UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2011
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________________ to ________________.
Commission file number
: 001-33706
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
Nevada |
98-0399476 |
1111 West Hastings Street, Suite 320, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2J3
(604) 682-9775
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: |
Name of each exchange on which registered: |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, Par Value $0.001
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]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [ ] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [ ] |
Accelerated filer [X] |
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes [ ] No [X]
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of January 31, 2011 was approximately
$345,747,915 based upon the price at which the registrant's shares of common stock were last sold as of that date.The registrant had 75,255,013 shares of common stock outstanding as of October 11, 2011.
__________
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential" or "continue", the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. In evaluating these statements, you should consider various factors, including the assumptions, risks and uncertainties outlined in this annual report under "Risk Factors". These factors or any of them may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement made in this annual report. Forward-looking statements in this annual report include, among others, statements regarding:
While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events, our actual results will likely vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Some of the risks and assumptions include:
We advise the reader that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify in their entirety all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf. Important factors that you should also consider, include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in this annual report.
iii
The forward-looking statements in this annual report are made as of the date of this annual report and we do not intend or undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results, except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States.
As used in this annual report: (i) the terms "we", "us", "our", "Uranium Energy" and the "Company" mean Uranium Energy Corp. including its subsidiaries; (ii) "SEC" refers to the Securities and Exchange Commission; (iii) "Securities Act" refers to the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (iv) "Exchange Act" refers to the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (v) all dollar amounts refer to United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1. |
BUSINESS |
2 |
ITEM 1A. |
RISK FACTORS |
8 |
ITEM 1B. |
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
14 |
ITEM 2. |
PROPERTIES |
14 |
ITEM 3. |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
56 |
ITEM 4. |
(REMOVED AND RESERVED) |
56 |
ITEM 5. |
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
56 |
ITEM 6. |
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA |
60 |
ITEM 7. |
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
61 |
ITEM 7A. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
67 |
ITEM 8. |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
68 |
ITEM 9. |
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE |
100 |
ITEM 9A. |
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
100 |
ITEM 9B. |
OTHER INFORMATION |
100 |
ITEM 10. |
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
101 |
ITEM 11. |
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
107 |
ITEM 12. |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
113 |
ITEM 13. |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE |
114 |
ITEM 14. |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES |
116 |
ITEM 15. |
EXHIBITS |
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PART I
Corporate Organization
Uranium Energy Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on May 16, 2003 under the name "Carlin Gold Inc." During 2004, we changed our business operations and focus from precious metals exploration to uranium exploration in the United States. On January 24, 2005, we completed a reverse stock split of our common stock on the basis of one share for each two outstanding shares and amended our Articles of Incorporation to change our name to "Uranium Energy Corp.". Effective February 28, 2006, we completed a forward stock split of our common stock on the basis of 1.5 shares for each outstanding share and amended our Articles of Incorporation to increase our authorized capital from 75,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value per share to 750,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value per share. In June 2007, we changed our fiscal year end from December 31 to July 31.
On December 31, 2007, we incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, UEC Resources Ltd., under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. Effective December 18, 2009, we acquired a 100% interest in the South Texas Mining Venture, L.L.P. ("STMV"), a Texas limited liability partnership, from each of URN Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Uranium One Inc., and Everest Exploration, Inc. ("STMV Acquisition"). On September 3, 2010, we incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, UEC Paraguay Corp., under the laws of the State of Nevada. Effective May 24, 2011, we acquired a 100% in interest in Piedra Rica Mining S.A., a Paraguayan company.
Our principal offices are located at 500 North Shoreline Boulevard, Suite 800N, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 and 1111 West Hastings Street, Suite 320, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2J3.
General Business
We are engaged in uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations, on properties located in the United States and, most recently, Paraguay. Our fully-licensed and 100% owned Hobson Processing Facility ("Hobson") forms the basis for our regional operating strategy in the South Texas Uranium Belt utilizing in-situ recovery mining. As a central processing site, Hobson processes uranium-loaded resins from our Palangana Mine ("Palangana"), which began production in November 2010, and additionally from other satellite mining operations within the South Texas Uranium Belt as they enter production. During Fiscal 2011, U3O8 produced from Palangana, including work-in-progress, totaled 153,000 pounds. Both Hobson and Palangana were acquired through the STMV Acquisition in December 2009.
At July 31, 2011, we had mineral properties covering 41,225 acres located in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and 247,000 acres located in the area of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay. We acquired these mineral rights for the purposes of uranium exploration, development and production activities through staking and lease agreements, subject to varying royalty interests which may be indexed to uranium prices. Many of these mineral properties have been the subject of historical exploration by other mining companies. Specific exploration targets may be identified internally by our geological team by utilizing this prior exploration work combined with our extensive exploration database.
Background of the Uranium Industry
The United States is the largest consumer of uranium in the world and consumed approximately 55 million pounds of uranium in 2010. Production of uranium in the United States in 2010 was approximately three and one half million pounds. Nuclear power supplied approximately 20% of the electricity consumed in the United States in 2010.
The price for uranium is generally determined by near term supply and demand, but it is certainly also affected by perception of supply/demand imbalances in the future. We believe that there is potential for further increases in the price for uranium based upon an expected imbalance of supply and demand going forward, particularly considering the expiration of the US/Russian HEU agreement which expires in 2013. This agreement currently supplies approximately 24 million pounds to the US nuclear fuel market which equates to nearly 45% of US demand.
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Between 1960 and 1985 a significant amount of exploration work was conducted in the United States for uranium. A large number of these exploration projects were not developed; however, these projects accumulated a significant amount of exploration data.
According to a survey by the U.S. Department of Energy, in 1979 there were over 20,000 people employed in the uranium mining industry, compared to just over 1073 people in 2010. We believe that there is a shortage of human resources in the uranium mining industry currently which acts as a barrier in respect of the exploration for uranium. We employ a team of highly experienced uranium mining professionals, comprised primarily of geologists, engineers, technicians, field personnel, administrative and support staff, which we believe is a competitive advantage for our Company. These persons are involved in the review of the historical exploration data we have acquired in order to determine projects that warrant pursuing, as well as the exploration of our properties.
In-Situ Recovery Mining
We plan to utilize in-situ recovery ("ISR") mining for uranium whenever such alternative is available to conventional mining. When compared to conventional mining, ISR mining requires lower capital expenditures and has less of an impact on the environment, as well as a shorter lead time to production. ISR mining of uranium involves pumping oxidized water through an underground uranium deposit, dissolving it and then pumping it to surface for further processing. Monitor wells are placed around the perimeter of the deposit to assure none of the uranium-rich waters leak away from the production zone.
Acquisition of STMV
On December 18, 2009, we completed the STMV Acquisition which included key assets such as the Hobson Processing Facility, the Palangana Mine and decades-worth of uranium exploration and mining databases covering the South Texas region.
Hobson Processing Facility
Hobson is located about 100 miles northwest of Corpus Christi in Karnes County, Texas. Hobson was originally licensed and constructed in 1978, and was subsequently completely refurbished in Q3 2008.
Hobson is designed to process uranium-loaded resins from satellite facilities to the final U3O8 product commonly referred to as yellowcake. Our strategy is to have ISR production from the Palangana Mine, Goliad, Salvo and Nichols Projects processed at Hobson as a central processing site, rather than constructing a new processing plant for each project. The Goliad, Salvo and Nichols Projects are located 55 miles east, 45 miles southeast and 5 miles southwest of Hobson, respectively.
Palangana Mine
Palangana is a prior-producing ISR mine located in the South Texas uranium belt. The 8,075 acre property is located approximately 100 miles south of the Hobson facility. Over 4,000 historic exploration, development and production holes were drilled at Palangana by Union Carbide Corp ("UCC"), Chevron and Everest Exploration, Inc. UCC produced uranium at the project in the mid to late 1970's with ISR technology. Harry Anthony, the Company's Chief Operating Officer, was a member of UCC's ISR mining team and oversaw the development and production of this project.
In November 2010, Palangana commenced production of uranium using ISR mining. In January 2011, Hobson began processing resins received from Palangana. At July 31, 2011, Palangana produced a total of 153,000 pounds of U3O8 including work-in-progress.
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Long-Term Delivery Contract
In June 2011, the Company entered into a multi-year uranium sales contract requiring the delivery of a total 300,000 pounds of U3O8 by the Company over a three-year period starting in August 2011. The sales price will be based on published market price indicators at the time of delivery.
Goliad Project Development
The Goliad Project is located in Goliad County, Texas approximately 95 miles north of Corpus Christi and 55 miles east of Hobson. It is comprised of 23 leases covering 2,342 acres within the South Texas Uranium Belt. The Company anticipates that any uranium identified at Goliad will be extracted using ISR mining and processed at Hobson.
In December 2010, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ") approved the mine permit and the production area authorization for Production Area 1 and granted the request for the designation of an Exempt Aquifer for the Company. As a result, Goliad only has one remaining state-level authorization pending, a Radioactive Material License which is at an advanced technical review stage with the TCEQ. All other state-level permits and authorizations have been received including a Class III Injection Well Permit (Mine Permit), two Class I Injection Well Permits (disposal well permits), a Production Area Authorization for its first production area, a Permit by Rule (air permit exemption) and a state-approved aquifer exemption, to be followed by a request from the TCEQ to the regional EPA for concurrence.
No further exploration programs are scheduled or contemplated for the Goliad Project.
A Technical Report dated March 7, 2008 for Goliad, prepared in accordance with the provisions of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"), was completed by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting geologist, and filed by the Company on the CSA's public disclosure website at www.sedar.com.
As required by NI 43-101, the Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates for the Company's Goliad Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under the SEC's Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this annual report or otherwise in the United States.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
Salvo Project Exploration
The Salvo Project is located in Bee County, Texas approximately 60 miles northwest of Corpus Christi and 45 miles southeast of Hobson. It is comprised of 44 leases covering 4,965 acres within the South Texas Uranium Belt. The Company anticipates that any uranium identified at Salvo will be extracted using ISR mining and processed at Hobson.
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A Technical Report dated July 16, 2010 for Salvo, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting geologist, and filed by the Company on the CSA's public disclosure website at
www.sedar.com.A Phase I exploration drill program was initiated in November 2010 was completed in April 2011 with a total 105 holes drilled. A further Technical Report dated March 31, 2011 for Salvo, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was completed by Thomas A. Carothers, P.G., a consulting geologist, and filed by the Company on the CSA's public disclosure website at www.sedar.com.
The March 2011 Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to inferred mineral resource estimates for the Salvo Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, is not a defined term under the SEC's Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this annual report or otherwise in the United States.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in this category will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of inferred mineral resources discussed in the Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported inferred mineral resources referred to in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
Phase II drilling is ongoing, including drilling prospective new zones. Metallurgical and other tests will also be performed to reaffirm ISR amenability at Salvo.
Paraguay
On May 24, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of a Paraguayan company which holds a 100% legal and beneficial interest in two unencumbered prospecting permits covering 247,000 acres located in the area of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay, subject to a 1.5% gross overriding royalty. The Company has the exclusive right and option at any time to acquire one-half percent (0.5%) of the gross overriding royalty for $500,000, including a right of first refusal to acquire all or any portion of the remaining one percent (1.0%). The Company plans to complete a 10,000-metre drill program in Fiscal 2012.
Mineral Rights
We participate in our projects located in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming by way of mining claims and mineral leases. Certain properties were staked and claimed by us and registered with the United States Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). Claim blocks acquired in this manner exist in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. We have complete mineral rights to an unlimited depth below surface. The claims are in effect for an indefinite period provided the claims are kept in good standing with the BLM and the counties. Annual maintenance fees are required to be paid to the BLM. We are also required to remediate the land upon release of the claim, bringing the land back to its original state prior to the commencement of exploration. These costs are determined by the BLM and bonded accordingly.
In the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, we also participate in our projects by way of property leases directly from the owners of the land/mineral rights. These leases give us similar access and privileges as described above, however with some important differences. Although, in most cases we will have access to the surface, the mineral rights below surface are restricted to uranium and associated fissionable minerals only, with any other minerals and hydrocarbons, such as petroleum, retained by the lessor. The lease terms are for five to eight years, and include five-year renewal periods. After the expiration of the second five-year term, the leases will be either held by production or the leases will be terminated. These leases are subject to varying royalty interests, some of which are indexed to the sale price of uranium at the time of production. Royalty payments must be made to the lessor in the event that we extract uranium ore from the properties. All royalties are based on the gross sales revenue less certain charges and fees.
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We participate in our project located in Paraguay by way of mineral concessions. Annual maintenance fees are required to be paid to the Paraguayan Government. We are also required to remediate the land upon release of the claim, bringing the land back to its original state prior to the commencement of exploration or exploitation.
Environmental Regulation
Our activities will be subject to existing federal, state and local laws and regulations governing environmental quality and pollution control. Our operations will be subject to stringent environmental regulation by state and federal authorities including the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). Such regulation can increase the cost of such activities. In most instances, the regulatory requirements relate to water and air pollution control measures.
Waste Disposal
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), and comparable state statutes, affect minerals exploration and production activities by imposing regulations on the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of "hazardous wastes" and on the disposal of non-hazardous wastes. Under the auspices of the EPA, the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") imposes joint and several liability for costs of investigation and remediation and for natural resource damages, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons with respect to the release into the environment of substances designated under CERCLA as hazardous substances ("Hazardous Substances"). These classes of persons or potentially responsible parties include the current and certain past owners and operators of a facility or property where there is or has been a release or threat of release of a Hazardous Substance and persons who disposed of or arranged for the disposal of the Hazardous Substances found at such a facility. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some cases, third parties to take actions in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover the costs of such action. We may also in the future become an owner of facilities on which Hazardous Substances have been released by previous owners or operators. We may in the future be responsible under CERCLA for all or part of the costs to clean up facilities or property at which such substances have been released and for natural resource damages.
Air Emissions
Our operations are subject to local, state and federal regulations for the control of emissions of air pollution. Major sources of air pollutants are subject to more stringent, federally imposed permitting requirements. Administrative enforcement actions for failure to comply strictly with air pollution regulations or permits are generally resolved by payment of monetary fines and correction of any identified deficiencies. Alternatively, regulatory agencies could require us to forego construction, modification or operation of certain air emission sources.
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act ("CWA") imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of wastes, including mineral processing wastes, into waters of the United States, a term broadly defined. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into federal waters. The CWA provides for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of hazardous substances and other pollutants. It imposes substantial potential liability for the costs of removal or remediation associated with discharges of oil or hazardous substances. State laws governing discharges to water also provide varying civil, criminal and administrative penalties and impose liabilities in the case of a discharge of petroleum or it derivatives, or other hazardous substances, into state waters. In addition, the EPA has promulgated regulations that may require us to obtain permits to discharge storm water runoff. In the event of an unauthorized discharge of wastes, we may be liable for penalties and costs. Management believes that we are in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations.
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Research and Development Activities
No research and development expenditures have been incurred, either on our account or sponsored by customers for the past three years.
Employees
Amir Adnani is our President and Chief Executive Officer, Harry Anthony is our Chief Operating Officer and Mark Katsumata is our Chief Financial Officer. These individuals are primarily responsible for all our day-to-day operations. Other services are provided by outsourcing and consultant and special purpose contracts. As of July 31, 2011, we had 84 persons employed on a full-time basis and seven individuals on a full-time contract basis providing ongoing services to the Company.
The Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other information are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission" or "SEC") and available for review at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Printed copies of the foregoing materials are available free of charge upon written request by email at
info@uraniumenergy.com. Additional information about us can be found at our website at www.uraniumenergy.com, however, such information is neither incorporated by reference nor included as part of this or any other report or information filed with or furnished to the SEC.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the information contained in this Form 10-K Annual Report, the following list of material risks and uncertainties should be carefully reviewed by our stockholders and any potential investors in evaluating our Company, our business and the market value of our common stock. Any one of these risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause material adverse effects on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results which could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements expressed by us and a significant decrease in the market price of our common stock. Refer to "Forward-Looking Statements".
There is no assurance that we will be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any of the following risks and uncertainties may cause, or that these potential risks and uncertainties are a complete list of the risks and uncertainties facing us. Furthermore, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that we are presently unaware of, or presently consider immaterial, that may become material in the future and have a material adverse effect on us. You could lose all or a significant portion of your investment due to any of these risks and uncertainties.
Risks Related to Our Company and Business
Evaluating our future performance may be difficult since we have a limited financial and operating history, with significant negative cash flow and net losses to date. Furthermore, the success of the Company will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability from our mining operations.
As more fully described under Corporate Organization of ITEM 1. BUSINESS, Uranium Energy Corp. was incorporated on May 16, 2003 as a precious metals explorer and subsequently changed our business operations to focus on uranium properties in the United States. Since then and as more fully described under General Business of ITEM 1. BUSINESS, we have been engaged in uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations on properties located in the United States and, most recently, Paraguay. We commenced uranium production for the first time at our Palangana Mine in November 2010. At July 31, 2011, we held uranium concentrates in inventory but did not generate revenue from sales during Fiscal 2011. We also hold certain mineral property interests in various stages of exploration and development in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and in the area of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay. The Company has not established proven or probable reserves on any of its mineral properties.
The Company has a history of significant negative cash flow and net losses since its inception to July 31, 2011 totaling $95.7 million. For Fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, we incurred net losses of $27.4 million, $14.5 million and $13.5 million, respectively. Although we expect to generate revenue from sales of uranium concentrates in Fiscal 2012, we do not expect to achieve profitability or develop positive cash flow from operations in the near term. Historically, we have been reliant primarily on equity financings to fund our ongoing operations and we expect this reliance to continue for the foreseeable future.
As a result of our limited financial and operating history, including significant negative cash flow and net losses to date, it may be difficult to evaluate the future performance of the Company. Furthermore, the long-term success of the Company's business including its ability to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with its exploration, development and production activities on existing uranium projects will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from operations.
The uranium industry is capital intensive, and we will require significant additional financing to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with our exploration and development programs and mining operations on our existing uranium projects.
The uranium industry is capital intensive, and we will require significant additional financing to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with our exploration and development programs and mining operations on our existing uranium projects. Without such additional financing, we will be required to curtail or abandon any one or all of these activities.
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Historically, we have relied on equity financing as our primary source of financing. Our ongoing reliance on equity financing and its availability whenever such additional financing is required will be dependent on many factors, including but not limited to general market conditions and the market value of our common stock. We may also be required to seek other forms of financing such as joint ventures, debt financing or other arrangements. We also filed a Form S-3 "Shelf" Registration Statement that became effective September 2, 2011 which provides for the offer and sale of certain securities of the Company from time to time, at its discretion, up to an aggregate public offering of $50 million. However, there is no assurance that we will be successful in securing any form of additional financing when required and on terms favorable to us.
Uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations are inherently subject to many significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ significantly from estimated amounts.
Uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations are inherently subject to many significant risks and uncertainties.
Uranium exploration is frequently non-productive, in which case the uranium project may be abandoned and written-off. Furthermore, we will not be able to recover the funds that we incur on our exploration programs if we do not establish ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium on our mineral projects and develop these into profitable mining operations. There is no assurance that we will be successful in establishing ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium.
Whether an ore body contains commercially recoverable uranium depends on many factors including, without limitation: (i) the particular attributes of the deposit such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; (ii) the market price of uranium, which may be volatile; and (iii) government regulations and regulatory requirements including, without limitation, those relating to environmental protection, permitting and land use, taxes, land tenure and transportation. We have neither established nor have plans on establishing proven and probable reserves through the completion of feasibility studies in accordance with SEC Industry Guide 7 on our mineral projects on which we are currently utilizing or planning on utilizing in-situ recovery mining.
Our long-term success will depend on our ability to establish ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium and to develop these into profitable mining operations. Mining operations have many risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: (i) significantly higher than expected capital costs to construct the mine; (ii) significantly higher than expected actual production costs; and (iii) mine production being below expectations. There is no assurance that any ore body that we may develop into a mine will become profitable.
Uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations are subject to many risks beyond our control including, but not limited to: (i) unanticipated ground and water conditions and adverse claims to water rights; (ii) unusual or unexpected geological formations; (iii) metallurgical and other processing problems; (iv) the occurrence of unusual weather or operating conditions and other force majeure events; (v) lower than expected ore grades; (vi) industrial accidents; (vii) delays in the receipt of or failure to receive necessary government permits; (viii) delays in transportation; (ix) availability of contractors and labor; (x) government permit restrictions and regulation restrictions; (xi) unavailability of materials and equipment; and (xii) the failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations. These risks could result in damage to, or destruction of, mineral properties, production facilities or other properties; personal injury; environmental damage; delays in mining; increased production costs; monetary losses; and legal claims.
If we become subject to liability, we may not be able or may elect not to insure against such risk due to high insurance premiums or other reasons. Where coverage is available and not prohibitively expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations. However, we cannot provide any assurance that such insurance will continue to be available at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will be adequate to cover any resulting liability.
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The uranium industry is subject to numerous stringent laws, regulations and standards, including environment protection laws and regulations. If any changes occur that would make these laws, regulations and standards more stringent, it may require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated or cause substantial delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations are subject to numerous stringent laws, regulations and standards at the federal, state, and local levels governing permitting, development, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection and reclamation of the environment, protection of endangered and protected species, mine safety, hazardous substances and other matters. Our compliance with these requirements requires significant financial and personnel resources.
The laws, regulations, policies or current administrative practices of any government body, organization or regulatory agency in the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, may change or be applied or interpreted in a manner which may also have a material adverse effect on our operations. The actions, policies or regulations, or changes thereto, of any government body or regulatory agency or special interest group, may also have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations are subject to stringent environmental protection laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. These laws and regulations, which include permitting and reclamation requirements, regulate emissions, water storage and discharges and disposal of hazardous wastes. Uranium mining operations are also subject to laws and regulations which seek to maintain health and safety standards by regulating the design and use of mining methods. Various permits from governmental and regulatory bodies are required for mining to commence or continue, and no assurance can be provided that required permits will be received in a timely manner.
Our compliance costs including the posting of surety bonds associated with environmental protection laws and regulations and health and safety standards have been significant to date, and are expected to increase in scale and scope as we expand our operations in the future. Furthermore, environmental protection laws and regulations may become more stringent in the future, and compliance with such changes may require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated or cause substantial delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
To the best of our knowledge, our operations are in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable laws, regulations and standards. If we become subject to liability for any violations, we may not be able or may elect not to insure against such risk due to high insurance premiums or other reasons. Where coverage is available and not prohibitively expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations. However, we cannot provide any assurance that such insurance will continue to be available at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will be adequate to cover any resulting liability.
Major nuclear incidents may have adverse effects on the nuclear and uranium industries.
The nuclear incident that occurred in Japan in March 2011 had
significant and adverse effects on both the nuclear and uranium industries. If another nuclear incident were to occur, it may have further adverse effects for both industries. Public opinion of nuclear power as a source of electricity generation may be adversely affected, which may cause governments of certain countries to further increase regulation for the nuclear industry, reduce or abandon current reliance on nuclear power or reduce or abandon existing plans for nuclear power expansion. Any one of these occurrences has the potential to reduce current and/or future demand for nuclear power, resulting in lower demand for uranium and lower market prices for uranium, adversely affecting the Company's operations and prospects. Furthermore, the growth of the nuclear and uranium industries is dependent on continuing and growing public support of nuclear power a source of electricity generation.The marketability of uranium concentrates will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control which may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
The marketability of uranium concentrates produced by us will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include macroeconomic factors, fluctuations in the market price of uranium, governmental regulations, land tenure and use, regulations concerning the importing and exporting of uranium and environmental protection regulations. The future effects of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but any one or a combination of these factors may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
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The uranium industry is highly competitive and we may not be successful in acquiring additional projects.
The uranium industry is highly competitive, and our competition includes larger, more established companies with longer operating histories that not only explore for and produce uranium, but also market uranium and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. Due to their greater financial and technical resources, we may not be able to acquire additional uranium projects in a competitive bidding process involving such companies. Additionally, these larger companies have greater resources to continue with their operations during periods of depressed market conditions.
We hold mineral rights in foreign jurisdictions which could be subject to additional risks due to political, taxation, economic and cultural factors.
During Fiscal 2011, we acquired certain mineral rights located in Paraguay through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Piedra Rica Mining S.A., a company incorporated in Paraguay. Operations in foreign jurisdictions outside of the U.S. and Canada, especially in developing countries, may be subject to additional risks as they may have different political, regulatory, taxation, economic and cultural environments that may adversely affect the value or continued viability of our rights. These additional risks include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in governments or senior government officials; (ii) changes to existing laws or policies on foreign investments, environmental protection, mining and ownership of mineral interests; (iii) renegotiation, cancellation, expropriation and nationalization of existing permits or contracts; (iv) foreign currency controls and fluctuations; and (v) civil disturbances, terrorism and war.
We depend on certain key personnel, and our success will depend on our continued ability to retain and attract such qualified personnel.
Our success is dependent on the efforts, abilities and continued service of certain senior officers and key employees and consultants, especially Amir Adnani, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Harry Anthony, Chief Operating Officer. A number of our key employees and consultants have significant experience in the uranium industry. A loss of service from any one of these individuals may adversely affect our operations, and we may have difficulty or may not be able to locate and hire a suitable replacement.
Certain directors and officers may be subject to conflicts of interest.
The majority of our directors and officers are involved in other business ventures including similar capacities with other private or publicly-traded companies. Such individuals may have significant responsibilities to these other business ventures, including consulting relationships, which may require significant amounts of their available time. Conflicts of interest may include decisions on how much time to devote to our business affairs and what business opportunities should be presented to us. Our Code of Business Conduct for Directors, Officers and Employees provides for guidance on conflicts of interest.
Nevada law and our Articles of Incorporation may protect our directors and officers from certain types of lawsuits.
Nevada law provides that our directors and officers will not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for all but certain types of conduct as directors and officers. Our Bylaws provide for broad indemnification powers to all persons against all damages incurred in connection with our business to the fullest extent provided or allowed by law. These indemnification provisions may require us to use our limited assets to defend our directors and officers against claims, and may have the effect of preventing stockholders from recovering damages against our directors and officers caused by their negligence, poor judgment or other circumstances.
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A majority of our directors and officers are residents outside of the U.S., and it may be difficult for stockholders to enforce within the U.S. any judgments obtained against us or any of our directors or officers.
A majority of our directors and officers are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the U.S., and all or a substantial portion of such persons' assets are located outside of the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on our directors and officers, or enforce within the U.S. any judgments obtained against us or our directors and officers, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the U.S. or any state thereof. Consequently, stockholders may be effectively prevented from pursuing remedies against us or our directors and officers under U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, stockholders may not be able to commence an action in a Canadian court predicated upon the civil liability provisions under U.S. federal securities laws. The foregoing risks also apply to those experts identified in this document that are not residents of the U.S.
Disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed and operated, are designed to obtain reasonable, and not absolute, assurance as to its reliability and effectiveness.
Management's evaluation on the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures is designed to ensure that information required for disclosure in our public filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis to our senior management, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management's report on internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are properly authorized, assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use and transactions are properly recorded and reported. Any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, is based in part upon certain assumptions designed to obtain reasonable, and not absolute, assurance as to its reliability and effectiveness.
Risks Related to the Company's Common Stock
Historically, the market price of our common stock has been and may continue to fluctuate significantly.
On September 28, 2007, our common stock commenced trading on the NYSE Amex Equities Exchange (formerly known as the American Stock Exchange) and prior to that, traded on the OTC Bulletin Board. The global stock markets have experienced significant and increased volatility, especially over the last few years. Although this volatility is often unrelated to specific company performance, it can have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. Historically, the market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly, and may continue to do so in the future.
In addition to the volatility associated with general economic trends and market conditions, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly due to the impact of any one or more events, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) volatility in the uranium market; (ii) occurrence of a major nuclear incident; (iii) changes in the outlook for the nuclear power and uranium industries; (iv) failure to meet market expectations on our exploration, development or production activities, including abandonment of key uranium projects; (v) sales of a large number of our common stock held by certain stockholders including institutions and insiders; (vi) downward revisions to estimates on us by securities analysts; (vii) removal from market indices; (viii) legal claims brought forth against us; or (ix) introduction of technological innovations by competitors or in competing technologies.
A prolonged decline in the market price of our common stock could affect our ability to obtain additional financing which would adversely affect our operations.
During the recent past, the global markets have been impacted by the effects of mass sub-prime mortgage defaults and liquidity problems of the asset-backed commercial paper market, which have resulted in a number of large financial institutions requiring government bailouts or filing for bankruptcy. The effects of these past events and any similar events in the future may continue to or further affect the global markets, which may directly affect the market price of our common stock and our accessibility for additional financing.
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Historically, we have relied on equity financing as our primary source of financing. A prolonged decline in the market price of our common stock or a reduction in our accessibility to the global markets may result in our inability to secure additional financing which would have an adverse effect on our operations.
Additional issuances of our common stock may result in significant dilution to our existing stockholders and reduce the market value of their investment.
