the Gibraltar Mine produced 49.1 million pounds of copper in concentrate and 821 thousand pounds of molybdenum in concentrate, generating revenues of $140.3 million from copper concentrate sales and $21.6 million from molybdenum (at average sales prices of US$2.44 for copper and US$23.28 for molybdenum) in fiscal 2006. Cash operating costs were in the range of US$1.50 per pound of copper.
Undeveloped Gold/Copper Projects Prosperity and Harmony Projects
Taseko owns 100% of two undeveloped projects in British Columbia. The Prosperity Project, located in south central British Columbia, hosts a large copper-gold porphyry deposit. Taseko expended approximately $41.5 million from 1991 to 2000 on the Prosperity Project, excluding $28.7 million in acquisition costs, but wrote-down the value of this project to $1,000 during the subsequent periods of low metal prices.
In November 2005, Taseko re-initiated feasibility work on the Prosperity Project, and re-entered the environmental assessment process. In January 2007, the Company announced the positive results of a pre-feasibility level study for the project.
An updated feasibility study for the Prosperity Project, being performed by Hatch Consultants, is progressing and is now scheduled for completion at the end of September 2007.
Environmental assessment activities are also underway. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has recommended to the Federal Minister of Environment that the Project be referred to a Joint Panel Review. Taseko is actively engaged with federal and provincial regulatory agencies in the review of the Project.
The Harmony Property, located in the Queen Charlotte Islands (also known as Haida-Gwaii), hosts a large gold deposit. Gibraltar recorded acquisition costs in connection with the Harmony Property in the $29 million range but also wrote the property down to the nominal value of $1,000 in 2004.
In fiscal 2006, the Company was focused on the Gibraltar mine and the Prosperity project; therefore only maintenance activities were performed on the Harmony project. These activities will continue and assessments will be undertaken as new opportunities arise for the Harmony project. The Company anticipates continuing to focus its resources and its efforts on the Gibraltar mine and the Prosperity project in 2007.
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C. Organizational Structure
Taseko operates directly and also through one principal subsidiary, Gibraltar Mines Ltd. ("Gibraltar). Taseko itself owns the Prosperity Project, and Gibraltar owns the Gibraltar Mine and the Harmony Gold Project. All of the companies are British Columbia companies and all operations are in British Columbia. Tasekos corporate organization is summarized in the diagram below:
D. Property, Plant and Equipment
The Gibraltar Mine was acquired from Boliden Westmin (Canada) Limited in July 1999, approximately one year after commercial mining operations were suspended due to then-prevailing low copper prices. The Gibraltar Mine was acquired with mill and mining equipment and supplies valued at approximately $19 million.
During fiscal 2006, the Company exercised its right to acquire certain of Gibraltars mine haul trucks and a mining shovel previously held under capital leases, from a former partner, for approximately US$12.5 million.
The Company also completed the rehabilitation of Gibraltars SX/EW plant. Copper production from the SX/EW plant is expected to be 3.6 million pounds in 2007 with approximately 7 million pounds annually thereafter.
In the third quarter of 2006, the Company also initiated the expansion and upgrade to the concentrator facility at the Gibraltar mine. The expansion project is anticipated to be completed by 2008.
Neither the Prosperity Project nor the Harmony Gold Project have any mining plant or equipment located thereon, although both projects have field accommodation and miscellaneous exploration equipment, which is of little realizable value, on site.
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Location of Operations and Properties
The Gibraltar Mine
1999 Acquisition Terms
On July 21, 1999, Tasekos subsidiary, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., purchased the Gibraltar mine from Boliden Westmin (Canada) Limited (Boliden) and certain of its affiliates, including all mineral interests, mining and processing equipment and facilities, and assumed responsibility for ongoing reclamation. Pursuant to the terms of the acquisition, Gibraltar acquired mining equipment, parts and supplies inventories valued at $19 million, an existing British Columbia Government environmental deposit of $8 million, and mineral interests valued at $3.3 million, and received $20.1 million in cash over 18 months from closing, of which $17 million was received pursuant to a 10-year non-interest bearing convertible debenture issued to Boliden. Gibraltar assumed the estimated reclamation liability pertaining to the Gibraltar mine of $32.7 million and Taseko guaranteed Gibraltars obligations to Boliden. The principal sum advanced
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under the debenture is convertible into Taseko common shares in the first year at $3.14 per Taseko share. The conversion price escalates $0.25 per Taseko share each year over the 10-year term of the debenture on each July 19th anniversary of closing. The conversion price at September 30, 2006 was $4.89 per Taseko share. The debenture is due on July 19, 2009. After five years, the debenture can be converted at Tasekos option at then-prevailing market prices for Taseko shares or paid out in cash at Tasekos election. Taseko retains certain rights of first refusal respecting any proposed sale of shares acquired by Boliden under the debenture. Taseko has initiated a lawsuit against the current owner of the Boliden debenture claiming a right of offset in the amount of approximately $3.5 million in connection with an alleged misrepresentation under the terms of the 1999 acquisition agreements.
Termination of 2004 Gibraltar-Ledcor Agreement
During the fiscal year, the Gibraltar Mine was operated under a Gibraltar Ledcor Agreement (Ledcor Agreement) with Ledcor CMI Ltd. (Ledcor). Under the terms of the Ledcor Agreement, Ledcor would be the operator of the Gibraltar Mine for a term of 40 months effective October 1, 2004. The Ledcor Agreement was managed by a Management Committee consisting of five members, to direct and control overall policies, objectives, procedures, methods and actions at the mine. The Management Committee consisted of two members appointed by Gibraltar and two members appointed by Ledcor, together with an independent Chairperson.
Gibraltar had an 85% interest in any residual profits of the operations (i.e. profits after payment of usage fees to the participants for contributed assets and services) and Ledcor had a 15% interest in any residual profits. The Ledcor Agreement would have terminated on expiry of the 40 month term, unless terminated earlier by written agreement of the parties. In July 2006, Taseko provided a notice of voluntary withdrawal from the Ledcor Agreement. Under this notice and effective on November 2006, Taseko assumed responsibility for all matters in connection with the Gibraltar Mine and paid to Ledcor a termination fee of $3.5 million which was expensed in the year.
Location, Access and Infrastructure
The Gibraltar mine area consists of 222 mineral claims, 30 mining leases, and some ancillary fee simple real estate held by Gibraltar. The mine site covers approximately 109 square km, located at latitude 52°30N and longitude 122°16W in the Granite Mountain area, approximately 65 km north of the City of Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Access to the Gibraltar mine from Williams Lake is via Highway 97 to McLeese Lake. From McLeese Lake, a paved road provides access to the Gibraltar mine site. The total road distance from the City of Williams Lake to the Gibraltar mine is 65 km and motor vehicle travel time is approximately 45 minutes.
The Canadian National Railway has rail service to facilitate the shipping of copper concentrates through to the Pacific Ocean port of North Vancouver. A rail siding and storage shed for the shipment of concentrate is located 26 km from the mine site. Electricity is obtained from the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro). Natural gas is provided by Avista Energy and Terasen Gas (formerly BC Gas). The communities of Williams Lake and Quesnel are sufficiently close to the site to supply goods, services, and personnel to the Gibraltar mine.
The Gibraltar mine mineral claims cover an area of gentle topography; local relief is in the order of 200 m. The plant site is located at an elevation of approximately 1,100 m above sea level. The project area has a moderate continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Ambient air temperature ranges from a winter minimum of -34° C to a summer maximum of 35°C. Average annual precipitation at the site averages 51 cm, of which about 17 cm falls as snow. Maximum snow depth is about 1 m, most of which falls in late February.
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History
The earliest record of work at the Gibraltar mine is found in the 1917 British Columbia Minister of Mines Annual Report, which describes the activities of Joseph Briand and partners exploring copper-bearing quartz veins just west of the current Pollyanna pit.
The early 1960s marked the entry of the major mining companies into the Granite Mountain area and the subsequent introduction of modern exploration techniques, which ultimately led to the discovery of the mineral deposits. In this environment, the most effective exploration tools were soon found to be Induced Polarization (IP) geophysics and diamond drilling.
Mine production began in March 1972 and the mine operated more or less continuously from 1972 to 1998. Production to the end of 1998 totalled 1.86 billion lb of copper and 19.7 million lb of molybdenum from 336 million tons milled. Reconciliation studies on a number of open pit stages demonstrated good correlation between reserve estimates and actual production. The Gibraltar mine also produced cathode copper by leaching both low grade dump material and leachable oxide material from the pits using sulphuric acid and natural bacteria, and processing by solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX/EW). Approximately 84.7 million lb of copper were recovered from 1986 to 1998.
From 1999 to 2004, Taseko geologists and engineers explored for additional mineralized material and to better define known resources. The on-site staff also completed on-going reclamation work and maintained the Gibraltar mine for re-start. Operating and environmental permits were kept in good standing. In August 2000, a property-scale IP survey was initiated. Interpretation of the results was completed in the spring of 2001, identifying deposit-scale anomalies. Some of these anomalies were followed up by drilling in 2003. Significant copper mineralization was encountered in the 98 Oxide Zone, indicating potential for a mineral resource in this area.
At October 1, 2004 when the mine re-opened, there were approximately 837 million tons of measured and indicated resources outlined at Gibraltar, including proven and probable sulphide reserves of 163.5 million tons grading 0.313% copper and 0.010% molybdenum at a 0.20% copper only cut-off and 16.5 million tons of oxide proven and probable reserves grading 0.148% Cu at a 0.10% acid soluble copper cut-off. Long term metals prices used in the 2004 reserve estimates were US$1.10 per pound for copper and US$5.00 per pound for molybdenum. Silver content, while it is calculated for revenue, was not a determining factor in estimating reserves. The Gibraltar re-start decision was based on the initial four years of the 12-year mine plan. Open pit pre-development work began in the Pollyanna pit area in June 2004 and exposed ore grade material allowing for continuous mill feed for 3.3 years.
A core drilling program, encompassing 40 holes (23,000 ft) for pit definition for the Granite Lake and PGE Connector deposits and property exploration at the 98 Oxide Zone, was carried out in September and October 2005. Ten holes of exploratory drilling did not expand the resources at the 98 Oxide Zone. However, drilling at the Granite Lake and PGE Connector Zones and a detailed review of the geological model, confirmation of pit wall locations established in previous mine optimization studies, and an analysis of price and mining cost projections allowed for expansion of the previously defined pits. Using long term metal prices of US$1.10/lb for copper and US$6.00/lb for molybdenum for the estimates, the overall mineral reserves, as of October 1, 2005, increased to 194 million tons grading 0.31% copper and 0.010% molybdenum. Additional measured and indicated resources were 610 million tons grading 0.28% copper and 0.008% molybdenum. Both estimates were done at a 0.20% copper cut-off.
Property Geology
The Gibraltar mine generally consists of seven separate mineralized zones. Six of these Pollyanna, Granite Lake, Connector, Gibraltar East, Gibraltar West and Gibraltar West Extension occur within the Granite Mountain batholith in a broad zone of shearing and alteration. A seventh copper mineralized
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body, the Sawmill zone, lies about six km to the south, along the southern edge of the batholith, within a complex contact zone between the batholith and Cache Creek Group rocks.
Two major structural orientations have been recognized at Gibraltar: the Sunset and Granite Creek mineralized systems. The Sunset system has a northwest strike with one set of structures dipping 35° to 45° to the south and a conjugate set, known as the Reverse Sunset, dipping 50° to 60° to the north. The Granite Creek system strikes east-west and dips 20° to 40° to the south with a subordinate set of structures dipping steeply in a northerly direction. Structures of the Sunset system that host mineralization are mainly shear zones, with minor development of stockwork and associated foliation lamellae. Host structures of the Granite Creek system are predominantly oriented stockwork zones.
The Granite Creek system provides the major structures that control mineralization of Pollyanna, Granite Lake and the Sawmill zones. These bodies have the characteristic large diffuse nature of porphyry copper type mineralization. The Gibraltar East deposit is essentially a system of interconnected Sunset zones, which create a large body of uniform grade. Gibraltar West and Gibraltar West Extension deposits are contained within a large complex shear zone.
Mineralization
Pyrite and chalcopyrite are the principal primary iron and copper sulphide minerals. Sixty percent of the copper occurs in fine-grained chalcopyrite. Coarser grained chalcopyrite also occurs, usually in quartz veins and shear zones. Small concentrations of bornite (a sulphide mineral of copper and iron), associated with magnetite and chalcopyrite, is present on the extremities of the Pollyanna and Sawmill deposits. Oxide copper mineralization is also present between the Gibraltar East and Pollyanna open pits in the Connector Zone. Molybdenite (molybdenum sulphide mineral) is a minor but economically important associate of chalcopyrite in the Pollyanna, Granite Lake and Sawmill deposits.
Sampling and Analytical Procedures
NQ sized core was drilled in 2006. All drill core was photographed, then logged and sampled by technical staff under the supervision of a qualified person. All exploration core was split into two pieces using a mechanical core splitter, with half of the core sent for analyses and the other half retained for audit purposes. All production core was whole core sampled for analyses. Average sample length is 3 m (10 ft).
Samples from the Gibraltar exploration project are stored at a secure facility at the Gibraltar Mine prior to being shipped to Vancouver laboratories for preparation and analysis. Assayers Canada prepared and analyzed 80% of the samples and ALS Chemex prepared and analyzed 20% of the samples. Sample preparation consisted of weighing, drying and crushing the entire sample to >70% passing -2 mm and then pulverizing a 250 g split to >85% passing 75 micron mesh. Total copper and molybdenum determinations are by reagent digestion followed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish. Laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QAQC) is monitored using assay standards and blanks submitted by Taseko, and duplicate samples submitted to Acme Analytical Laboratories in Vancouver.
QA/QC Procedures
The following Quality Assurance/Quality Control Protocols were implemented for the 2005 and 2006 drilling programs to ensure that accurate, precise and reproducible analytical results are obtained.
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Security of Samples
At Gibraltar, a library of representative samples of the different rock types and mineralization is retained in a secured on-site core facility.
The Gibraltar mine site has restricted access. All core from the 2005 and 2006 program was drilled, transported, logged, and crushed on-site. For exploration samples (for 2005 this refers to the 98 Oxide drilling), the remaining half-core, pulps and rejects from half-core samples are retained in a secured on-site facility. For production core samples, the pulps and rejects are retained in a secured on-site facility.
Exploration in 2006
A 61,500 ft drilling program was carried out in 2006. The program was designed to define the mineral resources between the existing pits by tying together the extensive mineralization zones, and to test for additional mineralization at depth. The work successfully met these objectives and resulted in a reserve increase of 74 million tons (see Estimates of Mineralization below).
Development Projects in 2006
Solvent Extraction -Electrowinning (SX-EW) Plant Restart
Oxidized material, requiring treatment by the SX-EW plant, had been stockpiled since the restart of mining operations at Gibraltar in 2004.
Refurbishing activities began in April 2006, with commissioning in late December. The first 99.9% pure copper cathode was produced from the rehabilitated plant on January 26, 2007. The SX-EW plant is expected to add approximately 3.5 million pounds to copper production in 2007 and 7 million pounds, annually, in the future.
Mining Operations in 2006
The Gibraltar mine is a typical open pit operation that utilizes drilling, blasting, cable shovel loading and large-scale truck hauling to excavate rock. The mine is planned to enable excavation of sulphide mineralized material of sufficient grade that it can be economically mined, crushed, ground and processed to a saleable product by froth flotation. Tailings are pumped to a storage facility.
Rock containing lower grade sulphide mineralization or oxide mineralization is also mined but is not immediately processed. The lower grade sulphide material is stockpiled for later treatment in the mill. In addition, a portion of the low grade sulphide and all of the oxide material can be leached with sulphuric acid, which is naturally assisted by bacterial action, and the resultant copper sulphate solution can be
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processed to cathode copper in the Gibraltar mines SX/EW plant. The oxide material was stockpiled during the year.
The following table is a summary of the Gibraltar Mine operating statistics for the 2006 fiscal year compared to the previous year.
Fiscal 2006 | Fiscal 2005 | |
Total tons mined (millions)1 | 38.4 | 40.0 |
Tons of ore milled (millions) | 10.9 | 11.5 |
Stripping ratio | 2.44 | 2.31 |
Copper grade (%) | 0.285 | 0.314 |
Molybdenum grade (%Mo) | 0.009 | 0.010 |
Copper recovery (%) | 79.1 | 76.2 |
Molybdenum recovery (%) | 41.2 | 23.1 |
Copper production (millions lb) | 49.1 | 54.8 |
Molybdenum production (thousands lb) | 821 | 427 |
Copper production costs, net of by product credits2 , per lb of copper | US$1.25 | US$0.87 |
Off property costs for transport, treatment (smelting & refining) & sales per lb of copper | US$0.25 | US$0.28 |
Total cash costs of production per lb of copper | US$1.50 | US$1.15 |
1 Total tons mined includes sulphide ore, oxide ore,
low grade stockpile material, overburden, and waste rock which were moved from
within pit limit to outside pit limit during the period.
2 The
by-product credit is based on pounds of molybdenum and ounces of silver sold.
Unit costs were lower in fiscal 2005 because molybdenum prices and pounds of
copper produced were higher.
Year-end Reconciliation of Reserves
The reserves at fiscal 2006 year end were estimated by Gibraltar management. All mining in fiscal 2006 took place in the Pollyanna stage 4 pit. Approximately 11 million tons were mined.
Estimates of Mineralization
Drilling in 2006 resulted in a 40% increase in proven and probable sulphide mineral reserves, as tabulated below. The estimates used long term metal prices of US$1.50/lb for copper and US$8.00/lb for molybdenum and a foreign exchange of C$0.88 per US dollar.
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Sulphide Mineral Reserves at October 1, 2006 at 0.20% Copper cut-off |
||||
Pit |
Category |
Tons (millions) |
Cu (%) |
Mo (%) |
Pollyanna |
Proven Probable |
17.2 1.4 |
0.335 0.276 |
0.011 0.009 |
Subtotal | 18.6 | 0.331 | 0.011 | |
PGE Connector |
Proven Probable |
43.0 13.3 |
0.297 0.278 |
0.010 0.014 |
Subtotal | 56.3 | 0.293 | 0.011 | |
Granite Lake Granite Lake Additional |
Proven Probable Proven Probable |
97.0 10.5 60.6 13.4 |
0.318 0.317 0.334 0.326 |
0.009 0.006 0.011 0.011 |
Subtotal | 181.5 | 0.324 | 0.010 | |
Total | 256.4 | 0.318 | 0.010 |
It is the opinion of the Companys experts that the above reserves are reported in accordance with both 43-101 and SEC Guide 7. The reserves occur on the perimeter of existing open pits and have been integrated into the existing mine plan for the operation. Long term metal prices have been utilized for the estimates and permits are in place that would allow mining to proceed. The estimates used a 0.20% copper cut-off grade for the sulphide reserves. Sulphide copper recoveries for the course of the mine plan are based on the historic metallurgical performance of the concentrator on each mineral system to be treated. The average life of mine recovery for copper is 87.3% and for molybdenum is 40.6% .
The operating costs and cash flow are calculated on a constant Q4 2006 Canadian dollar basis. Major input parameters for the model are summarized as follows:
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Metal Prices and Foreign Exchange: | ||
Copper: | 2007: | US$2.66/lb |
2008: | US$2.31/lb | |
2009: | US$2.03/lb | |
2010 and after: | US$1.50/lb | |
Molybdenum: | 2007: | US$22.00/lb |
2008: | US$17.00/lb | |
2009: | US$15.00/lb | |
2010 and after: | US$8.00/lb | |
Silver: | 2007: | US$10.00/toz |
2008: | US$9.00/toz | |
2009: | US$8.00/oz | |
2010: | US$7.00/oz | |
2011: | US$6.50/oz | |
US$/CAN$ Exchange Rate: | 2007-2022: | 0.88 |
Labour: | ||
Staff: | Constant: | current 2007 staff salaries |
Hourly: | Constant: | current 2007 contract rates |
Major Consumable Costs: | ||
Fuel: | 2007: | 0.690 per liter |
2008: | 0.591 per liter | |
2009 and after: | 0.528 per liter | |
Explosives: | 2007: | at current supply price |
2008 and after: | adjusted for energy costs | |
Haulage Truck Tires: | Constant: | at current supply prices |
Natural Gas: | Constant: | 11.17 $/GJ |
Power: | Constant: | 0.0372 $/kWh |
Mill Reagents: | Constant: | at current supply prices |
Grinding Media: | 2007: | steel surcharge reduced by 50%, |
2008: | steel surcharge reduced by 75%, | |
2009 and after: | steel surcharge eliminated. | |
Concentrate transportation, | ||
treatment and refining: | 2007: | 2007 contract prices, |
2008 and after: | constant at January 2008 contract prices. |
The average life of mine unit operating costs are summarized below:
Mine cost/ton moved | $0.89 |
Mine cost/ton milled Mill cost/ton milled Administration cost/ton milled |
$2.85 $2.47 $0.56 |
Total Sulphide Operating cost/ton milled | $5.88 |
SX/EW cost/lb of cathode copper | $0.99 |
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Under present mine operating parameters of 36,000 tons milled per day, this addition to reserves extends the mine life to 21 years. Upon completion of the mill expansion in December 2007 to 46,000 tons per day, Gibraltar mine life would be approximately 15 years.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Resources |
The following section uses the terms measured resources and indicated resources. The Company advises investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. |
In addition to the above reserves, the mineral resources are estimated to be:
Gibraltar Mineral Resources at 0.16% to 0.20% Copper cut-off | |||
Category |
Tons (millions) |
Cu (%) |
Mo (%) |
Measured Indicated |
414 197 |
0.284 0.272 |
0.008 0.007 |
Total | 611 | 0.280 | 0.008 |
The resource and reserve estimation was completed by Gibraltar mine staff under the supervision of Ian S. Thompson, P. Eng., Superintendent of Engineering and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. A technical report containing additional resource and reserve particulars is filed on www.sedar.com.
