ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Business development
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (the “Company”, “we” or “Liberty Star”) was formerly Liberty Star Gold Corp. and formerly Titanium Intelligence, Inc. (“Titanium”). Titanium was incorporated on August 20, 2001 under the laws of the State of Nevada. On February 5, 2004, we commenced operations in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties business. In April 2007, we changed our name to Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. Hay Mountain Super Project LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, serves as the primary holding company for development of the potential ore bodies encompassed in the Hay Mountain area of interest in Arizona. Prior to 2017 Big Chunk Corp. (“Big Chunk”), our wholly owned subsidiary, was engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties business in the State of Alaska. We are in the exploration phase of operations and have not generated any revenues from operations.
Our current business
We are engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the States of Arizona and the Southwest USA. Claims in the State of Arizona are held in the name of Liberty Star. We use the term “Super Project” to indicate a project in which numerous mineral targets have been identified, any one or more of which could potentially contain commercially viable quantities of minerals. Our significant projects are described below.
North Pipes Super Project (“North Pipes” and “NPSP”): The NPSP is located in Northern Arizona on the Arizona Strip. We plan to ascertain whether the NPSP claims possess commercially viable deposits of uranium and associated co-product metals. We have not identified any ore reserves to date.
Big Chunk Super Project: The Big Chunk Super Project located in the Iliamna region of Southwestern Alaska. After much caution and thought, we have decided to no longer put any funds into Big Chunk due to the current decision making of the Environmental Protection Agency. We have not identified any ore reserves to date.
Tombstone Super Project (“Tombstone”) (formerly referred to as Tombstone Porphyry Precious Metals Project): Tombstone is located in Cochise County, Arizona and covers the Tombstone caldera and its environs. Within the Tombstone caldera is the Hay Mountain target where we are concentrating our work at this time. We plan to ascertain whether the Tombstone, Hay Mountain claims possess commercially viable deposits of copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, lead, zinc, manganese and other metals including Rare Earth Elements (REE’s). We have not identified any ore reserves to date.
East Silver Bell Porphyry Copper Project (“East Silver Bell”): East Silver Bell is located northwest of Tucson, Arizona. We plan to ascertain whether the East Silver Bell claims possess commercially viable deposits of copper. We have not identified any ore reserves to date.
Title to mineral claims involves certain inherent risks due to difficulties in determining the validity of certain claims, as well as potential for problems arising from the frequently ambiguous conveyancing history characteristic of many mineral properties. We have investigated title to all the Company’s mineral properties and, to the best of its knowledge, title to all properties retained are in good standing.
The mineral resource business generally consists of three stages: exploration, development and production. Mineral resource companies that are in the exploration stage have not yet found mineral resources in commercially exploitable quantities and are engaged in exploring land in an effort to discover them. Mineral resource companies that have located a mineral resource in commercially exploitable quantities and are preparing to extract that resource are in the development stage, while those engaged in the extraction of a known mineral resource are in the production stage. We have not found any mineral resources in commercially exploitable quantities.
There is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of our properties, and further exploration is required before we can evaluate whether any exist and, if so, whether it would be economically feasible to develop or exploit those resources. Even if we complete our current exploration program and we are successful in identifying a mineral deposit, we would be required to spend substantial funds on further drilling and engineering studies before we could know whether that mineral deposit will constitute a commercially viable mineral deposit, known as an “ore reserve.”
To date, we have not generated any revenues. Our ability to pursue our business plan and generate revenues is subject to our ability to obtain additional financing, and we cannot give any assurance that we will be able to do so.
Competition
We are a mineral resource company engaged in the business of mineral exploration. We compete with other mineral resource exploration companies for financing from a limited number of investors that are prepared to make investments in mineral resource exploration companies. The presence of competing mineral resource exploration companies may impact our ability to raise additional capital in order to fund our property acquisitions and exploration programs if investors are of the view that investments in competitors are more attractive based on the merit of the mineral properties under investigation and the price of the investment offered to investors.
We also compete for mineral properties of merit with other exploration companies. Competition could reduce the availability of properties of merit or increase the cost of acquiring additional mineral properties.