Issuances of our common stock for additional financing, mergers and acquisitions and for other reasons may result in significant dilution to our existing stockholders, including a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power and a decrease in the market price of our common stock. We also filed a Form S-3 "Shelf" Registration Statement that became effective September 2, 2011 which provides for the offer and sale of certain securities of the Company from time to time, at its discretion, up to an aggregate public offering of $50 million.
Our common stock is currently classified as a "penny stock" under SEC rules which may limit the market for our common stock.
Under SEC rules, a "penny stock" generally refers to securities of companies that trade below $5.00 per share. Historically, the trading price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly and has traded above and below $5.00 per share. At July 31, 2011, the trading price of our common stock closed at $3.36 per share and was therefore classified as a penny stock. SEC Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that recommend the purchase or sale of penny stocks to persons other than those who qualify as an "established customer" or an "accredited investor." This includes the requirement that a broker-dealer must make a determination that investments in penny stocks are suitable for the customer and must make special disclosures to the customers concerning the risk of penny stocks. Many broker-dealers decline to participate in penny stock transactions because of the extra requirements imposed on penny stock transactions. Application of the penny stock rules to our common stock from time to time may limit our market liquidity, which in turn affects the ability of our stockholders to resell their shares at prices at or above their cost.
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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our Principal Mineral Properties
The Palangana Mine, in Duval County, Texas and the Goliad Project in Goliad County, Texas, are our principal mineral properties.
None of our other properties are currently considered material properties; however, we may plan to conduct further exploration to determine if economic deposits of mineralization exist on these properties.
The following provides information relating to our principal mineral properties:
Palangana Mine, Duval County, Texas
Property Description and Location
Palangana is situated in Duval County, Texas and is located approximately 25 miles west of the town of Alice, 6 miles north of the town of Benavides, 15 miles southeast of the town of Freer and 12 miles southwest of the town of San Diego (Figure 1). Benavides, Freer, and San Diego are small rural agricultural towns with populations of 1,600, 3,000 and 5,000, respectively. Alice has a population of approximately 20,000 and is the county seat of the adjoining Jim Wells County.
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Figure 1
Mineral Titles
There are fourteen current leases covering the area of interest of Palangana. The PAA-1 deposit is on the DeHoyos leases while the PAA-2 deposit, the Dome trend and the CC Brine trend are on the Palangana Ranch Management, LLC lease. Bordering the east side of the Palangana Ranch Management, LLC lease is the White Bell Ranch lease, comprised of 1,000 acres, which contains the Jemison Fence and Jemison East trends. The fourth major lease is the Garcia/Booth lease which borders the east side of the De Hoyos property. It contains the NE Garcia and SW Garcia trends.
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Current lease ownership is in STMV, which is wholly owned by UEC. The PAA-1 deposit is on the DeHoyos leases while the PAA-2 deposit is on the Palangana Ranch Management, LLC lease.
Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
Topography, Elevation and Vegetation
Elevations of the Palangana Mine deposits from the surface range from about 410 feet to 500 feet above sea level.
Climate and Length of Operating Season
The region's subtropical climate allows uninterrupted, year-round mining operations. Temperatures during the summer range from 75°F to 95°F, although highs above 100°F are common while winter temperatures range from 45°F to 65°F. Humidity is generally over 85% year-round and commonly exceeds 90% during the summer months. Average annual rainfall is 30 inches. The climate is characterized by a warm desert-like to subtropical climate and low gentle relief with elevations of 300 to 500 feet above sea level.
Physiography
The dome area to the west of the PAA-1 and PAA-2 deposits is a concentric collapsed area with the surrounding landscape being hilly and elevated. Surface water generally drains away from the dome area although no prominent creeks or rivers are evident.
Access to Property
The Palangana ISR Mine, of which PAA-1 and PAA-2 are a part, occurs in the South Texas Uranium Belt between San Antonio and Corpus Christi in Duval County. Corpus Christi is about 65 miles to the east of Palangana. It can be accessed off Texas Highway 44 toward Freer. Halfway between San Diego and Freer is a turn-off to the south called Ranch Road 3196 that runs right through the property about 8 miles from the turn. The road continues southward about 6 miles to the town of Benavides. Access is excellent, with major two lane roads connecting the three surrounding towns and dirt secondary roads connecting Palangana to these. Corpus Christi, 65 miles east, is the largest nearby metropolitan district.
Surface Rights
The uranium leaseholders under most of the current leases have conveyed the surface rights under certain conditions of remuneration. These conditions essentially require payments for surface area taken out of usage.
Local Resources and Infrastructure
As of the date of this report, all the infrastructure is in place including roads and power maintenance faculties. The well control facilities and wellfields for PAA-1 are complete as well which includes over forty injection and production wells. Construction of Palangana's ion-exchange satellite facility and disposal is also complete. In November 2010, the Palangana Mine commenced production and at July 31, 2011, produced 153,000 pounds, including work in process inventory.
Power Supply
Power for operating the wellfields already exists on the property.
Buildings and Ancillary Facilities
All buildings associated with wellfield production exist on site.
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Manpower
A nearby workforce of field technicians, welders, electricians, drillers and pipefitters exists in the local communities. The technical workforce for facility operations has largely disappeared from the area although ample qualified resources can be found in the south Texas area from the petrochemical industry.
History
Uranium mineralization was discovered during potash exploration drilling of the Palangana Dome's gypsum-anhydrite cap rock in 1952 by Columbia Southern Inc. ("CSI"), a subsidiary of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Corp. CSI conducted active uranium exploration drilling on the property starting in March 1956. Records of CSI's exploration work are unavailable. However, both CSI and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission ("USAEC") estimated underground mineable uranium mineralization. The only known details of the estimation method include a 0.15% eU3O8 CoG, a minimum mining thickness of 3 feet, and widely spaced drilling on a nominal 200 foot exploration grid. Union Carbide Corp. ("UCC") acquired the Palangana property in 1958 and initiated underground mine development. Development work was quickly abandoned due to heavy concentrations of H2S gas and UCC dropped the property. UCC reacquired Palangana in 1967 after recognizing that it would be amenable to exploitation by the emerging ISR mining technologies. During the 1960's and 1970's, UCC drilled over 1,000 exploration and development holes and installed over 3,000 injection-production holes in a 31 acre block.
UCC attempted an ISR operation from 1977 through 1979 using a push/pull injection/recovery system. Ammonia was used as the lixiviate that later caused some environmental issues with groundwater. About 340,000lbs of U3O8 were produced from portions of a 31 acre wellfield block. The production pounds indicate a 32% to 34% recovery rate. The push/pull injection/recovery system was later proven to be less productive than well configurations or patterns of injection wells around a recovery well. Further, the wellfield was developed without any apparent regard to the geology of the deposit including disequilibrium. The UCC ISR work was basically conducted at a research level in contrast to the current level of knowledge. The historic production area lies on the western side of the dome.
UCC placed the property leases up for sale in 1980. In 1981, Chevron Corporation (Chevron) acquired the UCC leases and conducted their own resource evaluation. After the price of uranium dropped to under US $10/lb, General Atomics acquired the property and dismantled the processing plant in a property-wide restoration effort. Upon formal approval of the clean up by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the property was returned to the landowners in the late 1990's. In 2005, Everest Exploration Inc. ("EEI") acquired the Palangana property and later joint ventured with Energy Metals Corp. through the formation of STMV. An independent consultant, Blackstone (2005) estimated inferred resources in an area now referred to as the Dome trend proximal to the dome on the west side north of the prior UCC leach field . In 2006 and 2007, Energy Metals drilled approximately 200 additional confirmation and delineation holes. The PAA-1 and PAA-2 areas were found during this drilling program. In 2008, Energy Metals was acquired by Uranium One. During 2008 and 2009 the remainder of the holes on this project were drilled by Uranium One. During this time the five exploration trends to the east of the dome were identified and partially delineated. In December 2009 we acquired 100% ownership of STMV.
Geological Setting
South Texas geology is characterized by an arcuate belt of Tertiary fluvial clastic units deposited along the passive North American plate. These units strike parallel to the Gulf Coast between the Mexican BORDER=0 and Louisiana within an area known as the Mississippi Embayment. The sedimentary units are primarily of fluvial origin and were deposited by southeasterly flowing streams and rivers. Uranium deposits are contained within fault-controlled roll-fronts in the Pliocene-age Goliad Formation on the flank of the Palangana salt dome. The uranium mineralization in the Goliad Formation at Palangana occurs at a depth of approximately 220 to 600 feet below the surface.
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Miocene
The Goliad Formation, host for the Palangana and other uranium deposits, unconformably overlies the Fleming Formation and is composed of three units: a basal fine to coarse-grained to conglomeratic cross-bedded unit with calcareous clay; a middle member of calcareous clay; and an upper unit of sandstone and calcareous clay. Caliche is common, especially in the muddy sediments. The conglomerates contain a variety of lithic fragments from the Fleming and older formations. The Goliad is interpreted to be a braided meander belt fluvial deposit with muds as flood plain or over bank deposits. The sands, and gravels, composed mostly of quartz and chert, are very clean and associated with channels and point bars. Passive margin growth faulting along the South Texas Uranium Belt is common with "down-to-the-coast" normal faults predominating.
The local geology at Palangana is characterized by the occurrence of a Gulf Coast piercement salt dome. This dome is approximately 2 miles in diameter and is overlain by Pliocene sediments of the Goliad Formation. The Palangana dome is marked at the surface by a shallow circular basin surrounded by low hills rising 50 to 80 feet above the basin floor, and hence its Spanish name, Palangana, which translates to "washbasin" in English. The Palangana dome has an almost perfectly circular salt core with a remarkably flat top that is approximately 10,000 feet across and occurs from 800 to 850 feet below the topographic surface. Radial faulting is present in all Goliad sands on the flanks of the dome due to uplift during the intrusion of the dome. Faults and fractures also exist in a random nature dissolved in the sands above the caprock due to solution of the salt dome from groundwater. Once the salt was removed, the overlying sediment collapsed, creating the basin and associated faults.
The Goliad formation at Palangana is composed of fine- to medium-grained, often silty, channel sands interbedded with lenses of mudstone and siltstone. For the most part, the sands are weakly cemented. There is known to be minor faulting on the north end of the PAA-1 deposit. The Palangana area stratigraphy ranges from horizontal to sub-horizontal, with at most, a 2 to 3° southeasterly dip.
Geological Model
Uranium mineralization in the South Texas Uranium Belt occurs as sandstone-hosted roll-front deposits. The deposits are strata-bound, elongate, and often, but not necessarily, occur in the classic "C" or truncated "C" roll configuration. They can be associated with an oxidation front or can be found in a re-reduced condition where an overprint of later reduction from hydrogen sulfide or other hydrocarbon reductant has seeped along faults and fractures. The uranium bearing sandstone units can themselves be separated into several horizons by discontinuous
mudstone units, and separate roll-fronts and sub-rolls can occur in the stacked sandstone sequences.
The generally accepted origin of uranium mineralization in the Goliad Formation is from leaching of intraformational tuffaceous material or erosion of older uranium-bearing strata. The leached uranium was carried by oxygenated ground water in a hexavalent state and deposited where a suitable reductant was encountered. The oxidation/reduction (redox) fronts are often continuous for miles, although minable grade uranium mineralization is not nearly as continuous. The discontinuous nature of uranium mineralization is often characterized as "beads on a string" and is due to sinuous vertical and lateral fluvial facies changes in the permeable sandstone host horizons, coupled with ground water movements and the presence or absence of reducing material.
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Figure 4.4 is a schematic view of a typical uranium roll-front configuration.
The red area is the uranium mineralization deposited at the interface between the oxidized (up gradient) sand shown in yellow and the reduced (down gradient) sand shown in gray. The up gradient sand has been altered by oxidizing groundwater that carried the uranium that was deposited in the roll-front at the oxidation/reduction (Redox) interface. The uranium mineralization is hydrologically confined by an upper and lower confining layer of shale or mudstone. At wellfields, production (pumping) wells have been completed near the center of the roll-front and are fed lixiviate (leach solutions) by injection wells on each side of the front.
One item in particular needs to be emphasized in evaluating the Goliad deposits at Palangana, namely: disequilibrium of the roll front wings or limbs. These can carry uranium values although the thickness is usually too thin to chase independently. PFN logging has defensibly shown that often these zones carry significant chemical uranium. One other explanation may be related to the correlation of the mini-roll front data. In some instances what appear to be chemically stable wings or limbs may be other subordinate roll fronts.
Mineralization
All known Goliad formation deposits at Palangana are multiple-stage roll-front-type deposits in a roughly "horseshoe shaped". As uranium-bearing ground water moved from west to east through the region, a redox front was created around a subsurface high of reduced rock proximal to the dome. This reduced ground resulted from the introduction of hydrocarbons or their derivatives, mainly H2S, into the Goliad aquifers through fractures and formational seepage above the dome, providing the environment for uranium precipitation. The Palangana uranium mineralization occurs in the Goliad sandstone unit at depths ranging from 200 to 650 feet below the surface. The favorable sandstone unit is as much as 400 feet thick and is bounded by mudstones. Within this unit are at least six separate sandstone horizons hosting roll-type uranium mineralization. These units are interbedded with mudstones that served as confining aquitards for uraniferous groundwater movement. Mineralization occurs as uraninite and is deposited where the migrating uranium-bearing solutions encountered a suitable reductant. Uranium values in mineralized strata grades from 0.001% to several percent eU3O8. Mineralized thicknesses range from less than 1foot to several tens of feet in multiple, stacked roll front zones.
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Identification of the uranium minerals has not been specifically determined for Palangana. Uraninite is commonly found coating quartz grains and within the interstices in most south Texas sand and sandstone tabular and roll-front deposits. Molybdenum commonly occurs as jordisite, a molybdenum sulfide. Molybdenum is a significant accessory to uranium mineralization, with an erratic distribution.
Select core assay reports were reviewed by SRK Consultants, with assays ranging from a background of approximately 50 ppm to as high as 0.23% Mo. More typically, assays range from 0.02% to 0.04% where molybdenum levels are elevated.
Mineralized Zones
As stated previously, mineralization does not occur in all of the Goliad sands nor does it persist in the same sand intervals across the dome area. On the west half of the dome near what is referred to as the Dome trend, UCC developed the "C" sand zone. The NW Garcia and SE Garcia trends to the east of the dome also reside in the "C" sand zone. Also to the east of the dome, the PAA-2 deposit, as well as the CC Brine, Jemison Fence and Jemison East trends all occur in the "E" sand, while the PAA-1 deposit occurs in the "G" sand. Within these mineralized horizons, smaller roll fronts are evident that can be mapped as discrete bodies. Some of these bodies contain economic mineralization while others do not. The mineralized horizons occur as stacked intervals often separated by claystones. Generally they overlap one another but there are differences making a concurrent, multiple-horizon recovery scenario not uniformly effective.
Type, Character and Distribution of Mineralization
The uranium mineralization, as is the case in roll fronts elsewhere, can be significantly out of equilibrium. Consequently, the oxidized portion of the roll front while elevated in gross gamma radiation can be depleted of chemical uranium. Hexavalent uranium in solution in the groundwater ultimately became stabilized in uranium oxide minerals as a function of lower pH and EH (redox potential) that has been caused by a variety of factors but mostly the introduction of hydrogen sulfide and perhaps methane gas along fault traces around the Palangana dome.
Closely associated with this mineralization, is generally the introduction of iron sulfide.
Because of the differing mineral suites, the color of the sand and interbedded clays will vary on either side of the redox front from yellows and orange colors on the oxidized side of the system to greens, blue and dark grey on the reduced side. Accurate lithologic logging is important in order to understand where the drillhole is in relation to the redox interface. Great efforts were taken in the past by Uranium One and its predecessors to document this color change through the use of field photos and field descriptions of drill cuttings that have been archived with the drillhole records.
The width of the reduced portion of the roll front systems at Palangana can vary from approximately 30-40 meters to only a few meters over a short strike distance. The reason for variation in the mineralized width is likely in part attributable to the permeability of the sand system in a particular part of the fluvial channel and the amount of reductant available at the time of the influx of uranium-bearing fluids. Multiple surges in oxidation fronts are believed to have formed the multiple mini-roll fronts within the sands although in many instances there are intervening claystones that could have caused the separation of the roll fronts within a specifically mapped sand zone.
The cross section shown in the following figure shows the nature of the mineralization along the strike of the roll front trend and across the roll front interface or redox zone.
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Figure 7.2 Stratigraphic section across PAA-1 Deposit
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Exploration
Exploration activities in the 1950's discovered radioactivity in shallow sediments between 200 to 400 feet around the Palangana salt dome. Follow-up drilling during the 1960's was mostly wide spaced exploration holes generally located several hundreds of feet apart. Upon a discovery in what has been called the "C" zone in the Goliad Sandstone, UCC attempted both underground and then in-situ development on the west flanks of the dome. The water filled nature of these mineralized sands made mining appear favorable for ISR technology.
As an exploration target, the dome offered favorable attributes for roll front deposits including a permeable, fluvial sand system that was subject to post depositional mineralization by uranium migration in solution from a likely volcanic source rock. Reductants around the dome area associated with faulting provided the requisite stabilization mechanism for the uranium roll fronts to form. Several other mineralized sand zones were discovered across the dome area through the 1980's but the exploration methods were not sophisticated enough to map discrete roll-fronts in the stacked sand system. Extensive faulting, particularly around the dome and the lack of successful exploitation of one of the first in-situ production projects by UCC, slowed exploration efforts. This combined with the low cost of uranium during the late 1980's and 1990's essentially stopped exploration and development in the area.
In 2006, Energy Metals resumed exploration activities at Palangana. They began exploration by drilling a wide spaced grid across the property in an attempt to identify areas of oxidation and reduction of the mineralized trends. During this phase of work, the PAA-1 and PAA-2 deposits were identified as well as the six exploration trends identified in this report. These deposits were further delineated through concentrated drilling and were assessed using the PFN probe.
Drilling
Rotary Drilling and Logging
In general, common roll front exploration practice was to drill widely-spaced rotary holes on a 400 to 600ft grid pattern, examine cuttings for evidence of alteration-bleaching-oxidation, gamma logs for evidence of uranium mineralization, and resistivity/self-potential logs for evidence of permeable sandstone horizons. The drill spacing was tightened further between areas of reduced and oxidized sandstone host horizons to target the uranium enriched redox boundary. Once the roll front mineralization was intersected and its trend established, fences were drilled every 200ft with holes within fences further tightened as required by the lateral continuity of the uranium mineralization.
Nearly all rotary holes were drilled to pre-targeted depths with truck-mounted mud rigs capable of drill depths up to 1,500ft. The holes were generally drilled to a 5-1/8 inch diameter and used a drilling fluid consisting of a polymer mud with various additives for fluid loss control. The drill orientation was vertical, and given the shallow depth of drilling (i.e., less than 400 ft) in relatively soft sedimentary units, there was minimal hole drift or deviation. As a result, it is reasonable to assume that the holes intersected the horizontal to subhorizontal lenses of uranium mineralization at approximately a normal angle. Rotary cuttings were examined in the field and log data recorded. Upon completion of a drillhole, it was logged with gamma ray, self-potential, resistivity and continuous drift by either an in-house logging truck or contract unit. Drill hole collar locations were surveyed and recorded.
UCC Drilling Program
UCC drilling appears to have followed a normal exploration and development approach, but somewhat inconsistently. The result is that the 1,117 holes are unevenly distributed over the Palangana property with only a few in the PAA-1 and PAA-2 project areas. The primary focus of the UCC development drilling was within a 3,500 x 3,400ft area surrounding the ISR wellfield, an 800 x 1,700ft area on the southwest flank of the Palangana Dome depression. The remainder of the UCC drilling appears to have targeted mineralization around the periphery of the depression of the dome, as well as topographic highs in the center of the depression. The resulting drilling appears somewhat scattered, often occurring in clusters of 100 to 200ft centered patterns surrounding +0.50 Grade Thickness ("GT") holes. There are isolated +0.50 GT holes in a number of locations on the property, some with no other hole within hundreds of feet.
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Chevron Drilling Program
Chevron's drill program was limited, totaling just 163 holes, but followed a much more consistent and methodical drilling strategy. Their exploration drilling focused on filling in areas of sparse UCC drilling west and northwest of the ISR wellfield. This region corresponds to much of the western margin of the salt dome depression. The resulting pattern stepping west from the ISR wellfield yielded a fairly regular delineation drill grid on nominal 100ft-centers.
To the northwest, Chevron's drilling was clearly for exploration and not delineation, resulting in a nominal 200ft grid pattern.
UCC and Chevron confined the great majority of their drilling to less than 200 acres comprising their wellfield and the immediate vicinity. A focus on production issues discouraged UCC from an aggressive exploration and delineation program. Chevron's focus was on filling in gaps in the UCC drilling necessary to evaluate the deposits for their open pit scenario. Significant mineralized intercepts were encountered outside of the production wellfield vicinity, but there was limited exploration follow-up.
Uranium One Drilling Program
While Uranium One and its predecessors have drilled over 2,500 rotary holes on the entire Palangana property, their efforts have been focused on eight discoveries, PAA-1, PAA-2, and six trends still being defined (the exploration trends), where more than 70% of the drill holes are located. The average depth of these holes is 450ft. All of these holes have all been logged by conventional gamma, SP, resistivity methods and the majority have also been probed using a Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) probe that more closely estimates the chemical uranium.
Core Drilling
There were 296 core holes completed by UCC on the Palangana property. Assaying for these holes was conducted either at UCC's in-house laboratories in Grand Junction or Rifle, Colorado, and at independent Core Laboratories Inc. located in Corpus Christi, Texas. Thirty-three of the core holes were examined in detail. Core recovery was generally between 80% and 100%. Where the loss occurred in the mineralized interval, which unfortunately happened regularly, it rendered that interval useless for disequilibrium comparison (see discussion below) with the down hole gamma log results.
From the available reports and records reviewed, there is no evidence that Chevron conducted core drilling at Palangana. Energy Metals and Uranium One drilled a total of eight core holes on the PAA-1 property. However, the usage of PFN logging has largely reduced the need for coring for exploration purposes.
Procedures
Drilling procedures conducted by Energy Metals and Uranium One are acceptable for resource and reserve modeling. Field examination by Sean Muller confirmed that proper methods for sampling and logging were being conducted and the drilling and geophysical logging methods were at or above the industry standard. Core and rotary cutting recovery were well documented and of good quality for interpretation.
Results
Results compiled from the above described drilling activities were carefully compiled in a consistent and quality manner enabling easy retrieval and correlation for interpretive purposes.
The mineralized zones at Palangana are oriented essentially horizontal along semi-linear fronts. The drill holes are all oriented vertical which intersect the mineralized zones at right angles. Therefore, the mineralized intercepts as recorded in the drill holes do represent true thickness of the mineralized zones.
The table below summarizes the historical drilling results at Palangana:
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Trend |
Total # DHs |
Max. Depth |
Avg. Depth |
#of Mineralized Intervals |
Interval Thickness Range |
Interval Thickness Avg. |
PAA-1 |
518 |
660 |
565 |
389 |
0.5 - 13.5 |
5.24 |
PAA-2 |
239 |
600 |
337.5 |
186 |
0.5 - 13.5 |
5.79 |
Dome |
231 |
600 |
346 |
239 |
0.5 - 12.5 |
4.10 |
CC Brine |
69 |
520 |
417 |
49 |
2.0 - 18.5 |
5.9 |
Jemison East |
53 |
560 |
434 |
17 |
1.0 - 11.0 |
4.4 |
NE Garcia |
186 |
600 |
344 |
158 |
0.5 - 20.0 |
4.6 |
SW Garcia |
84 |
600 |
367 |
45 |
0.5 - 11.0 |
4.6 |
Sample Preparation, Analyses and Security
Discussion on sample preparation, analyses and security in this report is limited to the samples collected by employees of Energy Metals and Uranium One. Core sample acquisition has been done using appropriate QA/QC methods to minimize contamination and oxidization. The core was wrapped and frozen immediately after acquisition then shipped directly to Energy Laboratories in Casper, Wyoming. Although Energy Laboratories does have approximately 26 certifications from various federal and state agencies they are not an ISO certified laboratory.
Energy Laboratories has an impeccable reputation for uranium assay and physio-chemical testing for ISR amenability. Being located amidst the Wyoming uranium belt of the Powder River Basin has enabled Energy Laboratories to continue with advances in technologies during the down cycle of uranium prices since production in the area continued during this period. Their QA/QC procedures have historically been overseen by uranium experts who understand the propensity for uranium disequilibrium in Texas deposits and the requisites for laboratory check samples, standards and blanks. Generally, two assays were typically run: a percent chemical U3O8 by one of several acceptable methods and an equivalent percent U3O8 based on a "closed can" radiometric assay to determine a gamma equivalent assay to approximate the downhole gamma log. Although it was standard practice to insert QA control samples (i.e., blanks, standards, and duplicates) into the sample sequence, there are no records from the UCC sampling to verify that a QA/QC procedure was followed.
Core Laboratories Inc. ran select samples for horizontal and vertical permeability and porosity from core plugs and density measurements. Core Laboratories Inc. is an industry leader in petroleum services but is not ISO certified.
Horizontal permeability values ranged from practically zero to over eight darcies in the UCC production area which should be reasonably applicable to all Goliad sand units within the Palangana Project. The lower values corresponded to mudstones and some very fine-grained zones described as "silty" and/or "limy". Within mineralized zones, horizontal permeability varies from a few hundred millidarcies to the upper limit of over eight darcies. Sample descriptions between the two extremes are hardly different - both are most often described as very fine-grained to fine-grained, silty sandstone. Absent any analytical data and more detailed descriptions, the conclusion is that the lower permeability samples are due to more clay or calcium carbonate cement. Vertical permeability ranged from 50% to 75% of horizontal.
Porosity percentages from core plugs ranged from the low 20's to the low 30's with an average of about 28% in the core descriptions examined. UCC settled on a density factor of 17ft3/t for rock density. An average of 137 density values available for 15 cores studied averaged 16.8ft3/t.
Methodologies utilized by UEC are deemed acceptable to meet the CIM requirements for the industry.
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Interpretation
The sampling and analysis methods employed by Uranium One and previous operators meet or exceed industry standards. The usage of PFN borehole logging is particularly useful in deposits that exhibit disequilibrium such as those at Palangana.
Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing
The Palangana uranium host rock consists of both sand and clay with about 20% calcium carbonate. The uranium content can vary from essentially zero to over 1% U3O8 within a few feet. Although grades and analyses are generally given in terms of U3O8, the species itself has not been identified. The uranium phase present in the mineralization is thought to be UO2, although because of its extreme fineness, no mineral has been positively identified. The Palangana uranium is considered to be a secondary deposit, in which the uranium was originally transported from another deposit, probably in the soluble hexavalent form, and then was reprecipitated as UO2 by H2S or other reducing agents. Iron and sulfur contents are in about equal proportions at around 1%. The FeS2 minerals marcasite and pyrite have been identified, with marcasite predominating. Most of the sulfur is in the form of FeS2, although small amounts are apparently present as sulfate. The amount of iron exceeds that necessary to combine with sulfur and likely is a form of ferrous carbonate. Detailed mineralogical studies have not been found in the references and may not exist.
Other metal constituents are molybdenum, vanadium, copper, and rhenium. It is likely that these metals, except possibly vanadium, are present as sulfides. Of these four, molybdenum is the most abundant, being on the average about 10% of the uranium content of the mineralization, but varying widely in range, Vanadium is not always detectable by chemical methods, since its concentration is <0.01%. Copper generally ranges from 0.003 to 0.005%. The precious metal rhenium is present as a trace constituent, and can be found in concentrations ranging from 0.01-
0.2% rhenium for every 100% MoS2.
In 1970, UCC conducted their own pilot plant leach study using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide as respective oxidants. These tests concluded that the Palangana ores were very easy to leach with carbonate solutions at ambient temperature. The ease of leaching is thought to result from the extreme fineness of the uranium species. Some permeability reduction occurred as a result of montmorillonite swelling.
Energy Metals submitted selected core samples to Energy Laboratories, Inc. in Casper, Wyoming in April 2008. These core samples from Palangana were sent to the laboratory for leach amenability studies intended to demonstrate that uranium mineralization at the property was capable of being leached using conventional in situ leach chemistry. The tests do not approximate other in-situ variables (permeability, porosity, and pressure) but provide an indication of a sample's reaction rate and the potential chemical recovery.
Permitting
The following outlines the status of the permits for Palangana:
Goliad Project, Goliad County, Texas
Goliad Project Technical Report
On March 4, 2008, we issued a news release entitled "Uranium Energy Corp Reports Independent NI 43-101 Resource Estimate at Goliad Project." This news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on the same day.
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We have received an updated technical report (the "Technical Report") in accordance with the provisions of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), of the Canadian Securities Administrators for our Goliad Project located in Goliad County, Texas. The complete Technical Report was filed under our company's profile on the Canadian Securities Administrators public disclosure website, at www.sedar.com, on March 10, 2008. The Technical Report is authored by Thomas A. Carothers, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, who has over 30 years of uranium experience, substantially in the South Texas Uranium trend. His experience includes working directly for two operating ISR mining companies in South Texas, US Steel and Tenneco Uranium, during the 1970s and 1980s.