There are also oxide reserves. These were not reviewed in the 2007 study, and at year end remained unchanged from previous estimates.
Oxide Reserves at October 1, 20061
at 0.10% Acid Soluble Copper cut-off |
|||
Pit |
Category |
Tons (000s) |
Acid Soluble Copper % |
Pollyanna PGE Connector |
Proven Probable Proven Probable |
2,200 160 13,600 440 |
0.137 0.185 0.150 0.130 |
TOTAL | 16,500 | 0.148 |
(1) |
2.2 million tons of the oxide material (from the Pollyanna deposit) has been mined and moved to stockpiles. |
Environmental
There have been no material environmental non-compliances incidents since the mine re-opened.
A comprehensive mine closure report containing an assessment of reclamation and long term environmental costs is produced approximately every 5 years. The most recent reclamation plan and closure report, dated February 26, 2003, was approved by the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) in 2004. This report states that the total closure costs, including covering rock piles with 1.0 m of till, would be $36.9 million. The Ministry of Mines agreed to consider Gibraltars request to reduce the thickness of the till cover to 0.5 m. If approved, this would reduce final closure costs to $32.9 million. The permit requires that the reclamation liability outlined in the final closure and reclamation report be covered by $18.5 million in a Reclamation Trust and a first charge on equipment owned by Gibraltar.
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During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company contributed $13 million into its reclamation trust fund, fully funding its reclamation liability for the Gibraltar mine. The first charge on equipment owned by Gibraltar was released.
In 2002, Gibraltar and the Cariboo Regional District completed studies and agreed to develop a landfill site on waste dumps in an area that would not be needed for future operation of the mine. The landfill provides reclamation credits to the land it occupies, as well as revenues. Operations began in October 2003 and have continued through fiscal 2006.
Labour
There were no lost time accidents during the fourth quarter or over the fiscal year. The number of personnel at the end of the year was 282, compared to 281 at the end of the previous quarter and 248 at the end of fiscal 2005.
Effective November 5, 2006, Taseko assumed responsibility for all matters in connection with the Gibraltar Mine
Plans for 2007
Exploration
A second phase of drilling was initiated in the fall of 2006, targeting areas below and between the Granite Lake and Pollyanna Pits, and designed to further expand the mineral reserves at Gibraltar.
Concentrator Expansion and Upgrade Project
Expansion and upgrade of the concentrator facility at the Gibraltar mine commenced in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The upgrade and expansion project will increase the copper production capacity of the Gibraltar mine to 100 million pounds of copper per year by 2008 by increasing throughput and improving metal recovery.
The expansion consists of the addition of a 34-foot semi-autogenous (SAG) mill, conversion of three rod mills to ball mills, and replacement of the 98 small-cell rougher flotation circuit with ten 160-cubic meter tank flotation cells. The major SAG mill components are being constructed in Europe and are on-schedule for delivery during the summer of 2007. By the end of January 2007, the construction of the foundations for the mill itself and the associated facility was 75% complete. One of the ten tank flotation cells is in place and operational, and installation of the next four tanks began in mid-February. The expansion is scheduled to be commissioned in December 2007.
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Prosperity Project
Location, Access, and Infrastructure
The Prosperity project consists of 118 mineral claims covering the mineral rights for approximately 85 square km of south-central British Columbia, Canada. The property is located at latitude 51° 28 N and longitude 123° 37 W in the Clinton Mining Division, approximately 125 km southwest of the City of Williams Lake.
Access from Williams Lake is via Highway #20 to Lees Corner, then via an all-weather main logging haulage road to the site, a total road distance of 192km. The Canadian National railway services Williams Lake and has rolling stock available to move copper concentrates by rail to points of sale in North America. The City of Williams Lake is sufficiently close and is capable of supplying goods, services, and personnel to a mine.
Multiple high-voltage transmission lines from the existing Peace River hydroelectric power grid are situated 118 km east of the Prosperity project, a natural gas transmission pipeline is situated 112 km northeast of the Prosperity project, and ample water is available nearby for a mining operation.
Exploration History
Prospectors discovered mineralization in the 1930s. Exploration continued intermittently and by a variety of operators until about 1991, and included extensive IP, magnetic and soil geochemistry surveys, and 176 percussion and diamond drill holes, totaling approximately 27,200 m. This work helped define the Prosperity project mineralization to a depth of 200 m, and outlined a copper-gold mineralized zone approximately 850 m in diameter.
Taseko carried out ongoing and systematic exploration programs from 1991 1999, increasing drilling to 154,630 m in 452 holes, and including progressive engineering, metallurgical and environmental studies.
Historical engineering work is outlined in previous Annual Information Forms filed by Taseko. This work included:
From 2000-2005 work on Prosperity was put on hold as the Company turned its attention to re-starting the Gibraltar mine.
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Geology and Mineralization
The Prosperity project hosts a large porphyry gold-copper deposit. The deposit is predominantly hosted in Cretaceous andesitic volcaniclastic and volcanic rocks. In the western portion of the deposit, the host rocks have been intruded by the multi-phase, steeply dipping Fish Creek Stock. The stock is surrounded by an east-west trending, south dipping swarm of subparallel quartz-feldspar porphyritic dykes. The stock and dykes comprise the Late Cretaceous Fish Lake Intrusive Complex that is spatially and genetically related to the deposit. Post mineralization porphyritic diorite occurs as narrow dykes that cross-cut all host rocks. The central portion of the deposit is cut by two major faults, striking north-south and dipping steeply to the west.
Pyrite and chalcopyrite are the principal sulphide minerals in the deposit. They are uniformly distributed in disseminations, fracture fillings, veins and veinlets and may be accompanied by bornite and lesser molybdenite and tetrahedrite-tenantite. Native gold occurs as inclusions in and along microfractures with copper-bearing minerals and pyrite.
Sampling and Analysis
Since the current Taseko management group took over the project in 1991, 127,000 metres of HQ and NQ core has been drilled in 275 bore holes, and a single 200-metre percussion hole. Core recovery averaged 95.7%. Drill company personnel boxed all core and delivered it to Taseko’s logging compound at the Prosperity site twice daily. Taseko geological and engineering staff based at the Prosperity site supervised drilling, logging and sampling. A total of 57,778 core samples were taken, each sample was generally two metres in length.
In 1991-1994, drill core was mechanically split, one half of which was submitted for preparation and analysis. In 1996-97, 42% was subject to whole core sampling, 44% was sampled as sawn half-core, 5% of samples comprised the larger portion of core sawn 80:20. The remaining 9% was cored overburden, which was not generally sampled. Half of the core remaining after splitting is stored in core racks at site.
Samples were bagged and shipped by commercial surface transport to Vancouver area laboratories, where they were prepared. Samples were dried at temperatures less than 65° C. In 1991-1993, primary comminution to approximately 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) size by a jaw crusher with secondary roll crushing to obtain minus 15 mesh. In 1994-1997, samples were crushed in a single stage so that greater than 60% passed a 10 mesh screen and 500 gram assay splits were riffled out for crushing. Coarse rejects were retained until year 2000 in a warehouse in Port Kells, British Columbia. Ring and puck pulverization was used. In 1991-1993, approximately 95% of the sample passed a 120 mesh screen. In 1994-1997, greater than 90% of the sample passed a 150 mesh screen. Pulp rejects are retained indefinitely at the Port Kells warehouse.
All assays and analyses were performed by Assayers Canada (formerly Min-En Laboratories). Gold analysis was done by lead collection fire assay, using a 30 gram charge and an Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) finish. Copper analysis was done by Aqua Regia digestion on a 2 gram sample, AAS finish. Mercury analysis was done by Cold Vapour AA. Multi-element analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-ES) was also done on all samples.
In order to assess quality control, duplicate and standard reference samples were submitted for assaying, representing more than 10% of the total assays. Random duplicates were derived from 5% of all rejects. Every twentieth sample was shipped to either Chemex Labs Ltd. (now ALS Chemex) or International Plasma Laboratories Ltd. for riffle splitting of the coarse reject, pulverization and analysis for gold and copper. In 1994-1997, project-based, bulk standard reference materials were created and submitted within the mainstream and duplicate analytical streams.
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Security of Samples
Drill core was stacked and stored on the property. Pulps and rejects from core samples were generally stored by the analytical facility for one year, then acquired by the Company and stored in a secured facility in Port Kells. All rejects have been discarded by the Company but all pulps acquired since 1991 remain in Port Kells.
Estimates of Mineralization
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Resources |
The following section uses the terms measured resources and indicated resources. The Company advises investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. |
The Mineral Resources, as outlined by drilling to date, are tabulated below:
Prosperity Mineral Resources at 0.14% Cu Cut-off |
|||
Category |
Tonnes (millions) |
Au (g/t) |
Cu (%) |
Measured | 547.1 | 0.46 | 0.27 |
Indicated | 463.4 | 0.34 | 0.21 |
Total | 1,010.5 | 0.41 | 0.24 |
The cut-off used for Prosperity resource
is based on the copper grade. However, the cut-off is lower than that
used for Gibraltar because of the significant gold content in the Prosperity
deposit. A 0.14% Cu cut-off at Prosperity, using a 1.71 Au/Cu ratio (which
is average for resource), recoveries applicable to 0.14%Cu and 0.24gptAu,
$500/oz Au, and $1.50/lb Cu would equate to a 0.23% CuEq. |
Current Engineering Details
In November 2005, work was re-initiated on the Prosperity Gold-Copper Project.
Since that time, Taseko technical staff and outside consultants have been reviewing previous feasibility studies and re-assessing the project economics based on new technologies, concepts, and innovative approaches to mine development. This has included re-examination of optimal mining rates and mining equipment size, analyzing the economics of constructing and operating a single line mill rather than multiple smaller lines, and realizing the potential improvements which could be realized with state-of-the-art metallurgical technologies such as large tank flotation circuits and expert computerized mill control systems. The Company has also reassessed major infrastructure plans such as the on-site facilities construction materials and techniques necessary to fully take advantage of further reduced capital and operating costs.
The Company retained the engineering firm SNC Lavalin to update the 2000 feasibility study, including a mill redesign and costing study. The initial focus of the overview study was to redesign the concentrator, in particular, utilizing a large diameter single SAG (semi-autogenous grinding) mill as opposed to multiple smaller SAG mills. In addition, identification and scoping of opportunities to further reduce capital and operating costs was completed.
Modifications incorporated during the review included:
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Reviews were carried out to identify options for the handling of potentially acid generating material (PAG) waste rock and tailings. The current strategy is to store PAG sub-aqueously in the tailings basin. The revised base case estimate assumes that the tailings containment dams will be constructed using cycloned coarse tailings.
The review of the impact of escalation on the major areas of the capital costs estimate from 2000 depended on the mix of labour, materials and equipment. Escalation values between 15% and 40% have been experienced in construction projects in northern British Columbia. However, for the purposes of this scoping study, a flat rate of 28% was used to reflect Statistics Canadas Construction Index Escalation between 2000 and 2006. New estimates were provided to a scoping study level of accuracy (+/- 35%) for portions of the project where changes were made (primarily in the process plant area), or where specific updated costs were provided (such as updated electrical power costs). Fourth quarter 2006 capital cost estimates were used for major mining equipment and escalated 2000 Feasibility Study costs were used in the remaining areas.
All operating costs were reviewed, updated, and compared to present and historical Gibraltar Mine costs for reasonableness. Further study and updating of optimum mine plan input parameters to a pre-feasibility level is nearing completion and a decision on whether to convert resources to reserves based on this work will be made in the near future.
Pre-feasibility Study
Results of a pre-feasibility level study were announced in early January 2007. The study was done using long term metal prices of US$1.50/lb for copper, US$500/oz for gold, and an exchange rate of US$0.80/C$ 1.00.
The mine plan in the study utilized mineralized material totaling 480 million tonnes grading 0.43 g/t gold and 0.22% copper at a cut-off grade of C$4.00 net smelter return (NSR) per tonne. An NSR cut-off was used because both copper and gold provide significant value in this deposit. The NSR of a tonne of rock is the net value of a milled tonne of rock based on the metal prices and exchange rate stated above after deducting milling losses (recovery) and all off-site costs (transportation, treatment and refining, and impurity penalties) but not deducting any on-site costs. This cut-off is a pit rim cut-off. Rock below this cut-off is waste while rock above this cut-off is ore. $4.00 represents the cost of on-site processing plus an allowance for rehandling any ore that is stockpiled. This type of cut-off is necessary because the ultimate pit is justified on the basis of optimizing net present value (NPV); but; however, having justified the
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mining of all rock within the optimized pit, when once the rock is actually mined and reaches the pit rim, then a decision is required as to whether to process it. According to Canadian standards, these would be considered proven and probable reserves; however, under US standards no reserve declaration is possible under a pre-feasibility study.
Scott Jones, P.Eng., General Manager of Project Development for Taseko and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, verified the methods used to determine grade and tonnage in the geological model, reviewed the long range mine plan, and directed the updated economic evaluation. He is also the author of a technical report that documents the study, which is filed at www.sedar.com.
Highlights of the study are summarized below:
Pre-tax net present value of C$300 million at 7.5% discount rate
Pre-tax internal rate of return of 14% with a 6 year payback
19 year mine life at a milling rate of 70,000 tonnes per day
Life of mine strip ratio of 0.8:1
Total pre-production capital cost of C$756 million in third quarter 2006 dollars
Operating cost of C$5.78 per tonne milled over the life of mine
Mine site production costs net of gold credits of US$0.48/lb Cu
Pre-Production and Mine Plan
The pre-feasibility level study incorporates activities during a pre-production period of two years, which include construction of the electricity transmission line; upgrading and extension of current road access and mine site clearing; development of site infrastructure, processing facilities, and a tailings starter dam; removal and storage of overburden; and pre-production waste development.
The mine plan utilizes a large-scale conventional truck shovel open pit mining and milling operation. Following a one year pre-strip period, total material moved over years 1 through 16 averages 145,000 tonnes/day at a strip ratio of 1.1:1. A declining net smelter return cut-off is applied to the mill feed which defers lower grade ore for later processing. The lower grade ore is recovered from stockpile for the final 3 years of the mine plan. The life of mine strip ratio including processing of lower grade ore is 0.77:1
Processing and Infrastructure
The Prosperity processing plant has been designed with a nominal capacity of 70,000 tonnes per day. The plant consists of a single 12-meter diameter semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill, three 7.3 -meter diameter ball mills, followed by processing steps that include bulk rougher flotation, regrinding, cleaner flotation, thickening and filtering to produce a copper-gold concentrate.
Expected metallurgical recovery is 88% for copper and 69% for gold, with annual production averaging 100 million pounds copper and 235,000 ounces gold over the 19 year mine life.
The copper-gold concentrate would be hauled with highway trucks to an expanded load-out facility at McLeese Lake for rail transport to various points of sale, but mostly through the Port of Vancouver for shipment to smelters/refineries around the world.
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Power will be supplied via a new 124 km long, 230 kV transmission line from Dog Creek on the BC Hydro Grid. Infrastructure would also include the upgrade of sections of the existing road to the site, an on-site camp, equipment maintenance shop, administration office, concentrate storage building, warehouse, and explosives facilities.
Based on this study, the project would employ up to 485 permanent hourly and staff personnel. In addition, approximately 70 contractor personnel would be employed in areas including catering, concentrate haulage, explosives delivery, and bussing.
Following completion of mining, the project would be closed and reclaimed according to the requirements of current legislation.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Pre-feasibility Study,
Prosperity Project |
All information contained in this Annual Report relating to the contents of the pre-feasibility study, including but not limited to statements of the Prosperity Project's potential and information such as capital and operating costs, production summary, and financial analysis, are "forward looking statements" within the definition of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information relating to the possible construction of mine and plant facilities also constitutes such "forward looking statements." The pre-feasibility study was prepared to broadly quantify the Prosperity Project's capital and operating cost parameters and to provide guidance on the type and scale of future project engineering and development work that will be needed to ultimately define the project's likelihood of feasibility and optimal production rate. It was not prepared to be used as a valuation of the Prosperity Project nor should it be considered to be a final feasibility study. The capital and operating cost estimates which were used have been developed only to an approximate order of magnitude based on generally understood capital cost to production level relationships, and although they are based on engineering studies, these are preliminary so the ultimate costs may vary widely from the amounts set out in the pre-feasibility study. |
This could materially adversely impact the projected economics of the Prosperity Project. As is normal at this stage of a project, data in some areas was incomplete and estimates were developed based solely on the expertise of the individuals involved as well as the assessments of other persons who were involved with previous operators of the project. At this level of engineering, the criteria, methods and estimates are preliminary and result in a high level of subjective judgment being employed. There can be no assurance that the potential results contained in the pre-feasibility study will be realized. |
|
The following are the principal risk factors and uncertainties which, in management's opinion, are likely to most directly affect the conclusions of the pre-feasibility study and the ultimate feasibility of the Prosperity Project. The mineralized material at the Prosperity project is currently classified as a measured and indicated resource under US regulations. 150,000 metres of diamond drilling provides sufficient geological confidence that in conjunction with current engineering design and economic assumptions, under Canadian mining disclosure standards, a portion of that resource may be classified as a proven and probable reserve. However, readers are cautioned that no part of the Prosperity Project’s mineralization is considered to be a reserve under US mining standards. For US mining standards, a full feasibility study would be required, which would require more detailed studies. Additionally all necessary mining permits would be required in order to classify the project’s mineralized material as an economically exploitable reserve. There can be no assurance that this mineralized material will become classifiable as a reserve and there is no assurance as to the amount, if any, that might ultimately qualify as a reserve or what the grade of such reserve amounts would be. Final feasibility work has not been completed to confirm the mine design, mining methods and processing methods assumed in the pre-feasibility study. Final feasibility could determine that the assumed mine design, mining methods and processing methods are not correct. Construction and operation of the mine and processing facilities depend on securing environmental and other permits on a timely basis. No operating permits have been applied for and there can be no assurance that required permits can be secured or secured on a timely basis. Data is not complete and cost estimates have been developed, in part, based on the expertise of the individuals participating in the |
- 35 -
preparation of the pre-feasibility study
and on costs at projects believed to be comparable, and not based on firm
price quotes. Costs, including design, procurement, construction and on-going
operating costs and metal recoveries could be materially different from
those contained in the pre-feasibility study. There can be no assurance
that mining can be conducted at the rates and grades assumed in the pre-feasibility
study. There can be no assurance that the metallurgical recoveries will
be the same as those indicated in locked cycle and pilot plant testing.
There can be no assurance that these infrastructure facilities can be
developed on a timely and cost-effective basis. Energy risks include the
potential for significant increases in the cost of fuel and electricity.
The pre-feasibility study assumes specified, long-term prices levels for
gold and copper. The prices of these metals are historically volatile,
and the Company has no control of or influence on the prices, which are
determined in international markets. There can be no assurance that the
prices of gold and copper will continue at current levels or that they
will not decline below the prices assumed in the pre-feasibility study.
Prices for gold and copper have been below the price ranges assumed in
pre-feasibility study at times during the past ten years, and for extended
periods of time. The project will require major financing, probably a
combination of debt and equity financing. Interest rates are at historically
low levels. There can be no assurance that debt and/or equity financing
will be available on acceptable terms. A significant increase in costs
of capital could materially adversely affect the value and feasibility
of constructing the project. Other general risks include those ordinary
to very large construction projects, including the general uncertainties
inherent in engineering and construction cost, the need to comply with
generally increasing environmental obligations, and accommodation of local
and community concerns. The economics of the Prosperity Project are sensitive
to the US Dollar and Canadian dollar exchange rate and this rate has been
subject to large fluctuations in the last several years. |
Environmental Assessment
As described above, Taseko carried out extensive exploration, engineering, mine planning, environmental, and socio-economic studies on the Prosperity project prior to 2001. This also included two years in the British Columbia Environmental Assessment (BCEA) process. In 2005, Taseko was granted an extension order for the Prosperity Project Application under the BCEA process until April 30, 2007.
Field work for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was essentially concluded in 2006. The field teams were comprised of Taseko personnel, expert consultants, and First Nations representatives. The goal of the 2006 field work season was to complete and validate the background data work performed in the previous studies and to close any gaps that have occurred as a result of regulatory changes over the years that the project was idle. The determination of baseline is in progress with the impact assessment component to follow. The EIA is to be substantially complete, with the review process expected to begin during the middle of 2007.
Plans for 2007
An updated, detailed feasibility study is currently underway. The work is being performed by Hatch Associates, incorporating the 2000 SNC Lavalin feasibility study, 2006 SNC Lavalin Mill redesign, and a re-optimized pit plan that was commissioned by Taseko in October 2006. Completion is now scheduled for the end of September 2007.
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Harmony Project
Acquisition of Property
Gibraltar acquired the Harmony Gold Project in October 2001 through a transaction with Misty Mountain Gold Ltd. (now known as Continental Minerals Corporation) for consideration of $2.23 million in cash and the issuance of preferred shares in Tasekos wholly-owned subsidiary Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and which preferred shares are exchangeable for Taseko shares in certain events at prices for the Taseko shares similar to the consideration price of the Boliden Debenture (see "Gibraltar Mine Acquisition Term"). The tracking preferred shares are designed to track and capture the value of the Harmony Gold Property and will be redeemed for common shares of Taseko upon a realization event, such as a sale of the Harmony Gold Property to a third party or commercial production at the Harmony Gold Property, or at the option of Gibraltar, if a realization event has not occurred within ten years.
The tracking preferred shares are redeemable at specified prices per common share of Taseko starting at $3.39 and escalating by $0.25 per year ($4.64 at September 30, 2006). If a realization event does not occur on or before October 16, 2011, Gibraltar has the right to redeem the tracking preferred shares for Taseko common shares at a deemed price equal to the greater of the then average 20 day trading price of the common shares of Taseko and $10.00. The Taseko common shares to be issued to Continental upon a realization event will in turn be distributed pro-rata, after adjustment for any taxes, to the holders of redeemable preferred shares of Continental that were issued to Continental shareholders at the time of the Arrangement Agreement. In the event that a realization event occurs between March 31, 2007 and October 16, 2007 the conversion price would be $4.64 per share. The tracking preferred shares would be redeemed for 5,741,799 common shares of Taseko.