Many of the resource exploration companies with whom we compete may have greater financial and technical resources than we have. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on acquisitions of properties of merit and on exploration of their properties. In addition, they may be able to afford greater geological expertise in the targeting and exploration of resource properties. This competition could result in our competitors having resource properties of greater quality and interest to prospective investors who may finance additional exploration and to senior exploration companies that may purchase resource properties or enter into joint venture agreements with junior exploration companies. This competition could adversely impact our ability to finance property acquisitions and further exploration.
Compliance with Government Regulation
We will be required to comply with all regulations, rules and directives of governmental authorities and agencies applicable to the exploration of minerals in the States of Arizona and Alaska.
Our North Pipes claims are federal lode mining claims located on U.S. federal lands and administered by the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (the “BLM”). In 2012, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior withdrew federal lands from locatable mineral exploration and mining North of the Grand Canyon along the Utah border in Arizona, the so-called “Arizona Strip,” for 20 years. Nearly 1 million acres of land managed by the BLM and the Forest Service are subject to the moratorium. However, the moratorium permits existing claims and mines to continue as before, including our North Pipes lode mining claims.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our federal lode mining claims for the North Pipes project in the State of Arizona. The rental period begins at noon on September 1st through the following September 1st and rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. The annual rentals are $155 per claim. The rentals of $1,705 for the period from September 1, 2017 to September 1, 2018 have been paid. The rentals due by September 1, 2018 for the period from September 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019 of $1,705 have not been paid yet, however, we plan to pay these fees prior to the due date.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our federal lode mining claims for our East Silverbell project in the State of Arizona. The rental period begins at noon on September 1st through the following September 1st and rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. The annual rental is $155 per claim. The rentals of $4,030 for the period from September 1, 2017 to September 1, 2018 have been paid. The annual rentals due by September 1, 2018 of $4,030 are required to maintain the East Silverbell claims are for the period from September 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019 have not been paid yet, however, we plan to pay these fees prior to the due date. There is no requirement for annual assessment or exploration work on the federal lode mining claims. There are no royalties associated with the federal lode mining claims.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our federal lode mining claims for the Tombstone project in the State of Arizona. The rental period begins at noon on September 1st through the following September 1st and rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. The annual rentals are $155 per claim. The rentals due by September 1, 2018 for the period from September 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019 of $14,725 have not been paid yet, however, we plan to pay these fees prior to the due date.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our Arizona State Land Department Mineral Exploration Permits (“AZ MEP”) at our Tombstone Hay Mountain project in the State of Arizona. AZ MEP permits are valid for 1 year and renewable for up to 5 years. The rental fee is $2.00 per acre for the first year, which includes the second year, and $1.00 per acre per year for years three through five. The minimum work expenditure requirements are $10 per acre per year for years one and two and $20 per acre per year for years three through five. If the minimum work expenditure requirement is not met the applicant can pay the equal amount in fees to the Arizona State Land Department to keep the AZ MEP permits current. The rental period begins on September 30th through the following September 29th for our Hay Mountain permits. Rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. We hold AZ MEP permits for 2,966.88 acres at our Tombstone project. We plan to pay rental fees for our AZ MEP’s before September 29, 2018 in the amount of $3,500. Required minimum work expenditures for the period ending September 29, 2018 is $29,668.
With respect to the foregoing properties, additional approvals and authorizations may be required from other government agencies, depending upon the nature and scope of the proposed exploration program. The amount of these costs is not known at this time as we do not know the size, quality of any resource or reserve at this time, and it is extremely difficult to assess the impact of any capital expenditures on earnings or our competitive position.
Personnel
Currently we employ one full time geologist who is also our CEO, CFO, President and Chairman of the Board, James A. Briscoe. We also employ one full time VP for management of finance and accounting, one full time geo-tech, who is also our manager of field operations, and one investor relations representative and one CPA on an as needed basis. We hire consultants for investor relations, exploration, derivative accounting, and administrative functions also on an as needed basis.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should not invest in our stock unless you are able to bear the complete loss of your investment. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as other information provided to you in this prospectus, including information in the section of this annual report on Form 10-K entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” before making an investment decision. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected, the value of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to Our Company and Our Business
Because of the speculative nature of the exploration of natural resource properties, there is substantial risk that this business will fail.