As required by NI 43-101, the Technical Report contains certain disclosure relating to measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates for the Company's Goliad Project. Such mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. Measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under the SEC's Industry Guide 7, and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in this annual report or otherwise in the United States.
Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources discussed in the news release and Technical Report will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to in this news release and in the Technical Report are economically or legally mineable.
Property Description and Location
The Goliad Project property is located in south Texas near the northeast end of the extensive South Texas Uranium Trend. The Goliad Project consists of multiple leases that would allow the mining of uranium by ISR methods while utilizing the land surface (with variable conditions) as needed, for mining wells and aboveground facilities for fluid processing and ore capture during the mining and groundwater restoration phases of the project. The UEC Goliad Project area is about 14 miles north of the town of Goliad and is located on the east side of US route 77A/183 (Figure 4-1), a primary highway that intersects with US 59 in Goliad and IH-10 to the north. The approximate center of the project area is 28 d 52' 7" N latitude, 97 d 20 36" W longitude. Site drilling roads are mostly gravel based and allow reasonable weather access for trucks and cars. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be needed during high rainfall periods.
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Virtually all mining in Texas is on private lands with leases negotiated with each individual landowner/mineral owner. Moore Energy obtained leases for exploration work in the project area in the early 1980s and completed an extensive drilling program resulting in a historic uranium mineral estimate in 1985. We obtained mining leases from individuals and by assignment from a private entity in 2006.
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The current leases range in size from 14 acres to 331.98 acres. Most of the leases have starting dates in 2005 or 2006 with term periods of five years with a five-year renewal option (Figure 4-2). The various lease fees and royalty conditions are negotiated with individual lessors and conditions may vary from lease to lease. The following chart provides a summary of the material terms of the leases:
Property |
Mineral |
Initiation |
Term |
Royalty |
Gross Acres |
Net Acres |
80601 |
100.00% |
10/06/04 |
10/06/14 |
8.25% |
84.36 |
84.36 |
80602 |
50.00% |
08/24/05 |
08/24/15 |
8.25% |
224.17 |
112.09 |
80603 |
100.00% |
08/24/05 |
08/24/15 |
12% |
242.75 |
242.75 |
80604 |
100.00% |
10/06/04 |
10/06/14 |
8.25% |
42.18 |
42.18 |
80605 |
100.00% |
11/02/05 |
11/02/10 |
8.25% |
165.46 |
165.46 |
80606 |
100.00% |
11/02/05 |
11/02/10 |
8.25% |
293.18 |
293.18 |
80607 |
100.00% |
12/19/05 |
12/19/10 |
8.25% |
42.18 |
42.18 |
80608 /80609 |
100.00% |
12/20/05 |
12/20/10 |
8.25% |
253.48 |
253.48 |
80610/80611 |
100.00% |
12/20/05 |
12/20/10 |
8.25% |
105.50 |
105.50 |
80612 |
100.00% |
03/20/06 |
03/20/11 |
8.25% |
188.44 |
188.44 |
80613 |
50.00% |
03/20/06 |
03/20/11 |
8.25% |
75.50 |
37.75 |
80614 |
50.00% |
04/09/07 |
04/09/12 |
12.00% |
130.69 |
65.35 |
80615 |
100.00% |
04/23/07 |
04/23/12 |
12.00% |
14.00 |
14.00 |
80616 |
50.00% |
05/17/07 |
05/17/12 |
8.25% |
75.50 |
37.75 |
80617 |
100.00% |
05/29/07 |
05/29/12 |
12.00% |
331.98 |
331.98 |
80618 |
50.00% |
06/20/07 |
06/20/12 |
12.00% |
116.52 |
58.26 |
80619 |
100.00% |
08/27/07 |
08/27/12 |
12.00% |
88.77 |
88.77 |
80621 |
25.00% |
07/17/07 |
07/17/12 |
12.00% |
10.10 |
2.53 |
80620 |
12.50% |
09/25/07 |
09/25/12 |
12.00% |
116.52 |
14.565 |
80622 |
100.00% |
02/22/08 |
02/22/13 |
12.00% |
122.20 |
122.20 |
80623 |
100.00% |
06/12/08 |
06/12/13 |
12.00% |
42.876 |
42.8760 |
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No historic uranium mining is known to have occurred on any of the Goliad Project lease properties and only state permitted uranium exploration drilling has taken place. There are believed to be no existing environmental liabilities at the property leases. Prior to any mining activity at the Goliad Project, we are required to obtain a Radioactive Materials License, a large area Underground Injection Control ("UIC") Mine permit and a Production Area Authorization (PAA) permit for each wellfield developed for mining within the Mine Permit area. In addition, a waste disposal well will, if needed, require a separate UIC Permit. These permits will be issued by Texas regulatory agencies. The current drilling and abandonment of uranium exploration holes on any of the leases is permitted by the Texas Railroad Commission. Potential future environmental liability as a result of the mining must be addressed by the permit holder jointly with the permit granting agency. Most permits now have bonding requirements for ensuring that the restoration of groundwater, the land surface and any ancillary facility structures or equipment is properly completed.
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Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure and Physiography
The Goliad Project area is situated in the interior portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province. The area is characterized by rolling topography with parallel to sub-parallel ridges and valleys. There is about 130 feet of relief at the site with ground surface elevations ranging from a low of 150 to a high of 280 feet above mean sea level. The leased property for the Goliad Project is used mostly for livestock grazing pasture and woodland. The overall property area is shown as having a Post Oak Woods, Forest, and Grassland Mosaic vegetation/cover type.
The site property is accessed from combined route US 77A / 183 that trends north-south to the west of the property. Highway FM 1961 intersects with 77A-183 at the crossroad town of Weser. Highway FM 1961 to the east of the intersection trends along the south side of the property. Access from either of these roads into the property is via vehicular traffic on private gravel roads.
The property is in a rural setting at the north end of Goliad County. The nearest population centers are Goliad (14 miles south), Cuero (18 miles north) and Victoria (about 30 miles east). While Goliad and Cuero are relatively small towns, they provide basic needs for food and lodging and some supplies. Victoria is a much larger city and provides a well-developed infrastructure that has resulted from being a regional center to support oil and gas exploration and production. The Goliad Project site area has generally very good accessibility for light to heavy equipment. There is an excellent network of county, state and federal highways that serve the region and the moderate topography, with dominantly sandy, well-drained soils, provides good construction conditions for building gravel site roads necessary for site access.
The climate in Goliad County is mild with hot summers and cool to warm winters. The moderate temperatures and precipitation result in excellent conditions for developing an ISR mine. Periods of freezing temperatures are generally very brief and infrequent. Tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico can occur during the hurricane season and may affect the site area with large rain storms. The periodic freezing weather and abnormally large rainfalls are the primary conditions that can cause temporary shutdowns. Otherwise there is not a regular non-operating season.
The necessary rights for constructing needed surface processing facilities are in-place on selected lease agreements. Sufficient electric power is believed to be available in the area; however, new lines may be needed to bring additional service to the plant site and wellfields. We believe that within a 30 mile radius of the planned Goliad Project facility there is located sufficient population to supply the necessary number of suitable mining personnel.
History
Ownership History of the Property
The Goliad Project site is located in the north-central portion of Goliad County to the east and north of the intersection of U.S. Routes 77A/183 and Farm to Market Route 1961. There has been a long history of oil and gas exploration and production in the area and oil and gas is still a primary part of the economy for the relatively lightly populated county. In the period from October 1979 to June 1980, as a part of a large oil, gas and other minerals lease holding (approximately 55,000 acres), Coastal Uranium utilized the opportunity to drill several widely spaced exploration holes in the region. There were reported to be eight holes drilled at or near the Goliad Project area.
In the early 1980s Moore Energy obtained access to review some of the Coastal States wide-spaced drilling exploration data. The review resulted in Moore Energy obtaining several leases from Coastal Uranium, including several of the current Goliad Project leases. During the period from March 1983 through August 1984, Moore Energy conducted an exploration program in the Goliad Project area.
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No further drilling was done at the Goliad Project area until we obtained the leases through assignment from a private entity. During the period from May 2006 to July 2010, we began and are continuing an extended drilling program at the site.
Exploration and Development Work Undertaken
This description of previous exploration and development work undertaken at the Goliad Project is based primarily on electric logs and maps produced by Moore Energy during the period 1983 to 1984. Moore Energy completed 479 borings on various leases. Eight widespread exploration borings were completed by Coastal Uranium in 1980. We obtained leases from a private entity in 2006 and began confirmation drilling in May 2006. As of the date of this report, approximately 958 confirmation-delineation holes totaling 338,615 feet have been drilled by us to confirm and expand the mineralization base at the Goliad Project with the intention of permitting the project as an ISR mining and recovery facility.
All of the exploration holes (Coastal Uranium, Moore Energy and the Company) have been drilled using truck-mounted drilling rigs contracted with various drilling companies. The holes were drilled by conventional rotary drilling methods using drilling mud fluids. All known uranium exploration or confirmation drilling at the Goliad property has been by way of vertical holes. Drill cuttings were typically collected from the drilling fluid returns circulating up the annulus of the borehole. These samples were generally taken at 10-foot intervals and laid out on the ground in rows (10 cuttings piles per 100 feet of drilling) by the driller for review and description by a geologist. At completion the holes were logged for gamma ray, self potential and resistance by contract logging companies. The logging companies utilized by both Coastal Uranium and Moore Energy provided and primarily analog data. No down-hole deviation tool was available at the time. In contrast, the Company has utilized a company (Century Geophysical) that provided digital log data along with downhole deviation. In an effort to be cost effective we have purchased and had built our own logging trucks.
Historical Mineral Estimates and Their Reliability
Historical mineral estimates were prepared by Moore Energy from 1983 through 1985. For each drill hole, a grade thickness (GT) was determined. GT is the product of the average equivalent uranium mineral grade, as determined by eU3O8 gamma ray readings, and the thickness of the mineralized zone. An outline contouring all of the drill holes with intercepts meeting these criteria was produced and the area within the outline was determined using a planimeter. The average GT of the holes within the contoured outline was then used to estimate the mineralization meeting the specified criteria.
During the field investigation by Moore Energy a prompt fission neutron ("PFN") specialty logging unit was used to determine the disequilibrium factor ("DEF") in the four different mineralized zones identified at the site. The logging unit was designed to determine the grade of uranium only while excluding the daughter products that develop over time from the half-life decay rates. The unit utilized by Moore Energy was provided by Princeton Gamma Technologies ("PGT"). A total of 30 boreholes were logged with the PFN unit by Moore Energy during the field investigation. The log output data is on a printout with one-foot values for the logged mineralized intercepts. Numerical values of the PGT uranium were assayed in %U3O8, the gross gamma equivalent e%U3O8, and the unit calculated the DEF. The log header contains logging unit factors and location and hole identification data. The log output also provides a calculation of the thickness, average grade, starting depth, grade thickness and DEF. A review of the historic data and discussion with the Moore Energy geologist shows that DEF data from PGT logged holes were sorted by intervals according to what zone that interval was situated. The DEF values from each zone were then averaged if there were enough values and those values used to adjust the historical estimate of Moore Energy.
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Geological Setting
Regional Geology
The Goliad Project area is situated in the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province that is geologically characterized by sedimentary deposits that typically dip and thicken toward the Gulf of Mexico from the northwest source areas. Additionally, the regional dip generally increases with distance in the down dip direction as the overall thickness of sediments increase. The sedimentary units are dominantly continental clastic deposits with some near shore and shallow marine facies. The uranium-bearing units are virtually all sands and sandstones in Tertiary formations ranging in age from Eocene (oldest) to Upper Miocene (youngest).
Local and Property Geology
The surface of the property is all within the outcrop area of the Goliad Formation (Figure 4-3). The mineralized units are sands and sandstone within the Goliad Formation and are designated by us as the A through D sands from younger (upper) to older (lower), respectively. The sand units are generally fine to medium grained sands with silt and varying amounts of secondary calcite. The sand units vary in color depending upon the degree of oxidation-reduction and could be from light brown-tan to grays. The sands units are generally separated from each other by silty clay or clayey silts that serve as confining units between the sand units.
32
33
The Goliad Formation at the project site occurs from the surface to a depth of about 500 feet. Depending upon the land surface elevation, groundwater occurs in the sands of the formation below depths of about 30 to 60 feet. The four sand/sandstone zones (A-D) designated as containing uranium mineralization at the site are all considered to be a part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer on a regional basis. At the project area, however, each zone is a hydrogeologic unit with similar but variable characteristics. The A zone is the uppermost unit and based on resistance logs, groundwater in this unit may be unconfined over portions of the site. The three deeper zones are confined units with confining clays and silts above and below the water-bearing unit.
Groundwater from sands of the Goliad Formation is used for water supplies over much of the northern portion of Goliad County. Water quality in the Goliad Formation is variable and wells typically can yield small to moderate amounts of water. Data indicates an approximate average hydraulic conductivity of the water-bearing zones of the Goliad Formation in Goliad County is 100 gallons per day per square foot. Based on this value, a 20 foot sand unit would have an approximate transmissivity of 2,000 gallons per day. With sufficient available drawdown properly completed ISR wells could have average yields in the range of 25 to 50 gallons per minute.
The site area structures include two faults that intersect and offset the mineralized units. These faults are normal, with one downthrown toward the coast and one downthrown toward the northwest. The fault throws range from about 40 to 80 feet.
Project Type
The Goliad uranium project is characteristic of other known Goliad sand / sandstone deposits in south Texas. The mineralization occurs within fluvial sands and silts as roll front deposits that are typically a "C" or cutoff "C" shape. The roll fronts are generally associated with an extended oxidation-reduction boundary or front.
The other Goliad projects in the region include the Kingsville Dome mine southeast of Kingsville, the Rosita mine west of Alice, the Mestena mine in Brooks County and the former Mt. Lucas mine at Lake Corpus Christi. These mines are all located south of the Goliad Project from about 60 to 160 miles. The average tons and uranium grade information for these mines is not known, but all these ISR projects mining Goliad Formation sand units have been very successful with the following characteristics in common: excellent leaching characteristics rate, and favorable hydraulic conductivity of host sands.
At the Goliad Project there are four stacked mineralized sand horizons (A-D) that are separated vertically by zones of finer sand, silt and clay. Deposition and concentration of uranium in the Goliad Formation likely resulted due to a combination of leaching of uranium from volcanic tuff or ash deposits within the Goliad Formation or erosion of uranium-bearing materials from older Oakville deposits. The leaching process occurred near the outcrop area where recharge of oxidizing groundwater increased the solubility of uranium minerals in the interstices and coating sand grains in the sediments. Subsequent downgradient migration of the soluble uranium within the oxygenated groundwater continued until the geochemical conditions became reducing and uranium minerals were deposited in roll front or tabular bodies due to varying stratigraphic or structural conditions.
There are at least two northeast-southwest trending faults at the Goliad property that are likely related to the formation of the Goliad Project mineralization. The northwesterly fault is a typical Gulf Coast normal fault, downthrown toward the coast, while the southeastern fault is downthrown to the northwest, forming a graben structure. Both faults are normal faults. Throw on the northwest fault is about 75 feet and the southeast fault has about 50 feet of throw. The presence of these faults is likely related to the increased mineralization at the site. The faulting has probably served as a conduit for reducing waters-gases to migrate from deeper horizons as well as altering the groundwater flow system in the uranium-bearing sands.
34
Mineralization
The Goliad Project uranium-bearing units occur as multiple roll front type structures in vertically stacked sands and sandstones. Groundwater flowing from northwest to southeast in the Goliad sands likely contained low concentrations of dissolved uranium resulting from oxidizing conditions and the relatively short distance from the recharge area. The geochemical conditions in the sands near our property changed from oxidizing to reducing due to an influx of reductants. Hydrogen sulfide and/or methane dissolved in groundwater are likely sources of creating a reduction-oxidation boundary in the area with consequent precipitation and concentration of uranium mineralization.
Specific identification of the uranium minerals has not been done at the Goliad Project. The very fine uranium minerals found coating quartz grains and within the interstices in most south Texas sand and sandstone roll-front deposits has generally been found to be dominantly uraninite. No uraninite has been identified on the Goliad Project and the presence of uraninite on other properties does not mean that such mineralization will be found on the Goliad Project. Detailed petrographic examination of disseminated uranium mineralization within sands/sandstones is generally not suitable for identification of the specific uranium minerals. Laboratory equipment such as x-ray diffraction units may be used to identify the minerals, however the specific mineral species typically found in reduced sands are generally similar in south Texas ISR projects and leaching characteristics are also similar. Based on the experience of the ISR mines throughout south Texas, the use of gamma-ray logging with a calibrated logging probe has become the standard method to determine the thickness and estimated grade of uranium bearing minerals.
At the project site the Goliad Formation is exposed at the surface and extends to depths exceeding 500 feet. Uranium mineralization occurs in four sand/sandstone units that are all below the saturated zone. The zones are designated A to D from the top to the bottom of the sequence. The sands are fluvial-deltaic in origin, and thicken and thin across the project site. Each Zone is hydrologically separated by 10 to 50 feet or more of clay or silty clay. The uranium deposits are tabular in nature and can range from about one foot to over 45 feet in thickness. The "C"-shaped configuration is typically convex in a downdip direction with leading edge tails on the upper end. Most of the exploration and delineation holes with elevated gamma ray log anomalies are situated within a southwest-northeast trending graben and most of the gamma ray anomaly holes are situated along the northernmost of the two faults comprising the graben. This northernmost fault is downthrown to the southeast, which is typical for the majority of faults along the Texas coastal area.
The A and B gamma ray anomaly zones are continuous, tabular bodies which extend for over 2000 feet along trend. The A Zone mineralized body ranges from about 100 feet to over 600 feet in width and the B Zone ranges from about 50 feet to over 300 feet in width. The D Zone gamma ray anomaly extends for over 5,000 feet along trend and appears to be comprised of extensive, isolated pods of high grade gamma anomalies which range from 50 feet to over 500 feet in width. Confirmation drilling, however, has shown high-grade gamma ray anomaly connections between some of the pods. The C Zone is the least extensive of the four gamma anomaly zones.
Exploration
A review of the available records for the Goliad Project indicated that approximately eight holes were drilled by Coastal Uranium on or near the current Goliad Project leases. This original exploration program resulted in the original find of gamma ray logging responses indicating potential low grade uranium as a part of a very wide spaced preliminary exploration program by Coastal Uranium during the period from October 1979 through June 1980.
Records indicate that Moore Energy obtained leases from Coastal Uranium for properties in the current Goliad Project area and conducted a thorough exploration program that consisted of drilling 479 exploration holes from March 1983 to August 1984. The program utilized gamma ray, resistance and self-potential logging of each hole and a geologic description of the lithology from five to 10-foot interval drill cuttings. In addition to gamma logs, several holes were also logged with a Princeton Gamma Tech Geophysical Services PFN type tool. This logging tool was used to differentiate gamma radiation from uranium and daughter products, and determine a DEF for the mineralization intervals. The Moore Energy exploration program provided the geological basis for the Goliad Project.
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Drilling at the property in 2006 and 2007 has been performed to confirm the geological details of the uranium mineralization at the property. The Goliad property work by our geologists is not exploration but confirmation-verification drilling. Additionally, our staff has continued peripheral as well as internal drilling to expand the historical mineralization.
Drilling
Drilling for the Goliad Project has been conducted by truck-mounted rigs drilling vertical holes ranging from about four to six inches in diameter. After reaching the designated total depth, the hole is circulated from bottom to clear the heavy cuttings from the hole and condition the hole for logging with a specialized calibrated tool that recorded resistance, spontaneous potential and gamma ray. The gamma ray probe on each logging truck working on uranium drilling projects has to maintain calibration by regular cross checking the probe at a US Department of Energy test pit near George West, Texas. The pit is set up for logging units to calibrate the gamma probe with a known radioactive source. This method has been successfully used in Texas since at least the mid-1970s. The available data indicate that the logging companies contracted for this project have maintained industry standard calibration procedures for their probes.
Based on a review of drilling records and discussions with former Moore Energy and our current employees, previous drilling on the property was conducted using rotary mud drilling and truck-mounted drilling rigs. Cuttings are typically taken at 10-foot intervals and placed in piles on the ground for a geologist to review for lithology and alteration. The drill holes were completed at various depths depending on which of the four sand units may have been mineralized in the vicinity location. Once completed, the drill holes were logged by a contract logger using a probe with gamma ray, self-potential and single point resistance capability. Drift tools for bottom hole deviation were not used by Coastal Uranium nor for the vast majority of Moore Energy holes. We have utilized the digital logging capability of Century Geophysical Corp. and have downhole deviation records for these holes. The drill hole collar location was used to position the hole location for map locations of individual holes. Although several boreholes had no deviation records, all drilling to date has been set up to be vertical drilling. At the depth range (300-500 ft) of most Goliad Project drilling, measured bottom hole deviations from vertical are generally less than 10 feet.
Initial exploration drilling in the general areas was conducted by Coastal Uranium in 1980. Some scattered low level gamma ray anomalies were noted in the geophysical logs that indicated potential low grade uranium mineralization was possible in three of the eight Coastal drill holes. Moore Energy established leases in the area in 1982 and began an exploration program in early 1983. Between 1983 and August 1984 Moore Energy completed 479 borings by mud rotary methods on several of their leases. We obtained leases for the property by assignment from a private entity in 2006 and began confirmation drilling in May 2006.
As of the date of this annual report we had drilled a total of 958 confirmation holes. Of the total 958 holes, 61 were strongly mineralized.
All uranium grades have been determined from evaluation (manual calculations or computerized logging equipment) of gamma logs of the drill holes. The resulting grades are designated as equivalent percent uranium that have not been corrected or verified by chemical assay. Because there has not been sufficient verification of the gamma log and PFN log data to arrive at a validated resource or reserve classification, the following data in Table 1 cannot be used to define a resource at this time.
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Table 1. Representative Thickness and Grade by Zone |
A - A' |
Hole # |
30892-62 |
30892-116 |
32202-64 |
32202-117 |
32202-108 |
Depth to Top (ft) |
81 |
68 |
58 |
50 |
48 |
Depth to Base (ft) |
144 |
130 |
120 |
116 |
108 |
Mineral Thickness (ft) |
23.0 |
7.5 |
40.0 |
23.0 |
8.5 |
Grade (%U3O8) |
0.05 |
0.03 |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.03 |
Operator |
Moore Energy |
UEC |
Moore Energy |
UEC |
UEC |
Date Completed |
27-Oct-83 |
3-Nov-06 |
31-Oct-83 |
15-Nov-06 |
8-Nov-06 |
Probe Used |
414-1B |
9055C-238 |
414-1B |
9055C-82 |
9055C-238 |
|
|||||
B - B' |
Hole # |
32201-N105 |
32201-N103 |
32201-N114 |
32201-N85 |
32201-N86 |
Depth to Top (ft) |
160 |
160 |
160 |
153 |
155 |
Depth to Base (ft) |
206 |
207 |
207 |
206 |
202 |
Mineral Thickness (ft) |
7.0 |
14.0 |
14.5 |
10.5 |
10.0 |
Grade (%U3O8) |
0.04 |
0.10 |
0.11 |
0.03 |
0.04 |
Operator |
UEC |
UEC |
UEC |
UEC |
UEC |
Date Completed |
7-Mar-07 |
7-Mar-07 |
8-Mar-07 |
14-Feb-07 |
14-Feb-07 |
Probe Used |
9056C-33 |
9056C-33 |
9056C-33 |
9056C-33 |
9056C-33 |
C - C' |
Hole # |
30898-2 |
32201-N6 |
32201-N10 |
32201-N47 |
32201-N51 |
Depth to Top (ft) |
160 |
226 |
220 |
214 |
219 |
Depth to Base (ft) |
230 |
292 |
286 |
279 |
294 |
Mineral Thickness (ft) |
11.0 |
15.0 |
22.0 |
8.5 |
6.0 |
Grade (%U3O8) |
0.06 |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.04 |
0.03 |
Operator |
Moore Energy |
UEC |
UEC |
UEC |
UEC |
Date Completed |
27-Sep-83 |
7-Dec-06 |
7-Dec-06 |
22-Mar-07 |
9-Jan-07 |
Probe Used |
414-1B |
9055C-238 |
9055C-238 |
9056C-33 |
9056C-33 |
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D - D' |
Hole # |
30898-10 |
30892-13 |
30892-111 |
30892-37 |
32202-108 |
Depth to Top (ft) |
265 |
268 |
342 |
330 |
330 |
Depth to Base (ft) |
348 |
350 |
420 |
418 |
423 |
Mineral Thickness (ft) |
23.5 |
12.0 |
7.5 |
5.5 |
13.0 |
Grade (%U3O8) |
0.11 |
0.09 |
0.03 |
0.04 |
0.03 |
Operator |
Moore Energy |
Moore Energy |
UEC |
Moore Energy |
UEC |
Date Completed |
30-Sep-83 |
21-Jul-83 |
25-Oct-06 |
26-Aug-83 |
8-Nov-06 |
Probe Used |
414-1B |
SPB-01 |
9055C-82 |
SPB-01 |
9055C-238 |
Disequilibrium
Uranium disequilibrium can be defined as the ratio of chemical uranium (cU3O8) over gamma-ray equivalent uranium (eU3O8). The first determination is made in a laboratory, as described below, whereas the second determination is typically a field measurement, from which an indirect or equivalent estimate of uranium content can be made. The ratio, or disequilibrium, between "chemical" laboratory techniques and "equivalent" field techniques exists because of the ongoing radioactive decay of uranium over time. A positive DEF of 1.0 or greater indicates the presence of more chemical uranium than equivalent uranium.
During exploration of the Goliad property in the early 1980s, Moore Energy utilized the prompt fission neutron (PFN) downhole logging technology of the Princeton Gamma-Tech Corporation (PGT) to identify disequilibrium. A review of available logs identified 30 Moore Energy drill holes on which PGT's PFN downhole logging tool was used to develop DEFs for the four mineralized zones on the project. Approximately 2,000 feet of hole was logged by PGT, which included all four of the mineralized zones. Both chemical (PFN direct reading) and equivalent (gamma log) U3O8 readings were obtained for each foot of logged hole.
The DEF for each of the four zones at the Goliad Project were estimated by Moore Energy during the 1982-85 field investigation. There were 30 borings during the Moore work that were logged with the PGT PFN tool to provide a direct comparison of the PGT uranium assay (%U3O8) with the gross gamma equivalent (eU3O8) from the radiometric signature of the material being logged. The A zone was the most logged unit, with about 14 PGT logs of mineralized zones. The average DEF for these logs was approximately 1.7. The B zone was penetrated by four PGT logs. The B zone DEF was thus conservatively designated as 1.439. The D zone was PGT logged at 6 holes had an average DEF of 1.435. No PGT logs were obtained of the C zone during the field program, due to the more limited areal extent of this unit and the limited time periods the PGT logger was at the project site. Because of the geologic similarity of the C zone sand with the B and D zones sands, Moore Energy assigned a DEF of 1.4 to the C zone to be consistent with the B and D zone sands. Although the PFN derived DEFs are believed to be reliable based on the operator's experience and knowledge of the technology utilized, direct chemical assays were not done to verify the technique when this work was done.
Modern day field logging continues to use the PFN tool as an effective direct assay technique to assess the disequilibrium between standard gamma ray logging results and the actual grade of uranium in the borehole. However, in order to verify the values obtained by historical or current PFN logging, a suitable verification program that uses laboratory chemical assays of core and/or definitive calibration testing by the equipment manufacturer or at certified test facilities would be needed.
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Drill Cuttings
Drill cuttings are important sources of information for distinguishing and mapping alteration fronts and for use in correlating geophysical logs for lithology. Field geologists will review the drill cuttings in the field and describe the sediments encountered in the boring in terms of color, grain size, and other distinguishing characteristics. An important aspect of the lithology logs is to provide the level of the sediment alteration as an indication of reduction and oxidation conditions. This information is important to locate the reduction-oxidation front/boundary. Cutting samples are generally not used for chemical assay or other laboratory testing due to dilution and contamination with drilling mud. Lithology logs are present for all of the drill holes, but they were not reviewed in full detail during this study.
Our policy has been to take samples of drill cuttings at 10-foot intervals from the surface to total depth. Once the cuttings have been observed and the lithologic logs prepared, the cuttings are discarded back into the mud pit. After allowing some drying time, the mud in the pit and the cuttings are eventually covered with soil that has been stored from the excavation of the pits.
Probe Truck and Calibration
Contract logging companies were utilized by Moore Energy and UEC for logging of drill holes. The contract logging companies maintained scheduled calibration of the gamma probes on each of their trucks against standards in a US Department of Energy maintained and monitored test pit facility outside George West, Texas. Probe truck and calibration information records were kept by the logging companies. We purchased two logging trucks and began using them on the Goliad Project in early June 2007, and January 2008.