Management does not believe there has been a fundamental change in the nature of the Harmony Gold Property; however, during the 2004 fiscal year, the Harmony Gold Property was written down to a nominal value of $1,000. Accounting rules require that the Company must write down its investment in a property if it has not conducted significant exploration or development on the property in the last several years, unless there is persuasive evidence to the contrary.
Assessments will be undertaken over time as metal prices indicate new opportunities for the Harmony project.
Location, Access and Infrastructure
The Harmony Gold Project is located at latitude 53o 31 N and longitude 132o 13 W in the Skeena Mining Division, on Graham Island, Queen Charlotte Islands (also known as Haida Gwaii), on the northwestern coast of British Columbia, Canada. The Harmony Gold Property comprises of 59 mineral claims totalling 24,250 ha. The deposit-area claims are in good standing until June 29, 2009.
Exploration History
Prospectors discovered mineralization at Harmony in 1970. The project claims were optioned by various companies during the period 1970 to 1975, which carried out geological mapping, geochemical surveys and minor drilling. Consolidated Cinola Mines Ltd. acquired the ground in 1977 and with partners, carried out detailed drilling totalling 30,116 m in 231 holes by 1984. In 1981, 465 m of an underground drift and crosscuts were excavated for a metallurgical bulk sample. A 45 tonne per day pilot mill was established to treat about 5,200 tonnes of material and in 1982 a feasibility study for a 10,000-15,000 tonnes per day operation was completed. From 1986 to 1988, City Resources drilled 83 diamond drill holes and 64 reverse-circulation drill holes, totalling 13,356 m, and completed 117.6 m of underground development to obtain a bulk sample, conducted bench scale metallurgical testing, and developed open pit
- 37 -
scenarios for the project. Barrack Gold acquired the project in 1989 and renamed the company to Misty Mountain Gold Ltd.
Additional drilling, metallurgical and engineering studies were carried out from 1989-1999. In 1997, preliminary mine planning was done by Independent Mining Consultants Inc. of Tucson, Arizona.
Geology and Mineralization
The Harmony property hosts the Specogna epithermal gold deposit, controlled by the Sandspit fault. Dacite dykes of Tertiary age have intruded along the fault. Contemporaneous, pervasive silicification, hydrothermal brecciation, stockwork and banded quartz veining and gold mineralization have developed along the hanging wall of the fault. This extends for a strike distance of at least 800 m, eastwards from the fault at least 200 m and to a depth of at least 240 m. Pyrite and marcasite are the dominant metallic minerals. Gold occurs as native gold and electrum, which are commonly visible. Silver is also present as an alloy with gold.
Sampling and Analysis
During the period from 1971 to 1989, previous operators sent either split or sawn half core samples for assaying. Samples were taken continuously over lengths ranging between 1.5 to 2.0 metres, and crossing lithologic boundaries in most instances. Early gold analyses included chemical extraction followed by gravimetric or Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. Check assaying procedures were included at various laboratories including Chemex, Bondar Clegg, General Testing and Bell-White Labs.
Drill core sample lengths chosen by Misty Mountain were varied to selectively isolate vein material and to avoid sampling across lithologic boundaries. Samples totalled 22,421 in number from 35,652 metres of core, and for the most part each sample was between 1.75 and 2.25 metres (actual range 0.06 – 6.10 metres) in length. Whole NQ2 core rather than half core was sampled to obtain maximum assay precision.
Sample preparation was carried out at Assayers Canada Vancouver, BC, where drill core was crushed to 60% passing 10 mesh and pulverized to 90% - 150 mesh. Prepared samples were sent to Chemex Labs Ltd. for mainstream assay and to CDN Laboratories for check assay. A one-assay ton charge was used for gold fire assay with an AA finish; a one-gram sample was assayed for silver using AA. All samples were sent for 32-element ICP analysis. A total of 23,690 prepared samples was analysed at Chemex and 1,132 prepared samples was analysed at CDN Laboratories using a similar assaying procedure.
Security of Samples
Sample pulps are stored in the Company’s warehouse at Port Kells, BC. Drill core is stored at site.
Estimates of Mineralization
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Resources The following section uses the terms ‘measured resources’ and ‘indicated resources’. The Company advises investors that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. |
In 1997, M. Nowak, P.Eng., estimated the resources in the deposit. The estimate was reviewed by Nowak et al in 2001 and the resources were classified in 2001. The measured resources are estimated to be 22 million tonnes grading 1.77 g/t gold and indicated resources are estimated to be 42 million tonnes grading 1.41 g/t gold, for a total of approximately 3 million ounces of contained gold. There are additional inferred resources of 21 million tonnes grading 1.04 g/t gold. The estimates were done at a 0.60 g/t gold
- 38 -
cut-off and strip ratio of 0.82/1.0. The cut-off was established by an in-house scoping study based on a 10,000 tonnes per day operation with an operating cost of $12.94/tonne, and a gold price of US$375/oz.US$375/oz, and a CDN:US dollar exchange rate of 0.7.
Aboriginal (or First Nations) Issues
The Queen Charlotte Islands-Haida Gwaii, including the area surrounding the Harmony Gold Project, is subject to aboriginal peoples land claims. Aboriginal land claims are subject to the B.C. Treaty Commission Legislation and the B.C. Treaty Commission, both established in 1993. The British Columbia government has stated a policy that settlements will not adversely affect existing tenures in areas subject to legal settlements.
Plans for 2007
In 2007, Taseko anticipates continuing its focus on the Gibraltar mine and Prosperity project and accordingly no material work on Harmony is contemplated for the ensuing year.
Other Corporate Matters
In November 2006, Taseko launched a take-over bid offer for all (and at least 51%) of the outstanding shares of bcMetals Corporation (bcMetals) a public corporation listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Taseko's amended and extended bid of $1.40 per share expired on February 8, 2007 as a consequence of a rival company making a $1.70 per shares bid. Taseko took up and purchased 1,316,300 shares under the bid and therefore currently holds an aggregate of 3,234,900 shares of bcMetals, having purchased the balance out of the market at approximately $1.01 per bcMetals share. Given that the Company's bid for control of bcMetals was not successful the Company effected the disposition of the bcMetals shares at $1.70 per share, in March 2007.
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ITEM 4A UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
- 40 -
ITEM 5 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of Taseko and notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report, which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP, with material measurement differences reconciled to US GAAP, and with the discussion of certain risk factors set forth under Item 3. Key InformationRisk Factors that might materially affect the Companys operating results and financial condition.
OVERVIEW
Taseko is a mining and mineral exploration company with three properties located in British Columbia, Canada. These are the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine and two exploration projects: the Prosperity copper-gold property and the Harmony gold property. In 2006, Taseko focused on production improvement at the Gibraltar mine and updating a feasibility study on the Prosperity project.
Gibraltar Mine
The Gibraltar mine reopened in early October 2004 with commercial production commencing on January 1, 2005. In fiscal 2006, Gibraltar produced 49.1 million pounds (2005 54.8 million pounds) of copper and 821,000 pounds (2005 427,000 pounds) of molybdenum.
Highlights for the 2006 fiscal year included the following:
Gibraltar recorded revenues of $140.3 million (2005 - $71.9 million) from sales of copper concentrate and $21.6 million (2005 - $15.7 million) was realized from sales of molybdenum concentrate.
Average sales prices for the year were US$2.44 (2005 - US$1.48) per pound for copper and US$23.28 (2005 - US$31.00) per pound for molybdenum.
Copper production for the year was 49.1 million pounds of copper.
Copper concentrate sales for the year were 90,230 wet metric tones (WMT) containing 51.0 million pounds of copper, an increase from the 77,695 WMT or 44.0 million pounds of copper sold during fiscal 2005.
Copper concentrate inventory at September 30, 2006 was 13,396 WMT (8.4 million pounds of copper), a decrease in inventory from the 18,614 WMT of copper concentrate (10.6 million pounds of copper) at end of prior fiscal 2005.
Molybdenum in concentrate production during the year was 821,000 pounds compared to 427,000 pounds in the previous year.
Molybdenum in concentrate sales during the year were 789 WMT, containing 798,000 pounds, an increase from the 418,016 pounds sold in fiscal 2005.
Prosperity Project
In November 2005, work was re-initiated on the Prosperity Copper-Gold Project, located 125 kilometres southwest of the City of Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia.
Prior to 2001, Taseko carried out extensive exploration, engineering, mine planning, environmental, and socio-economic studies on the Prosperity project, including two years in the British Columbia Environmental Assessment ("BCEA") process.
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Parallel to the permitting and consultation process, Taseko is reviewing previous feasibility studies and re-assessing the project economics based on new technologies, concepts, and innovative approaches to mine development. This includes re-examining optimal mining rates and mining equipment size, analyzing the economics of constructing and operating a single line mill rather than multiple smaller lines, and evaluating the potential improvements which could be realized with state-of-the-art metallurgical technologies such as large tank flotation circuits and expert computerized mill control systems. The Company is also reassessing major infrastructure plans, such as the power-line route, to determine if there are synergies to be achieved with the other communities of interest in the area.
The positive results of a pre-feasibility level study were released in January 2007, indicating that the property hosts mineralized material of 480 million tonnes grading 0.43 g/t gold and 0.22% Cu at a C$4.00 net smelter return per tonne (NSR/t) cut-off. According to Canadian standards, these would be considered proven and probable reserves; however, under US standards no reserve declaration is possible under a pre-feasibility study.
An updated, detailed feasibility study is being performed by Hatch Associates, incorporating the 2000 SNC Lavalin feasibility study, 2006 SNC Lavalin Mill redesign, and a re-optimized pit plan. Work is currently in progress with completion anticipated at the end of September 2007.
An environmental assessment under the Canadian and British Columbia Environmental Assessment Acts is in progress. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has recommended to the Federal Minister of Environment that the Project be referred to a Joint Panel Review. Taseko is actively engaged with federal and provincial regulatory agencies in the review of the Project.
Harmony Project
In 2006, the Company was focused on the Gibraltar mine and the Prosperity project; therefore only maintenance activities were performed on the Harmony project. These activities will continue and assessments will be undertaken over time as metal prices indicate new opportunities for the Harmony project. In 2007, Taseko anticipates continuing to focus its resources and its efforts on the Gibraltar mine and the Prosperity project.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company's significant accounting policies are presented in note 3 of the accompanying audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2006. A reconciliation of material measurement differences between these principles and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States is shown in note 19. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with Canadian and US generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis and bases them on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company's estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Such estimates and assumptions include the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the carrying values of mineral properties, the carrying values of property, plant and equipment, the assumptions used in determining the reclamation obligation, and the valuation of stock-based compensation expense.
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Deferral of costs to remove overburden
For Canadian GAAP purposes, costs incurred to remove overburden is deferred based on a pit-by-pit analysis considering the development of each pit at each mine (currently there is only one mine). Capitalization of overburden removal ceases when the pit enters into the production stage.
As mining activity moves from one distinct pit to the next pit in sequence, the cost of removal of overburden material from the new pit is capitalized until that pit reaches the production stage. Currently, there is one developmental pit at the mine site, Granite East Pit (previously the Granite Lake East Pit), where overburden removal costs are being deferred.
Under US GAAP, the Company capitalizes overburden removal costs relating to economically mineable pits which have not yet entered the production stage. Once a pit enters the production stage, no further overburden removal costs are capitalized, and the amounts previously capitalized are amortized on a units of production basis over the expected life of the pit.
Mineral property interests
For Canadian GAAP purposes, exploration and development expenditures incurred subsequent to completing a feasibility study which either “increase production” or “extend the life of existing production” are capitalized.
An initial determination of whether a proposed expenditure program will increase or extend the life of existing production is done prior to the commencement of the expenditure program, to determine whether the expenditure program should commence in the first place.
If an expenditure program (for example, a drilling program designed to increase mineralized material to proven and probable reserves) results in, or is expected to result in, an increase in reserves which will be economically mineable in future periods, the costs of that expenditure program are capitalized until those newly-increased reserves are brought into production, at which point those capitalized costs will then start to be amortized on a units of production basis. For greater clarity, if an expenditure program does not result in, or is not expected to result in, an increase in economically mineable reserves, the costs of such a program are expensed in the period incurred.
For US GAAP purposes, the Company expenses exploration costs and capitalizes development costs.
During the year ended September 30, 2006, the Company deferred approximately $2.625 million (2005 – $nil; 2004 – $nil) related to the costs of an expansion drilling program in the vicinity of the existing pits designed to increase reserves at the Gibraltar Mine.
There were no differences between Canadian and United States GAAP for the Company for these costs during the year ended September 30, 2006.
The Company also tests for impairment of mineral property interests at least once a year.
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A. Operating Results
Selected operating results, expressed in Canadian GAAP, for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 2005 and 2004 are presented below.
Year ended September 30 | |||||||||
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Statement of operations | (restated) | (restated) | |||||||
Revenue | (161,900,063 | ) | $ | (87,638,300 | ) | $ | | ||
Cost of production | 103,627,678 | 71,348,118 | | ||||||
Depletion, depreciation and amortization | 3,412,048 | 2,657,165 | 17,296 | ||||||
Accretion of reclamation obligation | 1,732,000 | 1,574,000 | 1,431,000 | ||||||
Exploration | 3,544,081 | 505,586 | 4,597,968 | ||||||
Foreign exchange | (288,801 | ) | 34,080 | | |||||
Loss (gain) on sale of equipment | | 2,160,992 | | ||||||
Loss on extinguishment of capital leases | 240,049 | | | ||||||
General and administration | 5,286,039 | 2,411,688 | 2,693,067 | ||||||
Ledcor termination fee | 3,500,000 | | | ||||||
Interest and other income | (7,170,301 | ) | (10,547,609 | ) | (5,154,209 | ) | |||
Interest expense | 4,593,622 | 3,175,353 | | ||||||
Interest accretion on convertible debt | 1,280,099 | 1,075,478 | 977,705 | ||||||
Premium paid for acquisition of Gibraltar Reclamation Trust LP | | | 5,095,249 | ||||||
Restart project | | 6,346,650 | 14,982,008 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | 3,182,102 | 1,129,026 | 5,172,244 | ||||||
Write down of mineral property acquisition costs | | | 28,810,296 | ||||||
Current income tax expense (recovery) | 4,397,000 | (4,099,000 | ) | 23,744,000 | |||||
Future income tax expense (recovery) | 1,648,000 | (13,423,000 | ) | | |||||
Earnings (loss) for the year | 32,916,447 | 23,289,773 | (82,366,624 | ) | |||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.23 | $ | (1.10 | ) | ||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.21 | $ | (1.10 | ) | ||
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 113,553,556 | 100,021,655 | 75,113,426 | ||||||
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 126,462,009 | 110,732,926 | 75,113,426 |
Effective October 1, 2005, the Company adopted the CICAs Handbook Section 3860, Financial Instruments Disclosure and Presentation. The standard requires that convertible debentures which may be settled in cash, or by a variable number of common shares of the Company at the Company's discretion, be presented as a liability. This change has been applied retroactively. The prior yearsconsolidated balance sheets have been amended to present the liability component and equity component separately on the balance sheet. The accretion charges that were previously recorded through deficit are now recorded as interest accretion on convertible debt in the consolidated statement of operations.
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Year ended September 30, 2006 ( 2006) versus Year ended September 30, 2005 (2005)
Earnings
The Companys earnings for the year ended September 30, 2006 were $32.9 million (including $6.0 million of tax expenses), compared to $23.3 million (including $17.5 million of tax recoveries) in the prior year. The increase in earnings is mainly due to higher sales of copper and molybdenum and higher realized metal prices during the year.
Revenues
The Company recognized revenues of $161.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2006 compared to $87.6 million in fiscal 2005. Revenues were comprised of copper concentrate sales of $140.3 million (2005 - $71.9 million) and molybdenum concentrate sales of $21.6 million (2005 - $15.7 million). The following table is a summary of the commercial production for fiscal 2006 compared to fiscal 2005:
Fiscal 2006 | Fiscal 2005 | |
Copper production (millions lb) | 49.1 | 54.8 |
Copper sales (million lb) | 51.0 | 44.0 |
Molybdenum production (thousands lb) | 821 | 427 |
Molybdenum sales (thousands lb) | 798 | 418 |
Copper production costs, net of by-product molybdenum credits, per lb of copper | US$1.25 | US$0.87 |
Off property costs for transport, treatment (smelting & refining) & sales per lb of copper | US$0.25 | US$0.28 |
Total cash costs of production per lb of copper | US$1.50 | US$1.15 |
In late September 2006, the Company received funds of approximately $19.6 million from the sale of copper. The Company was unable to recognize the revenue from this sale as the copper was held in a storage facility at the dock as there were no ships available at that time to transport the copper to smelters in Asia. Consequently, the Company recorded this sale as deferred revenue for the year ended September 30, 2006 and recognized this sale as revenue upon shipment to the customer.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales for 2006 was $103.6 million, compared to $71.3 million in 2005. Costs of sales for 2006 consists of total production cost of $92.5 million (2005 $75.0 million), less a concentrate inventory addition of $2.0 million (2005 $16.3 million), and silver credits of $1.2 million (2005 $0.9 million). Also included in cost of sales are transportation and treatment costs of $14.3 million for 2006 compared to $13.5 million 2005. This increase in cost of sales for 2006 is due to higher sales quantities compared to the prior year.
Transportation costs are comprised of the trucking, rail, ocean freight and handling fees incurred to move concentrate from the mine to the smelters. Treatment costs are comprised of treatment charges and refining charges.
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
Depletion, depreciation and amortization relates to the commissioning of new equipment purchased and leased during re-start, and increased to $3.4 million compared to $2.7 million in fiscal 2005.
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Exploration
Exploration expenses increased to $3.5 million in fiscal 2006 compared to $0.5 million in fiscal 2005 due to a higher level of exploration activity, mainly at the Prosperity project, and focused on the initial stages of an environmental impact assessment and preparing an undated feasibility study. Exploration expenses of $2.6 million at Gibraltar were capitalized as a result of the increase in the mineral reserves.
General and Administrative
General and administrative costs increased to $5.3 million in 2006 from $2.4 million in 2005. The main increase was attributable to legal, tax and accounting fees (2006 $1.7 million; 2005 $0.4 million), which increased in 2006 due to higher corporate activities, professional fees relating to the Companys continued efforts to comply with the reporting requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley and tax planning initiatives. Office and administration (2006 $2.0 million; 2005 $1.2 million), conference and travel (2006 $0.4 million; 2005 $0.1 million); and trust and filing (2006 $0.3 million; 2005 $0.1 million) all increased in 2006 due to higher staffing levels and an increase in corporate activities.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased to $4.6 million in fiscal 2006 from $3.2 million in fiscal 2005 due to the issuance of the convertible bonds.
Stock-Based Compensation
The stock-based compensation costs increased to $3.2 million in fiscal 2006 from $1.1 million in fiscal 2005 as a result of a slight increase in the number of share purchase options granted and a higher fair value on the options granted during the year.
Non-Recurring Expenses
The Company recorded a one-time fee in 2006 of $3.5 million to Ledcor as a result of the Company voluntarily withdrawing from an agreement with Ledcor to operate the Gibraltar mine. The Company has assumed responsibility for all operational matters in connection with the Gibraltar Mine in November 2006. Other than Gibraltar mine restart expenses of $6.3 million, the Company did not have any significant non-recurring expenses in fiscal 2005.
Income Tax Expense
A current income tax provision of $4.4 million was recorded in 2006, compared to $4.1 million current income tax recovery in 2005. In addition, the Company had a future income tax expense of $1.6 million in 2006 compared to a recovery of $13.4 million in 2005. The increase in the income tax provision is due mainly to the depletion of tax pools as a result of the Company becoming more profitable.
The Company has accrued a tax provision of a subsidiary company of $21.1 million (2005 $19.6 million) in the accompanying consolidated financial statements . This tax provision reflects an income tax expense recorded in 2004 which management believes is less than likely of ever becoming payable. The Company would exhaust all appeals if any taxes were actually assessed against the subsidiary. The amount represents a potential liability which has been recognized in a conservative manner in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. It does not represent a payable amount based on any filed, or expected to be filed, tax return. No taxation authority has assessed the amount or any portion thereof as payable. Accordingly, there is no immediate impact on liquidity. The subsidiary will consider its current and past tax filing positions in addition to tax planning strategies which might be put in place prior to the Company's fiscal year ending on September 30, 2007.
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Year ended September 30, 2005 (2005) versus year ended September 30, 2004 (2004)
Earnings
The Companys earnings for the year ended September 30, 2005 were $23.3 million, compared to a loss of $82.4 million in the prior year. The increase in earnings is due to the resumption of mining activities at the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine, and the recognition of tax loss carryforwards in the consolidated financial statements.
Revenues
The Company recognized revenues of $87.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2005 compared to $nil in fiscal 2004. In late September 2005, the Company sold and received funds of approximately $14.3 million from the sale of copper. The Company was unable to recognize the revenue from this sale as the copper was held in a storage facility at the dock as there were no ships available at that time to transport the copper to smelters in Asia. Consequently, the Company recorded this sale as deferred revenue for the year ended September 30, 2005 and recognized this sale as revenue upon shipment to the customer.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales for 2005 was $71.3 million compared to $nil in 2004. Cost of sales for 2005 consisted of total production costs of $65.6 million (2004 - $nil) less a concentrate inventory addition of $7.8 million (2004 - $nil). Also included in cost of sales are transportation and treatment costs of $13.5 million (2004 - $nil).
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
Amortization expense increased to $2.7 million compared to $0.02 million in fiscal 2004 due to 2005s commencement of production from the Gibraltar mine.