There is no assurance that any of the claims we explore or acquire will contain commercially exploitable reserves of minerals. Exploration for natural resources is a speculative venture involving substantial risk. Hazards such as unusual or unexpected geological formations and other conditions often result in unsuccessful exploration efforts. We may also become subject to significant liability for pollution or hazards, which we cannot insure or which we may elect not to insure. There is substantial risk that our business will fail.
If we cannot compete successfully for financing and for qualified managerial and technical employees, our exploration program may suffer.
Our competition in the mining industry includes large established mining companies with substantial capabilities and with greater financial and technical resources than we have. As a result of this competition, we may be unable to acquire additional financing on terms we consider acceptable because investors may choose to invest in our competitors instead of investing in us. We also compete with other mining companies in the recruitment and retention of qualified managerial and technical employees. Our success will be largely dependent on our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel. These individuals are in high demand and we may not be able to attract the personnel we need. We may not be able to afford the high salaries and fees demanded by qualified personnel or may lose such employees after they are hired. If we are unable to successfully compete for financing or for qualified employees, our exploration program may be slowed down or suspended.
Exploration and exploitation activities are subject to comprehensive regulation which may cause substantial delays or require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated causing an adverse effect on our company.
Exploration and exploitation activities are subject to federal, state, and local laws, regulations and policies, including laws regulating the removal of natural resources from the ground and the discharge of materials into the environment. Exploration and exploitation activities are also subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations which seek to maintain health and safety standards by regulating the design and use of drilling methods and equipment.
Various permits from government bodies are required for drilling operations to be conducted; no assurance can be given that such permits will be received. Environmental and other legal standards imposed by federal, state, or local authorities may be changed and any such changes may prevent us from conducting planned activities or increase our costs of doing so, which would have material adverse effects on our business. Moreover, compliance with such laws may cause substantial delays or require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated, thus causing an adverse effect on us. Additionally, we may be subject to liability for pollution or other environmental damages which we may not be able to or elect not to insure against due to prohibitive premium costs and other reasons. Any laws, regulations or policies of any government body or regulatory agency may be changed, applied or interpreted in a manner which will alter and negatively affect our ability to carry on our business.
There are no known reserves of minerals on our mineral claims and we cannot guarantee that we will find any commercial quantities of minerals.
We have not found any mineral reserves on our claims and there can be no assurance that any of our mineral claims contain commercial quantities of any minerals. Even if we identify commercial quantities of minerals in any of our claims, there can be no assurance that we will be able to exploit the reserves or, if we are able to exploit them, that we will do so on a profitable basis. Any such efforts will require financing, which we may not be able to arrange.
Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is extremely remote, any funds spent on exploration will probably be lost.
The probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is extremely remote. In all probability our properties do not contain any reserves. As such, any funds spent on exploration will probably be lost, which would most likely result in a loss of your investment.
We have a limited operating history and as a result there is no assurance we can operate on a profitable basis.
We have a limited operating history and must be considered in the exploration stage. Our operations will be subject to all the risks inherent in the establishment of an exploration stage enterprise and the uncertainties arising from the absence of a significant operating history. Potential investors should be aware of the difficulties normally encountered by mineral exploration companies and the high rate of failure of such enterprises, especially those with a limited operating history. The likelihood of success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays encountered in connection with the exploration of the mineral properties that we plan to undertake. These potential problems include, but are not limited to, unanticipated problems relating to exploration, and additional costs and expenses that may exceed current estimates. The expenditures to be made by us in the exploration of the mineral claim may not result in the discovery of mineral deposits. Problems such as unusual or unexpected formations of rock or land and other conditions are involved in mineral exploration and often result in unsuccessful exploration efforts. If the results of our exploration do not reveal viable commercial mineralization, we may decide to abandon our claim and acquire new claims for new exploration or cease operations. The acquisition of additional claims will be dependent upon us possessing capital resources at the time in order to purchase such claims. If no funding is available, we may be forced to abandon our operations. No assurance can be given that we will ever operate on a profitable basis.