Core Samples
We have taken three-inch core samples from eight drill holes representative of the occurrence of uranium mineralization at the site. The core holes are as follows: 30892-74C, 30892-85C, 30892-86C, 30892-102C, 30892-111C, 30892-118AC 30892-120C, and 32201-N100C) (Figure 13-1). The cores have included samples from all mineralized zones but the C zone. Samples have been used for the purpose of moisture content, total metals (U and Mo), cU3O8 for disequilibrium evaluations, leachability tests, density analyses and X-ray diffraction for mineral identification. Selected intervals were put in bags, labeled and placed in core boxes for transport to the respective laboratories for analyses. The remaining core is locked in a storage shed on the project site. All of the analyses except density determinations were conducted by Energy Labs in Casper, Wyoming. The laboratory has been in business since 1952, is fully certified, but not ISO certified. Certifications include the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the following US states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT and WA. The density analyses were conducted by Professional Service Industries in Austin, Texas.
Borehole Remediation and Abandonment
The Texas Railroad Commission requires exploration companies to obtain exploration permits before conducting drilling in any area. The permits include standards for the abandonment and remediation of test bore holes. The standards include the cementing of test bore holes, the filling and abandonment of mud pits, and the marking of bore holes at the surface. Remediation requirements are sometimes specific to the area of exploration and may include segregation, storage, and re-covering with topsoil, regrading, and revegetation. The Railroad Commission conducts monthly remediation inspections of the Goliad Project site. Our Goliad Project site is in compliance with Railroad Commission remediation requirements.
Data Verification
Most of the historic logs were run with analog equipment except for some run by Century Geophysical with digital equipment, while our holes have all been logged with digital equipment. Century Geophysical initially logged, and continues to log the drill holes when required. In June 2007 and January 2008 we obtained new logging units and have logged with these units since that time in conjunction with Century Geophysical.
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The use of selected core analyses by an analytical laboratory and field logging selected borings with a specialized logging tool that distinguishes uranium from its daughter products (such as delayed fission neutron or prompt fission neutron) will allow the operator to determine the average DEF of the project and utilize that and assay data to adjust (if necessary) the gamma-ray grade and thickness data.
The radiometric data from the gamma ray logging of each hole has provided the primary tool to determine the approximate grade of uranium in the subsurface. Additionally, some individual cores with chemical assays that verified the occurrence of cU3O8 have been collected and analyzed during our drilling program. Primary verification that uranium mineralization is present at the site is from the large number of exploration/confirmation boreholes and the geophysical logs that document the presence of eU3O8 with the gamma logs and lithology with the resistance logs. An independent geologist has reviewed core intervals representative of mineralization and, based on his review and evaluation of the historic and our current files and procedures, he determined that the records and files from the drilling programs have been well conducted and the information is suitable for estimated historical mineralization determination in a manner consistent with accepted practices in the ISR uranium mining industry.
For partial verification of the historic DEFs the Company contracted from Energy Labs of Casper, Wyoming, laboratory analyses on samples from three A Zone cores and one B Zone core. For the A Zone cores the analyses consisted of the determination of total chemical uranium and radiometric uranium from 28 selected one foot mineralized core intervals. This consisted of 15 intervals from core hole 30892-111C, eight intervals from core hole 30893-85C and five intervals from core hole 30893-118AC. From the B Zone, 30 continuous one foot samples were taken from core hole 32201-N100C.
Samples for chemical and radiometric gamma analysis are dried in a convection oven followed by grinding to -100 mesh. A 200 g sample is taken for the gamma analysis, placed in a tin and sealed with tape. A minimum 15 day period is required to establish equilibrium between 226Ra and the daughter 214Bi. The principal behind the gamma analysis is that in a particular uranium occurrence, 238U and 226Ra will be in equilibrium. Since 238U is the only source of 226Ra, one can assume that ideally, measuring the activity of 214Bi can be used to indirectly determine the total uranium concentration. Accuracy is determined by using certified 226Ra standards. The chemical analysis uses a one-gram sample digested in a nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide mixture and measured by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy using certified standards for control.
Assay results indicate average DEFs for the A Sand core holes of 1.71, 1.15, and 0.16 for core holes 30892-111C, 85C, and 118AC, respectively. The 1.71 value was derived from the average of 15 one-foot sample intervals and the 1.15 value from eight one-foot sample intervals. The five one-foot intervals from the third core suggest a thin interval where the average eU3O8 values exceed the chemical values. Such intervals are common, even in core holes with high overall DEFs, but their presence in a limited sample group such as the present one will skew the results in a negative fashion. The 1.71 value from the larger 15 sample group in core hole 30892-111C is consistent with the average 1.7 value derived from historic PGT logging by Moore Energy and is considered to be representative of the A Zone. The 30 one-foot sample intervals from the B Sand core hole had an average DEF of 1.26; a value similar in magnitude to the 1.439 PGT value determined by Moore Energy. Again, the PGT value was established from a larger sample grouping and may be considered more representative of the B Sand than that derived from the smaller sample group.
The development and refinement of the PFN and similar specialty logging methods over the past 30 years has resulted in a tool that provides an accurate field determination of potential uranium grade and infrequent need for laboratory assays of core. In order to maintain a consistent analysis of the disequilibrium factors throughout the mineral bodies, we are purchasing a PFN logging tool which will be used in conjunction with standard gamma ray logging on the Goliad project. Use of the PFN technology will assist in developing more concise future mineralization estimates, but still requires a level of verification with the accepted laboratory assay of core and/or calibration testing.
Additional verification of select historical Moore Energy drilling and our current logging data was done by comparing sets of gamma logs from a Moore hole and a recent hole we drilled that was located in close proximity. The log pairs were located and then data tabulated for each pair to compare thickness of zone, equivalent U3O8 grade, GT. A positive correlation indicated the drill hole sets were comparable in character regarding the potential mineral grade and thickness and representative of the same general portion of the project.
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Adjacent Properties
There has been no uranium exploration or mining activity on adjacent properties to our Goliad Project. The nearest known uranium mine from the Goliad Formation was the former Mount Lucas ISR mine near Lake Corpus Christi. Uranium Resources Inc. has been mining from the Goliad Formation in Kleberg County, southeast of Kingsville, for several years at the Kingsville Dome ISR mine and at the Rosita ISR mine in Duval County west of Alice, Texas. With the large concentration of uranium mining and exploration properties in the Goliad, Oakville, Catahoula and Jackson formations throughout the South Texas uranium trend, it is likely that additional uranium target areas could be developed in the vicinity of our Goliad Project in the future. The current or historic ISR operations mining from the Goliad Formation range from about 60 to 160 miles south and on strike of the Goliad Project.
Several historic ISR and open pit operations mining from the Oakville and Jackson Formations are located within about 50 miles west of the property
Leach Amenability
Mineral processing or metallurgical testing was not reported as being conducted on any of the samples drilled or recovered during the Moore Energy exploration in the mid-1980s. We submitted selected core samples from our core hole # 30892-111C to Energy Laboratories, Inc. in Casper, Wyoming, in January 2007. These samples from the Goliad Project were sent to the laboratory for leach amenability studies intended to demonstrate that uranium mineralization at the property was capable of being leached using conventional in situ leach chemistry. The tests do not approximate other in-situ variables (permeability, porosity, and pressure) but provide an indication of a sample's reaction rate and the potential chemical recovery.
Split sections of core were placed in laboratory containers and a lixiviate solution with 2.0 grams per liter HCO3 (NaHCO3) and either 0.50 or 0.25 g/L of H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) was added to each test container. The containers were then rotated at 30 rpm for 16 hours. The lixiviate was then extracted from each test container and analyzed for uranium, molybdenum, sodium, sulfate, alkalinity (bicarbonate, carbonate), pH and conductance. A clean charge of lixiviate was added and the container rotated another 16 hours. Each sample rotation and lixiviate charge cycle was representative of 5 pore volumes with chemical analyses after each cycle. The cycle was repeated for a total of 6 cycles or the equivalent of 30 pore volumes.
The four core samples subjected to the leach amenability tests were determined to contain from 0.04% to 0.08% cU3O8 before testing. Leach tests conducted on the core samples from the A Zone indicate leach efficiencies of 60 to 80% U3O8 extraction, while the tails analyses indicate efficiencies of 87-89%. The differences between the two calculations involve the loss of solid clay based materials during multiple filtrations. Based on post leach solids analysis, the core intervals were leachable to a very favorable 86 to 89%. After tests the tails were reanalyzed for uranium concentration to determine the recovery, which ranged on the 4 samples using 2 methods from 60% to 89%.
Laboratory amenability testing of the cores samples indicated the uranium (dissolved elemental U) recoveries ranged from 86.4% to 88.9% in the four tests. These results show that the mineralized intervals at the Goliad Project are very amenable to ISR mining even when exposed to only one-half of the oxidant concentration normally used in the Leach Amenability test. Based on the Company's experience with ISR mining of Catahoula and Oakville uranium deposits, as well as discussions with other Goliad deposit mining personnel, the geologically younger deposits in Texas (Goliad formation) have been the most amenable to in situ leaching. The uranium recovery is generally more complete (% recovery) and occurs in a shorter time period. Both of these factors are important for ISR mine development economics.
Based on the amenability test results, the size of the mineralization at the Goliad Project, the geologic setting and the current and projected future demand and price of uranium, the most feasible and cost effective mining method for the Goliad property uranium is by ISR. This method is most suitable for the size and grade of the deposits in sands that are below the water table and situated at depths that would be prohibitive for open pit or underground mining.
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The amenability testing described above was conducted on core recovered from four depth intervals from one boring. While this was a limited sampling for this property, the samples are believed to be generally representative of the characteristics of the mineralized intervals and the determined recovery ranges for these intervals is considered to be reliable. Two of the four samples tested contained approximately 0.08% cU3O8 and two contained lower grades of uranium (~0.04% cU3O8). Energy Laboratories, Inc. in Casper, Wyoming, conducted the laboratory testing for this project. The laboratory has been in business since 1952, is fully certified, but not ISO certified. Certifications include the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the following US states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT and WA.
ISR Considerations
The Goliad Project appears to be most suitable for mining as an ISR (in-situ recovery) project. Although leach and permeability tests are still being conducted, south Texas uranium deposits in permeable sands situated below the groundwater table are generally favorable to ISR production.
Environmental Considerations
We have completed all of the required environmental baseline studies for the various permits needed for production. The Mine Permit application was submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in mid August 2007. The TCEQ completed their technical review in May, 2008 and issued a draft mine permit in early June, 2008. The Radioactive Material License application was submitted to the TCEQ in early December, 2008. Studies completed to compile this document include: cultural resources (including archaeology), socioeconomic impact and soils mapping, baseline gamma survey, baseline soil/sediment/surface water/vegetation, baseline radon, and gamma exposure rates. The cultural resources study found no adverse impacts to the site and socioeconomic impacts are projected to be positive for the community. Texas Parks and Wildlife issued their report concerning the project stating that the proposed operation will have no adverse impact on natural resources. Additionally the U.S. Corp of Army Engineers has submitted a Jurisdictional Determination (JD) that the project will not impact neighboring wetlands. The Waste Disposal Well application was completed and submitted in late September, 2008. The TCEQ issued a final draft permit in September, 2009. The initial Production Permit Area (PAA-1) was completed and submitted in early September 2008, and a final draft permit was issued by the TCEQ in June, 2009.
Engineering Studies
The geotechnical engineering study for the proposed plant site has been completed and mine planning, including engineering design for the proposed plant site, is in progress. 20 Regional Baseline water quality wells have been installed for monitoring the aquifer within the mineralized zones and pump tests on the aquifer are planned. Laboratory testing has indicated 86-89% leach ability of tested core samples and the results indicate that the mineralization is amenable to in situ leaching with an oxygenated bicarbonate lixiviant.
Soils in the upper 25 feet at the proposed site are variable with dominantly brown to light brown sandy silty clay in the upper 4 to 6 feet. Soils grade to tan sandy clayey silt that is generally present to depth of the investigation (25 feet). The shallow clayey soils have relatively high plasticity indices (PI) with lower PIs in the silty soils below. Groundwater was not encountered while drilling the borings.
The primary recommendation in the report is to construct a reinforced concrete mat type foundation sized for a uniform allowable loading of 2,000 pounds per square foot.
The report and recommendations indicates there are no apparent problem soils and the recommended slab and foundation should be suitable for the intended use of the slab.
Goliad Project Permitting Plan - 2011/2012
There are currently no further exploratory programs scheduled or contemplated for the Goliad Project.
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In regards to the environmental permitting at the Goliad Project, geologists and engineers performing work at the Goliad Project have developed a timetable of forecasted workflow, which includes the forecasted completion dates of various tasks which have been assigned to various personnel. The workflow has been broken down into two broad categories, which have then been further broken down into individual tasks, many of which can be performed contemporaneously. The two major categories of work relate to radioactive materials licenses and mine permits.
Within these two broad categories of work are included the following tasks, many of which are required by the regulatory bodies to whom the Company is subject to oversight for its exploration activities. If applicable, the forecasted completion dates of the task is also indicated. These are internal forecasts only, and the actual dates of the beginning or completion of these tasks may differ materially from the forecasts..
In September 2010, the administrative judge issued an initial Proposal for Decision which recommended findings in favor of the Company on the vast majority of the issues from the hearing referred to in the table below. He also recommended that the TCEQ allow the submission of additional data to address limited remaining issues. The additional limited information involves a 24-hour pump test at the Goliad project. The test was completed with favorable results submitted to the TCEQ.
In August 2011, the TCEQ issued a draft RML license for the Goliad project. RMLs are initially issued in draft form to allow the Company the opportunity to review the license and provide TCEQ with comments or suggested changes to the license. Uranium Energy Corp has already begun its review of the license and will provide TCEQ its comments as soon as possible. Once UEC files its comments, TCEQ will complete its final internal review and prepare the Final RML. A 30-day public notice of the agency's action will follow, providing the public with a chance to comment on the license before it is finalized.
Radioactive Materials License
Archaeology/History study |
N/A |
Completed |
Ecology study |
N/A |
Completed |
Soils/Sediments/Gamma testing |
N/A |
Completed |
Gamma/Radon-222 testing |
N/A |
Completed |
Socioeconomic study |
N/A |
Completed |
Radiological assessment |
N/A |
Completed |
MILDOS survey |
N/A |
Completed |
Scoping Study |
N/A |
Completed |
Agency review and approval |
Q4 2008 - Q4 2011 |
In Progress. Draft RML License received August 2011 |
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Mine Permit
Area groundwater baseline study |
N/A |
Completed |
Geology/Hydrology study |
N/A |
Completed |
Deep disposal well study |
N/A |
Completed |
Mine permit review and draft permit approval |
N/A |
Completed |
Disposal well review and approval |
N/A |
Completed |
Air exemption permit |
N/A |
Completed |
EPA aquifer exemption |
Q4 2008 - Q4 2011 |
Submitted and in review process with the EPA |
PAA review and approva1 |
N/A |
Completed |
Upon the satisfactory completion of these tasks, and with approval of all applicable regulatory agencies involved in these tasks, the Company may then proceed with uranium extraction, provided that this exploration property can establish economic uranium reserves.
Permitting
The permitting process is well underway and the Company has accomplished the following key elements to that end:
Mineral Exploration Properties
We hold mineral properties in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming by way of mining claims and state and private mineral leases. The mining claim properties were staked and claimed by us and registered with the US Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). There are claim blocks acquired in this manner in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. We have surface access and complete mineral rights to an unlimited depth below surface. The claims are in effect for an indefinite period provided the claims are kept in good standing with the BLM and the counties on an annual basis. The claims were entered into between November 4, 2004 and July 2011.
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Annual maintenance fees to be paid to the BLM are relatively nominal. We will also be required to remediate the land upon release of the claim - bringing the land back into the state it was originally in prior to the commencement of our exploration activities. These costs are determined by the BLM and bonded accordingly.
In the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming we are participating in our mineral properties by way of property leases directly from the owners of the land/mineral rights. As of the date of this report we have executed leases in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming. These leases give us similar access and privileges as described above, however with some important differences. Although we will have access to the surface, the mineral rights below surface are restricted to uranium and associated fissionable minerals only, with any other minerals and hydro carbons, including, for example, petroleum, retained by the lessor. The lease terms are for five years, and include five-year renewal periods for a majority of the leases. After the expiration of the second five-year term the leases will be either held by production or the leases will be terminated. Royalty payments must be made to the lessor in event that we extract uranium ore from the properties. Royalty payments vary based on a fixed percentage to a sliding scale percentage tied to the sale price of uranium. All royalties are based on the gross sales revenue less certain charges and fees.
At July 31, 2011, we have the following gross and net acre mineral property interests in states indicated below under lease:
(1) Certain of our interests in our mineral properties in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas are less than 100%. Accordingly, we have presented the acreage of our mineral properties on a net acre basis.
We plan to conduct exploration programs on these properties with the objective of determining the existence of any economic concentrations of uranium.
Since inception we have not established any proven or probable reserves on our mineral property interests.
On October 11, 2005, we entered into a Mineral Asset Option Agreement (the "Option") with Brad A. Moore giving us the option to acquire certain uranium leases from Mr. Moore in the State of Texas. In consideration for the Option we have paid Mr. Moore a cash payment of $50,000 and issued 1,000,000 shares of our restricted common stock. The Option, which was exercised, required the further issuance of 2,000,000 restricted shares of common stock in varying share installments over the three, six month intervals following the effective date of the Option Agreement (October 11, 2005). A further payment of $150,000 was paid under the Option on February 1, 2006. Title to the properties transferred upon payment of all remaining stock required under the Option. During the Option term we had the right as operator to conduct or otherwise direct all the exploration on the properties to be acquired. As of this date all cash consideration and share issuances required pursuant to the terms of the Option have been completed.
During Fiscal 2010, the Company sold its 49% interest in Cibola Resources, LLC for a cash payment of $11.0 million. As a result, the Company recorded an $8,534,081 gain on the sale of assets which is reported as discontinued operations.
45
Arizona
All of our Arizona claims and state leases were previously the subject of exploration drilling for the incidence of uranium by companies such as Noranda, Inc., Uranerz Energy Corp., Homestake Mining Co., Occidental Minerals and Oklahoma Public Services. We have acquired a 1979 Oklahoma Public Services ("OPS") geologic report contiguous to our claims (Artillery Peak), as well as gamma-ray logs from Homestake, that indicates the possibility of incidence of uranium. OPS drilling continued on to our claims as evidenced by drill holes verified on the ground, and such drill cuttings were found to be radioactive. Close spaced developmental drilling is indicated on our claims located at Artillery Peak.
Other claims staked by us (Dry Mountain) in Arizona were staked on known uranium occurrences as shown on Arizona State publication, "Occurrences of Uranium in Miscellaneous Sedimentary Formations, Diatremes and Pipes and Veins". Additionally, these claims were previously drilled by companies including Homestake Mining Co., Uranerz Energy Corp. and Noranda, Inc. in the 1970's uranium boom. Our management has confirmed prior claim ownership as verified with the US Department of Interior - BLM. In addition, ground surveys completed by us have located various previous drill locations and radioactive anomalies as evidenced in ground and drill cuttings.
On November 1, 2007, we entered into a binding letter Agreement to Purchase Assets with Melvin O. Stairs, Jr. ("Mr. Stairs"), for a mineral exploration claim and related database information located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will pay total consideration of $1,200,000 including i) a $10,000 deposit upon execution (paid), ii) installments of $95,000 cash on January 10, 2008 (paid) and August 15, 2008, and iii) installments totaling $100,000 on January 10 and August 15 of each year for the period from January 10, 2009 through August 15, 2013. Additionally, the Company has granted the seller security interest on the acquired assets until the agreement is paid in full. On August 25, 2008, we entered into an amendment agreement pursuant to which the total consideration payable was reduced to $300,000 as follows: i) a $10,000 deposit upon execution (paid), ii) installments of $95,000 cash on January 10, 2008 (paid) and $57,000 cash (paid) and $38,000 by way of issuance of 19,000 restricted common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $2.00 per share on August 15, 2008.
On January 25, 2010, the Company and Mr. Stairs agreed to amend the August 25, 2008 Amending Agreement. We agreed to pay Mr. Stairs a further and final non-refundable Purchase Price Payment in the aggregate amount equivalent to $65,000 payable in the following manner; i) the initial $30,000 of the Purchase Price Payment by way of cash (paid); and ii) the final balance of U.S. $35,000 of this Purchase Price Payment by way of the issuance 10,448 fully paid and non-assessable restricted common shares at deemed issuance price of U.S. $3.35 per Share (issued).
We confirm that as of this date our Arizona located claims and leases contain no uranium reserves and require extensive exploration by us.
The following provides information relating to such claims:
Property |
Number of Claims |
Gross Acres |
Net Acres |
Artillery Peak 1 |
19 claims |
392.54 |
392.54 |
Artillery Peak 2 |
31 claims |
640.46 |
640.46 |
Dry Mountain |
28 claims |
578.48 |
578.48 |
New River |
1 lease |
640.00 |
640.00 |
Colorado
Claims and leases acquired by us in Colorado have historical production tonnages and grades published in the Colorado Geological Survey, Bulletin 40 - "Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado". Also, our geological staff has evaluated a portion of the claims currently owned by us. We confirm that at the current date, our Colorado located claims contain no uranium reserves and require extensive exploration by us.
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In January of 2011 the Company staked a total of 88 claims in the Slick Rock district of the Uravan Mineral Belt. In June of 2011 the Company finalized a deal to purchase 103 claims from Spider Rock Mining also in the Slick Rock District. The purchase of the 103 claims was done for a one-time payment of $500,000.00. As a result, the Company now holds a total of 191 contiguous claims in the Slick Rock District.
The following provides information relating to such claims:
Property |
Number of Claims |
Gross Acres |
Net Acres |
Bull Canyon |
23 claims |
383.00 |
383.00 |
BC-Holley |
25 claims |
517.50 |
517.50 |
Burro |
76 claims |
1,535.70 |
1,535.70 |
Carnotite |
18 claims |
371.88 |
371.88 |
Paradox |
4 claims |
40.00 |
40.00 |
Raven Mine |
22 claims |
454.52 |
454.52 |
RM Claims |
15 claims |
300.00 |
300.00 |
Squaw Point |
1 lease |
288.91 |
288.91 |
Slick Rock |
88 claims & 7 leases |
3,258.08 |
2,402.36 |
Taco |
34 claims |
702.44 |
702.44 |
Triangulation Mine |
12 claims |
247.92 |
247.92 |
New Mexico
The West Ranch Project consists of approximately 7,000 acres made up of lode mining claims and private leases in northwestern New Mexico, on the northwest end of the historically uraniferous Ambrosia Lake trend of the Grants Uranium District. The property was drilled by United Nuclear Corporation and, more recently, by Kerr McGee. Historical wide-spaced drilling across the property indicates the presence of several northwest-southeast trending uranium mineralized zones within the Morrison Formation at average depths of 800 feet.
Our Laguna Trend Project consists of approximately 800 acres of lode claims on Bureau of Land Management land in northwestern New Mexico. The claim block is on-trend and several miles northeast of the historically-producing St. Anthony, Jackpile Paguate, and L-Bar uranium deposits, mined by Anaconda Minerals and Sohio. Northeast of the Company's claim block is Kerr McGee's (now Anadarko Petroleum's) uranium deposit, Rio Puerco, and Conoco's Bernabe uranium deposit. Both of these deposits are yet to be developed.
Acquisition of the Laguna Trend claim block by Uranium Energy was driven by intense analysis of the Morrison Nuclear database, which includes drilling data indicating significant uranium mineralization in the Westwater Canyon Member of the Morrison Formation. This property was most recently held by Kerr-McGee.
Red Basin consists of claims in the Datil Basin of Catron County. The project area was previously staked by Kerr-McGee with the Cretaceous de Baca Formation as the target.
Grants Ridge is a Todilto Formation target in the Grants Uranium District and is currently under option by Uran Ltd. of Perth, Australia.
In August of 2010 the Company made the determination to drop both the Laguna Trend and Red Basin claim groups.
We confirm that at the current date, our New Mexico located claims contain no uranium reserves and require extensive exploration by us.
47
Property |
Number of Claims |
Gross Acres |
Net Acres |
F-33 |
172 claims |
3,388.04 |
3,388.04 |
Grants Ridge |
1 lease |
320.00 |
320.00 |
Rick Claims |
65 claims |
1,111.76 |
1,111.76 |
Todilto |
36 claims |
640.00 |
640.00 |
West Ranch |
62 claims, 33 leases |
7,040.92 |
3,661.43 |
Texas
We currently own twelve lease plays located in the South Texas uranium trend. The location and acquisition of these lease plays are based on historical information contained within our extensive database, as well as current, ongoing geologic analyses by our exploration staff.
The following provides information relating to all of our leased properties in the South Texas Uranium Trend:
Property |
Number of Claims |
Gross Acres |
Net Acres |
Carrizo |
5 leases |
438.74 |
386.14 |
Citrus City |
2 leases |
1597.21 |
207.79 |
Devillier |
18 leases |
654.85 |
402.08 |
Goebel |
1 lease |
545.80 |
497.78 |
Goliad |
23 leases |
2,649.84 |
2,342.49 |
High Plains-Mound Creek |
2 leases |
784.14 |
784.14 |
La Palangana |
14 leases |
8,689.09 |
8,075.57 |
Martella |
3 leases |
124.25 |
124.25 |
Nichols |
8 leases |
1040.70 |
1040.70 |
Salvo |
44 leases |
5,339.99 |
4,964.79 |
Sejita |
1 lease |
106.82 |
106.82 |
Wyoming
Our five Wyoming uranium mineral property areas total 3,675.37 acres. Wyoming led the nation's uranium production in 2006 with 4,100,000 pounds of U
3O8.The Granite Mountain Thrust ("GMT") property includes 610.80 acres of mining claims north of, and adjacent to, the Rio Tinto (Kennecott) uranium property, which has been drilled extensively since the 1960s by several entities. Our GMT property geology host rock is 2,000 to 3,000 feet thick in the early Eocene Age Battle Springs Formation - partly equivalent to the Wasatch and Wind River formations in other Wyoming Basins. We have assessed previous seismic exploration shot line data and confirmed Battle Springs Formation projections to the GMT area. The property is situated approximately eight miles east of the Crooks Gap uranium mining district, which produced about 10,000,000 pounds of U
3O8 from 1953 through 1982 by open pit mining.The Burnt Wagon project, located 35 miles west of Casper, Wyoming, was acquired from NAMMCO (Kirkwood) in 2006. Previous operations defined shallow uranium mineralization in the Wind River formation of early Eocene
age, at 50 to 200 foot depths, from 500 drill holes and 16,000 feet of electric logging data.
Situated in the Lower Eocene Wasatch formation of the southwest Powder River Basin is our Powder River Basin LO-Herma uranium property. The exploration data was acquired from H. Brenniman as a part of the Pioneer Nuclear, Inc., package in 2006. The 29 mining claims total 591.57 acres and are contiguous to the Uranium One (formerly Energy Metals Corp.) property.
48
Our DL, 1,275.00 acre, property is being assessed by using Pioneer Nuclear, Inc., 1970 uranium exploration data from the H. Brenniman database.
We confirm that at the current date, our Wyoming located claims contain no uranium reserves and require extensive exploration by us.
Wyoming Property |
Number of Claims |
Gross Acres |
Net Acres |
Burnt Wagon |
30 claims and 1 lease |
1,038.00 |
1,038.00 |
DL Prospect |
1 lease |
1,275.00 |
1,275.00 |
East Poison Spyder |
3 leases |
160.00 |
160.00 |
Granite Mountain |
30 claims |
610.80 |
610.80 |
LO-Herma |
29 claims |
591.57 |
591.57 |
Coronel Oviedo Project, Paraguay
On May 12, 2001 UEC announced the acquisition of the Coronel Oviedo Project in the South American country of Paraguay. Terms of the acquisition are as follows, the Company finalized Share Purchase Agreements (the "Agreement") with a Paraguayan company (the "Vendor") whereby the Vendor sold the Company 100% legal and beneficial interest in an unencumbered prospecting permit covering 247,000 acres located in the area of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay (the "Property"), subject to a gross overriding royalty.
The total purchase price to acquire all of the shares of the Vendor was satisfied by way of the issuance of 225,000 restricted common shares in the capital of the Company.
The Company will pay the Vendor a royalty interest in the amount of one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company in connection with any uranium which is produced and sold from mineral interests in the Property. The Company has the exclusive right and option at any time to acquire one-half percent (0.5%) of the aggregate royalty interest for US$500,000. The Vendor has granted the Company a right of first refusal to acquire all or any portion of the remaining one percent (1.0%) royalty interest.
Property Description and Location
The Coronel Oviedo Uranium Project (COP) is located in southeastern Paraguay, approximately 150 km east of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay. COP consists of a large mineral concession covering a total area of approximately 100,000 ha (247,000 acres). The property can be classified as an early to intermediate stage exploration project. Several areas have undergone drilling in the past by The Anschutz Company of Denver, CO (early 1980s) and recently by Crescent Resources in 2007. Anschutz was backed at the time by both Korean and Taiwanese-based power consortiums. Access to the project is by paved roads from Asuncion to the City of Coronel Oviedo and other populated areas. There is good access into the interior of the concession mainly by unpaved secondary roads. The terrain is rolling hills with areas of forest, small farms, and some large cattle ranches.