Exploration
Exploration expenses decreased to $0.5 million in fiscal 2005 from $4.6 million in fiscal 2004 due to a reduction in exploration activities and mine maintenance costs in fiscal 2005. These expenses consisted of $0.3 million of exploratory drilling at the Gibraltar mine site, $0.15 million on due diligence relating to potential new projects, $0.03 million on the Prosperity project and $0.02 million on the Harmony project.
General and Administrative
General and administrative costs decreased slightly to $2.4 million in fiscal 2005 from $2.7 million in 2004. This decrease was due to a significant reduction in shareholder communication expenses (2005 - $0.3 million; 2004 - $0.7 million).
Interest expense
Interest expense increased to $3.2 million in fiscal 2005 from $0.5 million in fiscal 2004 due to interest payments on the Companys capital lease obligations.
Stock-Based Compensation
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Stock-based compensation decreased to $1.1 million in fiscal 2005 from $5.2 million in fiscal 2004 due to fewer options granted and lower volatility in fiscal 2005 compared to fiscal 2004.
Non-Recurring Expenses
Expenses relating to the restart project include costs for the mine, mill, site services, administration, warehouse, engineering and environmental matters. These expenses decreased in fiscal 2005 to $6,346,650 compared to $14,982,008 in fiscal 2004 since the restart activities for copper concentrate production ended in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 and commercial production commenced on January 1, 2005, and the restart activities for molybdenum concentrate production ended near the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2005.
Income Tax Recovery
The Company had a current income tax recovery of $4.1 million and future income tax recovery of $13.4 million in fiscal 2005 compared to a current income tax expense of $23.7 million in fiscal 2004. The increase in income tax recoveries is due to the recognition of the benefit of tax loss carryforwards in fiscal 2005 as their realization became more likely than not.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
At September 30, 2006, Taseko had working capital of $101.6 million, as compared to a $6.2 million at September 30, 2005. The increase in cash was primarily a result of higher revenues from operations at the Gibraltar mine, the exercising of share purchase options and warrants and the issuance of US$30 million convertible bonds during the year.
Management anticipates that revenues from the sale of copper and molybdenum concentrate, along with current cash balances will be sufficient to cover operating costs, working capital and the Gibraltar mill expansion for fiscal 2007.
Cash Used in Operating Activities
Taseko generated $55.4 million from operating activities in fiscal 2006 as compared to $1.8 million used in operating activities in fiscal 2005. Taseko anticipates that it will continue to generate positive cash flow from operating activities in fiscal 2007.
Cash Used in Investing Activities
Taseko used $36.4 million in investing activities as compared to $8.2 million received in fiscal 2005. The increase in cash used in investing activities is mainly due to mill expansion at Gibraltar that began during fiscal 2006, the Companys $13.0 million contribution to reclamation deposits that are invested in government backed securities, as well as the Companys $11.5 million investment in September 2006 in a convertible promissory note of Continental Minerals Corporation (Continental). Continental, a company with certain directors in common with Taseko, holds a 100% interest in the Xietongmen copper-gold project in Tibet, China.
The Xietongmen property hosts a significant porphyry copper-gold deposit. Feasibility-level studies were initiated at Xietongmen in 2006, which are targeted for completion in 2007.
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Cash used in investing activities is expected to increase during fiscal 2007 as Gibraltar continues its mill expansion and drilling programs to expand the Gibraltar deposits.
Cash Generated by Financing Activities
In fiscal 2006, Taseko generated $48.6 million (2005 $0.5 million) from financing activities, which consisted of the issuance of shares for cash of $31.9 million (2005 - $9.6 million), convertible bonds issued for net proceeds of $31.8 million (2005 - $Nil) less principal repayments under capital leases of $15.1 million (2005 - $7.3 million).
These share issuances were attributable to the issuance of 17,492,693 common shares from the exercise of warrants and 7,438,166 from the exercise of share purchase options.
The purpose of these financing activities was to provide working capital for the day to day operations of the Gibraltar mine and other corporate initiatives. There were no restrictions on the use of proceeds from these financing activities.
Investment in Continental
In August 2006, the Company invested $11.5 million of its surplus working capital in a Convertible Secured Promissory Note (the Note) of Continental Minerals Corporation (Continental), a public company with certain directors in common with the Company. The one year Note provides for interest at the rate of 16% per annum payable monthly and is payable in cash or, at the Companys election, in Continental common shares. The Note is secured by an indirect pledge of Continentals interest in a copper property located in China. The Company has the right to convert any or the entire principal then outstanding under the Note, plus a 5% premium, into Continental common shares at $2.05 per share if the conversion right is exercised within the first six months, or at $2.25 per share if exercised in the second six months.
In February 2007, the Company converted the entire principal outstanding under the Note. At March 30, 2007, the Company held 7,827,796 common shares of Continental, representing approximately 6.9% of Continentals outstanding common shares.
Reclamation Deposits
In September 2006, the Company made a contribution of $13.0 million to a qualified environmental trust in relation to its site closure and reclamation obligations for the Gibraltar mine. The Company has reclamation deposits totaling approximately $31.8 million (including interest) to fund reclamation at the Gibraltar, Prosperity and Harmony properties.
US$30 million Bond Offering
On August 29, 2006, the Company issued US$30 million in principal amount of five year convertible bearer bonds due in 2011 (the "Bonds") to qualified institutional buyers in Europe. The Bonds constitute direct, unsubordinated, unsecured, general and unconditional obligations of the Company. The Bonds were issued at 100% and, if not converted, will be redeemed at maturity at 101%. The Bonds carry a coupon interest rate of 7.125% per annum. The Bonds are convertible at the holders option after 40 days from issuance until August 19, 2011 into 8,955,224 Common Shares at a conversion price of US$3.35 ($3.76), which represented a premium of approximately 40% over the trading price of the Common Shares at August 29, 2006. At any time after September 12, 2008, the Company will have the right to call for the conversion of the Bond into the number of shares as set out above, if the Companys shares trade
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at least 50% above the conversion price for at least 20 business days in any period of 30 consecutive business days. On August 29, 2009, the Bondholders have a one time right to redeem the Bonds at 100.60% . Debt issuance costs of $1.4 million were incurred upon closing of the transaction. The Bonds contain certain anti-dilution provisions if the Company issues common shares below specified prices.
The Company had no commitments for material capital expenditures as of September 30, 2006 or March 30, 2007.
The Company has no lines of credit or other sources of financing.
C. Research Expenditures
Taseko does not have a program of intellectual property development or patenting or licensing.
D. Trend Information
As a natural resource exploration company, Tasekos activities have been mainly event-driven, that is based on exploration successes and failures rather than seasonal, but it may be seen to be affected by the cyclic nature of metal prices. Trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on Tasekos net sales or revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability, liquidity or capital resources are identified above under the heading Operating Results and below in this item.
Copper is a commodity metal used extensively in the housing and automotive industries and accordingly demand for copper varies directly with general economic conditions. Copper prices have been increasing since late 2003. Copper prices averaged US$1.30/lb in 2004 and US$1.59 in 2005. Copper prices have continued to increase in 2006, averaging US$3.03/lb to mid December. At March 30, 2007, the copper price was approximately US$3.14/lb.
Molybdenum prices increased from US$7.60/lb to US$34/lb in 2004. The average molybdenum price in 2005 was US$33/lb. Prices appear to have stabilized since January 2006, averaging US$25.53 to mid December. At March 30, 2007, molybdenum oxide price is approximatley US$29.00/lb.
Gold prices have been increasing over the past two years, and this uptrend has accelerated since September 2005. Overall, the gold price increased from US$410/oz in 2004 to US$445/oz in 2005. The gold price has also increased in 2006, averaging US$604/oz to mid December.
The Company is subject to currency exchange rate risk. The prices of copper and molybdenum oxide are denominated in United States dollars and, accordingly, the Companys revenues will be received in United States dollars. The Companys operations are almost entirely paid for in Canadian dollars, which has recently shown strength against the United States dollar. The further strengthening in the Canadian dollar, if it continues, will negatively impact the profitability of the Companys mining operations.
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
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F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
Payment due by period | |||||
Type of Contractual Obligation |
Total |
Less than 1 Year |
2 - 3 Years |
4 - 5 Years |
More than 5 Years |
Long-Term Debt Obligations (1) | $ 33,496,000 | - | - | $ 33,496,000 | $ - |
Capital (Finance) Lease Obligations | - | - | - | - | - |
Operating Lease Obligations | - | - | - | - | - |
Purchase Obligations | - | - | - | - | - |
Other Long-Term Liabilities Reflected on the Company's Balance Sheet under the GAAP of the primary financial statements | - | - | - | - | - |
Total | $ 33,496,000 | $ - | $ - | $ 33,496,000 | $ - |
(1) Note: The Company also has a convertible debenture in the face amounts of $17.0 million (see note 12 of the accompanying consolidated financial statements) which is not included in the above figures. The Company intends to settle this debt through the issuance of common shares of the Company.
The Company also has liabilities relating to a Reclamation Obligation in the amount of $49.4 million and a Royalty Obligation in the amount of $66.8 million.
G. Safe Harbor
The safe harbor provided in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act applies to forward-looking information provided pursuant to Item 5.E and F above.
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ITEM 6 DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A.
Directors and Senior Management
Nominee Position with the Company and Province or State and Country of Residence |
Period as a Director of the Company |
William P. Armstrong (1) (3) Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since May 2006 |
David J. Copeland Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since March 1994 |
Barry Coughlan (2), (3) Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since February 2001 |
Scott D. Cousens Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since October 1992 |
Robert A. Dickinson Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since January 1991 |
David Elliott (1), (2), (3) Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since July 2004 |
Russell E. Hallbauer (3) President, Chief Executive Officer and Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since July 2005 |
Wayne Kirk (1), (2), (3) Director California, USA |
Since July 2004 |
Jeffrey R. Mason (2), Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since March 1994 |
John W. McManus Vice President, Operations Vancouver, BC, Canada |
Since October 2005 |
Ronald W. Thiessen Chairman of the Board and Director British Columbia, Canada |
Since October 1993 |
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Notes:
(1) | Member of the audit committee. |
(2) | Member of the compensation committee. |
(3) | Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee. |
None of our directors or senior management has any family relationship with any other and none were elected as a director or appointed as a member of senior management as a result of an arrangement or understanding with a major shareholder, customer, supplier or any other party.
Principal Occupation of Current Management and Directors of Taseko
WILLIAM P. ARMSTRONG, P.Eng. Director
Mr. Armstrong earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Geological Engineering from the University of British Columbia and has more than 45 years experience in the mining industry. He recently retired from Teck Cominco Ltd., where he was General Manager, Resource Evaluations, and responsible for the evaluation of potential acquisitions and divestitures. He was also responsible for the companys mineral reserves and resources. During his career with Cominco Ltd., and Teck Cominco Ltd., Mr. Armstrong has been involved in feasibility studies, construction and operation of a large number of mines, including coal deposits, underground and open pit base metal mines and precious metal mines.
Mr. Armstrong is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director | May 2006 | Present |
Compania Minera El Brocal | Director | January 2001 | Present |
DAVID J. COPELAND, P.Eng. - Director
David J. Copeland is a geological engineer who graduated in economic geology from the University of British Columbia. With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Copeland has undertaken assignments in a variety of capacities in mine exploration, discovery and development throughout the South Pacific, Africa, South America and North America. His principal occupation is President and Director of CEC Engineering Ltd., a consulting engineering firm that directs and co-ordinates advanced technical programs for exploration on behalf of companies for which Hunter Dickinson Inc., a private company with certain directors in common with the Company, provides consulting services. He is also a director of Hunter Dickinson Inc.
Mr. Copeland is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director | March 1994 | Present |
Amarc Resources Ltd. | Director | September 1995 | Present |
Anooraq Resources Corporation | Director | September 1996 | September 2004 |
Continental Minerals Corporation | Director | November 1995 | Present |
Farallon Resources Ltd. | Director | December 1995 | Present |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. | Director | February 1994 | Present |
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Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Director | June 1996 | Present |
Rockwell Ventures Inc. | Director & CEO | September 2006 | Present |
BARRY COUGHLAN, B.A. Director
Barry Coughlan is a self-employed businessman and financier who over the past 24 years has been involved in the financing of publicly traded companies. His principal occupation is President and Director of TBC Investments Ltd., a private investment company.
Mr. Coughlan is, or was within the past five years, an officer and or a director of the following companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director | February 2001 | Present |
Continental Minerals Corporation | Director | May 2006 | Present |
Farallon Resources Ltd. | Director | March 1998 | Present |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. | Director | February 1998 | Present |
Icon Industries Ltd. | President, CEO and Director | September 1991 | Present |
Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. | Director | January 2005 | Present |
Tri-Gold Resources Corp. (formerly Tri-Alpha Investments Ltd.) | President and Director | June 1986 | Present |
AMS Homecare Inc. | Director | November 2001 | November 2004 |
SCOTT D. COUSENS - Director
Scott D. Cousens provides management, technical and financial services to a number of publicly traded companies. Mr. Cousens focus since 1991 has been the development of relationships within the international investment community. Substantial financings and subsequent corporate success has established strong ties with North American, European and Asian investors. In addition to financing initiatives he also oversees the corporate communications programs for the public companies to which Hunter Dickinson Inc. provides services.
Mr. Cousens is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director | October 1992 | Present |
Amarc Resources Ltd. | Director | September 1995 | Present |
Anooraq Resources Corporation | Director | September 1996 | Present |
Continental Minerals Corporation | Director | June 1994 | Present |
Farallon Resources Ltd. | Director | December 1995 | Present |
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Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. | Director | March 1993 | November 2006 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Director | June 1996 | Present |
Rockwell Ventures Inc. | Director | November 2000 | Present |
ROBERT A. DICKINSON, B.Sc., M.Sc. Director
Robert A. Dickinson is an economic geologist who serves as a member of management of several mineral exploration companies, primarily those for whom Hunter Dickinson Inc. provides services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Hons. Geology) and a Master of Science degree (Business Administration - Finance) from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Dickinson has been active in mineral exploration since 1966. He is a director of Hunter Dickinson Inc. He is also President and Director of United Mineral Services Ltd., a private investment company.
Mr. Dickinson is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited |
Director | January 1991 | Present |
Chairman | April 2004 | July 2005 | |
Co-Chairman | July 2005 | May 2006 | |
Amarc Resources Ltd. |
Director | April 1993 | Present |
Co-Chairman | September 2000 | April 2004 | |
Chairman | April 2004 | Present | |
Anooraq Resources Corporation |
Director | November 1990 | September 2004 |
Director | October 2004 | Present | |
Chairman | April 2004 | September 2004 | |
Co-Chairman | October 2004 | Present | |
Continental Minerals Corporation |
Director | June 2004 | Present |
Chairman | June 2004 | January 2006 | |
Co-Chairman | January 2006 | December 2006 | |
Detour Gold Corporation | Director | January 2007 | Present |
Farallon Resources Ltd. |
Director | July 1991 | Present |
Chairman | April 2004 | September 2004 | |
Co-Chairman | September 2004 | April 2006 | |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. |
Director | May 1986 | November 2006 |
Co-Chairman | September 2000 | April 2004 | |
Chairman | April 2004 | December 2005 | |
Co-Chairman | December 2005 | November 2006 | |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
Director | June 1994 | Present |
Co-Chairman | November 2001 | April 2004 | |
Chairman | April 2004 | Present |
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Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Rockwell Ventures Inc. | Director and Chairman | November 2000 | September 2006 |
DAVID ELLIOTT, B. Comm, ICD.D. FCA Director
David Elliott graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and then acquired a Chartered Accountant designation. In 2006, he became a certified director with the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mr. Elliott joined BC Sugar Company in 1976, working in a number of senior positions before becoming President and Chief Operating Officer of the operating subsidiary, Rogers Sugar. In 1997, he joined Lantic Sugar in Toronto as Executive Vice President. He also served as Chairman of the Canadian Sugar Institute. He became President and Chief Operating Officer of the International Group based in St Louis, Missouri in 1999, a company involved with food distribution as well as manufacturing and distribution of pet and animal feed. For several years, he worked with companies developing e-mail and data management services. Currently, Mr. Elliott is a director and audit committee chairman of North Dynasty Minerals Ltd., Taseko Mines Limited, Anooraq Resources Corporation and Great Basin Gold Ltd.
Mr. Elliott is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director | July 2004 | Present |
Anooraq Resources Corporation | Director | July 2005 | Present |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. | Director | July 2004 | Present |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Director | July 2004 | Present |
StorageFlow Systems Corp. |
Director | May 2002 | June 2004 |
President & COO | May 2002 | June 2003 |
RUSSELL E. HALLBAUER, P.Eng Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Hallbauer graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering in 1979. He is a Registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers of British Columbia. He has been a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIM) since 1975 and is a director and former chairman of the Mining Association of B.C.
In 1983, he joined Teck Corporations Bullmoose mine, advancing through Engineering and Supervisory positions to become Mine Superintendent in 1987, and in 1992, became General Manager of Quintette. In 1995, he assumed new responsibilities in Vancouver when he was appointed General Manager, Coal Operations, overseeing Tecks three operating coal mines in the Province. In 2002, he was appointed General Manager, Base Metal Joint Ventures, responsible for Teck Comincos interests in Highland Valley Copper, Antamina in Peru, and Louvicourt in Quebec.
Within the last five years, Mr. Hallbauer is, or has been, an officer of the following public company:
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Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director, President and Chief Executive Officer | July 2005 | Present |
H. WAYNE KIRK, LLB - Director
Wayne Kirk is a retired California State Attorney and Professional Consultant. Mr. Kirk has over 35 years of professional experience, including 10 years of senior executive experience in the mining industry.
Mr. Kirk is a citizen of the United States and is a resident of California. A Harvard University graduate, Mr. Kirk received his law degree in 1968. From 1992 to 2002, Mr. Kirk was the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Homestake Mining Company. Prior to his retirement in June 2004, he spent two years as Special Counsel for the law firm Thelen Reid & Priest, in San Francisco.
During the past five years, Mr. Kirk is, or has been, a director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Director | July 2004 | Present |
Anooraq Resources Corporation | Director | July 2005 | Present |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. | Director | July 2004 | Present |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Director | July 2004 | Present |
JEFFREY R. MASON, B.Comm., CA Director, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Jeffrey R. Mason holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while specializing in the mining, forestry and transportation sectors at the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. Following comptrollership positions at an international commodity mercantilist and Homestake Mining Group of companies including responsibility for North American Metals Corp. and the Eskay Creek Project, Mr. Mason has spent the last several years as a corporate officer and director to a number of publicly-traded mineral exploration companies. Mr. Mason is also employed as Chief Financial Officer of Hunter Dickinson Inc. and his principal occupation is the financial administration of the public companies to which Hunter Dickinson Inc. provides services.
Mr. Mason is, or was within the past five years, an officer and or director of the following public companies:
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Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited |
Director | February 1994 | Present |
Secretary | February 1994 | Present | |
Chief Financial Officer | November 1998 | Present | |
Amarc Resources Ltd. |
Director | September 1995 | Present |
Secretary | September 1995 | Present | |
Chief Financial Officer | September 1998 | Present | |
Anooraq Resources Corporation |
Director | April 1996 | September 2004 |
Secretary | September 1996 | Present | |
Chief Financial Officer | February 1999 | Present | |
Coastal Contacts Inc. | Director | October 2006 | Present |
Continental Minerals Corporation |
Director | June 1995 | Present |
Secretary | November 1995 | Present | |
Chief Financial Officer | June 1998 | Present | |
Detour Gold Corporation |
Director | January 2007 | Present |
Chief Financial Officer | January 2007 | Present | |
Farallon Resources Ltd. |
Director | August 1994 | Present |
Secretary | December 1995 | Present | |
Chief Financial Officer | December 1997 | Present | |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. |
Director | February 1994 | November 2006 |
Secretary | February 1994 | November 2006 | |
Chief Financial Officer | June 1998 | November 2006 | |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
Director | June 1996 | Present |
Secretary | June 1996 | Present | |
Chief Financial Officer | June 1998 | Present | |
Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. | Principal Accounting Officer | January 2005 | Present |
Rockwell Ventures Inc. |
Director | November 2000 | Present |
Chief Financial Officer | November 2000 | Present |
JOHN McMANUS Vice-President, Operations
John McManus is a dual US and Canadian citizen and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from The Colorado School of Mines. From graduation in 1982 until joining Teck Corporation in 1992, Mr. McManus held progressive mining engineering and supervisory positions with Cominco, Strato Geological Services, Denison Mines, and Westar Mining Ltd. Mr. McManus joined Teck Corporation in 1992 as Superintendent of Engineering at the Quintette coal mine, relocated to
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Tecks Elkview Coal mine as General Superintendent in 1995, relocated to Tecks Bullmoose coal mine as Mine Manager in 1997, and relocated to Elk Valley Coal Corporations Coal Mountain Operation as General Manager in 2003.
Mr. McManus, as Vice-President, Operations is responsible for oversight of the Gibraltar mine and for all operational and permitting issues regarding the advancement of the Prosperity and Harmony projects.
Mr. McManus is an officer of the following public company:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited | Vice-President, Operations | October 2005 | Present |
RONALD W. THIESSEN, CA Chairman of the Board and Director
Ronald W. Thiessen is a Chartered Accountant, with professional experience in finance, taxation, mergers, acquisitions and re-organizations. Since 1986, Mr. Thiessen has been involved in the acquisition and financing of mining and mineral exploration companies. Mr. Thiessen is employed by Hunter Dickinson Inc., a company providing management and administrative services to several publicly-traded companies and focuses on directing corporate development and financing activities. He is also a director of Hunter Dickinson Inc.