If we do not obtain additional financing, our business will fail and our investors could lose their investment.
We had cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $36,086 and negative working capital of $1,498,869 as of January 31, 2018. We currently do not generate revenues from our operations. Our business plan calls for substantial investment and cost in connection with the acquisition and exploration of our mineral properties currently under lease and option. Any direct acquisition of any of the claims under lease or option is subject to our ability to obtain the financing necessary for us to fund and carry out exploration programs on the subject properties. The requirements are substantial. There is no assurance that we will be able to maintain operations at a level sufficient for an investor to obtain a return on their investment in our common stock. Further, we may continue to be unprofitable. Obtaining additional financing would be subject to a number of factors, including market prices for minerals, investor acceptance of our properties, contractual restrictions on our ability to enter into further financing arrangements, and investor sentiment. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms or conditions of additional financing unavailable to us and our business could fail.
Because there is no assurance that we will generate revenues, we face a high risk of business failure.
We have not earned any revenues and have never been profitable. We do not have an interest in any revenue generating properties. We were incorporated in 2001 and took over our current business in 2004. To date, we have been involved primarily in organizational and exploration activities. We will incur substantial operating and exploration expenditures without realizing any revenues. We therefore expect to incur significant losses into the foreseeable future. We have limited operating history upon which an evaluation of our future success or failure can be made. We recognize that if we are unable to generate significant revenues from our activities, we will not be able to earn profits or continue operations. Based upon current plans, we also expect to incur significant operating losses in the future. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in raising capital to fund these operating losses or generate revenues in the future. We can provide investors with no assurance that we will generate any operating revenues or ever achieve profitable operations. If we are unsuccessful in addressing these risks, our business will most likely fail and our investors could lose their investment.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report states that there is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, MaloneBailey, LLP, stated in its audit report attached to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 that since we have suffered recurring losses from operations, requires additional funds for further exploratory activity prior to attaining a revenue generating status, and we may not find sufficient ore reserves to be commercially mined, there is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The existence of our mining claims depends on our ability to fund exploratory activity or to pay fees.
Our mining claims, which are the central part of our business, require that we either pay fees, or incur certain minimum development costs annually, or the claims will be forfeited. Due to our current financial situation we may not be able to meet these obligations and we could therefore lose our claims. This would impair our ability to raise capital and would negatively impact the value of our company.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Because we will likely issue additional shares of our common stock, investment in our company could be subject to substantial dilution.
Investors’ interests in our company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share when we issue additional shares. We are authorized to issue 6,250,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.00001 par value per share. As of May 15, 2018, there were 2,583,191,587 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. We anticipate that all or at least some of our future funding, if any, will be in the form of equity financing from the sale of our common stock. If we do sell more common stock, investors’ investment in our company will likely be diluted. Dilution is the difference between what you pay for your stock and the net tangible book value per share immediately after the additional shares are sold by us. If dilution occurs, any investment in our company’s common stock could seriously decline in value.
The sale of our stock under the convertible notes and the common share purchase warrants could encourage short sales by third parties, which could contribute to the future decline of our stock price.
In many circumstances, the provision of financing based on the distribution of equity for companies that are quoted on the OTC Pink market tier has the potential to cause a significant downward pressure on the price of common stock. This is especially the case if the shares being placed into the market exceed the market’s ability to take up the increased stock or if we have not performed in such a manner to show that the equity funds raised will be used to grow our business. Such an event could place further downward pressure on the price of our common stock. Regardless of our activities, the opportunity exists for short sellers and others to contribute to the future decline of our stock price. If there are significant short sales of our common stock, the price decline that would result from this activity will cause the share price to decline more, which may cause other stockholders of the stock to sell their shares, thereby contributing to sales of common stock in the market. If there are many more shares of our common stock on the market for sale than the market will absorb, the price of our common shares will likely decline.