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Prior Exploration
The Property, covering over 247,000 acres in central Paraguay, was subject to extensive uranium exploration between 1976 and 1983 by Anschutz Corporation of Denver, Colorado, and by Crescent Resources of Vancouver, Canada between 2006 and 2008. Most of the uranium occurrences in this environment are "roll front" type deposits similar to those currently being produced by low-cost in-situ recovery (ISR) methods in Texas, the western United States, Central Asia and Australia. The work by Anchustz and Crescent was centered on a large belt of Permo-Carboniferous age continental sandstones that represent the western flank of the Parana Basin. According to the Geological Survey of Brazil or CPRM, these same sandstones within the Brazilian section of the Parana Basin contain numerous uranium occurrences including the Figueira Mine that hosted 19 million pounds of U3O8 according to reports.
Between 1976 and 1983, Anschutz Corporation, with joint venture partners Korea Electric Power and Taiwan Power Company, spent approximately US$30 million evaluating an area covering over 6.2 million acres of prospective ground in central and eastern Paraguay. This work consisted of airborne radiometric and magnetic surveys, detailed geological mapping, and ground geophysical and geochemical surveys, which narrowed down the areas of interest. This work was followed by regional-scale drilling at initially 9-mile spacing, drilled across inferred host trends.
Anschutz identified the Property as prospective towards the end of their regional program. In total, approximately 28 widely spaced drill holes were drilled on the Property, and of these, 17 drill holes showed significant uranium values, with the best being 6.2 feet of 0.153% U3O8 at a starting depth of 785 feet. The drilling also identified 3 mineralized fronts, and a 75 mile-long fault structure which appears to have been the source of the gases that localized the concentration of uranium, "again very similar to a South Texas-type uranium depositional model".
From 2006 to 2008, the Property was optioned to Crescent Resources. During this period, a total of 24 holes were drilled and logged in the southern portion of the Property, offsetting mineralized holes drilled by Anschutz. A NI 43-101 Technical Report reported that 14 of the 24 holes had a grade-thickness (GT) product (in feet) equal to or greater than 0.30GT. GT values equal to and above 0.30 are typically considered producible under ISR production methodology. The best hole reported by Crescent intersected 0.99% U3O8 over 10.2 feet. The Crescent and Anschutz drilling identified an open-ended area characterized by tabular mineralization similar to that found at the Company's Goliad Project. The known uranium mineralization on the Property intersected by the past drilling is at depths between 450 and 750 feet. Crescent dropped the option on the Property in 2008.
50
Aquifer Test
During 2010, and prior to the acquisition of the Property, the Company conducted a 24-hour aquifer test in the area of the resource trend identified by the combined Anschutz-Crescent drilling programs. The test was designed to assess aquifer properties of the Fine Grained Sand Unit (FGSU), a uranium-bearing sandstone within the San Miguel Formation. The focus of the test was to determine if the aquifer could sustain extraction rates typical of ISR mining of uranium.
Results of the test indicate that the uranium-bearing unit has aquifer characteristics that would support operational rates for ISR mining. There is sufficient hydraulic head and aquifer transmissivity that would allow individual wells to be pumped at rates of up to 45 gallons/min for sustained intervals. The aquifer properties determined from the hydrologic test fall within the range of values determined at other uranium ISR projects located in Wyoming, Texas and Nebraska. Production rates from wells in these areas are typically in the range of 10 to 50 gallons/min.
The Company is currently evaluating all available technical data in preparation for an exploration program to commence shortly.
51
Advisory Board for the Paraguay Project
As a key factor in the acquisition, the Company has added two uranium industry veterans, Dr. Bernie D. Schmeling and Carlos Figueredo, to a special advisory board focusing on Paraguay to bolster its management capabilities in Latin America. Dr. Schmeling, currently Chief Operating Officer of Semin S.A., is a professional geophysicist and has more than 35 years of experience in exploration programs worldwide and mining projects for uranium and other commodities.
Previously, he was a member of the original Uranerz team as a senior and chief geophysicist for 19 years. During this period, he was closely involved, starting in 1975, with the discovery and development of the major uranium deposit at Key Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. For 13 years, he managed all geophysical programs as well as all contracted work including all drill hole data evaluations and U3O8-grade calculations. This work included studies of radiometric disequilibrium factors and density determinations for the U3O8 resource calculations at diverse sandstone deposits in Texas, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and other states. Since 2006, he has been fully involved in the exploration and development activities of Semin S.A. in Paraguay and other South American countries. Dr. Schmeling is recognized internationally as one of the few leading experts in uranium exploration including ISR exploration.
Carlos Figueredo has 25 years of experience in mineral and oil exploration in Paraguay as Chief Geologist and Assistant Mineral Exploration Manager of Semin S.A. He formerly worked for Anschutz Corporation during its initial exploration efforts in Paraguay. He played a pivotal role in the development of the Coronel Oviedo project, as well as discoveries of other commodities in eastern Paraguay.
Currently, the Company is preparing a geological model based on historical data, and is pacing its exploration program at Coronel Oviedo to be able to initiate an approximate 10,000-meter drilling program in the 4th Quarter of calendar 2011.
Exploration Work Programs
Our Vice President of Exploration, Clyde Yancey, a Certified Professional Geologist, based on historical data previously outlined and our own work product, has developed exploration programs unique to each state and claim block with the intent of proving or disproving the existence of uranium on these prospects. Exploration plans for Arizona, and Colorado are currently being formulated. There are no current exploration plans for New Mexico or Wyoming. Exploration and land acquisition in the South Texas Uranium Trend and Paraguay will continue in order to support our near term production facilities.
Other Properties
We own 32.19 acres of real estate located in Goliad County, Texas. The Goliad property and our other mineral property interests are described in detail above.
We have entered into office rental and service agreements as follows:
52
Our Databases
We have acquired historical exploration data that will assist in the direction of proposed exploration program on lands held in our current property portfolio. This prior exploration data consists of management information and work product derived from various reports, drill hole assay results, drill hole logs, studies, maps, radioactive rock samples, exploratory drill logs, state organization reports, consultants, geological study and other exploratory information.
The following provides information relating to our database:
Tronox Worldwide
Effective February 20, 2008, we acquired from Tronox Worldwide LLC certain assets, consisting of certain maps, data, exploration results and other information pertaining to lands within the United States (excluding New Mexico and Wyoming), Canada and Australia, and specifically including the former uranium exploration projects by Kerr McGee Corporation. The Tronox database contains records on some of our properties located in Arizona, the Colorado Plateau and Texas.
We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Jebsen
The Jebsen database covers territory in Wyoming and New Mexico, including some of our existing properties. The database belonged to a pioneering uranium developer and represents work conducted from the 1950s through to the present.
This database adds over 500 drill holes and over 500,000 feet of drilling data results to the Company's existing library of data. Other than logs, the data set consists of volumes of maps, lithographic logs, geologic reports, and feasibility studies, and many other essential tools for uranium exploration and development.
Our geologists have linked contents of the database to some of our existing properties, specifically pertaining to our projects in the Shirley Basin and Powder River Basin of Wyoming, and in the Grants Uranium District of New Mexico.
We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Halterman
The Halterman database consists of exploratory and development work compiled during the 1970s and 80s, including extensive data on significant prospects and projects in the following known uranium districts in the States of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, including Grants, San Juan Basin, Chama Basin, Moab, Lisbon Valley, Dove Creek, Slick Rock and Uravan districts.
This database includes drilling and logging data from over 200,000 feet of uranium exploration and development drilling, resource evaluations and calculations, drill-hole locations and grade thickness maps, competitor activity maps as well as several dozen geological and project evaluation reports covering uranium projects in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Texas and California.
We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Brenniman
The Brenniman database includes drilling and logging data from over 2 million feet of uranium exploration and development drilling, resource calculation reports and various other geological reports, drill hole location maps and other mapping. This database includes approximately 142 drill hole gamma and E-logs. The data was originally compiled from 1972 to 1981 by various exploration companies, and covers over 100 uranium prospects in 15 southern US states. This library will be used by our technical personnel to determine locations of where drill-indicated uranium may exist.
53
We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Nueces
We have acquired copies of uranium drill logs from previous uranium exploration drilling projects covering a large area in the South Texas uranium trend. The data consists of approximately 150,000 feet of drill logs from 366 drill holes. This drill data provides regional geologic information and will be used to locate possible mineralized zones within the area of the South Texas uranium trend.
The data was acquired from Nueces Minerals Company, a privately-held oil and gas production company which owns the mineral rights to 72,000 contiguous acres covering portions of four counties in south Texas.
We do not have ownership or exclusive rights to this data.
Kirkwood
We acquired a database of uranium exploration results covering an area of approximately 13,000 acres within the uranium zone known as the Poison Spider area, in central Wyoming. The area covered includes property already held by us, as well as by other publicly-traded uranium exploration companies. The database was compiled by William Kirkwood of North American Mining and Minerals Company ("NAMMCO"), a significant participant in the uranium, coal, gold and oil and gas industries in the western United States since the 1960s. The data acquired was generated from exploration originally conducted by companies such as Homestake Mining, Kennecott Corp, Rampart Exploration, as well as Kirkwood Oil and Gas, largely between 1969 and 1982. The database consists of drill hole assay logs for 470 holes, including 75,200 feet of drilling, 22,000 feet of gamma logs, drill hole location maps, cross sections, geological maps, geological reports, and other assay data and will be used to locate possible mineralized zones in the Poison Spider area in central Wyoming.
We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Knupke
We acquired rights to a uranium database consisting of 40 years worth of uranium exploration results, gathered largely from the South Texas uranium trend, where we have already been actively acquiring interests in land on the basis of the data, and will be used to locate possible mineralized zones.
The rights to this exploration database were provided to the Company by James A. Knupke, Consulting Geologist of Corpus Christi, Texas. Under terms of an agreement Mr. Knupke provided consulting services to the Company, which included the review of his database. Upon review of the database we acquired several prospective properties. We have terminated the agreement as we had substantially exhausted our review of Mr. Knupke's data.
We do not own or have exclusive rights to this database.
Odell
We acquired the rights to a database containing over 50 years of uranium exploration data for the State of Wyoming.
This database consists of 315,000 feet of drill logs, over 400 maps, copies of all US geological survey uranium publications dating back to 1954, and geological reports on uranium ore bodies throughout Wyoming. The database will be used to locate possible mineralized zones. The database is made available to the Company by Robert Odell, the compiler and publisher of the Rocky Mountain Uranium Minerals Scout since 1974.
We do not own or have exclusive rights to this database.
54
Moore
We acquired a database of US uranium exploration results from Moore Energy Corporation ("Moore Energy"), a private Oklahoma-based uranium exploration company.
The Moore Energy US uranium database consists of over 30 years of uranium exploration information in the States of Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming, originally conducted during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It includes results of over 10,000 drill holes, plus primary maps, and geological reports. It covers approximately one million acres of prospective uranium claims, in the South Texas uranium trend, New Mexico, and Powder River Basin, Wyoming, as well as zones in Texas, and will be used to locate possible mineralized zones.
The database also provides the Company with exploration data about its Goliad Project in south Texas, including 250,000 feet of drill logs and further delineates zones of potential uranium mineralization. It also contains drilling results from properties that are being developed by other uranium exploration companies, and also widespread regional data from throughout the South Texas uranium trend.
We have exclusive ownership of this database.
Uranium Resources Inc.
We acquired the full database of historic drill results for the Company's Salvo in-situ recovery uranium project in Bee County, TX.
The database consists of 433 gamma ray/resistivity and lithology logs, PGT logs and drill plan maps.
Uranium One - South Texas Goliad Project
The South Texas Goliad database includes raw and interpreted data compiled by Total Minerals ("TOMIN") and others from the mid 1980's to 1993. The database is an evaluation of the uranium potential within the Goliad Formation from south of Houston to the Mexican border.
Historically, following TOMIN's purchase of the Holiday - El Mesquite project, Duval County, Texas, 1990, TOMIN found themselves in the possession of the Mobil uranium exploration database. Starting with this data, TOMIN also gathered regional oil and gas logs (included in the database), water well driller logs, and other regional information to begin their study of the Goliad Formation along the South TX Uranium Trend. Uranium One estimates it represents 2-3 man years.
As a result of the study, TOMIN identified 62 targets and drilled 22 by project end in 1993. Of the 22 drilled, 19 were disproved and the remaining awaits further drilling to develop trends. There remains another 40 targets to be evaluated.
To summarize, the database contains:
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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Except as described below, we are not a party to any material legal proceedings nor are we aware of any legal proceedings pending or threatened against us or our properties.
Pursuant to a Merger Agreement and Plan of Merger dated May 5, 2011 which closed on September 9, 2011 (the "Merger Agreement"), Concentric Energy Corp. ("Concentric") merged into UEC Concentric Merge Corp. ("MergeCo", a wholly owned subsidiary of the Uranium Energy Corp.), with MergeCo as the surviving corporation. As such, MergeCo assumed all of Concentric's rights and obligations as of September 9, 2011.
Prior to the merger, on June 16, 2010 (the "Petition Date"), the following involuntary bankruptcy petition (the "Petition") was filed against Concentric in the United States Bankruptcy Court 2 in and for the District of Arizona: In re: Concentric Energy Corp., Debtor, Chapter 7, Case No. 10-bk-18796-SSC. As of the merger date, the Petitioners under such Petition consisted of seven (7) holders of 15% Cumulative Convertible Debentures of Concentric (the "Debentures"). Prior to and after the Petition Date, the Petitioners sent Concentric letters alleging defaults under the Debentures and requesting acceleration of amounts due under the Debentures. The Petitioners and MergeCo have agreed to settle all claims and potential claims raised in the Bankruptcy case and the Debentures, and have entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release dated as of October 4, 2011 (the "Settlement Agreement"). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, MergeCo has delivered a cash settlement payment of $1.05 million (the "Settlement Payment") to the Petitioners' counsel, which shall constitute payment in full of the Debentures. In addition, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the parties thereunder have caused their respective attorneys to sign and file a stipulation to dismiss the Petition and the Bankruptcy case. Upon entry by the Bankruptcy Court of a dismissal order, Petitioners' counsel will be authorized to disperse the Settlement Payment to the Petitioners.
ITEM 4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED)
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market for Common Equity
Shares of our common stock commenced trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "URME" on December 5, 2005. On September 28, 2007, shares of our common stock commenced trading on the NYSE Amex Equities exchange under the symbol "UEC". The market for our common stock is limited, and can be volatile. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices relating to our common stock on the NYSE Amex Equities exchange on a quarterly basis for the periods indicated:
NYSE AMEX |
||
Quarter Ended |
High Bid |
Low Bid |
July 2011 |
$3.86 |
$2.72 |
April 2011 |
$7.08 |
$3.00 |
January 2011 |
$7.48 |
$3.76 |
October 2010 |
$4.25 |
$2.40 |
July 2010 |
$3.30 |
$2.11 |
April 2010 |
$3.90 |
$2.84 |
January 2010 |
$3.90 |
$2.61 |
October 2009 |
$4.16 |
$2.10 |
July 2009 |
$3.45 |
$1.10 |
April 2009 |
$1.45 |
$0.30 |
January 2009 |
$0.80 |
$0.16 |
October 2008 |
$2.21 |
$0.44 |
The last reported sales price for our shares on the NYSE Amex Equities exchange on October 11, 2011 was $2.87 per share. As of October 11, 2011, we had 308 shareholders of record.
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Dividend Policy
No dividends have been declared or paid on our common stock. We have incurred recurring losses and do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Compensation Plans
We have two equity compensation plans, the Uranium Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2006 Plan") and the Uranium Energy Corp. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2009 Plan"). The table set forth below presents information relating to our equity compensation plans at our fiscal year end July 31, 2011:
Plan Category |
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans |
Equity Compensation Plans to be Approved by Security Holders (2006 and 2009 Stock Incentive Plans) |
8,579,750 |
$1.80 |
1,161,298 |
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders |
500,000(1) |
$1.00 |
Nil |
(1) Represents shares of our common stock to be issued upon the exercise of warrants issued pursuant to consulting services agreements.
2006 Stock Incentive Plan
On December 19, 2005, our Board of Directors authorized and approved the adoption of the 2005 stock option plan effective December 19, 2005. On October 10, 2006, we adopted the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan in place of the 2005 Stock Option Plan, under which an aggregate of 10,000,000 of our shares may be issued. All securities issued under the 2005 Stock Option Plan are covered by the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. We have registered the shares underlying the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC.
The purpose of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan is to enhance our long-term stockholder value by offering opportunities to our directors, officers, employees and eligible consultants to acquire and maintain stock ownership in order to give these persons the opportunity to participate in our growth and success, and to encourage them to remain in our service.
The 2006 Stock Incentive Plan is to be administered by our Board of Directors or a committee appointed by and consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors, which shall determine, among other things, (i) the persons to be granted awards under the 2006 Plan; (ii) the number of shares or amount of other awards to be granted; and (iii) the terms and conditions of the awards granted. The Company may issue restricted shares, options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock rights, dividend equivalent rights, among others, under the 2006 Plan. An aggregate of 10,000,000 of our shares may be issued pursuant to the grant of awards under the 2006 Plan.
An award may not be exercised after the termination date of the award and may be exercised following the termination of an eligible participant's continuous service only to the extent provided by the administrator under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. If the administrator under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan permits a participant to exercise an award following the termination of continuous service for a specified period, the award terminates to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the award, whichever occurs first. In the event an eligible participant's service has been terminated for "cause", he or she shall immediately forfeit all rights to any of the awards outstanding.
The foregoing summary of the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, a copy of which has been filed with the SEC.
57
2009 Stock Incentive Plan
On June 5, 2009 our Board of Directors adopted the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, under which an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares may be issued, and on July 23, 2009, our shareholders approved the adoption of our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan in the amount of 5,000,000 shares.
Effective May 25, 2010, our Board of Directors amended the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder from 5,000,000 shares to 7,000,000 shares. On July 22, 2010, our shareholders approved an amendment to our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan increasing the number of shares available under the Plan from 5,000,000 to 7,000,000.
The purpose of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan is to enhance our long-term stockholder value by offering opportunities to our directors, officers, employees and eligible consultants to acquire and maintain stock ownership in order to give these persons the opportunity to participate in our growth and success, and to encourage them to remain in our service.
The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan is to be administered by our Board of Directors or a committee appointed by and consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors, which shall determine, among other things, (i) the persons to be granted awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan; (ii) the number of shares or amount of other awards to be granted; and (iii) the terms and conditions of the awards granted. The Company may issue shares, options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock rights, dividend equivalent rights, among others, under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. An aggregate of 7,000,000 of our shares may be issued pursuant to the grant of awards under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.
An award may not be exercised after the termination date of the award and may be exercised following the termination of an Eligible Participant's continuous service only to the extent provided by the administrator under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. If the administrator under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan permits an Eligible Participant to exercise an award following the termination of continuous service for a specified period, the award terminates to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the award, whichever occurs first. In the event an Eligible Participant's service has been terminated for "cause," he or she shall immediately forfeit all rights to any of the awards outstanding.
The foregoing summary of the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, a copy of which has been filed with the SEC.
As of the date of this annual report, there are an aggregate of 9,599,750 stock options granted and outstanding.
Common Stock Purchase Warrants
As of the date of this annual report, there are an aggregate of 4,724,817 common stock purchase warrants issued and outstanding.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
All of our issuances of unregistered securities during our fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 were previously disclosed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for our first, second and third quarters of our fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 and in our current report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on September 15, 2011.
Comparative Stock Performance
Our shares of common stock commenced trading on the OTC Bulletin Board on December 5, 2005, with the first trade in our common stock occurring on February 17, 2006. Our shares of common stock were subsequently listed for trading on the NYSE Amex Equities Exchange on September 28, 2007. The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock for the period from February 17, 2006 to July 31, 2006 and for the years ended July 31, 2007 through to July 31, 2011, with the cumulative total return on the shares of common stock of General Moly, Inc. and Uranerz Energy Corp. over the same periods (assuming an investment of $100 in our common stock, General Moly, Inc. and Uranerz Energy Corp. on February 17, 2006, and the reinvestment of all dividends, if any).
58
59
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with (i) our audited financial statements as at and for the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, and as at and for the seven months ended July 31, 2007, together with the notes to these financial statements, and (ii) the sections of this annual report entitled "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations".
On June 29, 2007, our board of directors approved the change of our fiscal year end from December 31 to July 31. On October 29, 2007, we filed a Transition Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal period ended July 31, 2007, as subsequently amended, with the SEC and commenced a new reporting period.
We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on May 16, 2003. During 2004, we changed our business operations focus from precious metals exploration in the State of Nevada to the exploration for economic reserves of uranium throughout the United States. Since then, we have been acquiring mineral property interests in the United States. In addition, we restated our audited financial statements for the fiscal period ended July 31, 2007 to include the re-evaluation of impairment analysis performed at each respective period. Accordingly, the financial information presented below may not be comparable from period to period.
Balance Sheet Data
Statement of Operations Data
60
At July 31, 2011, U3O8 produced from the Palangana Mine and accumulated in inventories including work-in-progress totaled 153,000 pounds however, no uranium sales were generated during Fiscal 2011. Accordingly, we are considered an exploration stage company, as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 915, Development Stage Entities.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following management's discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations contain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, among others, statements regarding our capital needs, business plans and expectations. In evaluating these statements, you should consider various factors, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions set forth in reports and other documents we have filed with or furnished to the SEC, including, without limitation, this Form 10-K filing for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 including the consolidated financial statements and relate notes contained herein. These factors, or any one of them, may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement made in this document. Refer to "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors".
Results of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009
General
The Company recorded a net loss for each of the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, ("Fiscal 2011", "Fiscal 2010" and "Fiscal 2009", respectively) of $27,358,000 ($0.40 per share), $14,479,000 ($0.25 per share) and $13,504,000 ($0.29 per share), respectively. During Fiscal 2010, the Company recorded an income from discontinued operations of $8,534,000 ($0.14 per share) relating to the sale of its 49% interest in Cibola Resources, LLC.
Revenues
The Company commenced uranium production for the first time at its Palangana Mine in November 2010, however, no uranium sales were generated during Fiscal 2011. Production revenues during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were therefore $Nil. At July 31, 2011, U3O8 produced from the Palangana Mine and accumulated in inventories including work-in-progress totaled 153,000 pounds
Expenses
Operating expenses during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $27,907,000, $22,431,000 and $12,948,000, respectively, reflecting the substantial growth of the Company particularly over the last two fiscal years. The Company acquired the Corpus Christi office and existing infrastructure from the STMV Acquisition in December 2009, and focused on the initial development of the Palangana Mine including preparation of the Hobson Processing Facility for most of Fiscal 2010 and the first half of Fiscal 2011 towards the commencement of production in November 2010.
Mineral property expenditures during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $11,420,000, $6,439,000 and $4,046,000, respectively. These amounts include expenditures relating to property maintenance, exploration, development including permitting and all other non-production related activities on the Company's uranium projects. As disclosed under Risk Factors, the Company has not established proven and probable reserves through the completion of feasibility studies for any of its mineral properties in accordance with SEC Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, all expenditures relating to exploration and development activities are expensed as incurred. Mineral property expenditures were comprised primarily of Palangana Mine development costs (Fiscal 2011: $7,860,000; Fiscal 2010: $3,644,000; Fiscal 2009: $Nil), Goliad Project exploration/development costs (Fiscal 2011: $996,000; Fiscal 2010: $2,354,000; Fiscal 2009: $3,472,000) and Salvo Project exploration costs (Fiscal 2011: $1,268,000; Fiscal 2010: $84,000; Fiscal 2009: $Nil).
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General and administrative expenses during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $8,844,000, $7,608,000 and $5,413,000, respectively. General and administrative expenses were comprised of salaries, management and consulting fees (Fiscal 2011: $4,750,000; Fiscal 2010: $3,705,000; Fiscal 2009: $2,820,000), office, communications and travel (Fiscal 2011: $2,953,000; Fiscal 2010: $3,270,000; Fiscal 2009: $1,913,000), and professional fees (Fiscal 2011: $1,141,000; Fiscal 2010: $633,000; Fiscal 2009: $680,000) which have generally increased since the STMV Acquisition in December 2009 when the Company acquired the Corpus Christi office and infrastructure. During Fiscal 2011, the Company became a uranium producer when its Palangana Mine commenced production and continued to pursue strategic acquisitions including the Anderson Property located in Yavapai County, Arizona. Refer to Subsequent Events.
Stock-based compensation expense during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $6,343,000, $7,029,000 and $1,740,000, respectively. These non-cash amounts are calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and represent the fair value of stock options granted to management, employees and consultants (Fiscal 2011: $5,588,000; Fiscal 2010: $5,412,000; Fiscal 2009: $1,257,000) and common stock issued to consultants (Fiscal 2011: $755,000; Fiscal 2010: $1,617,000; Fiscal 2009: $483,000).
Depreciation, depletion and accretion during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $1,156,000, $795,000 and $526,000, respectively. For Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010, the increases were primarily due to assets acquired from the STMV Acquisition which resulted in additional charges including accretion of asset retirement obligations of $581,000 and $244,000, respectively.
Impairment loss on mineral properties during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $143,000, $44,000 and $1,223,000, respectively. These charges resulted from the abandonment of certain mineral properties that were determined by management to be non-critical within the Company's portfolio of properties. During Fiscal 2011, the mineral properties abandoned were located in Utah ($15,000) and Texas ($128,000). During Fiscal 2010, the mineral properties abandoned were located in New Mexico ($11,000), Texas ($32,000) and Wyoming ($1,000). During Fiscal 2009, the mineral properties abandoned were located in Arizona ($5,000), Colorado ($240,000), New Mexico ($851,000), Texas ($11,000) and Utah ($116,000).
Interest and finance charges during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 were $Nil, $517,000 and $Nil, respectively. The charges in Fiscal 2010 resulted from the issuance of warrants as penalties pursuant to private placement agreements.
Inventories
At July 31, 2011, the total value of inventories were $2,776,000, of which $2,231,000 (80%) represents the value of finished goods - uranium concentrates, $506,000 (18%) represents the value of work-in-progress and $39,000 (2%) represents the value of supplies. The cash component of the total value of inventories was $2,064,000 ($1,650,000 in finished goods - uranium concentrates, $375,000 in work-in-progress, and $39,000 in supplies) and the non-cash component of the total value of inventory was $712,000. At July 31, 2011, U3O8 produced from the Palangana Mine and accumulated in inventories including work-in-progress totaled 153,000 pounds.
(1) Cash component and non-cash component are key indicators not defined under US GAAP and are non-GAAP measures. Cash component is calculated as the total inventory value less the non-cash component of the inventory value. The non-cash component is comprised of depreciation, depletion and stock-based compensation.
Transactions with Officers and Directors
During Fiscal 2011, the Company had transactions with certain officers and directors of the Company as follows:
62
The outstanding balance at July 31, 2011 is $8,000 (July 31, 2010: $Nil).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Due to the amount of cash and cash equivalents in our treasury, our expected sales for the upcoming fiscal year and our forecasted cash burn rate, our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern.
At July 31, 2011, we had $30,724,000 in cash and cash equivalents and working capital of $30,021,000. Our net cash increased by $9,656,000 during Fiscal 2011 compared to a decrease of $3,198,000 during Fiscal 2010 and an increase of $11,128,000 during Fiscal 2009.
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 was $23,676,000, $5,038,000 and $10,001,000, respectively. Significant operating expenditures during the current period included mineral property expenditures, production costs, general and administrative costs, salaries, consulting fees, management fees and professional fees. During Fiscal 2011, the Company incurred production costs of $2,064,000 (Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009: $Nil). In addition, during Fiscal 2011, the Company incurred expenditures in the amounts of $1,213,000 (Fiscal 2010: $1,369,000 and Fiscal 2009: $Nil), for cash settlement of asset retirement obligations.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities during Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 was $36,815,000, $1,182,000 and $21,085,000, respectively. During Fiscal 2011, we received net proceeds of $11,452,000 (Fiscal 2010: $1,145,000 and Fiscal 2009: $80,000) from the exercise of stock options and warrants. During Fiscal 2011, we executed a private placement agreement where the net cash received totaled $25,654,000 (Fiscal 2010: $Nil and Fiscal 2009: $22,320,000).
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities during Fiscal 2011 was $3,482,000, while net cash from investing activities during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 was $9,192,000 and $664,000, respectively. During Fiscal 2011, we deposited $1,869,000 (Fiscal 2010: $223,000 and Fiscal 2009: ($143,000)) as a reclamation deposit, purchased $719,000 (Fiscal 2010: $167,000 and Fiscal 2009: $78,000) of equipment and acquired mineral leases totaling $1,454,000 (Fiscal 2010: $1,152,000 and Fiscal 2009: ($650,000)). During Fiscal 2011, the Company sold assets and mineral properties totaling $531,000 (Fiscal 2010: $11,004,000 and Fiscal 2009: $10,000).
Stock Options and Warrants
At July 31, 2011, we had 8,579,750 stock options and 4,348,983 share purchase warrants outstanding. The outstanding stock options have a weighted average exercise price of $1.79 per share and the outstanding warrants have a weighted average exercise price of $3.57 per share. At July 31, 2011, outstanding stock options and warrants totaled 12,928,733 shares issuable for gross proceeds of approximately $30,883,622 should these options and warrants be exercised in full. At July 31, 2011, outstanding, in-the-money stock options and warrants totaled 8,736,956 shares issuable for gross proceeds of approximately $14,120,885 should these options and warrants be exercised in full. The exercise of these stock options and warrants is at the discretion of the respective holders and, accordingly, there is no assurance that any of these stock options or warrants will be exercised in the future.