Mr. Thiessen is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Taseko Mines Limited |
Director | October 1993 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | September 2000 | July 2005 | |
Co-Chairman | July 2005 | May 2006 | |
Chairman | May 2006 | Present | |
Amarc Resources Ltd. |
Director | September 1995 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | September 2000 | Present | |
Anooraq Resources Corporation |
Director | April 1996 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | September 2000 | Present | |
Casamiro Resource Corp. | Director and President | February 1990 | August 2002 |
Continental Minerals Corporation |
Director | November 1995 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | September 2000 | January 2006 | |
Co-Chairman | January 2006 | Present | |
Detour Gold Corporation | Director | January 2007 | Present |
Farallon Resources Ltd. |
Director | August 1994 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | September 2000 | September 2004 | |
Co-Chairman | September 2004 | December 2005 | |
Chairman | December 2005 | Present | |
Great Basin Gold Ltd. |
Director | October 1993 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | September 2000 | December 2005 | |
Co-Chairman | December 2005 | Present | |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
Director | November 1995 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | November 2001 | Present |
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Company | Positions Held | From | To |
Rockwell Ventures Inc. |
Director | November 2000 | Present |
President and Chief Executive Officer | November 2000 | September 2006 | |
Chairman | September 2006 | Present | |
Tri-Gold Resources Corp. | Director | July 1992 | Present |
B. Compensation
During Tasekos financial year ended September 30, 2006 the aggregate direct remuneration paid or payable to Tasekos directors and senior officers by Taseko and its subsidiaries, all of whose financial statements are consolidated with those of Taseko, was $1,077,242. This figure includes any portion of remuneration received by the named person as an officer or employee of Hunter Dickinson Inc. that is attributable to Tasekos affairs. The direct remuneration paid or payable to Companys directors and senior officers by subsidiaries of Taseko, whose financial statements are not consolidated with those of Taseko, was $nil.
Russell E. Hallbauer, President, Chief Executive Officer and director, Jeffrey R. Mason, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and director, John W. McManus, Vice President of Operations and Ronald W. Thiessen, former President and Chief Executive Officer and a current director and Chairman of the Board are each a "Named Executive Officer" of Taseko for the purposes of the following disclosure.
The compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers during the Companys three most recently completed financial years is as set out below:
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Summary Compensation Table
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Name and Principal Position |
Year |
Annual Compensation
|
Long Term Compensation | All Other Compensation ($) |
||||
Awards | Payouts | |||||||
Salary ($) |
Bonus ($) |
Other Annual Compen -sation ($) |
Securities Under Options Granted (#) |
Shares or Units Subject to Resale Restrictions ($) |
LTIP Payouts ($) |
|||
Russell E. Hallbauer(1) Current President and Chief Executive Officer |
2006 2005 |
335,000 79,135 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil 780,000(5) |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Ronald W. Thiessen(2) Former President and Chief Executive Officer |
2006 2005 2004 |
132,027 38,418 48,576 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
135,400(8) Nil 780,000(4) |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Jeffrey R. Mason Secretary and Chief Financial Officer |
2006 2005 2004 |
94,973 26,085 36,027 |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
90,000(6) Nil 780,000(4) |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
Nil Nil Nil |
John W. McManus(3) Vice President, Operations |
2006 2005 |
175,000 Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil 300,000(7) |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
Notes:
(1) | Mr. Hallbauer was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer on July 10, 2005. |
(2) | Mr. Thiessen resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer on July 10, 2005. |
(3) | Mr. McManus was appointed as Vice President, Operations on October 11, 2005. |
(4) | These options were granted as follows: 280,000 on October 10, 2003 at an exercise price of $0.55 per Common Share and expire on September 29, 2006; 200,000 May 20, 2004 at an exercise price of $1.36 per Common Share and expire on September 29, 2006; 300,000 on September 24, 2004 at an exercise price of $1.40 per Common Share and expire on September 20, 2006. |
(5) | These options were granted on May 31, 2005 at an exercise of $1.15 per Common Share and expire on September 28, 2010. |
(6) | These options were granted as follows: 50,000 on March 28, 2006 at an exercise price of $2.18 pr Common Share and expire on March 28, 2011 and 40,000 on April 5, 2006 at an exercise price of $2.63 and expire on March 28, 2011. |
(7) | These options were granted on September 22, 2005 at an exercise price of $1.15 per Common Share and expire on September 28, 2010. |
(8) | These options were granted as follows: 75,000 on March 28, 2006 at an exercise price of $2.18 pr Common Share and expire on March 28, 2011 and 60,000 on April 5, 2006 at an exercise price of $2.63 and expire on March 28, 2011. |
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards
Long term incentive plan (LTIP) means a plan providing compensation intended to motivate performance over a period greater than one financial year. LTIPs do not include option or stock appreciation rights (SARs) plans or plans for compensation through shares or units that are subject to restrictions on resale. The Company did not award any LTIPs to any Named Executive Officer during the most recently completed financial year.
Options
The equity compensation plan which the Company currently has in place is the 2006 Share Option Plan (the Option Plan) which was re-approved by shareholders on March 15, 2007. The Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Option Plan provides that options will be issued to directors, officers, employees or management and others who provide services to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. The Option Plan provides that the number of Common Shares issuable under the Plan, together with all of the Company's other previously established share compensation arrangements, may not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares. Under the Option Plan, as the outstanding options are exercised and the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company increases, the percentage of options available for granting to eligible optionees will increase. The exercise price of each option may be set equal to or greater than the five day weighted market price of the common shares on the TSX on the day prior to the date of the grant of the
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option, less any allowable discounts. Options have a maximum term of ten years and generally terminate 30 to 90 days following the termination of the optionees employment or term of engagement, except in the case of retirement or death. Vesting of options is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
The share options granted to the Named Executive Officers during the financial year ended September 30, 2006 were as follows:
Option Grants During the Most Recently Completed Financial Year
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Name |
Securities Under Options Granted (#) |
% of Total Options Granted to Employees in Financial Year |
Exercise or Base Price ($/Security) |
Market Value of Securities Underlying Options on the Date of Grant ($/Security) |
Expiration Date |
Ronald W. Thiessen | 75,000 | 3.47% | $2.18 | $2.18 | March 28, 2011 |
Ronald W. Thiessen | 60,000 | 2.78% | $2.63 | $2.63 | March 28, 2011 |
Jeffrey R. Mason | 50,000 | 2.32% | $2.18 | $2.18 | March 28, 2011 |
Jeffrey R. Mason | 40,000 | 1.85% | $2.63 | $2.63 | March 28, 2011 |
The share options exercised by the Named Executive Officers during the financial year ended September 30, 2006 and the values of such options at the end of such year were as follows:
Aggregate Option Exercises During the Most Recently Completed
Financial Year and
Financial Year-End Option Values
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Name |
Securities Acquired on Exercise (#) |
Aggregate Value Realized ($) |
Unexercised Options at FY-End (#) Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
Value of Unexercised in-the- Money Options at FY-End ($) Exercisable/ Unexercisable |
Russell E. Hallbauer | Nil | Nil | 520,000 / 260,000 | 650,000 / 325,000 |
Ronald W. Thiessen | 780,000 | 925,800 | 45,000 / 90,000 | 5,500 / 11,000 |
Jeffrey R. Mason | 780,000 | 1,009,495 | 30,000 / 60,000 | 3,667 / 7,333 |
John W. McManus | Nil | Nil | 200,000 / 100,000 | 250,000 / 125,000 |
The closing share price of the Company on September 30, 2006 was $2.40.
No share options were repriced on behalf of the Named Executive Officers during the financial year ended September 30, 2006.
Defined Benefit or Actuarial Plan Disclosure
There are no defined benefit or actuarial plans in place for the Company.
Termination of Employment, Change in Responsibilities and Employment Contracts
There is no written employment contract between the Company and any Named Executive Officer other than Mr. Hallbauer and Mr. McManus, who have employment agreements with Hunter Dickinson Inc. and are seconded to the Company.
There are no compensatory plan(s) or arrangement(s) with respect to the Named Executive Officer resulting from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment of the officers
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employment or from a change of the Named Executive Officers responsibilities following a change in control.
Compensation of Directors
Effective January 1, 2005, each independent director of the Company is paid an annual directors fee of $45,000 and an additional fee of $5,000 for the Audit Committees Chairperson and $3,000 each for other Committee Chairperson. Executive officers do not receive additional compensation for serving as a director.
The following directors received options to purchase Common Shares under the Option Plan of the Company during the year ended September 30, 2006:
Name of Director |
Securities Under Options Granted (#) |
Exercise or Base Price ($/Security) |
Date of Grant |
Expiration Date |
William P. Armstrong | 90,000 | $2.68 | June 30, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
David J. Copeland | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
David J. Copeland | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Barry Coughlan | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Barry Coughlan | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Scott D. Cousens | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Scott D. Cousens | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Robert A. Dickinson | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Robert A. Dickinson | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
David Elliott | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
David Elliott | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Wayne Kirk | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Wayne Kirk | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Jeffrey R. Mason | 50,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Jeffrey R. Mason | 40,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Ronald W. Thiessen | 75,000 | $2.18 | March 28, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
Ronald W. Thiessen | 60,000 | $2.63 | April 5, 2006 | March 11, 2011 |
C. Board Practices
All directors were re-elected at the March 2007 annual general meeting and have a term of office expiring at the next annual general meeting of Taseko scheduled for March 2008. All officers have a term of office lasting until their removal or replacement by the Board of Directors.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board created an Investment Committee as of February 7, 2007. The function of the Investment Committee is to consider and evaluate the Companys existing investments and consider potential new investment opportunities for the Company. The Investment Committee currently comprises Messrs. Armstrong, Elliott, Kirk, Hallbauer and Mason.
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The Board also has an Executive Committee as of December 12, 2006. The function of the Executive Committee is to review and authorize certain capital expenditures. The Executive Committee currently comprises Messrs. Armstrong, Hallbauer, Mason and Thiessen.
The Board has no other committees other than the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, Executive, Compensation Committee and Investment Committee.
Audit Committee
The Board has adopted a charter for the Audit Committee in accordance with Canadian Multilateral Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees, (MI 52-110), the Canadian regulatory policy respecting audit committees, in carrying out its audit and financial review functions. The text of the audit committee charter (excluding specified definitions of independence and financial literacy under stock exchange policies and securities law) is available on the Companys website (www.tasekomines.com). The Audit Committee reviews all financial statements of the Company prior to their publication, recommends the appointment of independent auditors, reviews and approves the professional services to be rendered by them and approves fees for audit services. The Audit Committee meets both separately with auditors (without management present) as well as with management present. The meetings with the auditors discuss the various aspects of the Companys financial presentation in the areas of audit risk and Canadian and U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The Companys Audit Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Elliott, Kirk and Armstrong. MrEach audit committee member is an independent director as defined in MI 52-110. All members of the Audit Committee are financially literate as defined in MI 52-110. The audit committee typically meets quarterly.
Compensation Committee
The Board has established a Compensation Committee, currently comprised of Messrs. Coughlan, Armstrong, Kirk and Mason, three of whom are independent Direcotrs as defined in MI 52-110. The Board has adopted a charter for the Compensation Committee which is also available for viewing at the Companys website (www.tasekomines.com).
The function of the Compensation Committee is to review, on an annual basis, the compensation paid to the Companys executive officers and to the Directors, to review the performance of the Companys executive officers, and to make recommendations on compensation to the Board. In addition, the Committee reviews annually the compensation plans for the Companys non-executive staff. The Compensation Committee delivered management and director compensation recommendations to the Board late in 2006 based on advice from an independent consulting firm.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Armstrong, Coughlan, Elliott, Kirk and Hallbauer, four of whom are independent Directors as defined in MI 52-110 for the reasons described above.
The Board has adopted a charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in carrying out its duties. This charter is available for viewing at the Companys website (www.tasekomines.com).
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has been given the responsibility of developing the Companys approach to corporate governance. This Committee has prepared a governance policies and procedures manual to assist members of the Board, management and employees in carrying out their duties. The Corporate Governance Committee reviews with management the prevailing rules and policies
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in effect from time to time that are applicable to governance of the Company in order to ensure that the Company remains in compliance with all prescribed legal requirements.
The nominating function of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to evaluate and recommend to the Board the size of the Board and persons as nominees for the position of director of the Company. The Committee has developed a written self-evaluation procedure for assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of the Board as a whole. This function is carried out annually by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, whose evaluations and assessments are then provided to the Board of Directors in connection with its responsibility to evaluate the Board and nominate persons as nominees for the position of director of the Company.
D. Employees
Tasekos administrative and exploration functions are primarily administered through Hunter Dickinson Inc. (see Item 7) and therefore doesnt have any direct employees except for those employed by a subsidiary. At March 30, 2007, approximately 311 persons were employed at the Gibraltar mine.
E. Share Ownership
The following table sets out the share ownership as at March 30, 2007 of Tasekos directors and senior management and includes the details of all options or warrants to purchase shares of Taseko held by such persons:
Name of Director or Senior Officer |
Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled (1) |
Incentive Stock Options Held |
Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Shares Owned (1), (2) |
William Armstrong Director |
Nil Common Shares |
171,000 Options (3) |
0.00% |
David J. Copeland Director |
990,045 Common Shares |
171,000 Options (3) |
0.77% |
Barry Coughlan Director |
100,000 Common Shares |
171,000 Options (3) |
0.08% |
Scott D. Cousens Director |
684,766 Common Shares |
171,000 Options (4) |
0.53% |
Robert A. Dickinson Director |
315,600 Common Shares |
171,000 Options (4) |
0.25% |
David Elliott Director |
60,000 Common Shares |
171,000 Options (4) |
0.05% |
Russell E. Hallbauer President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
211,500 Common Shares |
1,455,000 Options (5) |
0.16% |
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Name of Director or Senior Officer |
Common Shares Beneficially Owned or Controlled (1) |
Incentive Stock Options Held |
Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Shares Owned (1), (2) |
Wayne Kirk Director |
50,000 Common Shares |
171,000 Options (4) |
0.04% |
Jeffrey R. Mason Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Director |
10,000 Common Shares |
255,000 Options (6) |
0.01% |
John W. McManus Vice President, Operations |
10,000 Common Shares |
390,000 Options (7) |
0.01% |
Ronald W. Thiessen Co-Chairman of the Board and Director |
1,566,346 Common Shares |
300,000 Options (8) |
1.22% |
TOTAL HELD BY DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT |
3,998,257 Shares |
3,426,000 Options |
3.108% |
Notes:
(1) | Does not include any shares that may be acquired upon exercise of stock options. |
(2) | Based on 128,658,125 common shares issued and outstanding as of March 30, 2007. |
(3) | Mr. Armstrong holds options to purchase 90,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $2.68 per Share expiring on March 28, 2011, and 81,000 Common Shares at $3.07 per Share expiring on February 24, 2012. |
(4) | Mr. Copeland, Mr. Coughlan, Mr. Cousens, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Elliott and Mr. Kirk each hold options to purchase 50,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $2.18 per Share expiring on March 28, 2011, 40,000 Common Shares at $2.63 per Share expiring on March 28, 2011 and 81,000 Common Shares at $3.07 per Share expiring on February 24, 2012. |
(5) | Mr. Hallbauer holds options to purchase 780,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $1.15 per Share expiring on September 28, 2010 and 675,000 Common Shares at $3.07 per Share expiring on February 24, 2012. |
(6) | Mr. Mason holds options to purchase 50,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $2.18 per Share expiring on March 28, 2011, 40,000 Common Shares at $2.63 expiring on March 28, 2011 and 165,000 Common Shares at $3.07 per Share expiring on February 24, 2012. |
(7) | Mr. McManus holds options to purchase 225,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $1.15 per Share expiring on September 28, 2010 and 165,000 Common Shares at $3.07 per Share expiring on February 24, 2012. |
(8) | Mr. Thiessen holds options to purchase 75,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $2.18 per Share expiring on March 28, 2011, 60,000 Common Shares at $2.63 expiring on March 29, 2011 and 165,000 Common Shares at $3.07 per Share expiring on February 24, 2012. |
(b) Share Incentive Plan
Taseko has a Share Incentive Plan which reserves up to 10% of the outstanding number of shares for issuance. The Companys 2006 Plan was first approved and ratified by shareholders at the Companys annual general meeting held on March 22, 2006 and re-approved at the recently held annual general meeting on March 15, 2007. Under the 2006 Plan, the total number of Common Shares reserved for share
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incentive options for granting at the discretion of the Companys board of directors to eligible optionees (the Optionees) is equal to ten (10%) percent of the issued and outstanding Common Shares in the capital stock of the Company from time to time (approximately 12,865,813 Common Shares at the date hereof). As at March 30, 2007, 6,111,884 (approximately 4.8% of the current issued and outstanding Common Shares) options were outstanding under the 2006 Plan. There remain 6,753,929 (approximately 5.2% of the current issued and outstanding Common Shares) Common Shares available for granting as options under the 2006 Plan.
The TSX permits a company to have a share option plan with a rolling maximum based on a percentage of a companys outstanding securities. In addition, certain amendments to the options are permitted if the ability to amend the option is contained in the share option plan approved by shareholders.
Under the 2006 Plan, as the outstanding options are exercised and the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company increases, the percentage of options available for granting to eligible Optionees will increase. However, all validly outstanding options under the 2004 Plan will be counted as if they had been issued under the 2006 Plan for calculating what may yet be issued under the 2006 Plan.
The following is a summary of the material terms of the 2006 Plan:
(a) | persons who are directors, officers, employees, consultants to the Company or its affiliates, or who are employees of a management company providing services to the Company are eligible to receive grants of options under the 2006 Plan; |
(b) | all options granted under the 2006 Plan are non-assignable and non-transferable and may have a maximum term of up to 10 years from the effective date; |
(c) | for stock options granted to employees or service providers (inclusive of management company employees), the Company must ensure that the proposed Optionee is a bona fide employee or |
service provider (inclusive of a management company employee), as the case may be, of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries; |
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(d) | if an Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company (other than as a result of termination with cause) or ceases to act as a director or officer of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, any vested option held by such Optionee may be exercised within 90 days after the date such Optionee ceases to be employed or act as an officer or director (30 days if the Optionee is engaged in investor relations activities); |
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(e) | the exercise price of the option is established by the board of directors at the time of the option is granted, subject to a the minimum exercise price of not less than the Market Price (as defined in the policies of TSX but generally speaking the undiscounted volume weighted five day average price); |
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(f) | no Optionee can be granted an option or options to purchase more than 5% of the outstanding listed shares of the Company in a one year period; and |
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(g) | subject to the policies of the TSX, the 2006 Plan may be amended without shareholder approval to: |
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(i) | make amendments which are of a housekeeping or clerical nature only; |
|
(ii) | change the vesting provisions of an option; |
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(iii) | change the termination provision of an option granted hereunder which does not entail an extension beyond the original expiry date of such option; and |
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(iv) | make such amendments as reduce, and do not increase, the benefits of the 2006 Plan to potential option recipients. |
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ITEM 7 MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
Major Shareholders
Taseko is a publicly-held corporation, with its shares held by residents of Canada, the United States of America and other countries. To the best of Tasekos knowledge, no person, corporation or other entity beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or controls more than 5% of the common shares of Taseko, the only class of securities with voting rights. For these purposes, beneficial ownership means the sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting or to dispose or direct the disposition of any security.
Geographic Breakdown of Shareholders
As of March 30, 2007, Tasekos register of shareholder indicates that Tasekos common shares are held of record, as follows:
Location |
Number of Registered Shareholders of Record |
Number of Shares |
Percentage of Total Shares |
Canada | 117 | 111,165,275 | 86.4% |
United States | 413 | 17,461,849 | 13.6% |
Other | 5 | 3,501 | 0.00% |
TOTAL | 535 | 128,630,625 | 100.0% |
Shares registered in intermediaries were assumed to be held by residents of the same country in which the clearing house was located. However, the majority of such shares are registered in the name of intermediaries such as brokerage houses and clearing houses (on behalf of their respective brokerage clients). Taseko does not have knowledge or access to the identities of the beneficial owners of such shares registered through intermediaries.
Transfer Agent
Taseko's securities are recorded on the books of its transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., located at 9th Floor, 100 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Y1, by fax within North America at 1-866-249-7775, outside North America at (416) 263-9524, in registered form.
Control
To the best of its knowledge, Taseko is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation, by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person, severally or jointly. There are no arrangements known to Taseko which, at a subsequent date, may result in a change in control of Taseko.
Insider Reports under the British Columbia Securities Act
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Under the British Columbia Securities Act, "insiders" (generally officers, directors and holders of 10% or more of Taseko's shares) are required to file insider reports of changes in their ownership in the first 10 days following a trade in Taseko's securities. Copies of such reports are available for public inspection at the offices of the British Columbia Securities Commission, 9th Floor, 701 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1L2 (phone (604) 899-6500) or at the British Columbia Securities Commission web site (www.bcsc.bc.ca). Commencing in 2002 in British Columbia all insider reports must be filed electronically 10 days following the date of the trade at www.sedi.ca. The public is able to access these reports at www.sedi.ca.
B. Related Party Transactions
No director or senior officer, and no associate or affiliate of the foregoing persons, and no insider has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any other transactions, or in any other proposed transaction, which in either such case has materially affected or will materially affect Taseko or its predecessors during the year ended September 30, 2006 and up to the date hereof except as follows:
Hunter Dickinson Management Contract
Hunter Dickinson Inc. ("HDI") provides management services to Taseko, pursuant to a geological and administrative services agreement dated for reference December 31, 1996. HDI is one of the larger independent mining exploration groups in North America, providing management services to ten public mineral resource issuers. As of March 30, 2007, HDI employed or retained approximately 105 staff or service providers, substantially on a full-time basis. Of these, approximately:
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40% are professional technical staff (a large majority of whom have accreditation as a professional engineer or professional geoscientist); |
- | 15% are professional accountants (the majority of whom have professional designations); and |
- | 45% are administrative, office or field support personnel. |
HDI has supervised mineral exploration projects in Canada (British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec) and internationally in Brazil, Chile, China, the United States (Nevada and Alaska), Mexico and South Africa. HDI allocates the costs of staff input into projects based on time records of involved personnel. Costs of such personnel and third party contractors are billed to the participating public companies on a full cost recovery basis (inclusive of HDI staff costs and overhead) for amounts that are considered by the Company's management to be competitive with arm's length suppliers. The nature of the various costs incurred by HDI are retained in the financial statements presentation and apportioned amongst the line items according to the type of costs. The shares of HDI are owned equally by each of the participating corporations (including Taseko) as long as HDI services are being provided; however such participant surrenders its single share at the time of termination of the related services agreement, which can be cancelled on 30 days notice by either party.. Several of the directors of HDI are also directors of Taseko and they also serve as directors of the other mineral resource issuers that have similar arrangements with HDI.