63
Plan of Operations
Our primary plan of operations for the next twelve months is to expand production at the Palangana Mine, continue development of the Goliad Project towards production and continue with the exploration of Salvo, Paraguay and other mineral projects.
At July 31, 2011, we had $30.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and working capital of $30.0 million. We anticipate that existing cash resources along with the forecasted sales for the upcoming fiscal year will be sufficient to carry out our plan of operations including exploration and development activities for the next twelve months. Beyond the next twelve months, we may be required to obtain additional financing in order to continue our plan of operations. We anticipate that additional financing will be in the form of equity financing from the sale of our common stock, for example, through the S-3 "Shelf" Registration Statement that became effective on September 2, 2011 (refer to subsequent events) or other appropriate methods. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient financing from the sale of our common stock to fund our plan of operations and intended growth. In the absence of such financing, we may not be able to continue exploration or development of our mineral rights and, conceptually, may be forced to abandon our projects.
Other options include entering into a joint venture arrangement to provide the required funding to advance our uranium projects, provided a third party would enter into a joint venture agreement with us in order to fund development or exploration of our projects. If we entered into a joint venture arrangement, we would likely have to assign a percentage of our interest in our projects to the joint venture partner.
Material Commitments
The Company is currently renting or leasing office premises in New Mexico, Texas and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with total monthly payments of $19,350. All agreements are on a month-to-month basis with the exception of the Corpus Christi office lease which expires in August 2012. The Company also has consulting agreements which expire in less than one year.
We are committed to pay our key executives a total of $758,596 per year for management services.
In June 2011, the Company entered into a multi-year uranium sales contract requiring the delivery of a total 300,000 pounds of U3O8 by the Company over a three-year period starting in August 2011. The sales price will be based on published market price indicators at the time of delivery.
On February 23, 2011, the Company received notification of a lawsuit filed against the Company related to the STMV Acquisition for an unspecified amount. The STMV Acquisition agreement states the claimant is entitled to the difference between the estimated $2.2 million reclamation costs associated with Mt. Lucas and the actual reclamation costs associated with Mt. Lucas, provided the actual amounts are less than the $2.2 million, once a clearance certificate has been granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ"). The Company believes it has complied with all of the terms related to the STMV Acquisition agreement as UEC's current reclamation costs associated with Mt. Lucas are greater than $2.3 million, coupled with an additional reclamation costs of $126,000 expected. As well, UEC has not obtained a clearance certificate from the TCEQ and therefore intends on disputing any and all claims under this lawsuit. Any potential judgment received against the Company and awarded to the claimant is expected to be immaterial. Currently, the claimant has engaged a firm to perform an audit on the expenses associated with Mt. Lucas.
64
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
Critical Accounting Policies
Below outlines describes the Company's critical accounting policies in managements opinion, however refer to Note 2 of Item 8: Financial Statements which discloses all of the Company's accounting policies.
Inventories
Inventories are comprised of supplies, uranium concentrates and work-in-progress. Expenditures include mining and processing activities that will result in future production of uranium concentrates and depreciation and depletion charges. Mining and processing activities include labor, chemicals and other directly attributable production expenditures. Inventories are valued and charged to cost of sales using the weighted average costing method and are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
Mineral Rights
Expenditures relating to the acquisition of mineral rights are capitalized as incurred. Expenditures relating to exploration activities are expensed as incurred, while those relating to development activities are expensed when incurred prior to the completion of a bankable feasibility study establishing proven and probable reserves. Once proven and probable reserves are established, subsequent development expenditures relating to that project are capitalized.
Upon commencement of production, the project's capitalized expenditures are depleted over proven and probable reserves using the units-of-production method. Where proven and probable reserves have not been established, such capitalized expenditures are depleted over the estimated production life using the straight-line method. The Company has not established proven or probable reserves on any of its projects.
The carrying values of the mineral rights are assessed for impairment by management on a quarterly basis. Should management determine that these carrying values cannot be recovered, the unrecoverable amounts are written off against earnings.
Restoration and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations)
Various federal and state mining laws and regulations require the Company to reclaim the surface areas and restore underground water quality for its mine projects to the pre-existing mine area average quality after the completion of mining.
Future reclamation and remediation costs, which include production equipment removal and environmental remediation, are accrued based on management's best estimate at the end of each period of the costs expected to be incurred at each project. Such estimates are determined by the Company's engineering studies calculating the cost of future surface and groundwater activities, current regulations, actual expenses incurred, and technology and industry standards.
65
In accordance with ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, the Company capitalizes the measured fair value of asset retirement obligations to mineral rights and properties. The asset retirement obligations are accreted to an undiscounted value until the time at which they are expected to be settled. The accretion expense is charged to the statement of operations and actual retirement costs are recorded against the asset retirement obligations when incurred. Any difference between the recorded asset retirement obligations and the actual retirement costs incurred will be recorded as a gain or loss in the period of settlement.
On a quarterly basis, the Company updates cost estimates, and other assumptions used in the valuation of asset retirement obligations at each of its mineral properties to reflect new events, changes in circumstances and any new information that is available. Changes in these costs have a corresponding impact on the asset retirement obligations.
Subsequent Events
The Company had the following material subsequent events to report:
Pursuant to an Acquisition Agreement dated April 11, 2011, as amended on June 24, 2011, which closed on September 9, 2011 (the "Acquisition Agreement") concurrently with the Merger Agreement, the Company was assigned all of Global Uranium Corp.'s ("Global") rights and interests under the terms and conditions of an Option and Joint Venture Agreement dated April 13, 2010 between Concentric and Global with respect to the Anderson Property. In accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, the Company provided the following consideration to Global:
During Fiscal 2011, the Company incurred $259,416 of costs related to the acquisition of Concentric and has reported these costs under Mineral Rights and Properties on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
66
On October 4, 2011, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release with certain Series A convertible debenture holders (the "Petitioners") involved in an involuntary bankruptcy petition originally filed against Concentric in June 2010. The Company agreed to pay in cash $1.05 million to the Petitioners as full settlement of the convertible debentures which includes filing for dismissal of the involuntary bankruptcy petition.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are subject to risks related to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. However, they have not had a material impact on our results of operations to date.
Our functional currency is the United States dollar. However, a portion of our business is transacted in other currencies (Canadian dollar and Paraguay Guarani). As a result, we are subject to exposure from movements in foreign currency exchange rates. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes, nor do we hedge our foreign currency exposure to manage our foreign currency fluctuation risk.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
68
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Uranium Energy Corp.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Uranium Energy Corp. as of July 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Uranium Energy Corp. as at July 31, 2011 and July 31, 2010, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 2011, in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Uranium Energy Corp's internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated October 11, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Ernst & Young LLP
Vancouver, British Columbia
October 11, 2011
69
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Uranium Energy Corp.
We have audited Uranium Energy Corp.'s internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Uranium Energy Corp.'s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Uranium Energy Corp. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2011, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Uranium Energy Corp. As of July 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 2011, and our report dated October 11, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Ernst & Young LLP
Vancouver, British Columbia
October 11, 2011
70
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
71
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
72
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
|
Additional |
Share Subscription Deposits |
Share Issuance Obligation |
Accumulated |
Accumulated |
Stockholders' |
||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||
Balance, May 16, 2003 (Unaudited) |
- |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
Net loss for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(24,133) |
- |
(24,133) |
Balance, December 31, 2003 (Unaudited) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(24,133) |
- |
(24,133) |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued for cash at $0.0013 per share |
11,550,000 |
7,700 |
7,700 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
15,400 |
Issued for cash at $0.20 per share |
2,413,936 |
1,610 |
481,186 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
482,796 |
Issued on the conversion of debenture |
2,250,000 |
1,500 |
1,500 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
3,000 |
Issued on the conversion of debenture |
35,000 |
23 |
6,977 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
7,000 |
Issued on settlement of debts |
79,647 |
53 |
15,876 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
15,929 |
Net loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(109,322) |
- |
(109,322) |
Balance, December 31, 2004 (Unaudited) |
16,328,583 |
10,886 |
513,239 |
- |
- |
(133,455) |
- |
390,670 |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued for cash at $0.333 per share |
1,357,500 |
905 |
451,595 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
452,500 |
Issued pursuant to mineral property |
825,000 |
550 |
274,450 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
275,000 |
Issued pursuant to service agreements |
1,950,000 |
1,300 |
648,700 |
- |
(650,000) |
- |
- |
- |
Stock based compensation |
- |
- |
684,008 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
684,008 |
Reclassification for stock split |
- |
6,820 |
(6,820) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Net loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,377,431) |
- |
(1,377,431) |
Balance, December 31, 2005 (Unaudited) |
20,461,083 |
$ 20,461 |
$ 2,565,172 |
$ - |
$ (650,000) |
$ (1,510,886) |
$ - |
$ 424,747 |
73
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
|
Additional |
Share Subscription Deposits |
Share Issuance Obligation |
Accumulated |
Accumulated |
Stockholders' |
||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2005 |
20,461,083 |
$ 20,461 |
$ 2,565,172 |
$ - |
$ (650,000) |
$ (1,510,886) |
$ - |
$ 424,747 |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued for cash at $1.00 per share |
300,000 |
300 |
299,700 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
300,000 |
Issued for cash at $2.00 per share |
2,525,000 |
2,525 |
5,047,475 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5,050,000 |
Issued for cash at $2.50 per share |
5,200,000 |
5,200 |
12,994,800 |
250,000 |
- |
- |
- |
13,250,000 |
Issued on the exercise of options |
3,137,505 |
3,137 |
1,622,563 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,625,700 |
Issued pursuant to mineral property |
1,518,750 |
1,519 |
2,592,231 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2,593,750 |
Issued pursuant to service agreements |
||||||||
- consulting services |
1,172,500 |
1,173 |
1,156,327 |
- |
(246,458) |
- |
- |
911,042 |
- property expenditures |
56,250 |
56 |
138,694 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
138,750 |
Share issuance costs |
- |
- |
(329,700) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(329,700) |
Stock based compensation |
||||||||
- options issued for consulting services |
- |
- |
2,130,149 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2,130,149 |
- options issued for management fees |
- |
- |
273,253 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
273,253 |
- options issued for property expenditures |
- |
- |
57,250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
57,250 |
- options issued for wages and benefits |
- |
- |
431,078 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
431,078 |
- warrants issued for consulting services |
- |
- |
1,618,526 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,618,526 |
Amortization of deferred compensation |
- |
- |
- |
- |
650,000 |
- |
- |
650,000 |
Net loss for the year |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(11,608,135) |
- |
(11,608,135) |
Balance, December 31, 2006 (Unaudited) |
34,371,088 |
$ 34,371 |
$ 30,597,518 |
$ 250,000 |
$ (246,458) |
$ (13,119,021) |
$ - |
$ 17,516,410 |
74
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
|
Additional |
Share Subscription Deposits |
Share Issuance Obligation |
Accumulated |
Accumulated |
Stockholders' |
||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||
Balance, December 31, 2006 |
34,371,088 |
$ 34,371 |
$ 30,597,518 |
$ 250,000 |
$ (246,458) |
$ (13,119,021) |
$ - |
$ 17,516,410 |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued for cash at $2.50 per share |
200,000 |
200 |
499,800 |
(250,000) |
- |
- |
- |
250,000 |
Issued on the exercise of options |
995,000 |
995 |
744,004 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
744,999 |
Issued on the exercise of warrants |
1,283,500 |
1,284 |
2,907,467 |
34,750 |
- |
- |
- |
2,943,501 |
Issued pursuant to mineral property |
750,000 |
750 |
5,369,250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5,370,000 |
Issued pursuant to consulting service |
12,500 |
12 |
74,713 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
74,725 |
Stock based compensation |
||||||||
- options issued for consulting services |
- |
- |
382,875 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
382,875 |
- options issued for management fees |
- |
- |
1,774,500 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,774,500 |
- options issued for property expenditures |
- |
- |
248,250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
248,250 |
- options issued for wages and benefits |
- |
- |
236,212 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
236,212 |
Warrants issued as penalties pursuant |
- |
- |
116,396 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
116,396 |
Amortization of deferred compensation |
- |
- |
- |
- |
246,458 |
- |
- |
246,458 |
Net loss for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(8,044,743) |
- |
(8,044,743) |
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
286,987 |
286,987 |
Balance, July 31, 2007 |
37,612,088 |
$ 37,612 |
$ 42,950,985 |
$ 34,750 |
$ - |
$ (21,163,764) |
$ 286,987 |
$ 22,146,570 |
75
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
|
Additional |
Share Subscription Deposits |
Share Issuance Obligation |
Accumulated |
Accumulated |
Stockholders' |
||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||
Balance, July 31, 2007 |
37,612,088 |
$ 37,612 |
$ 42,950,985 |
$ 34,750 |
$ - |
$ (21,163,764) |
$ 286,987 |
$ 22,146,570 |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued for cash at $2.40 per share |
6,476,916 |
6,477 |
15,538,123 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
15,544,600 |
Issued for cash at $3.75 per share |
1,800,000 |
1,800 |
6,748,200 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6,750,000 |
Issued on the exercise of options |
330,000 |
330 |
206,260 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
206,590 |
Issued on the exercise of warrants |
48,235 |
48 |
137,707 |
(34,750) |
- |
- |
- |
103,005 |
Issued pursuant to consulting service |
51,500 |
52 |
147,618 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
147,670 |
Share issuance costs |
- |
- |
(966,799) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(966,799) |
Stock based compensation |
||||||||
- options issued for consulting services |
- |
- |
337,151 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
337,151 |
- options issued for management fees |
- |
- |
2,019,250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2,019,250 |
- options issued for wages and benefits |
- |
- |
1,326,395 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,326,395 |
Warrants issued as penalties pursuant |
- |
- |
55,334 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
55,334 |
Recovery of short swing profits |
- |
- |
119,138 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
119,138 |
Net loss for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(19,236,124) |
- |
(19,236,124) |
Reversal of unrealized gain on disposal |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(286,987) |
(286,987) |
Balance, July 31, 2008 |
46,318,739 |
$ 46,319 |
$ 68,619,362 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ (40,399,888) |
$ - |
$ 28,265,793 |
76
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||
Balance, July 31, 2008 |
46,318,739 |
$ 46,319 |
$ 68,619,362 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ (40,399,888) |
$ - |
$ 28,265,793 |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued for cash at $2.40 per share |
9,299,834 |
9,300 |
22,310,302 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
22,319,602 |
Issued on the exercise of options |
217,500 |
218 |
79,355 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
79,573 |
Issued pursuant to mineral property |
98,668 |
99 |
169,406 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
169,505 |
Issued pursuant to consulting service |
302,528 |
301 |
497,675 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
497,976 |
Share issuance costs |
- |
- |
(1,363,796) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,363,796) |
Stock based compensation |
||||||||
- options issued for consulting services |
- |
- |
328,297 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
328,297 |
- options issued for management fees |
- |
- |
262,500 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
262,500 |
- options issued for wages and benefits |
- |
- |
666,281 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
666,281 |
Warrants issued pursuant to mineral property |
- |
- |
117,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
117,000 |
Net loss for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(13,503,576) |
- |
(13,503,576) |
Unrealized gain on |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
10,600 |
10,600 |
Balance, July 31, 2009 |
56,237,269 |
$ 56,237 |
$ 91,686,382 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ (53,903,464) |
$ 10,600 |
$ 37,849,755 |
77
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||
Balance, July 31, 2009 |
56,237,269 |
$ 56,237 |
$ 91,686,382 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ (53,903,464) |
$ 10,600 |
$ 37,849,755 |
Common stock |
||||||||
Issued on the exercise of options and warrants |
1,151,852 |
1,152 |
1,143,603 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,144,755 |
Issued pursuant to the STMV and Everest |
2,755,000 |
2,755 |
9,749,945 |
- |
194,700 |
- |
- |
9,947,400 |
Issued pursuant to consulting service |
578,632 |
579 |
1,616,506 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,617,085 |
Issued pursuant to property acquisitions |
10,448 |
10 |
32,170 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
32,180 |
Issued pursuant to bonus issuance resolutions |
55,136 |
55 |
201,743 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
201,798 |
Warrants issued as penalties pursuant to private |
- |
- |
517,273 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
517,273 |
Stock based compensation |
||||||||
- options issued for consulting services |
- |
- |
1,964,006 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,964,006 |
- options issued for management fees |
- |
- |
1,960,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,960,000 |
- options issued for wages and benefits |
- |
- |
1,286,506 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,286,506 |
Net loss for the period |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(14,478,669) |
- |
(14,478,669) |
Unrealized gain on |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(5,752) |
(5,752) |
Balance, July 31, 2010 |
60,788,337 |
$ 60,788 |
$ 110,158,134 |
$ - |
$ 194,700 |
$ (68,382,133) |
$ 4,848 |
$ 42,036,337 |
All share amounts have been restated to reflect the 2:1 reverse stock split effective January 24, 2005 and the 1.5:1 forward stock split effective February 28, 2006.
78
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FROM MAY 16, 2003 (INCEPTION) TO JULY 31, 2011
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
79
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
80
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
NOTE 1: NATURE OF OPERATIONS
Uranium Energy Corp. was incorporated in the State of Nevada on May 16, 2003. Uranium Energy Corp. and its subsidiary companies and a partnership (collectively, the "Company") are engaged in uranium exploration and development programs and mining operations on properties located in the United States and most recently, Paraguay. Effective December 18, 2009, the Company acquired from URN Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Uranium One Inc., and Everest Exploration, Inc. a 100% interest in the Hobson Processing Facility, the Palangana Mine and certain other assets located in the State of Texas (the "STMV Acquisition") and incurred $636,075 of transaction costs as disclosed on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
The Company is an exploration stage company, as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 915, Development Stage Entities. The Company has a history of operating losses and significant negative cash flow since inception and has yet to realize any revenue from sales. Although planned principal operations have commenced and existing cash resources are expected to provide sufficient funds for the upcoming year, future capital expenditures of the Company may be substantial and its continuation as a going concern for a period longer than the upcoming year will be dependent upon the Company's ability to obtain adequate financing. Historically, the Company has been reliant primarily on equity financing from the sale of its common shares and this reliance is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the continued operations of the Company including the recoverability of the carrying values of its assets are dependent ultimately on the Company's ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow from its operations. At July 31, 2011, the Company had working capital of $30.0 million and an accumulated deficit of $96.0 million. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 ("Fiscal 2011"), the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010 ("Fiscal 2010") and the fiscal year ended July 31, 2009 ("Fiscal 2009"), the Company recorded a net loss of $27.4 million, $14.5 million and $13.5 million, respectively.
NOTE 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Uranium Energy Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, UEC Resources Ltd., UEC Paraguay Corp., URN Texas GP, LLC and URN South Texas Project, Ltd. and a partnership, South Texas Mining Venture, L.L.P. ("STMV"). All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Certain line items of the comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation format.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly-liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the period reported. By their nature, these estimates are subject to measurement uncertainty and the effect on the financial statements of changes in such estimates in future periods could be significant. Significant areas requiring management's estimates and assumptions are determining the fair value of transactions involving common stock, valuation and impairment losses on mineral property interests, valuation of stock-based compensation, valuation of available-for-sale securities, net realizable valuation of inventory and valuation of asset retirement obligations. Other areas requiring estimates include allocations of expenditures to mineral property interests, depreciation of property and equipment, and amortization of mineral properties, databases and land use agreements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
81
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Fair Value Measurements
The Company measures its available-for-sale securities at fair value in accordance with ASC 820. ASC 820 specifies a valuation hierarchy based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:
Inventories
Inventories are comprised of supplies, uranium concentrates and work-in-progress. Expenditures include mining and processing activities that result in future production of uranium concentrates and depreciation and depletion charges. Mining and processing activities include labor, chemicals and other directly attributable production expenditures. Inventories are valued and charged to cost of sales using the weighted average costing method and are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
Mineral Rights
Expenditures relating to the acquisition of mineral rights are capitalized as incurred. Expenditures relating to exploration activities are expensed as incurred, while those relating to development activities are expensed when incurred prior to the completion of a bankable feasibility study establishing proven and probable reserves. Once proven and probable reserves are established, subsequent development expenditures relating to that project are capitalized.
Upon commencement of production, the project's capitalized expenditures are depleted over proven and probable reserves using the units-of-production method. Where proven and probable reserves have not been established, such capitalized expenditures are depleted over the estimated production life using the straight-line method. The Company has not established proven or probable reserves on any of its projects.
The carrying values of the mineral rights are assessed for impairment by management on a quarterly basis. Should management determine that these carrying values cannot be recovered, the unrecoverable amounts are written off against earnings.
Databases
Expenditures relating to mineral property databases are capitalized upon acquisition while those developed internally are expensed as incurred. Mineral property databases are tested for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if it is determined that the carrying value is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. Mineral property databases are amortized using the straight-line method over a five-year period over which management believes the asset will contribute to the Company's cash flows. Databases are included in Mineral Rights and Properties on the balance sheet.
82
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Land Use Agreements
Expenditure relating to mineral property land use agreements are capitalized upon acquisition. Mineral property land use agreements are tested for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if it is determined that the carrying value is not recoverable and exceeds fair value. Mineral property land use agreements are amortized using the straight-line method over a ten-year period over which management believes the asset will contribute to the Company's cash flows. Land use agreements are included in Mineral Rights and Properties on the balance sheet.
Restoration and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations)
Various federal and state mining laws and regulations require the Company to reclaim the surface areas and restore underground water quality for its mine projects to the pre-existing mine area average quality after the completion of mining.
Future reclamation and remediation costs, which include production equipment removal and environmental remediation, are accrued based on management's best estimate at the end of each period of the costs expected to be incurred at each project. Such estimates are determined by the Company's engineering studies calculating the cost of future surface and groundwater activities, current regulations, actual expenses incurred, and technology and industry standards.
In accordance with ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, the Company capitalizes the measured fair value of asset retirement obligations to mineral rights and properties. The asset retirement obligations are accreted to an undiscounted value until the time at which they are expected to be settled. The accretion expense is charged to the statement of operations and actual retirement costs are recorded against the asset retirement obligations when incurred. Any difference between the recorded asset retirement obligations and the actual retirement costs incurred will be recorded as a gain or loss in the period of settlement.
On a quarterly basis, the Company updates cost estimates, and other assumptions used in the valuation of asset retirement obligations at each of its mineral properties to reflect new events, changes in circumstances and any new information that is available. Changes in these costs have a corresponding impact on the asset retirement obligations.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Circumstances which could trigger a review include, but are not limited to: significant decreases in the market price of the asset; significant adverse changes in the business climate or legal factors; accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of the asset; current period cash flow or operating losses combined with a history of losses or a forecast of continuing losses associated with the use of the asset; and current expectation that the asset will more likely than not be sold or disposed significantly before the end of its estimated useful life. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of its carrying amount to future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount is not recoverable and exceeds fair value.
Financial Instruments
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, reclamation deposits, other current monetary assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and related party transactions were estimated to approximate their carrying values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The Company's operations and financing activities are conducted primarily in United States dollars, and as a result the Company is not subject to significant exposure to market risks from changes in foreign currency rates. The Company is exposed to credit risk through its cash and cash equivalents, but mitigates that risk by keeping deposits at major financial institutions.
83
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no potential dilution and is computed by dividing the earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings (loss) of the Company. The common shares potentially issuable on the exercise of share purchase warrants and stock options were not included in the calculation of weighted average number of shares outstanding because the effect is anti-dilutive.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company, including its subsidiaries, is the United States dollar. UEC Resources Ltd. maintains its accounting records in its local currency (Canadian dollar). UEC Paraguay Corp. maintains its accounting record in its local currency (Guarani). In accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters, the financial statements of the Company's subsidiary is translated into United States dollars using period end exchange rates as to monetary assets and liabilities and average exchange rates as to revenues and expenses. Non-monetary assets are translated at their historical exchange rates. Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange translations and foreign currency exchange gains and losses on transactions occurring in a currency other than the Company's functional currency are included in the determination of net income (loss) in the period.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax balances. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to the taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the date of enactment. The Company recognizes deferred taxes on unrealized gains directly within other comprehensive income, and concurrently releases part of the valuation allowance resulting in nil impact within other comprehensive income or on the balance sheet. The Company's policy is to accrue any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its provision for income taxes. Additionally, ASC 740 requires that a company recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company follows ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions, requiring such transactions to be accounted for using the fair value method. Awards of shares for property or services are recorded at the more readily measurable of the fair value of the stock and the fair value of the service. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant date fair-value of stock-based awards under ASC 718. The fair value is recorded in income depending on the terms and conditions of the award, and the nature of the relationship of the recipient of the award to the Company. The Company records the grant date fair value in income in line with the period over which it was earned. For employees and management this is typically considered to be the vesting period of the award. For consultants the fair value of the award is recorded in income over the term of the service period, and unvested amounts are revalued at each reporting period over the service period. The Company estimates the expected forfeitures and updates the valuation accordingly.
84
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated to their estimated residual values using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
On June 16, 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 to provide two options of how to present items of net income, items of other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income: Companies can create one continuous statement of comprehensive income or two separate consecutive statements. Companies will no longer be allowed to present other comprehensive income in the statement of stockholders' equity. The ASU is effective for the first reporting period (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2011. The ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements for the Company.
On May 12, 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04 to converge U.S. GAAP and IFRS requirements for measuring amounts at fair value as well as disclosures about these measurements. The ASU is effective for the first reporting period (including interim periods) beginning after December 15, 2011. The ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements for the Company.
NOTE 3: AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
Available-for-sale securities consist of shares in publicly traded uranium exploration companies listed on the TSX Venture and Australian Stock Exchanges. For Fiscal 2011, the Company recorded an unrealized gain of $25,778 (Fiscal 2010: an unrealized loss of $5,752; Fiscal 2009: an unrealized gain of $10,600), on available-for-sale securities recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income.
The fair value of the Company's available-for-sale securities, at July 31, 2011 is as follows:
The fair value of the Company's available-for-sale securities, at July 31, 2010 is as follows:
85
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
NOTE 4: INVENTORIES
In November 2010, the Company commenced uranium production at its Palangana Mine and processing of uranium concentrates at its Hobson Processing Facility. The Company's inventory value at July 31, 2011 is as follows:
During Fiscal 2011, the Company did not incur a net realizable value write-down of inventory.
NOTE 5: MINERAL RIGHTS AND PROPERTIES
Mineral Rights
At July 31, 2011, the Company had mineral rights covering 41,225 acres located in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming and an additional 247,000 acres located in Paraguay. These mineral rights were acquired for the purposes of uranium exploration, development and mining at a cost of $17,442,713, including $12,883,800 representing the fair value of non-cash consideration and $1,798,387 representing the present value of the retirement obligation associated with the Palangana Mine, net of $1,713,504 in impairment charges. These mineral rights were acquired through staking and lease or option agreements and are subject to varying royalty interests, some of which are indexed to the sale price of uranium. At July 31, 2011, annual maintenance payments of approximately $489,995 were required to maintain these mineral rights.
During Fiscal 2010, the Company sold its 49% interest in Cibola Resources, LLC for a cash payment of $11.0 million. As a result, the Company recorded an $8,534,081 gain on the sale of assets which is reported as discontinued operations.
Palangana Mine, Texas
On December 18, 2009, the Company acquired the Palangana Mine as part of the STMV Acquisition with an estimated fair value of $3,911,800 at acquisition. The Palangana Mine is an 8,076 acre property located approximately 100 miles south of the Hobson Processing Facility.
Upon commencement of production during the second quarter of Fiscal 2011, the Company began depreciating and depleting the capitalized costs, which includes a reclamation liability of $1,798,387, of the Palangana Mine over forty-two months. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $5,710,187, less accumulated depreciation and depletion of $360,418, for a net book value of $5,349,769.
86
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Goliad Project, Texas
On October 11, 2005, the Company entered into a mineral asset option agreement (the "Moore Option") granting the Company the right to acquire title to the leases totaling 2,342 acres, encompassing the Goliad Project. The Goliad Project is located in south Texas near the northeast end of the extensive South Texas Uranium trend. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $8,689,127.
Salvo Project, Texas
On November 29, 2010, the Company entered into various lease agreements granting the Company the exclusive right to conduct mining exploration and related operations over an area covering 4,965 acres. The leases have a minimum term of five years with provisions for extensions. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $303,645.
Nichols Project, Texas
On January 13, 2007, the Company entered into various lease agreements granting the Company the exclusive right to conduct mining exploration and related operations over an area covering 1,041 acres. The leases have a minimum term of five years with provisions for extensions. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $154,774.
Los Cuatros Project (formerly New River Project), Arizona
On January 25, 2010, the Company executed an amendment to the underlying purchase agreement to acquire 640 acres of mineral exploration claims located in Maricopa County, Arizona, together with database records containing material information regarding the mineral claims. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $257,250.