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The amounts billed by HDI for its services rendered and reimbursement of expenses for year ended September 30, 2006, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:
Years ended June 30 | ||||||||||
Transactions | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Services rendered and expenses reimbursed | ||||||||||
Hunter Dickinson Inc. and subsidiaries | $ | 2,869,003 | $ | 1,222,603 | $ | 806,970 | ||||
Hunter Dickinson Group Inc. | | 12,800 | 12,800 |
The nature of the various costs incurred by HDI on the Company’s behalf are retained in the financial statement presentation, apportioned amongst the line items according to the type of cost.
Taseko believes that the terms of the services provided by HDI pursuant to the management and services agreement are equivalent or more favourable than the terms that Taseko would be able to negotiate in similar transactions with arms-length parties.
Intercompany balances due to/ from HDI are non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on demand. The related party balances for the last three fiscal years are as follows:
September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||
Balances receivable (payable) at | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Hunter Dickinson Inc. | $ | (26,430 | ) | $ | (105,067 | ) | $ | 198,281 | ||
Hunter Dickinson Group Inc. | | | (3,424 | ) | ||||||
Balances receivable (payable) to related | ||||||||||
parties | $ | (26,430 | ) | $ | (105,067 | ) | $ | 194,857 |
No director or officer of Taseko has been indebted to Taseko at any time during the last three fiscal years.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
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ITEM 8 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
See "Item 17 Financial Statements".
Legal Proceedings
Taseko is not involved in any actual litigation or legal proceedings and to Tasekos knowledge, no material legal proceedings involving Taseko or its subsidiaries are to be initiated against Taseko.
Arbitration Proceeding
Glencore Ltd. ("Glencore") purchases the whole of the copper concentrates produced by the Gibraltar mine pursuant to the terms of a written contract (the "Contract"). During the year, Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Glencore had a dispute concerning the interpretation of the Contract. Glencore asserted that the Contract provides that the price to be paid for the concentrates should be reduced by a deduction referred to as "price participation". Gibraltar asserted that the Contract does not provide for any such deduction. Both parties agreed to binding arbitration to settle this dispute. In August 2006, the arbitrator ruled in favor of Gibraltar and awarded the Company approximately US$8.5 million in amounts previously withheld by Glencore. At September 30, 2006, the Company had received substantially all of the withheld amounts and had been reimbursed for $0.8 million of legal costs associated with the arbitration.
Dividend Policy
The Company has not paid any dividends on its outstanding common shares since its incorporation and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. All funds of Taseko are being retained for exploration and operations at its Projects.
B. Significant Changes
Taseko has not experienced any significant changes since the date of the financial statements included with this Registration Statement except as disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
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ITEM 9 THE OFFER AND LISTING
A. Offer and Listing Details
Trading Markets
The Company's shares are traded in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TKO. Prior to March 8, 2006, the Companys shares were traded in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the United States, the Company's shares were traded on the OTCBB under the symbol TKOCF until October 1, 2004, after which date the Company's shares commenced trading on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol TGB.
The following table sets forth the high and low market prices of the Companys common shares during the periods indicated.
TKO.TO | TGB and TKOCF | ||||||
High | Low | Volume | High | Low | Volume | ||
Canadian Dollars | U.S. Dollars | ||||||
Last six months | |||||||
March 2007 | $3.20 | $ 2.70 | 122,668 | $ 2.77 | $ 2.33 | 702,545 | |
February 2007 | $ 3.34 | $ 2.90 | 202,400 | $ 2.88 | $ 2.49 | 802,900 | |
January 2007 | $ 3.09 | $ 2.66 | 175,800 | $ 2.63 | $ 2.22 | 728,700 | |
December 2006 | $ 3.41 | $ 2.85 | 463,900 | $ 2.99 | $ 2.47 | 1,246,500 | |
November 2006 | $ 3.05 | $ 2.47 | 286,300 | $ 2.69 | $ 2.16 | 973,400 | |
October 2006 | $ 2.91 | $ 2.25 | 176,200 | $ 2.59 | $1.99 | 781,000 | |
September 2006 | $ 2.85 | $ 2.19 | 230,800 | $2.57 | $1.96 | 827,100 | |
By fiscal quarter | |||||||
Quarter ended December 31, 2006 | $ 3.41 | $ 2.25 | 308,800 | $ 2.99 | $ 1.99 | 1,000,300 | |
Quarter ended September 30, 2006 | $ 3.26 | $ 2.19 | 306,467 | $ 2.90 | $ 1.96 | 1,142,333 | |
Quarter ended June 30, 2006 | $ 4.66 | $ 2.10 | 789,900 | $ 4.25 | $ 1.93 | 2,141,467 | |
Quarter ended March 31, 2006 | $ 2.73 | $ 1.44 | 559,567 | $ 2.40 | $ 1.24 | 1,131,900 | |
Quarter ended December 31, 2005 | $ 1.43 | $ 1.06 | 153,100 | $ 1.24 | $ 0.90 | 302,933 | |
Quarter ended September 30, 2005 | $ 1.50 | $ 1.02 | 132,233 | $ 1.26 | $ 0.81 | 290,267 | |
Quarter ended June 30, 2005 | $ 1.64 | $ 1.02 | 127,067 | $ 1.34 | $ 0.80 | 238,733 | |
Quarter ended March 31, 2005 | $ 2.01 | $ 1.40 | 242,000 | $ 1.77 | $ 1.15 | 336,933 | |
Quarter ended December 31, 2004 | $ 2.14 | $1.63 | 142,167 | $ 1.85 | $ 1.32 | 237,333 | |
By fiscal year | |||||||
Year ended September 30, 2006 | $ 4.66 | $ 1.06 | 452,258 | $ 4.25 | $ 0.90 | 1,179,658 | |
Year ended September 30, 2005 | $ 2.14 | $ 1.02 | 160,867 | $ 1.85 | $ 0.80 | 275,817 | |
Year ended September 30, 2004 | $ 3.01 | $ 0.42 | 315,392 | $ 2.30 | $ 0.31 | 279,800 | |
Year ended September 30, 2003 | $ 0.65 | $ 0.25 | 40,083 | $ 0.44 | $ 0.19 | 49,292 | |
Year ended September 30, 2002 | $ 0.85 | $ 0.36 | 19,733 | $ 0.60 | $ 0.23 | 66,908 |
B. Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
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C. Markets
The Company trades, or has traded, on the following markets
Jurisdiction |
Exchange |
Stock Symbol |
From |
To |
Canada | TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) (successor exchange to the Vancouver Stock Exchange and the CDNX Exchange) | TKO | March 10, 1969 | March 7, 2006 |
Canada | Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) | TKO | March 8, 2006 | Present |
United States | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ) Regular Market | March 1992 | November 29, 1994 | |
United States | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ) National Market | November 30, 1994 | July 5, 2001 | |
United States | Over The Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) | TKOCF | July 6, 2001 | October 3, 2004 |
United States | American Stock Exchange | TGB | October 4, 2004 | Present |
D. Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
E. Dilution
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
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ITEM 10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. Share Capital
Not required in an annual report.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
The following is a summary of certain material provisions of (i) Tasekos new Articles, as adopted by shareholders, and (ii) certain provisions of the Business Corporations Act applicable to Taseko:
1. Objects and Purposes
Taseko's Memorandum and Articles do not specify objects or purposes. Taseko is entitled under the Business Corporations Act to carry on all lawful businesses which can be carried on by a natural person.
2. Directors
Directors power to vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which the director is interested.
According to the Business Corporations Act, a director holds a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction if:
1. | the contract or transaction is material to the company; |
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2. | the company has entered, or proposes to enter, into the contract or transaction, and |
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3. | either of the following applies to the director: |
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a. | the director has a material interest in the contract or transaction; |
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b. | the director is a director or senior officer of, or has a material interest in, a person who has a material interest in the contract or transaction. |
However, the Business Corporations Act also provides that in the following circumstances, a director does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction if:
1. | the situation that would otherwise constitute a disclosable interest arose before the coming into force of the Business Corporations Act or, if the company was recognized under the Business Corporations Act, before that recognition, and was disclosed and approved under, or was not required to be disclosed under, the legislation that: |
|
a. | applied to the company on or after the date on which the situation arose; and |
|
b. | is comparable in scope and intent to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act; |
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2. | both the company and the other party to the contract or transaction are wholly owned subsidiaries of the same corporation; |
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3. | the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the other party to the contract or transaction; |
4. | the other party to the contract or transaction is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company; or |
5. | where the director or senior officer is the sole shareholder of the company or of a corporation of which the company is a wholly owned subsidiary. |
The Business Corporations Act further provides that a director of a company does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction merely because:
1. | the contract or transaction is an arrangement by way of security granted by the company for money loaned to, or obligations undertaken by, the director or senior officer, or a person in whom the director or senior officer has a material interest, for the benefit of the company or an affiliate of the company; |
2. | the contract or transaction relates to an indemnity or insurance; |
3. | the contract or transaction relates to the remuneration of the director or senior officer in that person's capacity as director, officer, employee or agent of the company or of an affiliate of the company; |
4. | the contract or transaction relates to a loan to the company, and the director or senior officer, or a person in whom the director or senior officer has a material interest, is or is to be a guarantor of some or all of the loan; or |
5. | the contract or transaction has been or will be made with or for the benefit of a corporation that is affiliated with the company and the director or senior officer is also a director or senior officer of that corporation or an affiliate of that corporation. |
Under Tasekos Articles, a director or senior officer who holds a disclosable interest (as that term is used in the Business Corporations Act) in a contract or transaction into which Taseko has entered or proposes to enter:
1. | is liable to account to Taseko for any profit that accrues to the director or senior officer under or as a result of the contract or transaction only if and to the extent provided in the Act; |
2. | is not entitled to vote on any directors resolution to approve that contract or transaction, unless all the directors have a disclosable interest in that contract or transaction, in which case any or all of those directors may vote on such resolution; |
3. | and who is present at the meeting of directors at which the contract or transaction is considered for approval may be counted in the quorum at the meeting whether or not the director votes on any or all of the resolutions considered at the meeting. |
A director or senior officer who holds any office or possesses any property, right or interest that could result, directly or indirectly, in the creation of a duty or interest that materially conflicts with that individuals duty or interest as a director or senior officer, must disclose the nature and extent of the conflict as required by the Business Corporations Act. No director or intended director is disqualified by his or her office from contracting with Taseko either with regard to the holding of any office or place of profit the director holds with Taseko or as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, and no contract or transaction entered into by or on behalf of Taseko in which a director is in any way interested is liable to be voided for that reason
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Directors' power, in the absence of an independent quorum, to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body.
The compensation of the directors is decided by the directors unless the board of directors requests approval to the compensation from the shareholders by ordinary resolution. The Business Corporations Act provides that a director of a company does not hold a disclosable interest in a contract or transaction merely because the contract or transaction relates to the remuneration of the director or senior officer in that person's capacity as director, officer, employee or agent of Taseko or of an affiliate of Taseko.
Borrowing powers exercisable by the directors.
Under the Articles, the directors may, on behalf of Taseko:
1. Borrow money in such manner and amount, on such security, from such sources and upon such terms, and conditions as they consider appropriate;
2. Issue bonds, debentures, and other debt obligations either outright or as a security for any liability or obligation of Taseko or any other person and at such discounts or premiums and on such other terms as they consider appropriate;
3. guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person; and
4. mortgage, charge, whether by way of specific or floating charge, grant a security interest in, or give other security on, the whole or any part of the present and future assets and undertaking of Taseko.
Retirement and non-retirement of directors under an age limit requirement.
There are no such provisions applicable to Taseko under its Memorandum or its Articles or the Business Corporations Act.
Number of shares required for a directors qualification.
Directors need not own any shares of Taseko in order to qualify as directors.
3. Rights, Preferences and Restrictions Attaching to Each Class of Shares
Dividends
Dividends may be declared by the Board out of available assets and are paid rateably to holders of common shares. No dividend may be paid if Taseko is, or would thereby become, insolvent.
Voting Rights
Each Taseko share is entitled to one vote on matters to which common shares ordinarily vote including the annual election of directors, appointment of auditors and approval of corporate changes. Directors automatically retire at each annual meeting, and may be elected thereat. There are no staggered directorships among Tasekos directors. There are no cumulative voting rights applicable to Taseko.
Rights to Profits and Liquidation Rights
All common shares of Taseko participate ratably in any net profit or loss of Taseko and shares ratably any available assets in the event of a winding up or other liquidation.
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Redemption
Taseko has no redeemable securities authorized or issued.
Sinking Fund Provisions
Taseko has no sinking fund provisions or similar obligations.
Shares Fully Paid
All Taseko shares must, by applicable law, be issued as fully paid for cash, property or services. They are therefore non-assessable and not subject to further calls for payment.
4. Shareholder Rights Plan
The Board adopted a shareholder rights plan agreement (the Rights Plan) effective February 13, 2007 (the Effective Date) of which was approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on March 15, 2007. The primary objective of the Rights Plan is to ensure that all Shareholders of the Company are treated fairly in connection with any take-over bid for the Company by (a) providing shareholders with adequate time to properly assess a take-over bid without undue pressure and (b) providing the Board with more time to fully consider an unsolicited take-over bid, and, if applicable, to explore other alternatives to maximize shareholder value. The Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any proposal to acquire control of the Company.
The principal terms of the Rights Plan are summarized below. The full text of the Rights Plan was filed in a Material Change Report and is available for download at www.SEDAR.com.
Summary of Rights Plan
The following summary of the Rights Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Plan.
Issue of Rights
The Company has issued one right (a Right) in respect of each Common Share outstanding. The Company will issue Rights on the same basis for each Common Share subsequently issued but prior to the earlier of the Separation Time and the Expiration Time (both defined below).
The Rights
Each Right will entitle the holder, subject to the terms and conditions of the Rights Plan, to purchase additional Common Shares of the Company after the Separation Time.
Rights Certificates and Transferability
Before the Separation Time, the Rights are evidenced by certificates for the Common Shares, and are not transferable separately from the Common Shares. From and after the Separation Time, the Rights will be evidenced by separate Rights Certificates, which will be transferable separately from and independent of the Common Shares.
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Exercise of Rights
The Rights are not exercisable before the Separation Time. After the Separation Time and before the Expiration Time, each Right entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share for the exercise price of $40 (subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments). This exercise price is expected to be in excess of the estimated maximum value of the Common Shares during the term of the Rights Plan. Upon the occurrence of a Flip-In Event (defined below) prior to the Expiration Time (defined below), each Right (other than any Right held by an Acquiring Person, which will become null and void as a result of such Flip-In Event) may be exercised to purchase that number of Common Shares which have an aggregate market price equal to twice the exercise price of the Rights for a price equal to the exercise price (subject to adjustment). Effectively, this means a Shareholder of the Company (other than the Acquiring Person) can acquire additional Common Shares from treasury at half their market price.
Definition of Acquiring Person
Subject to certain exceptions, an Acquiring Person is a person who becomes the Beneficial Owner (defined below) of 20% or more of the Companys outstanding Common Shares.
Definition of Beneficial Ownership
A person is a Beneficial Owner of securities if such person or its affiliates or associates or any other person acting jointly or in concert with such person, owns the securities in law or equity, and has the right to acquire (immediately or within 60 days) the securities upon the exercise of any convertible securities or pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding. However, a person is not a Beneficial Owner under the Rights Plan where:
(a) | the securities have been deposited or tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer or take- over bid, unless those securities have been taken up or paid for; |
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(b) | such person has agreed to deposit or tender the securities to a take-over bid pursuant to a permitted lock-up agreementas defined; or |
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(c) | such person (including a fund manager, trust company, pension fund administrator, trustee or non-discretionary client accounts of registered brokers or dealers) is engaged in the management of mutual funds, investment funds or public assets for others, as long as that person: |
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(i) | holds those Common Shares in the ordinary course of its business for the account of others; |
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(ii) | is not making a take-over bid or acting jointly or in concert with a person who is making a take-over bid; or |
(iii) | such person is a registered holder of securities as a result of carrying on the business of or acting as a nominee of a securities depository. |
Definition of Separation Time
Separation Time occurs on the tenth trading day after the earlier of:
(a) | the first date of public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person; |
|
(b) | the date of the commencement or announcement of the intent of a person to commence a take-over bid (other than a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid); and |
(c) |
the date on which a Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid ceases to qualify as such; or such later date as determined by the Board. |
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Definition of Expiration Time
Expiration Time occurs on the date being the earlier of:
(a) | the time at which the right to exercise Rights is terminated under the terms of the Rights Plan; or |
|
(b) | immediately after the Companys annual meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2010 unless at such meeting the duration of the Rights Plan is extended. |
Definition of a Flip-In Event
A Flip-In Event occurs when a person becomes an Acquiring Person, provided the Flip-In Event is deemed to occur at the close of business on the 10th day after the first date of a public announcement of facts indicating that an Acquiring Person has become such. Upon the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, any Rights that are beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person, or any of its related parties to whom the Acquiring Person has transferred its Rights, will become null and void and, as a result, the Acquiring Persons investment in the Company will be greatly diluted if a substantial portion of the Rights are exercised after a Flip-In Event occurs.
Definition of Permitted Bid
A Permitted Bid is a take-over bid made by a person (the Offeror) pursuant to a take-over bid circular that complies with the following conditions:
(a) | the bid is made to all registered holders of Common Shares (other than the Offeror); |
|
(b) | the Offeror agrees that no Common Shares will be taken up or paid for under the bid for at least 60 days following the commencement of the bid and that no Common Shares will be taken up or paid for unless at such date more than 50% of the outstanding Common Shares held by Shareholders, other than the Offeror and certain related parties, have been deposited pursuant to the bid and not withdrawn; |
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(c) | the Offeror agrees that the Common Shares may be deposited to and withdrawn from the take-over bid at any time before such Common Shares are taken up and paid for; and |
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(d) | if, on the date specified for take-up and payment, the condition in paragraph (b) above is satisfied, the bid shall remain open for an additional period of at least 10 business days to permit the remaining Shareholders to tender their Common Shares. |
Definition of Competing Permitted Bid
A Competing Permitted Bid is a take-over bid that:
(a) | is made while another Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid has been made and prior to the expiry of that Permitted Bid or Competing Permitted Bid; |
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(b) | satisfies all the requirements of a Permitted Bid other than the requirement that no Common Shares will be taken up or paid for under the bid for at least 60 days following the commencement of the bid and that no Common Shares will be taken up or paid for unless at such date more than 50% of the outstanding Common Shares held by Shareholders, other than the Offeror and certain related parties, have been deposited pursuant to the bid and not withdrawn; and |
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(c) | contains the conditions that no Common Shares be taken up or paid for pursuant to the Competing Permitted Bid prior to the close of business on a date that is not earlier than the later of 35 days after the date of the Competing Permitted Bid and the earliest date on which the Common Shares may be taken up or paid for under any prior bid in existence at the date of such Competing Permitted Bid; and then only if, at the time that such Common Shares are first taken up or paid for, more than 50% of then outstanding Common Shares held by Shareholders, other than the Offeror and certain related parties, have been deposited pursuant to the Competing Permitted Bid and not withdrawn. |
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Redemption of Rights
All (but not less than all) of the Rights may be redeemed by the Board with the prior approval of the Shareholders at any time before a Flip-In Event occurs at a redemption price of $0.0001 per Right (subject to adjustment). In addition, in the event of a successful Permitted Bid, Competing Permitted Bid or a bid for which the Board has waived the operation of the Rights Plan, the Company will immediately upon such acquisition and without further formality, redeem the Rights at the redemption price. If the Rights are redeemed pursuant to the Rights Plan, the right to exercise the Rights will, without further action and without notice, terminate and the only right thereafter of the Rights holders is to receive the redemption price.
Waiver
Before a Flip-In Event occurs, the Board may waive the application of the Flip-In provisions of the Rights Plan to any prospective Flip-In Event which would occur by reason of a take-over bid made by a take-over bid circular to all registered holders of Common Shares. However, if the Board waives the Rights Plan with respect to a particular bid, it will be deemed to have waived the Rights Plan with respect to any other take-over bid made by take-over bid circular to all registered holders of Common Shares before the expiry of that first bid. The Board may also waive the Flip-In provisions of the Rights Plan in respect of any Flip-In Event provided that the Board has determined that the Acquiring Person became an Acquiring Person through inadvertence and has reduced its ownership to such a level that it is no longer an Acquiring Person.
Term of the Rights Plan
Unless otherwise terminated, the Rights Plan will expire at the Expiration Time (defined above).
Amending Power
Except for amendments to correct clerical or typographical errors and amendments to maintain the validity of the Rights Plan as a result of a change of applicable legislation or applicable rules or policies of securities regulatory authorities, Shareholder (other than the Offeror and certain related parties) or Rights holder majority approval is required for supplements or amendments to the Rights Plan. In addition, any supplement or amendment to the Rights Plan will require the written concurrence of the Rights Agent and prior written consent of the TSX.
Rights Agent
The Rights Agent under the Rights Plan is Computershare Investor Services Inc.
Rights Holder not a Shareholder
Until a Right is exercised, the holders thereof as such, will have no rights as a Shareholder of the Company.
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5. Changes to Rights and Restrictions to Shares
The Business Corporations Act provides that a company may, by the type of shareholders' resolution specified by the articles, or, if the articles do not specify the type of resolution, by a special resolution:
i) | create special rights or restrictions for, and attach those special rights or restrictions to, the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued; or |
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ii) | vary or delete any special rights or restrictions attached to the shares of any class or series of shares, whether or not any or all of those shares have been issued. |
Tasekos Articles provide that, subject to the Business Corporations Act, Taseko may by ordinary resolution or a resolution of the directors (or a resolution of the directors in the case of §(c) or §(f) below):
(a) | create one or more classes or series of shares or, if none of the shares of a class or series of shares are allotted or issued, eliminate that class or series of shares; |
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(b) | increase, reduce or eliminate the maximum number of shares that Taseko is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares or establish a maximum number of shares that Taseko is authorized to issue out of any class or series of shares for which no maximum is established; |
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(c) | subdivide or consolidate all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares; |
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(d) | if Taseko is authorized to issue shares of a class of shares with par value: |
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(i) | decrease the par value of those shares; or |
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(ii) | if none of the shares of that class of shares are allotted or issued, increase the par value of those shares; |
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(e) | change all or any of its unissued, or fully paid issued, shares with par value into shares without par value or any of its unissued shares without par value into shares with par value; |
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(f) | alter the identifying name of any of its shares; or |
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(g) | otherwise alter its shares or authorized share structure when required or permitted to do so by the Act where it does not specify a special resolution. |
An ordinary resolution is a resolution of shareholders that is approved by a majority of those votes cast at a properly constituted meeting of shareholders. The Articles provide that a special resolution is a resolution of shareholders that is approved by two thirds (66 2/3%) of those votes cast at a properly constituted meeting of shareholders.
If special rights and restrictions are altered and any right or special right attached to issued shares is prejudiced or interfered with, then the consent of the holders of shares of that class or series by a special separate resolution will be required.
The Business Corporations Act also provides that a company may reduce its capital if it is authorized to do so by a court order, or, if the capital is reduced to an amount that is not less than the realizable value of the company's assets less its liabilities, by a special resolution or court order.
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Generally, there are no significant differences between British Columbia and United States law with respect to changing the rights of shareholders as most state corporation statutes require shareholder approval (usually a majority) for any such changes that affect the rights of shareholders.
6. Meetings of Shareholders
The Articles provide that Taseko must hold its annual general meeting once in every calendar year (being not more than 15 months from the last annual general meeting) at such time and place to be determined by the directors of Taseko. Shareholders meetings are governed by the Articles of Taseko but many important shareholder protections are also contained in the Securities Act (British Columbia) (the Securities Act) and the British Columbia Corporations Act. The Articles provide that Taseko will provide at least 21 days' advance written notice of any meeting of shareholders and will provide for certain procedural matters and rules of order with respect to conduct of the meeting. The directors may fix in advance a date, which is no fewer than 21 days prior to the date of the meeting for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at a general meeting.
The Securities Act and the British Columbia Corporations Act superimpose requirements that generally provide that shareholders meetings require not less than a 60 day notice period from initial public notice and that Taseko makes a thorough advanced search of intermediary and brokerage registered shareholdings to facilitate communication with beneficial shareholders so that meeting proxy and information materials can be sent via the brokerages to unregistered but beneficial shareholders. The form and content of information circulars and proxies and like matters are governed by the Securities Act and the British Columbia Corporations Act. This legislation specifies the disclosure requirements for the proxy materials and various corporate actions, background information on the nominees for election for director, executive compensation paid in the previous year and full details of any unusual matters or related party transactions. Taseko must hold an annual shareholders meeting open to all shareholders for personal attendance or by proxy at each shareholder's determination. The meeting must be held within 13 months of the previous annual shareholders meeting and must present audited statements which are no more than 180 days old at such meeting.
Most state corporation statutes require a public company to hold an annual meeting for the election of directors and for the consideration of other appropriate matters. The state statutes also include general provisions relating to shareholder voting and meetings. Apart from the timing of when an annual Meeting must be held and the percentage of shareholders required to call an annual Meeting or an extraordinary meeting, there are generally no material differences between Canadian and United States law respecting annual meetings and extraordinary meetings.
7. Rights to Own Securities
There are no limitations under Taseko's Articles or in the Business Corporations Act on the right of persons who are not citizens of Canada to hold or vote common shares.
8. Restrictions on Changes in Control, Mergers, Acquisitions or Corporate Restructuring of the Company
Tasekos Articles do not contain any provisions that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of Taseko. Taseko has not implemented any shareholders' rights or other "poison pill" protection against possible take-overs. Taseko does not have any agreements which are triggered by a take-over or other change of control. There are no provisions in its Articles triggered by or affected by a change in outstanding shares which gives rise to a change in control. There are no provisions in Taseko's material agreements giving special rights to any person on a change in control.
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The Business Corporations Act does not contain any provisions that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of a company.
Generally, there are no significant differences between British Columbia and United States law in this regard, as many state corporation statutes also do not contain such provisions and only empower a companys board of directors to adopt such provisions.
9. Ownership Threshold Requiring Public Disclosure
The Articles of Taseko do not require disclosure of share ownership. Share ownership of director nominees must be reported annually in proxy materials sent to Taseko's shareholders. There are no requirements under British Columbia corporate law to report ownership of shares of Taseko but the Securities Act requires disclosure of trading by insiders (generally officers, directors and holders of 10% of voting shares) within 10 days of the trade. Controlling shareholders (generally those in excess of 20% of outstanding shares) must provide seven days advance notice of share sales. Effective January 31, 2003 all insider trading reports filed by Tasekos insiders pursuant to Canadian securities legislation are available on the Internet at www.sedi.ca.
Most state corporation statutes do not contain provisions governing the threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed. United States federal securities laws require a company that is subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to disclose, in its annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission those shareholders who own more than 5% of a corporations issued and outstanding shares.
10. Differences in Law between the US and British Columbia
Differences in the law between United States and British Columbia, where applicable, have been explained above within each category.
11. Changes in the Capital of the Company
There are no conditions imposed by Tasekos Notice of Articles or Articles which are more stringent than those required by the Business Corporations Act.
Securities Act (British Columbia)
This statute applies to Taseko and governs matters typically pertaining to public securities such as continuous quarterly financial reporting, immediate disclosure of material changes, insider trade reporting, take-over protections to ensure fair and equal treatment of all shareholders, exemption and resale rules pertaining to non-prospectus securities issuances as well as civil liability for certain misrepresentations, disciplinary, appeal and discretionary ruling matters. All Taseko shareholders regardless of residence have equal rights under this legislation.
Subsidiary Gibraltar Mines Ltd.
The common shares of Gibraltar are wholly owned by Taseko and Gibraltar has constituting documents ordinary to a British Columbia corporation pursuing mining activities. Gibraltar has a class of preference shares outstanding which are owned by Continental and which were received for transferring to Gibraltar the Harmony Gold Project. These preference shares are convertible into Taseko shares in the event of a liquidation event in connection with the Harmony Gold Project.
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C. Material Contracts
Tasekos material contracts are:
(a) | Convertible Debenture July 21, 1999 in the principal amount of CDN $17,000,000 issued by Gibraltar to Boliden Westmin (Canada) Limited pursuant to the acquisition of the Gibraltar mine (see Item 4 "The Gibraltar Mine") filed with 20-F in March 30, 2000; |
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(b) | Geological Management and Administration Services Agreement with Hunter Dickinson Inc. dated for reference December 31, 1996 filed with Form 20-F for fiscal year 1999 filed on March 30, 2000 (See Item 7 "Interest of Management in Certain Transactions"); |
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(c) | Arrangement Agreement dated February 22, 2001 among Taseko, Misty Mountain Gold Limited and Gibraltar Mines Ltd. whereby Taseko caused Gibraltar to acquire the 3 million ounce Harmony Gold Project (see Item 4) in consideration of the issuance of Preferred Shares of Gibraltar which are convertible into Taseko shares in the event of a liquidation event in connection with the Harmony Gold Project.; |
(d) | Agreements with the GRT Limited Partnership described in Items 4 , 7 and 19; |
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(e) | Royalty Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Wilshire Financial Services Inc. |
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(f) | Call Option Agreement dated September 29, 2004. among: 688888 B.C. Ltd., Red Mile Resources Inc., in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, and Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation, in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership. |
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(g) | Funding Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Wilshire Financial Services Inc. |
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(h) | Funding Pledge Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Wilshire Financial Services Inc., Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Alberta Capital Trust Corporation |
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(i) | Pledge, Priorities and Direction Agreement dated September 29, 2004 among Red Mile Resources Inc., in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, and Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation, in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., 688888 B.C. Ltd., Wilshire Financial Services Inc, Alberta Capital Trust Corporation, Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation, Red Mile Resources Inc., and all of the Limited Partners of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership. |
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(j) | Indemnification Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Wilshire Financial Services Inc. |
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(k) | General Partner Share Purchase Agreement between Red Mile Resources Inc. as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., 688888 BC Ltd. as Optionee dated September 29, 2004; |
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(l) | Shortfall Agreement between Red Mile Resources Inc. as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership, Wilshire Financial Services Inc., Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and |
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(m) | Fee Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership and Taseko Mines Limited; |
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(n) | Convertible Bonds dated August 29, 2006 in the principal amount of US$30,000,000 issued by Gibraltar to qualified institutional buyers; |
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(o) | Convertible Secured Promissory Note dated August 31, 2006 in the principal amount of CDN $11,500,000 issued by Continental Minerals Corporation to Gibraltar Mines Ltd. |
D. Exchange Controls
Taseko is a British Columbia, Canada, corporation. There is no law or governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of Common Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. Any such remittances to United States residents are generally subject to withholding tax, however no such remittances are likely in the foreseeable future. See "Taxation", below.
There is no limitation imposed by the laws of Canada or by the charter or other constituent documents of Taseko on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote its common shares, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act (Canada) (the "Investment Act"). The following discussion summarizes the material features of the Investment Act for a non-resident who proposes to acquire a controlling number of Tasekos common shares. It is general only, it is not a substitute for independent advice from an investors own advisor, and it does not anticipate statutory or regulatory amendments. Taseko does not believe the Investment Act will have any affect on it or on its non-Canadian shareholders due to a number of factors including the nature of its operations and Tasekos relatively small capitalization.
The Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a "reviewable" investment by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture (each an "entity") that is not a "Canadian" as defined in the Investment Act (ie. a "non-Canadian"), unless after review the Director of Investments appointed by the minister responsible for the Investment Act is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. The size and nature of a proposed transaction may give rise to an obligation to notify the Director to seek an advance ruling. An investment in Tasekos common shares by a non-Canadian (other than a "WTO Investor" as that term is defined in the Investment Act and which term includes entities which are nationals of or are controlled by nationals of member states of the World Trade Organization) when Taseko is not controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of Taseko and the value of the assets of Taseko, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was over a certain figure, or if an order for review was made by the federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canadas cultural heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of the assets of Taseko. An investment in the Common Shares by a WTO Investor, or by a non-Canadian when Taseko is controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of Taseko and the value of the assets of Taseko, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was not less than a specified amount, which currently exceeds approximately C$250 million. A non-Canadian would acquire control of Taseko for the purposes of the Investment Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the Common
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Shares. The acquisition of less than a majority but one-third or more of the Common Shares would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of Taseko unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, Taseko was not controlled in fact by the acquiror through the ownership of the Common Shares.
The foregoing assumes Taseko will not engage in the production of uranium or own an interest in a producing uranium property in Canada, or provide any financial service or transportation service, as the rules governing these businesses are different.
Certain transactions relating to the Common Shares would be exempt from the Investment Act, including
(a) | an acquisition of the Common Shares by a person in the ordinary course of that persons business as a trader or dealer in securities, |
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(b) | an acquisition of control of Taseko in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for a purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act, and |
(c) | an acquisition of control of Taseko by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of Taseko, through the ownership of the Common Shares, remained unchanged. |
E. Taxation
Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences for United States Residents
The following, in managements understanding, summarizes the material Canadian federal income tax consequences generally applicable to the holding and disposition of Common Shares by a holder (in this summary, a "U.S. Holder") who, (a) for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"), is not resident in Canada, deals at arms length with Taseko, holds the Common Shares as capital property and does not use or hold the Common Shares in the course of carrying on, or otherwise in connection with, a business in Canada, and (b) for the purposes of the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention, 1980 (the "Treaty"), is a resident solely of the United States, has never been a resident of Canada, and has not held or used (and does not hold or use) Common Shares in connection with a permanent establishment or fixed base in Canada. This summary does not apply to traders or dealers in securities, limited liability companies, tax-exempt entities, insurers, financial institutions (including those to which the mark-to-market provisions of the Tax Act apply), or any other U.S. Holder to which special considerations apply.
This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act including all regulations thereunder, the Treaty, all proposed amendments to the Tax Act, the regulations and the Treaty publicly announced by the Government of Canada to the date hereof, and the current administrative practices of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. It has been assumed that all currently proposed amendments will be enacted as proposed and that there will be no other relevant change in any governing law or administrative practice, although no assurances can be given in these respects. This summary does not take into account provincial, U.S., state or other foreign income tax law or practice. The tax consequences to any particular U.S. Holder will vary according to the status of that holder as an individual, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the jurisdictions in which that holder is subject to taxation, and generally according to that holders particular circumstances. Accordingly, this summary is not, and is not to be construed as, Canadian tax advice to any particular U.S. Holder.
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Dividends
Dividends paid or deemed to be paid to a U.S. Holder by Taseko will be subject to Canadian withholding tax. Under the Treaty, the rate of withholding tax on dividends paid to a U.S. Holder is generally limited to 15% of the gross amount of the dividend (or 5% if the U.S. Holder is a corporation and beneficially owns at least 10% of Tasekos voting shares). Taseko will be required to withhold the applicable withholding tax from any such dividend and remit it to the Canadian government for the U.S. Holders account.
Disposition
A U.S. Holder is not subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of a capital gain realized on the disposition of a Common Share in the open market unless the share is "taxable Canadian property" to the holder thereof and the U.S. Holder is not entitled to relief under the Treaty. A Common Share will be taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Holder if, at any time during the 60 months preceding the disposition, the U.S. Holder or persons with whom the U.S. Holder did not deal at arms length alone or together owned, or had rights to acquire, 25% or more of Tasekos issued shares of any class or series.
A U.S. Holder whose Common Shares do constitute taxable Canadian property, and who might therefore be liable for Canadian income tax under the Tax Act, will generally be relieved from such liability under the Treaty unless the value of such shares at the time of disposition is derived principally from real property situated in Canada.
United States Tax Consequences
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is, in managements understanding, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax consequences, under current law, generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as hereinafter defined) of common shares of Taseko. This discussion does not address all potentially relevant federal income tax matters and it does not address consequences peculiar to persons subject to special provisions of federal income tax law, such as those described below as excluded from the definition of a U.S. Holder. In addition, this discussion does not cover any state, local or foreign tax consequences. (see "Taxation Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences" above). Accordingly, holders and prospective holders of common shares of Taseko should consult their own tax advisors about the specific federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences to them of purchasing, owning and disposing of common shares of Taseko, based upon their individual circumstances.
The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time and which are subject to differing interpretations. This discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any proposed legislation which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a "U.S. Holder" means a holder of common shares of Taseko who is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, an entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof which has elected to be treated as a corporation for United States Income Tax Purposes (under Treasury Regulation section 301.7201 -3), an
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estate whose income is taxable in the United States irrespective of source or a trust subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and control of a United States fiduciary as described Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code. This summary does not address the tax consequences to, and U.S. Holder does not include, persons subject to specific provisions of federal income tax law, such as tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, non-resident alien individuals, persons or entities that have a "functional currency" other than the U.S. dollar, shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax, shareholders who hold common shares as part of a straddle, hedging or conversion transaction, and shareholders who acquired their common shares through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services. This summary is limited to U.S. Holders who own common shares as capital assets and who own (directly and indirectly, pursuant to applicable rules of constructive ownership) no more than 5% of the value of the total outstanding stock of Taseko. This summary does not address the consequences to a person or entity holding an interest in a shareholder or the consequences to a person of the ownership, exercise or disposition of any options, warrants or other rights to acquire common shares. In addition, this summary does not address special rules applicable to United States persons (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) holding common shares through a foreign partnership or to foreign persons holding common shares through a domestic partnership.
Distribution on Common Shares of Taseko
In general, U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to common shares of Taseko are required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such distributions, equal to the U.S. dollar value of such distributions on the date of receipt (based on the exchange rate on such date), to the extent that Taseko has current or accumulated earnings and profits, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S. Holders federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holders federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See more detailed discussion at "Foreign Tax Credit" below). To the extent that distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of Taseko, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S. Holders adjusted basis in the common shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of property. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder which is an individual, estate or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains for a U.S. Holder which is a corporation.
In the case of foreign currency received as a dividend that is not converted by the recipient into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Generally, any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the foreign currency, including the exchange for U.S. dollars, will be ordinary income or loss. However, an individual whose realized gain does not exceed $200 will not recognize that gain, provided that there are no expenses associated with the transaction that meet the requirements for deductibility as a trade or business expense (other than travel expenses in connection with a business trip) or as an expense for the production of income.
Dividends paid on the common shares of Taseko generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder which is a corporation and which owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and value of Taseko may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% (or 80% if the U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 20% of the voting power and value of Taseko) deduction of the United States source portion of dividends received from Taseko (unless Taseko qualifies as a "foreign personal holding company" or a "passive foreign investment company," as defined below). Taseko does not anticipate that it will earn any United States income, however, and therefore does not anticipate that any U.S. Holder will be eligible for the dividends received deduction.
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Under current Treasury Regulations, dividends paid on Tasekos common shares, if any, generally will not be subject to information reporting and generally will not be subject to U.S. backup withholding tax. However, dividends and the proceeds from a sale of Tasekos common shares paid in the U.S. through a U.S. or U.S. related paying agent (including a broker) will be subject to U.S. information reporting requirements and may also be subject to the 28% U.S. backup withholding tax, unless the paying agent is furnished with a duly completed and signed Form W-9. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of common shares of Taseko may be entitled, at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either receive a deduction or a tax credit for such foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States federal income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayers income subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and generally applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are significant and complex limitations which apply to the credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holders United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holders foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. In the determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income such as "passive income, "high withholding tax interest," "financial services income," "shipping income," and certain other classifications of income. Dividends distributed by Taseko will generally constitute "passive income" or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, "financial services income" for these purposes. The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact specific, and U.S. Holders of common shares of Taseko should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.
Disposition of Common Shares of Taseko
In general, U.S. Holders will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of common shares of Taseko equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the shareholders tax basis in the common shares of Taseko. Preferential tax rates apply to long-term capital gains of U.S. Holders which are individuals, estates or trusts. In general, gain or loss on the sale of common shares of Taseko will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder and are held for more than one year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. For U.S. Holders which are not corporations, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted. For U.S. Holders that are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years and carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.
Other Considerations
Set forth below are certain material exceptions to the above-described general rules describing the United States federal income tax consequences resulting from the holding and disposition of common shares:
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Passive Foreign Investment Company
United States income tax law contains rules governing "passive foreign investment companies" ("PFIC") which can have significant tax effects on U.S. Holders of foreign corporations. These rules do not apply to non-U.S. Holders. Section 1297 of the Code defines a PFIC as a corporation that is not formed in the United States if, for any taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income is "passive income," which includes interest, dividends and certain rents and royalties or (ii) the average percentage, by fair market value (or, if the corporation is not publicly traded and either is a controlled foreign corporation or makes an election, by adjusted tax basis), of its assets that produce or are held for the production of "passive income" is 50% or more. In the event that Taseko qualifies as a PFIC for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 or in future fiscal years, each U.S. Holder of Taseko is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect such U.S. Holders tax situation.
Each U.S. Holder who holds stock in a foreign corporation during any year in which such corporation qualifies as a PFIC is subject to United States federal income taxation under one of three alternative tax regimes at the election of such U.S. Holder. The following is a discussion of such alternative tax regimes applied to such U.S. Holders of Taseko. In addition, special rules apply if a foreign corporation qualifies as both a PFIC and a "controlled foreign corporation" (as defined below) and a U.S. Holder owns, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote of such foreign corporation (See more detailed discussion at "Controlled Foreign Corporation" below).
A U.S. Holder who elects to treat Taseko as a qualified electing fund ("QEF") will be subject, under Section 1293 of the Code, to current federal income tax for any taxable year to which the election applies in which Taseko qualifies as a PFIC on his pro rata share of Tasekos (i) "net capital gain" (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), which will be taxed as long-term capital gain, and (ii) "ordinary earnings" (the excess of earnings and profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income, in each case, for the shareholders taxable year in which (or with which) Tasekos taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed. A U.S. Holders tax basis in the common shares will be increased by any such amount that is included in income but not distributed.
The procedure a U.S. Holder must comply with in making an effective QEF election, and the consequences of such election, will depend on whether the year of the election is the first year in the U.S. Holders holding period in which Taseko is a PFIC. If the U.S. Holder makes a QEF election in such first year, i.e., a "timely" QEF election, then the U.S. Holder may make the QEF election by simply filing the appropriate documents at the time the U.S. Holder files his tax return for such first year. If, however, Taseko qualified as a PFIC in a prior year during the U.S. Holders holding period, then, in order to avoid the Section 1291 rules discussed below, in addition to filing documents, the U.S. Holder must elect to recognize under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code (discussed herein), (i) any gain that he would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold his stock on the qualification date or (ii) if Taseko is a controlled foreign corporation, the U.S. Holders pro rata share of Tasekos post-1986 earnings and profits as of the qualification date. The qualification date is the first day of Tasekos first tax year in which Taseko qualified as a QEF with respect to such U.S. Holder. For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder who makes (i) a timely QEF election, or (ii) an untimely QEF election and either of the above-described gain-recognition elections under Section 1291 is referred to herein as an "Electing U.S. Holder." A U.S. Holder who holds common shares at any time during a year of Taseko in which Taseko is a PFIC and who is not an Electing U.S. Holder (including a U.S. Holder who makes an untimely QEF election and makes neither of the above-described gain-recognition elections) is referred to herein as a "Non-Electing U.S. Holder." An Electing U.S. Holder (i) generally treats any gain realized on the disposition of his Taseko common shares as capital gain; and (ii) may either avoid interest charges resulting from PFIC status altogether, or make an annual election, subject to certain limitations, to defer payment of current taxes on his share of Tasekos annual realized net capital gain and ordinary earnings
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subject, however, to an interest charge. If the U.S. Holder is not a corporation, any interest charge imposed under the PFIC regime would be treated as "personal interest" that is not deductible.