Todilto Project Joint Venture, New Mexico
Effective January, 14, 2009, the Company entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement (the "Agreement") with Uran Limited of Perth, Australia over a certain area of the Company's Todilto Project located in New Mexico. Uran Limited may earn a 65% interest in the area by:
Uran Limited can withdraw from the Agreement after expenditures of $250,000. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $182,320.
Colonel Oviedo Project, Paraguay
Pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement dated May 11, 2011 (the "Agreement") which closed on May 24, 2011, the Company acquired a 100% legal and beneficial interest in two unencumbered prospecting permits covering 247,000 acres located in the area of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay, subject to a 1.5% gross overriding royalty through the acquisition of a private Paraguayan company. The Company has the exclusive right and option at any time to acquire one-half percent (0.5%) of the gross overriding royalty for $500,000, including a right of first refusal to acquire all or any portion of the remaining one percent (1.0%). In accordance with the Agreement, the Company issued 225,000 restricted common shares as total consideration. The Company has accounted for the acquisition under ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment as an asset acquisition and at July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $880,579.
87
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Mineral rights and property acquisition costs consist of the following:
During Fiscal 2011, the Company incurred an impairment charge of $143,396 (Fiscal 2010: $43,600; Fiscal 2009: $1,223,038). The impaired properties in the current period are comprised of the Monument Canyon property located in Utah and the Carrizo, Devillier and Maetze properties located in Texas. During the Company's review of its mineral rights and properties, four properties were determined to be non-critical, resulting in the impairment charge. The total impairment charge incurred to date is $1,713,504 (July 31, 2010 - $1,570,108) on cumulative acquisition costs of $19,156,217 (July 31, 2010 - $15,244,508).
The estimated depreciation and depletion of intangible assets for the next five fiscal years is as follows:
Refer to Note 15: Subsequent Events.
Mineral property expenditures on a regional basis are as follows:
88
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
NOTE 6: PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
Hobson Processing Facility
On December 18, 2009, the Company acquired the Hobson Processing Facility ("Hobson") as part of the STMV Acquisition with an estimated fair value of $6,529,928 at acquisition. Hobson is located in Karnes County, Texas about 100 miles northwest of Corpus Christi and was originally licensed and constructed in 1978. Hobson is designed to process uranium-loaded resins from satellite facilities, such as the Palangana Mine, to the final U3O8 product.
Upon commencement of processing the uranium-loaded resins from the Palangana Mine in the second quarter of Fiscal 2011, the Company began depreciating the capitalized costs of Hobson, which includes a reclamation liability of $329,928, on a straight-line basis over a ten-year period. At July 31, 2011, capitalized costs totaled $6,529,928, less accumulated depreciation of $106,832, for a net book value of $6,423,096.
89
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
NOTE 7: RECLAMATION DEPOSITS
Reclamation deposits includes interest and non-interest bearing deposits issued in the States of Arizona, Texas and Wyoming pursuant to exploration, production and reclamation activities in the respective states. Reclamation deposits consist of the following:
NOTE 8: LOAN RECEIVABLE
On April 11, 2011, the Company provided a senior secured loan in the amount of $300,000 to Concentric Energy Corp. ("Concentric") of which $200,000 was utilized to repay a secured loan owed to Global Uranium Corp., with the remainder for general corporate purposes towards the completion of the Company's acquisition of Concentric.
Refer to Note 15: Subsequent Events.
NOTE 9: DUE TO RELATED PARTIES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During Fiscal 2011, the Company had transactions with certain officers and directors of the Company as follows:
The outstanding balance at July 31, 2011 is $8,287 (2010: $Nil).
NOTE 10: ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The Company's asset retirement obligations ("ARO") relates to site restoration for the Hobson Processing Facility, Palangana Mine, and Mt. Lucas and Tex-1 projects from the STMV Acquisition.
90
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
The undiscounted amounts of estimated cash flows for the next five years and beyond are as follows:
NOTE 11: CAPITAL STOCK
Capital Stock
The Company's capital stock at July 31, 2011 was 750,000,000 authorized common shares with a par value of $0.001 per share.
91
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
Share Transactions
(1) 190,000 options were exercised on a cashless basis resulting in 96,391 net shares issued.
(2) 268,625 options were exercised on a cashless basis resulting in 123,581 net shares issued.
(3) Included in the amounts are shares issued pursuant to a reclamation settlement agreement associated with Mt. Lucas (15,000 shares @ $3.60 per share) and shares issued as a performance bonus (10,000 shares @ $2.60 per share). The remaining amounts are for normal service agreements.
(4) On October 26, 2010, the Company completed a private placement of 8,111,313 units at a price of $3.40 per unit for gross proceeds of $27,578,464 (net proceeds of $25,654,398 after share issuance costs of $1,924,066). Each unit is comprised of one common share of the Company and one half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share of the Company at a price of $3.95 per share for a one year period. In accordance with the terms of the private placement, the Company filed a Registration Statement with the SEC which was declared effective on December 9, 2010.
(5) Refer to Note 5 - Colonel Oviedo Project, Paraguay
Share Purchase Warrants
A continuity schedule of exercisable and outstanding share purchase warrants for the underlying common shares at July 31, 2011, and the changes during the period, is presented below:
92
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
The aggregate intrinsic value ("AIV") under the provisions of ASC 718 of the outstanding warrants at July 31, 2011 was estimated at $1,180,000.
Stock Options
At July 31, 2011, the Company has two Stock Option Plans as follows:
A summary of the Company's stock option grants for Fiscal 2011 is presented below:
A continuity schedule of outstanding stock options for the underlying common shares at July 31, 2011, and the changes during the period, is presented below:
93
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
The AIV under the provisions of ASC 718 of all outstanding options at July 31, 2011 was estimated at $13,949,763 (vested: $13,319,142 and unvested: $630,621).
A summary of options outstanding and exercisable at July 31, 2011:
Stock Based Compensation
A summary of stock based compensation expense for Fiscal 2011:
94
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
(1) Certain stock based compensation was reallocated to inventory ($193,489) and to asset retirement obligation liabilities ($54,000).
NOTE 12: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is currently renting or leasing office premises in New Mexico, Texas and Vancouver, B.C., Canada with total monthly payments of $19,350. All agreements are on a month-to-month basis with the exception of the Corpus Christi office lease which expires in August 2012. The Company also has consulting agreements which expire in less than one year.
The aggregate minimum payments over the next five years are as follows:
The Company is committed to pay its key executives a total of $758,596 per year for management services.
In June 2011, the Company entered into a multi-year uranium sales contract requiring the delivery of a total 300,000 pounds of U3O8 by the Company over a three-year period starting in August 2011. The sales price will be based on published market price indicators at the time of delivery.
On February 23, 2011, the Company received notification of a lawsuit filed against the Company related to the STMV Acquisition for an unspecified amount. The STMV Acquisition agreement states the claimant is entitled to the difference between the estimated $2.2 million reclamation costs associated with Mt. Lucas and the actual reclamation costs associated with Mt. Lucas, provided the actual amounts are less than the $2.2 million, once a clearance certificate has been granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ("TCEQ"). The Company believes it has complied with all of the terms related to the STMV Acquisition agreement as UEC's current reclamation costs associated with Mt. Lucas are greater than $2.3 million, coupled with an additional reclamation costs of $126,000 expected. As well, UEC has not obtained a clearance certificate from the TCEQ and therefore intends on disputing any and all claims under this lawsuit. Any potential judgment received against the Company and awarded to the claimant is expected to be immaterial. Currently, the claimant has engaged a firm to perform an audit on the expenses associated with Mt. Lucas.
95
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
NOTE 13: SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
No income tax or interest has been paid to date.
Pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement dated May 11, 2011 (the "Agreement") which closed on May 24, 2011, the Company acquired from a private company, a Paraguayan company, which holds a 100% legal and beneficial interest in two unencumbered prospecting permits covering 247,000 acres located in the area of Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay. In accordance with the Agreement, the Company issued 225,000 restricted common shares as total consideration.
NOTE 14: INCOME TAXES
At July 31, 2011, the Company had United States and Canadian net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $55.7 million and CDN $2.6 million, respectively, that may be available to reduce future years' taxable income. These carry-forwards will begin to expire, if not utilized, commencing in 2023. Future tax benefits which may arise as a result of these losses have not been recognized in these consolidated financial statements, as their realization is determined not likely to occur and accordingly, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance for the deferred tax asset relating to these tax loss carry-forwards.
The Company reviews its valuation allowance requirements on an annual basis based on projected future operations. When circumstances change and this causes a change in management's judgement about the recoverability of future tax assets, the impact of the change on the valuation allowance generally reflected in current income.
A reconciliation of income tax computed at the federal and state statutory tax rates and the Company's effective tax rate is as follows:
The actual income tax provisions differ from the expected amounts calculated by applying the combined federal and state corporate income tax rates to the Company's loss before income taxes. The components of these differences are as follows:
96
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
The Company has incurred taxable losses for all years since inception and accordingly, no provision for taxes has been recorded for the current or any prior fiscal year.
The components of loss from continuing operations before income taxes, by tax jurisdiction, were as follows:
The Company's deferred tax assets are as follows:
As the criteria for recognizing future income tax assets have not been met due to the uncertainty of realization, a valuation allowance of 100% has been recorded for the current and prior year.
The Company's United States net operating loss carry-forwards expire as follows:
97
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a change in ownership under IRC Section 382 may have occurred in a prior year. If an ownership change has occurred, the utilization of these losses against future income would be subject to an annual limitation. The annual limitation would be equal to the value of the Company immediately prior to the change in ownership multiplied by the IRC Section 382 rate in effect during the month of the change.
The Company's Canadian net operating loss carry-forwards in Canadian dollars expire as follows:
NOTE 15: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company had the following material subsequent events to report:
Pursuant to an Acquisition Agreement dated April 11, 2011, as amended on June 24, 2011, which closed on September 9, 2011 (the "Acquisition Agreement") concurrently with the Merger Agreement, the Company was assigned all of Global Uranium Corp.'s ("Global") rights and interests under the terms and conditions of an Option and Joint Venture Agreement dated April 13, 2010 between Concentric and Global with respect to the Anderson Property. In accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, the Company provided the following consideration to Global:
98
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JULY 31, 2011
During Fiscal 2011, the Company incurred $259,416 of costs related to the acquisition of Concentric and has reported these costs under Mineral Rights and Properties on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
On October 4, 2011, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release with certain Series A convertible debenture holders (the "Petitioners") involved in an involuntary bankruptcy petition originally filed against Concentric in June 2010. The Company agreed to pay in cash $1.05 million to the Petitioners as full settlement of the convertible debentures which includes filing for dismissal of the involuntary bankruptcy petition.
99
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
It should be noted that any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions designed to obtain reasonable (and not absolute) assurance as to its effectiveness, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as required by Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Section 404 A. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company's financial statements for external purposes in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP").
As of July 31, 2011, management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in Internal Control -Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") and SEC guidance on conducting such assessments. Based on that evaluation, they concluded that, as at July 31, 2011 such internal controls and procedures were effective.
The independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements has issued an attestation report internal control over financial reporting which has been included in the financial statements.
We will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures over financial reporting on an ongoing basis and are committed to taking further action by implementing additional enhancements or improvements, or deploying additional human resources as may be deemed necessary.
Changes in Internal Controls
There have been no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fourth fiscal quarter for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
100
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our directors and executive officers and their respective ages as of the date hereof are as follows:
Name |
Age |
Position with the Company |
Amir Adnani |
33 |
President, Chief Executive Officer, Principal Executive Officer and a director |
Alan P. Lindsay |
61 |
Chairman and a director |
Harry L. Anthony |
64 |
Chief Operating Officer and a director |
Mark Katsumata |
45 |
Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer |
Ivan Obolensky |
86 |
Director |
Erik Essiger |
46 |
Director |
Vincent Della Volpe |
69 |
Director |
David Kong |
65 |
Director |
The following describes the business experience of each of our directors and executive officers, including other directorships held in reporting companies:
Alan P. Lindsay. Mr. Lindsay a co-founder of Uranium Energy Corp. has served as Chairman of the Company since December 2005. He is also a founder of MIV Therapeutics Inc. ("MIVI") and from 2000 to 2010 has been the Chairman of MIVI where he also served as President and CEO until January 2008. MIVI is a publicly traded bio-medical company recently awarded the prestigious Frost and Sullivan 2005 and 2008 Award for Technology Innovation in the field of Medical Coatings and in 2006 MIVI was appointed to Fortune 500's Top 100 Nanotechnology Companies. Mr. Lindsay was a founder of AZCO Mining and served as chairman, president and CEO of AZCO from 1992 to 2000. The company was listed on the Toronto and American Stock Exchanges. During his tenure at AZCO, the Company sold the Sanchez copper deposit to Phelps Dodge for $55 million and established a joint venture with Phelps Dodge on the Piedras Verdes copper deposit with 2.1 billion pounds of copper reserves. Mr. Lindsay also co-founded Anatolia Minerals Development and New Oroperu Resources, two publicly traded companies with significant gold discoveries. Mr. Lindsay was chairman of TapImmune from December 2005 through July 2009 and helped reorganize the company and arranged for the acquisition of the technology from The University of British Columbia.
Amir Adnani. Mr. Adnani is a co-founder of Uranium Energy Corp and has been our President, Chief Executive Officer, Principal Executive Officer and a director since January 24, 2005. Mr. Adnani is an entrepreneur with an extensive background in business development and marketing. In September 2004, he founded and was a director and President of Blender Media Inc., a Vancouver based company that provides strategic marketing and financial communications services to public companies and investors in mineral exploration, mining, and energy sectors. Effective October 1, 2006, Mr. Adnani is no longer a director, officer or shareholder of Blender Media Inc. In June 2001, Mr. Adnani co-founded, and from June 2001 to September 2004, he was a director and officer of Fort Sun Investments Inc, a strategic marketing and financial communications services company for public companies. Mr. Adnani holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Adnani is not a director or officer of any other U.S. reporting company.
Harry L. Anthony. Mr. Anthony has been our Chief Operating Officer and a director since February 2006. Mr. Anthony has over forty years of industrial, hydro-metallurigal experience; the past thirty-five years in the uranium mining industry. From approximately 1997 to February, 2006, Mr. Anthony had been a consultant through Anthony Engineering Services for several major uranium companies and international agencies, which duties generally include project evaluation, operations "trouble shooter" and technical and financial expert. From approximately 1990 through 1997, Mr. Anthony was a senior vice president of Uranium Resources, Inc., where he managed all facets of operations and technical support to achieve production goals, drilling, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, software development and equipment design. His duties also included oversight of construction, technical aspects, and daily operations of plants and wellfields, budget planning and forecasting, property evaluations and reserve estimations. Mr. Anthony also previously served as the vice-president of engineering/engineering manager of Uranium Resources, Inc., and a project superintendent and project engineer for Union Carbide Corp. Mr. Anthony was on the board of directors of Uranium Resources, Inc. from 1984 through 1994. He is the author of several publications and the recipient of the awards "Distinguished Member of the South Texas Mineral Section of AIME -1987" and "1999 Outstanding Citizen of the Year - Kingsville Chamber of Commerce". Mr. Anthony received an M.S. in Engineering Mechanics in 1973 and a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics in 1969 from Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Anthony is not a director or officer of any other U.S. reporting company.
101
Mark A. Katsumata. Mr. Katsumata was a director of Uranium Energy Corp. and the Chairman of our Audit Committee from May 11, 2009 until January 5, 2011. Since January 5, 2011 Mr. Katsumata has served as our Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Katsumata has served as a Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance of several NYSE Amex, TSX and TSX Venture Exchange companies. Mr. Katsumata has over 20 years of experience related to the mining industry and has been a member in good standing of the Certified General Accountants' Association of British Columbia and Canada since 1997. During the past five years, Mr. Katsumata was the Chief Financial Officer of Candente Resource Corp., a TSX listed base and precious metals explorer, and the Chief Financial Officer/Vice President, Finance of each of Denison Mines Corp., an NYSE Amex and TSX listed uranium producer and explorer, and Fortress Minerals Corp., a TSX Venture Exchange listed precious metals explorer.
Erik Essiger. Mr. Essiger became a director of Uranium Energy Corp. and a member of our Audit Committee on August 23, 2006. Mr. Essiger has over 25 years of experience in corporate finance, strategy development and restructuring projects across a wide variety of sectors, including industrial, business services, retail and consumer goods. During the past five years, Mr. Erik Essiger has been Chairman & CEO of The Emirates Capital Limited.
Prior to founding Emirates Capital, Mr. Essiger founded SCP SWISS CAPITAL-PARTNERS AG, a corporate finance boutique in Switzerland, which has since been integrated into Emirates Capital. Prior to that, Mr. Essiger was Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Transaction Services Strategy Group in Frankfurt, focusing on commercial due diligence, strategy consulting and lead advisory. He acted as Board member of a venture capital company and as Managing Director of a number of corporates. Mr. Essiger has extensive international experience in Germany, Russia, Hong Kong and Switzerland and was previously a member of the German-Russian co-operation council. Mr. Essiger received his MBA in Business Administration from J.W.-Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Ivan Obolensky. Mr. Obolensky has 40 years' experience in the investment banking business as a financial analyst, with specific expertise in the defense aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear power, metals and minerals, publishing and high technology industries. He has been an executive of several investment banks, including Sterling Grace & Co., Jesup, Josephthal & Co., Dominick and Dominick, Inc., Middendorf Colgate, and CB Richard Ellis Mosley Hallgarten. Since November 1990 to date, Mr. Obolensky has been Vice President of Shields & Company, an Investment Bank and Member of the New York Stock Exchange. Ivan Obolensky is a Registered Investment Advisor and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. He has made frequent appearances as a guest on CNBC, CNNfn, and Bloomberg TV. Mr. Obolensky is also a member of various foundations and philanthropic organizations, and serves as Chairman and CEO of the Soldiers' Sailors' Marines' and Airmen's Club in New York. He is a graduate of Yale University and a retired Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in the U.S. Naval Air Corps.
Vincent Della Volpe. Mr. Della Volpe has served as a professional money manager for over 35 years, including as a senior portfolio manager of pension funds for Honeywell Corporation and senior vice president of the YMCA Retirement fund in New York. Throughout his career Mr. Della Volpe has particularly focused on the management of energy and utility equity portfolios, and he also has experience managing venture capital investments. Mr. Della Volpe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and an MBA in finance, both from Seton Hall University. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Della Volpe served as a director of Gold Canyon Resources, Inc., a junior natural resources company incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Mr. Della Volpe has been retired since March 2003. During the prior 11 years he was employed by the YMCA Retirement Fund.
David Kong. Mr. Kong holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and earned his Chartered Accountant designation in British Columbia in 1978 and U.S. CPA (Illinois) designation in 2002. From 1981 to 2004, he was a partner at Ellis Foster Chartered Accountants and a partner at Ernst & Young LLP from 2005 to 2010. Currently, Mr. Kong is a director of Hana Mining Ltd., Channel Resources Ltd., CIBT Education Group Inc., New Pacific Metals Corp., Uranium Energy Corp. and Brazil Resources Inc. Mr. Kong is a Certified Director (ICD.D) of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
102
Advisory Board
We have also established an Advisory Board currently comprised of Mr. Jon Indall, Dr. John D. Nelson, Mr. Anthony J. Thompson, Miss Katherine Armstrong, Mr. Tom Pool, Dr. Bernie D. Schmeling and Carlos Figueredo. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to provide support in our search and acquisition of uranium properties, and for the design, permitting and reclamation of our uranium properties.
Jon Indall, age 58, is a prominent attorney, and an acknowledged expert in representing uranium industry interests in the United States. Mr. Indall currently is and has been a partner at the law firm of Comeau, Maldegen, Templeman & Indall in Santa Fe, New Mexico for over 25 years. Mr. Indall's career in the law and as an authoritative lobbyist spans over 30 years, with specialization in natural resources and environmental law, and with a special focus on the uranium mining industry. Mr. Indall has represented the Uranium Producers of America - a trade association of domestic uranium producers - since its inception in 1985. He drafted and successfully assisted in lobbying Title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 which has provided over $500 million of federal reimbursements for costs related to reclamation of uranium and thorium mill tailings sites. He was also instrumental in the revitalization of the UPA in 2005, and has been active in negotiations with the US Department of Energy regarding sales of their excess uranium inventories. In court, Mr. Indall has represented senior mining companies including Homestake Mining, Kerr-McGee, Kennecott Corp, and Pennzoil Corp. He has also represented uranium mining and development companies Cameco, Uranium Resources Inc, United Nuclear Corporation, Strathmore Resources and many others. Mr. Indall received his BA from the University of Kansas, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas Law School. He is currently a member of the American Bar Association (Natural Resources Section), the State Bar of New Mexico (Natural Resources Section), and First Judicial District Bar Association.
Dr. John D. Nelson
, age 70 is a professional engineer, with licenses in five states, and a long-term professor of civil engineering at Colorado State University. As a professor, he developed a major geotechnical engineering program for the field of mine tailings management, primarily as it relates to uranium mining, and is an industry expert in this specialized field. Dr. Nelson served as the chairman of the Annual Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste for 20 years. He is the senior author of a primary report, Long-Term Stability of Uranium Mill Tailings, prepared for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) -- a source document for environmental impact statements in this industry. He also served as a consultant to the NRC, including the review of all uranium tailings management plans for mill licensing applications from 1978 until 1984. Since 1985, he has served as a consulting engineer for the mining industry and has acted as the senior technical engineer for several tailings dam projects including Uravan, Gas Hills, Maybell, and York Canyon. Dr. Nelson received his BSc, MSc and PhD in Civil Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He is Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University.Anthony J. Thompson
, age 68 has been practicing environmental and occupational health and safety law since the mid-1970's. He is the primary outside counsel to the National Mining Association (NMA) for uranium issues, and he has represented much of the domestic uranium mining and milling industry either as counsel to NMA or as counsel to individual licensees since the late 1970's. He is the prime author of NMA's White Paper entitled "Recommendations for a Coordinated Approach to Regulating the Uranium Recovery Industry." Mr. Thompson received his BA in History from Princeton University and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is a member of the American Nuclear Society, the American Bar Association and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.Tom Pool, age 69 is recognized as an authoritative analyst for the development of new production facilities, evaluation of strategies, and assessment of production costs. He is proficient with preliminary and detailed feasibility studies for new project development and financing. He is highly experienced with valuations of uranium projects and deposits, and with property brokerage.
Since 1993, Mr. Pool has served as the Chairman of International Nuclear, Inc., based in Golden, Colorado. Over the past 40 years, his career includes senior management roles with prominent uranium organizations including having served as Vice President Engineering of Nuclear Fuels Corporation, Acting Technical Superintendent for the Beverley in-situ leach uranium mine in South Australia, Manager of Uranium Supply for ConverDyn, Internal Consultant for the CONCORD group of companies, Vice President of Marketing with Energy Fuels Nuclear and Vice President of NUEXCO Information Services. Mr. Pool also served as a Director of Intermountain Resources. He has authored more than fifty papers on key aspects of uranium development, production and markets.
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Katherine Armstrong, age 58 is highly knowledgeable regarding the natural resources and environment of the state of Texas. She was appointed to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in 1999 by Governor George W. Bush, and was named chairman in 2001 by Governor Rick Perry. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is the country's second-largest wildlife agency. Ms. Armstrong serves on several boards and advisory committees. Earlier she was active with the selection committee for the White House Fellows Program and as vice-chairman of the Dallas Zoological Society. Currently, she is a director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Texas Wildlife Association. She serves on the advisory board of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and is a director of the Texas Watershed Management Foundation.
We have also established a special Advisory Board currently comprised of Dr. Bernie D. Schmeling and Calos Figueredo. This special advisory board focuses on Paraguay to bolster company's management capabilities in Latin America.
Dr. Bernie D.Schmeling. Dr. Schmeling, currently Chief Operating Officer of Semin S.A., is a professional geophysicist and has more than 35 years of experience in exploration programs worldwide and mining projects for uranium and other commodities. Previously, he was a member of the original Uranerz team as a senior and chief geophysicist for 19 years. During this period, he was closely involved, starting in 1975, with the discovery and development of the major uranium deposit at Key Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. For 13 years, he managed all geophysical programs as well as all contracted work including all drill hole data evaluations and U3O8-grade calculations. This work included studies of radiometric disequilibrium factors and density determinations for the U3O8 resource calculations at diverse sandstone deposits in Texas, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and other states. Since 2006, he has been fully involved in the exploration and development activities of Semin S.A. in Paraguay and other South American countries. Dr. Schmeling is recognized internationally as one of the few leading experts in uranium exploration including ISR exploration.
Carlos Figueredo. Mr. Figueredo has 25 years of experience in mineral and oil exploration in Paraguay as Chief Geologist and Assistant Mineral Exploration Manager of Semin S.A. He formerly worked for Anschutz Corporation during its initial exploration efforts in Paraguay. He played a pivotal role in the development of the Coronel Oviedo project, as well as discoveries of other commodities in eastern Paraguay.
Term of Office
All of our directors hold office until the next annual general meeting of the shareholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. Our officers are appointed by our board of directors and hold office until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal.
Significant Employees
There are no significant employees other than our executive officers.
Audit Committee
Our board of directors has established an Audit Committee, comprised of David Kong, Vincent Della Volpe and Ivan Obolensky. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter adopted by the board.
David Kong, Vincent Della Volpe and Ivan Obolensky are "independent" directors of the Company as that term is defined in Rule 121 of the NYSE Amex Equities exchange listing standards. The board of directors of the Company has determined that David Kong qualifies as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to SEC rules.
Family Relationships
Alan Lindsay is the father-in-law of Amir Adnani.
104
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
Except as disclosed in this annual report, during the past ten years none of the following events have occurred with respect to any of our directors or executive officers:
1. A petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;
2. Such person was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
3. Such person was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities:
i. Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity;
ii. Engaging in any type of business practice; or
iii. Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws;
4. Such person was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in paragraph (3)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
5. Such person was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;
6. Such person was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any Federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;
7. Such person was the subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of:
i. Any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation; or
ii. Any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or
iii. Any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
105
8. Such person was the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.
There are currently no legal proceedings to which any of our directors or officers is a party adverse to us or in which any of our directors or officers has a material interest adverse to us.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy that applies to all directors and officers. The code describes the legal, ethical and regulatory standards that must be followed by the directors and officers of the Company and sets forth high standards of business conduct applicable to each director and officer. As adopted, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy sets forth written standards that are designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote, among other things:
A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy can be viewed on our website at the following URL: http://www.uraniumenergy.com/about_us/corporate_governance/code_of_ethics/.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and officers, and the persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Copies of all filed reports are required to be furnished to us pursuant to Rule 16a-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based solely on the reports received by us and on the representations of the reporting persons, we believe that these persons have complied with all applicable filing requirements during the year ended July 31, 2011, except that Vincent Della Volpe, one of our directors, made one late Form 4 filing with respect to one transaction (an option grant to him) during our fiscal year ended July 31, 2011.
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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for establishing and administering the Company's executive and director compensation.
The Compensation Committee's compensation objective is designed to attract and retain the best available talent while efficiently utilizing available resources. The committee compensates executive management primarily through base salary and equity compensation designed to be competitive with comparable companies, and to align management's compensation with the long-term interests of shareholders. In determining an executive management's compensation, the Compensation Committee also takes into consideration the financial condition of the Company and discussions with the executive.
In determining the compensation for Messrs. Adnani, Anthony and Katsumata, the Compensation Committee considered compensation paid to other executive officers of other companies within the industry, the executive's performance in meeting goals, and the complexity of the management position and the experience of the person. Of the amount of the compensation paid to the executive officer, the majority of the compensation was in the form of options. The number of options granted was determined in large part due to the financial condition of the Company which currently has no revenues. The Compensation Committee did not have a specific formula to determine the amount of the executive compensation and what portion of such compensation would be in the form of cash and equity securities. Therefore, the determination of an executive salary including the amount of cash and equity securities may be considered arbitrary taking into account the foregoing factors.
Similarly, directors receive cash compensation for their service as such, as well as options. The number of options granted to each director is based on the experience of the director, time spent on Company matters and the compensation paid to other directors of companies in the industry.
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and those executive officers that earned in excess of $100,000 during the years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 (the "Named Executive Officers"):
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Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal |
Year |
Salary ($) |
Bonus |
Stock Awards ($) |
Option Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Incen-tive Plan Com-pen-sation ($) |
Non-Quali-fied De-ferred Com-pen-sation Earn-ings ($) |
All Other Com-pen-sation ($) |
Total ($) (3) |
Amir Adnani, President |
2011 |
334,630 (1) |
250,000 |
- |
463,737 (2) |
- |
- |
- |
1,048,367 |
|
2011 |
283,741 (1) |
250,000 |
- |
463,737 (2) |
- |
- |
- |
997,478 |
Pat Obara, former Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Katsumata, Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
2011 |
88,019 (1) |
- |
- |
125,209(2) |
- |
- |
- |
213,228 |
(1) These amounts represent fees paid by us to the Named Executive Officers during the past year pursuant to various employment and consulting services agreements, as between us and the Named Executive Officers, which are more particularly described below.