In order for a U.S. Holder to make (or maintain) a valid QEF election, Taseko must provide certain information regarding its net capital gains and ordinary earnings and permit its books and records to be examined to verify such information. Taseko intends to make the necessary information available to U.S. Holders to permit them to make (and maintain) QEF elections with respect to Taseko. Taseko urges each U.S. Holder to consult a tax advisor regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, the QEF election.
A QEF election, once made with respect to Taseko, applies to the tax year for which it was made and to all subsequent tax years, unless the election is invalidated or terminated, or the IRS consents to revocation of the election. If a QEF election is made by a U.S. Holder and Taseko ceases to qualify as a PFIC in a subsequent tax year, the QEF election will remain in effect, although not applicable, during those tax years in which Taseko does not qualify as a PFIC. Therefore, if Taseko again qualifies as a PFIC in a subsequent tax year, the QEF election will be effective and the U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules described above for Electing U.S. Holders in such tax year and any subsequent tax years in which Taseko qualifies as a PFIC. In addition, the QEF election remains in effect, although not applicable, with respect to an Electing U.S. Holder even after such U.S. Holder disposes of all of his or its direct and indirect interest in the shares of Taseko. Therefore, if such U.S. Holder reacquires an interest in Taseko, that U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules described above for Electing U.S. Holders for each tax year in which Taseko qualifies as a PFIC.
In the case of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, special taxation rules under Section 1291 of the Code will apply to (i) gains realized on the disposition (or deemed to be realized by reasons of a pledge) of his Taseko common shares and (ii) certain "excess distributions," as defined in Section 1291(b), by Taseko.
A Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro rate all gains realized on the disposition of his Taseko common shares and all excess distributions on his Taseko common shares over the entire holding period for the common shares. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior years of the U.S. Holder (excluding any portion of the holders period prior to the first day of the first year of Taseko (i) which began after December 31, 1986, and (ii) for which Taseko was a PFIC) would be taxed at the highest tax rate for each such prior year applicable to ordinary income. The Non-Electing U.S. Holder also would be liable for interest on the foregoing tax liability for each such prior year calculated as if such liability had been due with respect to each such prior year. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat this interest charge as "personal interest" which, as discussed above, is wholly non-deductible. The balance, if any, of the gain or the excess distribution will be treated as ordinary income in the year of the disposition or distribution, and no interest charge will be incurred with respect to such balance. In certain circumstances, the sum of the tax and the PFIC interest charge may exceed the amount of the excess distribution received, or the amount of proceeds of disposition realized, by the U.S. Holder.
If Taseko is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds Taseko common shares, then Taseko will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such Taseko common shares, even if it is no longer definitionally a PFIC. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules discussed above for Non-Electing U.S. Holders) as if such Taseko common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a PFIC.
Effective for tax years of U.S. Holders beginning after December 31, 1997, U.S. Holders who hold (actually or constructively) marketable stock of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to the market annually (a "mark-to-market election"). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to the special taxation rules of Section 1291 discussed above. However, if the mark-to-market election is made by a Non-Electing U.S. Holder after the beginning of the
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holding period for the PFIC stock, then the Section 1291 rules will apply to certain dispositions of, distributions on and other amounts taxable with respect to Taseko common shares. A U.S. Holder who makes the mark-to market election will include in income for each taxable year for which the election is in effect an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common shares of Taseko as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holders adjusted basis in such common shares. In addition, the U.S. Holder is allowed a deduction for the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of such U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the common shares over the fair market value of such shares as of the close of the tax year, or (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the mark-to-market gains for the common shares in Taseko included by such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been treated as a mark-to-market gain for any prior tax year but for the Section 1291 rules discussed above with respect to Non-Electing U.S. Holders, over (B) the mark-to-market losses for shares that were allowed as deductions for prior tax years. A U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the common shares of Taseko will be adjusted to reflect the amount included in or deducted from income as a result of a mark-to-market election. A mark-to-market election applies to the taxable year in which the election is made and to each subsequent taxable year, unless Taseko common shares cease to be marketable, as specifically defined, or the IRS consents to revocation of the election. Because the IRS has not established procedures for making a mark-to-market election, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisor regarding the manner of making such an election. No view is expressed regarding whether common shares of Taseko are marketable for these purposes or whether the election will be available.
Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued Proposed Treasury Regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would treat as taxable certain transfers of PFIC stock by Non-Electing U.S. Holders that are generally not otherwise taxed, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. Generally, in such cases the basis of Taseko common shares in the hands of the transferee and the basis of any property received in the exchange for those common shares would be increased by the amount of gain recognized. Under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, an Electing U.S. Holder would not be taxed on certain transfers of PFIC stock, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. The transferees basis in this case will depend on the manner of the transfer. In the case of a transfer by an Electing U.S. Holder upon death, for example, the transferees basis is generally equal to the fair market value of the Electing U.S. Holders common shares as of the date of death under Section 1014 of the Code. The specific tax effect to the U.S. Holder and the transferee may vary based on the manner in which the common shares are transferred. Each U.S. Holder of Taseko is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect his or its tax situation.
Whether or not a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election with respect to common shares of Taseko, certain adverse rules may apply in the event that both Taseko and any foreign corporation in which Taseko directly or indirectly holds shares is a PFIC (a "lower-tier PFIC"). Pursuant to certain Proposed Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder would be treated as owning his or its proportionate amount of any lower-tier PFIC shares, and generally would be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such indirectly-held PFIC shares unless such U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election with respect thereto. Taseko intends to make the necessary information available to U.S. Holders to permit them to make (and maintain) QEF elections with respect to each subsidiary of Taseko that is a PFIC.
Under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder who does not make a timely QEF election with respect to a lower-tier PFIC generally would be subject to tax (and the PFIC interest charge) on (i) any excess distribution deemed to have been received with respect to his or its lower-tier PFIC shares and (ii) any gain deemed to arise from a so-called "indirect disposition" of such shares. For this purpose, an indirect disposition of lower-tier PFIC shares would generally include (i) a disposition by Taseko (or an intermediate entity) of lower-tier PFIC shares, and (ii) any other transaction resulting in a dilution of the U.S. Holders proportionate ownership of the lower-tier PFIC, including an issuance of additional common shares by Taseko (or an intermediate entity or the lower tier PFIC). Accordingly, each
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prospective U.S. Holder should be aware that he or it could be subject to tax even if such U.S. Holder receives no distributions from Taseko and does not dispose of its common shares.
Taseko strongly urges each prospective U.S. Holder to consult a tax advisor with respect to the adverse rules applicable, under the Proposed Treasury Regulations, to U.S. Holders of lower-tier PFIC shares.
Certain special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to Taseko common shares while Taseko is a PFIC unless the U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election. For example under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S. Holder who uses PFIC stock as security for a loan (including a margin loan) will, except as may be provided in regulations, be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such shares.
Controlled Foreign Corporation
If more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to vote or the total value of the shares of Taseko is owned, actually or constructively, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships or corporation, or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts (as defined by the Code Section 7701(a)(31)), each of which own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to vote of Taseko ("United States Shareholder"), Taseko could be treated as a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would effect many complex results, one of which is the inclusion of certain income of a CFC which is subject to current U.S. tax. The United States generally taxes United States Shareholders of a CFC currently on their pro rata shares of the Subpart F income of the CFC. Such United States Shareholders are generally treated as having received a current distribution out of the CFCs Subpart F income and are also subject to current U.S. tax on their pro rata shares of increases in the CFCs earnings invested in U.S. property. The foreign tax credit described above may reduce the U.S.tax on these amounts. In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, gain from the sale or exchange of shares by a U.S. Holder of common shares of Taseko which is or was a United States Shareholder at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange is treated as ordinary income to the extent of earnings and profits of Taseko attributable to the shares sold or exchanged. If a foreign corporation is both a PFIC and a CFC, the foreign corporation generally will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to United States Shareholders of the CFC. This rule generally will be effective for taxable years of United States Shareholders beginning after 1997 and for taxable years of foreign corporations ending with or within such taxable years of United States Shareholders. Special rules apply to United States Shareholders who are subject to the special taxation rules under Section 1291 discussed above with respect to a PFIC. Because of the complexity of Subpart F, a more detailed review of these rules is outside of the scope of this discussion. Taseko does not believe that it currently qualifies as a CFC. However, there can be no assurance that Taseko will not be considered a CFC for the current or any future taxable year.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
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H. Documents on Display
Exhibits attached to this Form 20-F are also available for viewing at the offices of Taseko, Suite 1020 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2V6 or on request of Taseko at 604-684-6365, attention: Shirley Main. Copies of Tasekos financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents required under the British Columbia Securities Act are available for viewing on the internet at www.SEDAR.com. Tasekos only material subsidiary, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., is also a British Columbia corporation and the foregoing discussion of articles and memorandum is generally applicable.
I. Subsidiary Information
Not applicable.
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ITEM 11 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
A. Transaction Risk and Currency Risk Management
Tasekos operations do not employ financial instruments or derivatives which are market sensitive. The Company has certain sales contracts which are subject to transaction risk.
B. Exchange Rate Sensitivity
Tasekos revenues from the production and sale of copper and molybdenum are denominated in US dollars; however the Company's operating expenses are primarily incurred in Canadian dollars and its liabilities are primarily denominated in Canadian dollars.The results of the Companys operations are subject to currency transaction risk and currency translation risk. The operating results and financial position of the Company are reported in Canadian dollars in the Companys consolidated financial statements. The fluctuation of the US dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar will consequently have an impact upon the profitability of the Company and may also affect the value of the Companys assets and the amount of shareholders equity.
The Companys revenues and treatment and transportation charges are substantially denominated in US dollars, whereas all other expenses are substantially denominated in Canadian dollars.
The Company has not entered into any agreements or purchased any instruments to hedge possible currency risks at this time.
C. Interest Rate Risk and Equity Price Risk
The Boliden Debenture, an obligation of the Company, is non-interest bearing.
The Company's royalty obligation amounting to approximately $66.8 million at September 30, 2006 and $67.2 million at December 31, 2006, is offset by a promissory note held by the Company.
The Companys Convertible Bonds carry a fixed interest rate of 7.125% per annum, and as such are not subject to fluctuations in interest rate.
D. Commodity Price Risk
The value of Tasekos resource properties can be said to relate to the price of gold and copper and the outlook for same. Taseko does not have any hedging or other commodity based risks respecting its operations.
Gold, copper and molybdenum prices historically have fluctuated widely and are affected by numerous factors outside of the Company's control, including, but not limited to, industrial and retail demand, central bank lending, forward sales by producers and speculators, levels of worldwide production, short-term changes in supply and demand because of speculative hedging activities, and certain other factors related specifically to gold.
The profitability of the Company's operations is highly correlated to the market price of copper, molybdenum, and gold. If metal prices decline for a prolonged period below the cost of production of the Company's Gibraltar mine, it may not be economically feasible to continue production.
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ITEM 12 DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
A. Debt Securities
(i) Convertible Bonds
On August 29, 2006, the Company issued US$30 million in principal amount of five year convertible bonds due in 2011 (the "Bonds") to qualified institutional buyers. The Bonds are convertible into the Companys common shares. The Bonds constitute direct, unsubordinated, unsecured, general and unconditional obligations of the Company.
The Bonds were issued at 100% and, if not converted, will be redeemed at maturity at 101%. The Bonds carry coupon interest rates of 7.125% per annum. The Bonds are convertible until August 19, 2011 at a conversion price of US$3.35 ($3.76), or up to 8,955,224 common shares of the Company, which is a premium of approximately 40% over the recent trading price of the Companys shares at the time of closing. At any time after September 12, 2008, the Company will have the right to call for the conversion of the Bond into the number of shares as set out above, so long as the Companys shares trade at least 50% above the conversion price for at least 20 business days in any period of 30 consecutive business days. On August 29, 2009, the Bondholders have a one time right to redeem the Bonds at 100.60% . Debt issuance costs of $1.4 million were incurred upon closing of the transaction and are being amortized over the first redemption term of the Bonds.
(ii) Boliden Convertible Debenture
On July 21, 1999, in connection with the acquisition of the Gibraltar mine, the Company issued a $17 million interest-free debenture to BWCL, which is due on July 21, 2009, but is convertible into common shares of the Company over a 10 year period commencing at a price of $3.14 per share in year one and escalating by $0.25 per share per year thereafter ($4.89 per share as at September 30, 2006). BWCLs purchase of the convertible debenture was receivable as to $4,000,000 in July 1999, $1,000,000 on October 19, 1999, $3,500,000 on July 21, 2000, and $8,500,000 by December 31, 2000, all of which were received. BWCL has the right to convert, in part or in whole from time to time, the debenture into fully paid common shares of the Company from year one to year ten, but has not requested any conversions to date.
From the commencement of the sixth year to the tenth year, the Company has the right to automatically convert the debenture into common shares at the then-prevailing market price. The Company has the right and the intention to settle the convertible debenture through the issuance of common shares, notwithstanding the Companys right to settle the debenture with cash.
B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable. (No market exists for Tasekos warrants and options. Taseko has issued no rights.)
C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
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D. American Depositary Shares
Not applicable.
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ITEM 13 DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
Not applicable.
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ITEM 14 MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
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ITEM 15 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
It should be noted that while our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer believe that our disclosure controls and procedures provide a reasonable level of assurance that they are effective, they do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system will be met.
Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Companys internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Companys management and the board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
An internal control significant deficiency is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that adversely affects the Companys ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report external financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of the Companys annual or interim financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected. An internal control material weakness is a significant deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the Companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.
Management of the Company conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006. Based on its assessment, management identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting with respect to accounting for income taxes and related disclosures where the Company did not have effective review procedures. As a result, the Company recorded adjustments, including a material adjustment related to the future income tax asset valuation allowances, to correct errors in accounting and to fairly present its financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2006. As a result of this material weakness, we concluded that the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as of September 30, 2006.
In order to remediate the material weakness identified in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, we have since implemented additional review procedures and improved documentation and analysis with respect to accounting for income taxes and related disclosures. We
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believe that these new procedures enable us to comply with the requirements related to accounting for income taxes and related disclosures. In so doing, management has remediated the material weakness identified in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).
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ITEM 16 AUDIT COMMITTEE, CODE OF ETHICS, ACCOUNTANT FEES AND EXEMPTIONS
A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Tasekos board of directors has determined that David M.S. Elliott, who is a Canadian Chartered Accountant, is an audit committee financial expert as defined by the rules of the SEC. The board of directors has also determined that Mr. Elliott is "independent", as the term is defined by the American Stock Exchange which is a national securities exchange.
B. Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Companys chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, and other members of senior management. The Code of Ethics was filed as an exhibit to the Form 20-F registration statement filed by the Company on December 17, 2005 and is available for viewing on the Companys website at www.tasekomines.com.
C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table discloses the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the Companys audit firm for various services.
Services: | Year ended | Year ended | ||||
September 30, 2006 | September 30, 2005 | |||||
Audit Fees | $ | 407,500 | $ | 89,750 | ||
Audit-Related Fees | 18,000 | | ||||
Tax Fees | 32,000 | 18,500 | ||||
All Other Fees | | | ||||
$ | 457,500 | $ | 108,250 |
Audit Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Companys annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Companys financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item.
Tax Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.
All Other Fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item.
The Company has procedures for the review and pre-approval of any services performed by KPMG LLP. The procedures require that all proposed engagements of KPMG LLP for audit and non-audit services are submitted to the audit committee for approval prior to the beginning of any such services. The audit
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committee routinely considers such requests at committee meetings, and if acceptable to a majority of the audit committee members, pre-approves such non-audit services by a resolution authorizing management to engage the Companys auditors for such non-audit services, with set maximum dollar amounts for each itemized service. During such deliberations, the audit committee assesses, among other factors, whether the services requested would be considered "prohibited services" as contemplated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian regulatory rules, and whether the services requested and the fees related to such services could impair the independence of the auditors.
D. Exemptions from Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
E. Purchases Of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
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ITEM 17 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following attached financial statements are incorporated herein:
(1) | Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the consolidated balance sheets as at September 30, 2006 and 2005, and the consolidated statements of operations, deficit and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended September 30, 2006; |
(2) | Consolidated balance sheets as at September 30, 2006 and 2005; |
(3) | Consolidated statements of operations for each of the years in the three year period ended September 30, 2006; |
(4) | Consolidated statements of deficit for each of the years in the three year period ended September 30, 2006; |
(5) | Consolidated statements of cash flows for the periods referred to in (3) above; |
(6) | Notes to the consolidated financial statements; |
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ITEM 18 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company has elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 17.
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ITEM 19 EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F:
Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
1.01 | Certificate of Incorporation dated July 1991 (1) |
|
|
1.02 | Articles dated July 1991 (1) |
|
|
1.03 | Notice of Articles dated January 2005 (1) |
|
|
1.04 | Notice of Article issued February 10, 2006 (5) |
|
|
4.01 | Convertible Debenture July 21, 1999 in the principal amount of CDN $17,000,000 issued by Gibraltar to Boliden Westmin (Canada) Limited pursuant to the acquisition of the Gibraltar Mine (see Item 4 "The Gibraltar Mine") filed with 20-F in March 30, 2000.(1) |
|
|
4.02 | Geological Management and Administration Services Agreement dated for reference December 31, 1996 filed with Form 20-F for fiscal year 1999 on March 30, 2000 (See Item 7 "Related Party Transactions"). (1) |
|
|
4.03 | 2006 Share Option Plan dated for reference March 22, 2006 (See Item 6 "Share Incentive Plan"). (5) |
|
|
4.04 | Arrangement Agreement dated February 22, 2001 among Taseko, Misty Mountain Gold Limited and Gibraltar Mines Ltd., whereby Taseko caused Gibraltar to acquire the 3 million ounce Harmony Gold Project in consideration of the issuance of Preferred Shares of Gibraltar which are convertible into shares of Taseko in the event of a liquidation event in connection with the Harmony Gold Project (see Item 4) (filed with Tasekos Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2000 filed on March 31, 2001). (1) |
|
|
4.05 | Guarantee Agreement between Taseko and Province of British Columbia dated December 30, 2003. (2) |
4.06 | Royalty Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Gibraltar Mines Ltd., Wilshire Financial Services Inc. (4) |
|
|
4.07 | Call Option Agreement dated September 29, 2004. among: 688888 B.C. Ltd., Red Mile Resources Inc., in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, and Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation, in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership. (4) |
|
|
4.08 | Funding Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Wilshire Financial Services Inc. (4) |
|
|
4.09 | Funding Pledge Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Wilshire Financial Services Inc., Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Alberta Capital Trust Corporation. (4) |
|
|
4.10 | Indemnification Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Gibraltar Mines Ltd. and Wilshire Financial Services Inc. (4) |
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Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
4.11 | Pledge, Priorities and Direction Agreement dated September 29, 2004 among Red Mile Resources Inc., in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, and Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation, in its capacity as general partner on behalf of all of the partners of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., 688888 B.C. Ltd., Wilshire Financial Services Inc, Alberta Capital Trust Corporation, Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation, Red Mile Resources Inc., and all of the Limited Partners of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership. (4) |
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4.12 | General Partner Share Purchase Agreement between Red Mile Resources Inc. as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership, Gibraltar Mines Ltd., 688888 BC Ltd. as Optionee dated September 29, 2004. (4) |
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4.13 | Fee Agreement dated September 29, 2004 between Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership and Taseko Mines Limited. (4) |
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4.14 | Shortfall Agreement between Red Mile Resources Inc. as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources Fund Limited Partnership, Wilshire (GP) No. 2 Corporation as general partner on behalf of Red Mile Resources No. 2 Limited Partnership, Wilshire Financial Services Inc., Gibraltar Mines Ltd. (4) |
4.15 | U.S. $30,000,000 7.125% Convertible Notes due 2011 issued by Taseko Mines Limited on August 29, 2006. The material agreements related to the Notes (all dated August 29, 2006) are the Trust Deed between Taseko and The Law Debenture Corporation PLC (the Trustee) governing the Notes, and Paying and Conversion Agency Agreement between Taseko and Citibank and the Trustee governing the payment of interest and convertibility of the Notes. (7) |
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4.16 | CAD $11,500,000 16% Convertible Secured Promissory Notes due August 31, 2007 purchased by Taseko as an investment from Continental Minerals Corporation on August 31, 2006. (7) |
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4.17 | Shareholder Rights Plan dated March 2007 (7) |
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11.01 | Code of Ethics (1) |
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12.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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12.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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13.1 | |
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13.2 |
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Exhibit | |
Number | Description |
99.1 | Consolidated balance sheets as at September 30, 2006 and 2005; consolidated statements of operations, deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2006 together with Report of Independent Public Accounting Firm thereon (8) |
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99.2 | Managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended September 30, 2006 (6) |
(1) | Filed as an exhibit to the Form 20-F Annual Report filed by Taseko in previous years. |
(2) | Filed as an exhibit with Tasekos Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2003 filed on May 3, 2004. |
(3) | Filed as an exhibit with Tasekos Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2004 filed on April 15, 2005. |
(4) | Filed as an exhibit with Tasekos Annual Report on Amended Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2004 filed on June 27, 2005. |
(5) | Filed as an exhibit with Taseko's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2005 filed on April 18, 2006. |
(6) | Incorporated by reference to the Corporations Current Report on Form 6-K, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2007. |
(7) | Filed as an exhibit with Taseko’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2006 filed on April 17, 2007. |
(8) | Filed as an exhibit with Taseko’s Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for the year ended September 30, 2006 filed on April 19, 2007. |
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SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
TASEKO MINES LIMITED
/s/ Jeffrey R. Mason
____________________
Jeffrey R. Mason, CA
Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary
Date: August 2, 2007