(2) These amounts represent the fair value of these options at the date of grant which was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. See Note 12 to our financial statements contained herein.
(3) The Company did not record any non-equity incentive compensation plan expense, non-qualified deferred compensation expense or other compensation expense for the Named Executive Officers.
Stock Options Grants
We granted options to purchase shares of our common stock to the Named Executive Officers in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 as follows:
Name |
|
Number of Securities |
Exercise Price |
Grant Date Fair Value |
Amir Adnani, President |
August 13, 2010 |
250,000 |
$2.43 |
$463,737 |
Harry L. Anthony, Chief |
August 13, 2010 |
250,000 |
$2.43 |
$463,737 |
Pat Obara, former Chief |
August 13, 2010 |
150,000 |
$2.43 |
$278,242 |
Mark Katsumata, Chief Financial Officer |
August 13, 2010 |
67,500 |
$2.43 |
$125,209 |
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The following table sets forth information as at July 31, 2011, relating to options that have been granted to the Named Executive Officers:
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
Option Awards |
Stock Awards |
||||||||
|
Number of |
Number of |
Equity Incentive |
Option |
Option |
Num-ber of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested |
Mar-ket Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) |
Equity Incentive Awards: Number of Un-earned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested |
Amir Adnani, |
202,500 |
- |
- |
0.33 |
12/20/15 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Harry L. Anthony, |
202,500 |
- |
- |
0.33 |
12/20/15 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Pat Obara, former Chief |
180,000 |
- |
- |
0.45 |
10/10/16 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Mark Katsumata, |
75,000 |
- |
- |
1.50 |
05/08/19 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Long Term Incentive Plans
The Company does not maintain any long-term incentive plans, including, without limitation, any pension or other contribution plan.
Directors Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information relating to compensation paid to our directors in the year ended July 31, 2011:
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Name |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
Stock Awards ($) |
Option Awards ($) |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compen-sation ($) |
Non- Qualified Deferred Compen-sation Earnings ($) |
All Other Compen-sation ($) |
Total ($) |
Alan P. Lindsay, Chairman |
108,000(1) |
- |
166,945(2) |
- |
- |
- |
274,945 |
Amir Adnani |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Harry L. Anthony |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Erik Essiger |
42,721 |
- |
125,209(2) |
- |
- |
- |
167,930 |
Ivan Obolensky |
30,000 |
- |
83,473(2) |
- |
- |
- |
113,473 |
Vincent Della Volpe |
30,000 |
- |
83,473(2) |
- |
- |
- |
113,473 |
Mark Katsumata |
23,053 |
- |
125,209(2) |
- |
- |
- |
148,262 |
David Kong |
14,670 |
- |
289,681(2) |
- |
- |
- |
304,351 |
(1) Alan P. Lindsay received monthly fees through July 31, 2011, for the provision of various management consulting services provided by Mr. Lindsay to us on a monthly basis and from time to time.
(2) This amount represents the fair value of the shares at the time of issuance. See note 12 to our financial statements contained herein.
(3) This amount represents the fair value of options at the date of grant or repriced during the year, estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. See Note 12 to our financial statements contained herein.
(4) As of July 31, 2011 our directors held options to acquire an aggregate of 3,602,500 shares of our common stock: Alan P. Lindsay 1,040,000 options, Amir Adnani 1,177,500 options, Harry L. Anthony 1,250,000 options, Erik Essiger 142,500 options, Ivan Obolensky 195,000 options, Vincent Della Volpe 245,000 options, and David Kong 75,000 options.
Alan P. Lindsay serves as the Company's Chairman and director and is retained accordingly on a yearly basis. Mr. Lindsay is compensated on a monthly basis at a rate of $6,000 per month.
Amir Adnani serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, President and as a director, and Harry L. Anthony serves as the Company's Chief Operating Officer and a director. Messrs Adnani and Anthony are retained according to their Executive Services Agreements and their compensation for serving as executive officers of the Company is disclosed above in the "Summary Compensation Table." As shown in the Director Compensation Table above, Messrs Adnani and Anthony do not receive additional compensation in connection with their service as directors of the Company.
Erik Essiger, Ivan Obolensky, Vincent Della Volpe and David Kong are independent directors of the Company. Mr. Essiger serves as Chairman of the Company's Compensation Committee and Mr. Kong serves as Chairman of the Company's Audit Committee. The independent directors are retained on a yearly basis for their service and are paid quarterly based on their annual retainer fees, which are as follows:
The amounts listed above are all-inclusive retainer fees; there are no additional committee and/or chairmanship fees or meeting attendance fees above and beyond such annual retainer fees.
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In addition to such retainers, from time to time directors may receive bonus payments or options, which are granted on a discretionary basis. The amount of any bonus payments or the number of options granted is based on the experience of the director, time spent on Company matters and the compensation paid to other directors of companies in the industry.
Standard retainer amounts paid to directors, as well as any bonus payments or options, are determined by the Company's Compensation Committee and ratified by the Board of Directors.
Employment and Consulting Agreements
Anthony Executive Services Agreement
On February 15, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized and approved the execution of an employment agreement between us and Harry L. Anthony. On July 1, 2006, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to this agreement, extending the initial term thereunder to July 1, 2008. On July 23, 2009 our Board of Directors approved the entering into a further amended and restated executive services agreement with Mr. Anthony (the "Anthony Agreement") with a term expiring on July 23, 2012. Pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Anthony Agreement: (i) Mr. Anthony shall provide duties to us commensurate with his executive position as our Chief Operating Officer; (ii) we shall pay to Mr. Anthony a monthly fee of $19,167; and (iii) we shall grant to Mr. Anthony incentive stock options to purchase not less than 365,000 shares at an exercise price of not more than $0.33 per share and exercisable for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of grant. The Anthony Agreement is subject to automatic renewal unless either the Company or Mr. Anthony provides written notice not to renew the Anthony Agreement no later than 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term.
Adnani Executive Services Agreement
On July 1, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized and approved an executive services agreement between us and Amir Adnani, as amended by letter agreement dated July 1, 2007, which provided for an initial term expiring July 1, 2009. On July 23, 2009 our Board of Directors approved the entering into a further amended and restated executive services agreement (the "Adnani Agreement") with Amir Adnani Corp. (the "Consultant") with a term expiring on July 23, 2012. Pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Adnani Agreement: (i) through the Consultant, Mr. Adnani shall continue to provide duties to us commensurate with his current executive positions as our President and Chief Executive Officer; (ii) we shall pay to the Consultant a monthly fee of $19,167; and (iii) we shall grant to the Consultant incentive stock options to purchase not less than 365,000 shares at an exercise price of not more than $0.33 per share and exercisable for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of grant. The Adnani Agreement is subject to automatic renewal unless either the Company or Mr. Anthony provides written notice not to renew the Anthony Agreement no later than 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term.
Obara Builders Ltd. Consulting Services Agreement
On August 15, 2007, with an effective date of July 1, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized and approved the "Obara Builders Consulting Services Agreement". The initial term of the agreement is two years expiring on July 1, 2009. Pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Obara Builders Consulting Services Agreement: (i) Mr. Obara shall continue to provide duties to us commensurate with his current executive positions as our Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer; (ii) we shall pay to Obara Builders Ltd., a private company controlled by Pat Obara, or to Pat Obara personally, a monthly fee of CAD $10,000; (iii) we approved the granting of stock options from time to time to Mr. Obara at such fair market exercise price or prices per Option Share as may be determined by our Board of Directors and we confirmed the previous granting of his existing stock options of 200,000 stock options to Mr. Obara to purchase shares of our common stock at $1.30 per share and a further 25,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock at $3.30 per share, both for a ten-year term from the date of grant; and (iv) the Obara Builders Ltd. Consulting Services Agreement may be terminated without cause by either of us by providing prior written notice of the intention to terminate at least 90 days (in the case of our company after the initial term) or 30 days (in the case of Mr. Obara) prior to the effective date of such termination.
111
On March 1, 2008, the Compensation Committee ratified the approval of an increase in the monthly service agreement fee for Mr. Obara from CAD $10,000 to CAD $12,500.
Mr. Obara and the Company intend to enter into an amended agreement but such agreement has not yet been finalized. Mr. Obara continues to provide services under the provisions of the original agreement on a month to month basis.
Katsumata Executive Employment Services Agreement
On January 5, 2011, UEC's Board of Directors approved an Executive Employment Services Agreement (the "Katsumata Agreement") with Mark A. Katsumata, UEC's Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer.
Pursuant to the terms of the Katsumata Agreement, Mr. Katsumata will perform such duties and responsibilities as an executive employee as set out in the Katsumata Agreement. In consideration for Mr. Katsumata's services, UEC has agreed to (i) pay Mr. Katsumata a monthly fee in the amount of CDN$12,500; and (ii) subject to applicable rules and policies of relevant regulatory authorities and applicable securities legislation and UEC's stock option plans, grant to Mr. Katsumata incentive stock options to purchase not less than 217,500 common shares; at an exercise price of U.S. $1.50 per option share with respect to not less than 75,000 of the option shares, at an exercise price of U.S. $2.40 per option share with respect to not less than a further 75,000 of the option shares and at an exercise price of U.S. $2.43 per option share with respect to the balance of the option shares; and exercisable for a period of not less than ten years from the date of grant in each instance.
Mr. Katsumata's initial term of employment under the Katsumata Agreement will end on January 5, 2013 (such period, the "Initial Term"). The Katsumata Agreement is subject to automatic renewal unless UEC provides written notice of an intention not to renew the Katsumata Agreement no later than 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term of the Katsumata Agreement. Mr. Katsumata may terminate the Katsumata Agreement upon 60 days prior written notice to UEC. The Katsumata Agreement provides that UEC may terminate Mr. Katsumata's employment without cause, in which event Mr. Katsumata will be entitled to continue to receive the compensation he would have been entitled to until the end of the Initial Term. In addition, either UEC or Mr. Katsumata may terminate the Katsumata Agreement for cause upon 14 days prior written notice under certain circumstances described in the Katsumata Agreement.
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock and by each of our current directors and executive officers. Each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock, except as otherwise indicated. Beneficial ownership consists of a direct interest in the shares of common stock, except as otherwise indicated. As of October 11, 2011, there were 75,255,013 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) |
Amount and Nature of |
Percentage of Beneficial |
Directors and Officers: |
||
Amir Adnani |
3,015,801(2) |
3.9% |
Alan P. Lindsay |
2,371,287(3) |
3.1% |
Harry L. Anthony |
2,162,500(4) |
2.8% |
Erik Essiger |
617,500(5) |
* |
Ivan Obolensky |
238,419(6) |
* |
Vincent Della Volpe |
270,000(7) |
* |
David Kong |
100,000(8) |
|
Mark Katsumata |
272,339(9) |
* |
All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons) |
9,047,846(10) |
11.3% |
|
||
Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. |
4,320,034 |
5.7% |
* Less than one percent.
(1) Under Rule 13d-3, a beneficial owner of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of shares; and (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares.
Certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (if, for example, persons share the power to vote or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if the person has the right to acquire the shares (for example, upon exercise of an option) within 60 days of the date as of which the information is provided. In computing the percentage ownership of any person, the amount of shares outstanding is deemed to include the amount of shares beneficially owned by such person (and only such person) by reason of these acquisition rights. As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in this table does not necessarily reflect the person's actual ownership or voting power with respect to the number of shares of common stock actually outstanding as of the date of this annual report. As of October 11, 2011, there were 75,255,013 shares issued and outstanding.113
(2) This figure includes (i) 1,745,301 shares of common stock, (ii) 3,000 shares of common stock held of record by Amir Adnani's wife, (iii) 1,267,500 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(3) This figure includes (i) 1,142,787 shares of common stock, (ii) 163,500 shares of common stock held of record by Alan P. Lindsay's wife, (iii) 1,065,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
Mr. Lindsay is the father-in-law of Amir Adnani.(4) This figure includes (i) 822,500 shares of common stock, (ii) 1,340,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(5) This figure includes (i) 450,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 167,500 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(6) This figure represents (i) 18,419 shares of common stock, and (ii) 220,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(7) This figure represents 270,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(8) This figure represents 100,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(9) This figure includes (i) 4,839 shares of common stock, (ii) 267,500 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
(10) This figure includes (i) 4,350,346 shares of common stock, and (ii) 4,697,500 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock.
Changes in Control
We are unaware of any contract, or other arrangement or provision, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of our company.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Related Party Transactions
During the year ended July 31, 2011, the Company had transactions with certain officers and directors of the Company as follows:
During the year ended July 31, 2010, the Company had transactions with certain officers and directors of the Company as follows:
During the year ended July 31, 2009, the Company had transactions with certain officers and directors of the Company as follows:
Amir Adnani and Alan Lindsay are the founders, and may be considered promoters, of the Company. Mr. Adnani and Mr. Lindsay were issued an aggregate of 1,575,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $0.0013 per share for total proceeds of $2,100 at the time of the organization of the Company. Neither Mr. Adnani nor Mr. Lindsay has received anything of value from the Company in their capacities as promoters of the Company.
Amounts owing to related parties are unsecured, non-interest bearing and without specific terms of repayment.
Our Audit Committee is charged with reviewing and approving all related party transactions and reviewing and making recommendations to the board of directors, or approving any contracts or other transactions with any of our current or former executive officers.
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Material Contracts
Anthony Executive Services Agreement
On February 15, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized and approved the execution of an employment agreement between us and Harry L. Anthony. On July 1, 2006, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to this agreement, extending the initial term thereunder to July 1, 2008. On July 23, 2009 our Board of Directors approved the entering into a further amended and restated executive services agreement with Mr. Anthony (the "Anthony Agreement") with a term expiring on July 23, 2012. Pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Anthony Agreement: (i) Mr. Anthony shall provide duties to us commensurate with his executive position as our Chief Operating Officer; (ii) we shall pay to Mr. Anthony a monthly fee of $19,167; and (iii) we shall grant to Mr. Anthony incentive stock options to purchase not less than 365,000 shares at an exercise price of not more than $0.33 per share and exercisable for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of grant. The Anthony Agreement is subject to automatic renewal unless either the Company or Mr. Anthony provides written notice not to renew the Anthony Agreement no later than 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term.
Adnani Executive Services Agreement
On July 1, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized and approved an executive services agreement between us and Amir Adnani, as amended by letter agreement dated July 1, 2007, which provided for an initial term expiring July 1, 2009. On July 23, 2009 our Board of Directors approved the entering into a further amended and restated executive services agreement (the "Adnani Agreement") with Amir Adnani Corp. (the "Consultant") with a term expiring on July 23, 2012. Pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Adnani Agreement: (i) through the Consultant, Mr. Adnani shall continue to provide duties to us commensurate with his current executive positions as our President and Chief Executive Officer; (ii) we shall pay to the Consultant a monthly fee of $19,167; and (iii) we shall grant to the Consultant incentive stock options to purchase not less than 365,000 shares at an exercise price of not more than $0.33 per share and exercisable for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of grant. The Adnani Agreement is subject to automatic renewal unless either the Company or Mr. Adnani provides written notice not to renew the Adnani Agreement no later than 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term.
Obara Builders Ltd. Consulting Services Agreement
On August 15, 2007, with an effective date of July 1, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized and approved the "Obara Builders Consulting Services Agreement". The initial term of the agreement is two years expiring on July 1, 2009. Pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Obara Builders Consulting Services Agreement: (i) Mr. Obara shall continue to provide duties to us commensurate with his current executive positions as our Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer; (ii) we shall pay to Obara Builders Ltd., a private company controlled by Pat Obara, or to Pat Obara personally, a monthly fee of CAD $10,000; (iii) we approved the granting of stock options from time to time to Mr. Obara at such fair market exercise price or prices per Option Share as may be determined by our Board of Directors and we confirmed the previous granting of his existing stock options of 200,000 stock options to Mr. Obara to purchase shares of our common stock at $1.30 per share and a further 25,000 stock options to purchase shares of our common stock at $3.30 per share, both for a ten-year term from the date of grant; and (iv) the Obara Builders Ltd. Consulting Services Agreement may be terminated without cause by either of us by providing prior written notice of the intention to terminate at least 90 days (in the case of our company after the initial term) or 30 days (in the case of Mr. Obara) prior to the effective date of such termination.
On March 1, 2008, the Compensation Committee ratified the approval of an increase in the monthly service agreement fee for Mr. Obara from CAD $10,000 to CAD $12,500.
Mr. Obara and the Company intend to enter into an amended agreement but such agreement has not yet been finalized. Mr. Obara continues to provide services under the provisions of the original agreement on a month to month basis.
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Katsumata Executive Employment Services Agreement
On January 5, 2011, UEC's Board of Directors approved an Executive Employment Services Agreement (the "Katsumata Agreement") with Mark A. Katsumata, UEC's Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer.
Pursuant to the terms of the Katsumata Agreement, Mr. Katsumata will perform such duties and responsibilities as an executive employee as set out in the Katsumata Agreement. In consideration for Mr. Katsumata's services, UEC has agreed to (i) pay Mr. Katsumata a monthly fee in the amount of CDN$12,500; and (ii) subject to applicable rules and policies of relevant regulatory authorities and applicable securities legislation and UEC's stock option plans, grant to Mr. Katsumata incentive stock options to purchase not less than 217,500 common shares; at an exercise price of U.S. $1.50 per option share with respect to not less than 75,000 of the option shares, at an exercise price of U.S. $2.40 per option share with respect to not less than a further 75,000 of the option shares and at an exercise price of U.S. $2.43 per option share with respect to the balance of the option shares; and exercisable for a period of not less than ten years from the date of grant in each instance.
Mr. Katsumata's initial term of employment under the Katsumata Agreement will end on January 5, 2013 (such period, the "Initial Term"). The Katsumata Agreement is subject to automatic renewal unless UEC provides written notice of an intention not to renew the Katsumata Agreement no later than 90 days prior to the end of the then-current term of the Katsumata Agreement. Mr. Katsumata may terminate the Katsumata Agreement upon 60 days prior written notice to UEC. The Katsumata Agreement provides that UEC may terminate Mr. Katsumata's employment without cause, in which event Mr. Katsumata will be entitled to continue to receive the compensation he would have been entitled to until the end of the Initial Term. In addition, either UEC or Mr. Katsumata may terminate the Katsumata Agreement for cause upon 14 days prior written notice under certain circumstances described in the Katsumata Agreement.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Ernst & Young LLP serve as our independent registered public accounting firm and audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Aggregate fees for professional services rendered to us by our auditors for our last two years are set forth below:
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of aggregate fees for professional services in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and the quarterly reviews of our financial statements included in our quarterly reports.
Audit-Related Fees. Our auditors provided audit-related services to us in connection with the review of other regulatory filings.
Tax Fees. Our auditors did not provide tax preparation services.
Pre-Approval of Services by the Independent Auditor
The Audit Committee is responsible for the pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit services to be performed by the Company's independent auditor, Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee will, on an annual basis, consider and, if appropriate, approve the provision of audit and non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP. Thereafter, the Audit Committee will, as necessary, consider and, if appropriate, approve the provision of additional audit and non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP which are not encompassed by the Audit Committee's annual pre-approval and are not prohibited by law. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee the authority to pre-approve, on a case-by-case basis, non-audit services to be performed by Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee has approved all of the audit and permitted non-audit services performed by Ernst & Young LLP in the year ended July 31, 2011.
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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit |
2.1 |
Merger Agreement & Plan of Merger between Uranium Energy Corp. and Concentric Energy Corp. dated May 5, 2011, including Concentric Disclosure Schedule pursuant thereto(34) |
2.2 |
Amendment to Merger Agreement & Plan of Merger between Uranium Energy Corp. and Concentric Energy Corp. (36) |
3.1 |
Articles of Incorporation, as amended(1) |
3.1.1 |
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation(2) |
3.2 |
Bylaws(1) |
3.3 |
Audit Committee Charter(1) |
10.1 |
Consulting Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Randall Reneau(3) |
10.2 |
Mineral Asset Option Agreement(3) |
10.3 |
Agreement and Addendum between Harry A. Moore Trust and Uranium Energy Corp.(4) |
10.4 |
Financial Consulting Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and International Market Trend AG(5) |
10.5 |
Harry A. Moore Trust Agreement( 5) |
10.6 |
Amending Agreement to Employment Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Harry Anthony(6) |
10.7 |
Consulting Services and Right of First Refusal Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Jim Knupke(5) |
10.8 |
Corporate Relations Consulting Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Michael Baybak and Corp. Inc.(5) |
10.9 |
Corporate Finance Consulting Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Eurotrade Management Group Ltd.(5) |
10.10 |
Executive Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Amir Adnani(6) |
10.11 |
Reneau Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Randall Reneau(6) |
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10.12 |
Uranium Mining Lease among Uranium Energy Corp., John G. Jebsen and John Triantis(7) |
10.13 |
Consulting Agreement dated February 1, 2007 between the Company and Epoch Financial Group Inc. (12) |
10.14 |
Web Services Agreement dated March 21, 2007 between the Company and Market Pathways Financial Relations Inc.(12) |
10.15 |
Letter Option Agreement dated March 28, 2007 between the Company and Betty, Fred and Marty Holley(12) |
10.16 |
Consulting Agreement dated March 29, 2007 between the Company and EuroXchange Consulting Ltd.(12) |
10.17 |
Database Agreement dated April 4, 2007 between the Company and Paul Pierce(12) |
10.18 |
Letter Agreement between La Merced del Pueblo de Cebolleta and Neutron Energy, Inc.(11) |
10.19 |
Limited Liability Company Members' Agreement of Cibola Resources LLC between Neutron Energy, Inc. and Uranium Energy Corp.(11) |
10.20 |
Limited Liability Company Members' Agreement of Cibola Resources LLC between Neutron Energy, Inc. and Uranium Energy Corp.(11) |
10.21 |
Agency Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and National Bank Financial Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and Canaccord Capital Corporation dated December 12, 2007 (17) |
10.22 |
Registration Rights Agreement dated December 12, 2007 between Uranium Energy Corp. and National Bank Financial Inc. (17) |
10.23 |
Form of Subscription Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and certain selling stockholders (17) |
10.24 |
Form of Warrant Certificate (17) |
10.25 |
Form of Registration Rights Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and the subscribers of the July 2008 Units (18) |
10.26 |
Form of Subscription Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and the subscribers of the July 2008 Units (18) |
10.27 |
Form of Warrant Certificate provided by Uranium Energy Corp. to the subscribers of the July 2008 Units (18) |
10.28 |
Consulting Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Obara Builders Ltd. (14) |
10.29 |
Amendment and Extension to Executive Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Amir Adnani (15) |
10.30 |
Agreement to Purchase Assets between the Uranium Energy Corp. and Melvin O. Stairs, Jr. (16) |
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10.31 |
2005 Stock Option Plan of Uranium Energy Corp.(8) |
10.32 |
Amended 2005 Stock Option Plan(9) |
10.33 |
2006 Stock Incentive Plan of Uranium Energy Corp.(10) |
10.34 |
Option and Joint Venture Letter Agreement between Uran Limited and the Company dated January 14, 2009(19) |
10.35 |
Variation Agreement between Uran Limited and the Company dated May 28, 2009(20) |
10.36 |
Mineral Property Option and Joint Venture Agreement between the Company and Strategic Resources Inc.(21) |
10.37 |
Further Amended and Restated Executive Services Agreement with Amir Adnani Corp. dated July 23, 2009(22) |
10.38 |
Further Amended and Restated Executive Services Agreement with Harry L. Anthony dated July 23, 2009(22) |
10.39 |
Form of Warrant Certificate (23) |
10.40 |
2009 Stock Incentive Plan(24) |
10.41 |
Further Amended and Restated Executive Services Agreement between the Company and Amir Adnani Corp. dated July 23, 2009(25) |
10.42 |
Further Amended and Restated Executive Services Agreement between the Company and Harry L. Anthony dated July 23, 2009(25) |
10.43 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated October 6, 2004 (Property ID 80601) (26) |
10.44 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated August 24, 2005 (Property ID 80602) (26) |
10.45 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated August 24, 2005 (Property ID 80603) (26) |
10.46 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated October 6, 2004 (Property ID 80604) (26) |
10.47 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated November 2, 2005 (Property ID 80605) (26) |
10.48 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated November 2, 2005 (Property ID 80606) (26) |
10.49 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated December 19, 2005 (Property ID 80607) (26) |
10.50 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated December 20, 2005 (Property IDs 80608 and 80609) (26) |
10.51 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated December 20, 2005 (Property IDs 80610 and 80611) (26) |
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10.52 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated March 20, 2006 (Property ID 80612) (26) |
10.53 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated March 20, 2006 (Property ID 80613) (26) |
10.54 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated April 9, 2007 (Property ID 80614) (26) |
10.55 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated April 23, 2007 (Property ID 80615) (26) |
10.56 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated May 17, 2007 (Property ID 80616) (26) |
10.57 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated May 29, 2007 (Property ID 80617) (26) |
10.58 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated June 20, 2007 (Property ID 80618) (26) |
10.59 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated August 27, 2007 (Property ID 80619) (26) |
10.60 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated July 17, 2007 (Property ID 80621) (26) |
10.61 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated September 25, 2007 (Property ID 80620) (26) |
10.62 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated February 22, 2008 (Property ID 80622) (26) |
10.63 |
Uranium Mining Lease dated June 12, 2008 (Property ID 80623) (26) |
10.64 |
Securities Purchase Agreement between URN Resources Inc. and Uranium Energy Corp. dated October 13, 2009 (27) |
10.65 |
Letter Agreement with Everest Exploration Inc. dated October 13, 2009 (27) |
10.66 |
Option Agreement with Neutron Energy, Inc. dated November 5, 2009 (28) |
10.67 |
Asset Purchase Agreement among each of Everest Exploration, Inc., Everest Resource Company, James T. Clark and Thomas M. Crain, Jr. (29) |
10.68 |
First Amendment of Option Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Neutron Energy, Inc., dated December 29, 2009 (30) |
10.69 |
Executive Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Harry L. Anthony, dated February 22, 2010 (31) |
10.70 |
2009 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (32) |
10.71 |
Executive Employment Services Agreement between Uranium Energy Corp. and Mark Katsumata, dated January 5, 2011 (33) |
10.72 |
Acquisition Agreement between Global Uranium Corp. and Uranium Energy Corp. (34) |
10.73 |
Share Exchange Agreement among Transandes Resources, Inc., Piedra Rica Mining S.A., UEC Paraguay Corp., and Uranium Energy Corp. dated May 11, 2011, including schedules attached thereto (35) |
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10.74 |
Amending Agreement to Acquisition Agreement between Global Uranium Corp. and Uranium Energy Corp. (36) |
10.75 |
Data Purchase and Sale Agreement between Uranium One USA, Inc. and Uranium Energy Corp. (37) |
23.1 |
Consent of Independent Auditors, Ernst & Young, LLP, filed herewith as an exhibit |
31.1 |
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) , filed herewith as an exhibit |
31.2 |
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) , filed herewith as an exhibit |
32.1 |
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, filed herewith as an exhibit |
(1) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed with the SEC on August 4, 2005.
(2) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2006.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the amendment to our Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed with the SEC on November 9, 2005.
(4) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on December 21, 2005.
(5) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on April 13, 2006.
(6) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form SB-2 filed with the SEC on October 4, 2006.
(7) Incorporated by reference to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed with the SEC on August 21, 2006.
(8) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 21, 2005.
(9) Incorporated by reference to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed with the SEC on May 15, 2006.
(10) Incorporated by reference to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed with the SEC on November 20, 2006.
(11) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 4, 2007.
(12) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form SB-2/A filed with the SEC on May 14, 2007.
(13) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 13, 2007.
(14) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 9, 2007.
(15) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC on October 29, 2007.
(16) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 6, 2007.
(17) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on February 12, 2008.
(18) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on July 29, 2008.
(19) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 16, 2009.
(20) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 28, 2009.
(21) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 9, 2009.
(22) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 23, 2009.
(23) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on July 14, 2009.
(24) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on October 1, 2009.
(25) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 27, 2009.
(26) Incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 21, 2010.
(27) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 19, 2009.
(28) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 12, 2009.
(29) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 27, 2009.
(30) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 30, 2009.
(31) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2010.
(32) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on February 7, 2011.
(33) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 10, 2011.
(34) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 5, 2011.
(35) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 17, 2011.
(36) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 11, 2011.
(37) Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 30, 2011.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
URANIUM ENERGY CORP.
By: /s/ Amir Adnani
Amir Adnani
President, Chief Executive Officer and a director
Date: October
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ Amir Adnani
Amir Adnani
President, Chief Executive Officer and a director
Date: October
By: /s/ Mark Katsumata
Mark Katsumata
Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date: October
By: /s/ Alan P. Lindsay
Alan P. Lindsay
Chairman and a director
Date: October
By: /s/ Harry L. Anthony
Harry L. Anthony
Chief Operating Officer and a director
Date: October
By: /s/ Ivan Obolensky
Ivan Obolensky
A director
Date: October
By: /s/ Erik Essiger
Erik Essiger
A director
Date: October
By: /s/ Vincent Della Volpe
Vincent Della Volpe
A director
Date: October
By: /s/ David Kong
David Kong
A director
Date: October
__________
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