Trading in our common stock on the OTC Pink market tier is limited and sporadic making it difficult for our stockholders to sell their shares or liquidate their investments.
Our common stock is currently quoted for public trading on the OTC Pink market tier. The trading price of our common stock has been subject to wide fluctuations. Trading prices of our common stock may fluctuate in response to a number of factors, many of which will be beyond our control. The stock market has generally experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies with no current business operation. There can be no assurance that trading prices and price earnings ratios previously experienced by our common stock will be matched or maintained. These broad market and industry factors may adversely affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class-action litigation has often been instituted. Such litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs for us and a diversion of management’s attention and resources.
Our bylaws contain provisions indemnifying our officers and directors against all costs, charges and expenses incurred by them.
Our bylaws contain provisions with respect to the indemnification of our officers and directors against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, actually and reasonably incurred by them, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment in a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which they are made parties by reason of their being or having been our directors or officers.
Our bylaws do not contain anti-takeover provisions which could result in a change of our management and directors if there is a take-over of our company.
We do not currently have a shareholder rights plan or any anti-takeover provisions in our bylaws. Without any anti-takeover provisions, there is no deterrent for a take-over of our company, which may result in a change in our management and directors. This could result in a disruption to the activities of our company, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We do not intend to pay dividends on any investment in the shares of stock of our company and any gain on an investment in our company will need to come through an increase in our stock’s price, which may never happen.
We have never paid any cash dividends and currently do not intend to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future. To the extent that we require additional funding currently not provided for in our financing plan, our funding sources may prohibit the payment of a dividend. Because we do not intend to declare dividends, any gain on an investment in our company will need to come through an increase in the stock’s price. This may never happen and investors may lose all of their investment in our company.
Because our securities are subject to penny stock rules, you may have difficulty reselling your shares.
Our shares as penny stocks, are covered by Section 15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker/dealers who sell our company’s securities including the delivery of a standardized disclosure document; disclosure and confirmation of quotation prices; disclosure of compensation the broker/dealer receives; and, furnishing monthly account statements. These rules apply to companies whose shares are not traded on a national stock exchange, trade at less than $5.00 per share, or who do not meet certain other financial requirements specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These rules require brokers who sell “penny stocks” to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors” to complete certain documentation, make suitability inquiries of investors, and provide investors with certain information concerning the risks of trading in such penny stocks. These rules may discourage or restrict the ability of brokers to sell our shares of common stock and may affect the secondary market for our shares of common stock. These rules could also hamper our ability to raise funds in the primary market for our shares of common stock.
FINRA sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common shares, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.
Tangiers Investment Group, LLC will pay less than the then-prevailing market price for our common stock.
Our common stock to be issued to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC (“Tangiers”) pursuant to the investment agreement dated June 20, 2015 will be purchased at the 80% of the lowest day of the daily volume weighed average price of our common stock during the five consecutive trading days immediately prior to the receipt by Tangiers of the put notice; provided, however, an additional 5% will be added to the discount of each put if (i) we are not DWAC eligible and (ii) an additional 5% will be added to the discount of each put if we are under DTC “chill” status on the applicable date of the put notice. Tangiers has a financial incentive to sell our common stock immediately upon receiving the shares to realize the profit equal to the difference between the discounted price and the market price. If Tangiers sells the shares, the price of our common stock could decrease. If our stock price decreases, Tangiers may have a further incentive to sell the shares of our common stock that it holds. These sales may have a further impact on our stock price.
Your ownership interest may be diluted and the value of our common stock may decline by exercising the put right pursuant to the investment agreement with Tangiers.
Pursuant to the investment agreement with Tangiers, when we deem it necessary, we may raise capital through the private sale of our common stock to Tangiers at a discounted price. Because the put price is lower than the prevailing market price of our common stock, to the extent that the put right is exercised, your ownership interest may be diluted.
Certain restrictions on the extent of puts and the delivery of advance notices may have little, if any, effect on the adverse impact of our issuance of shares in connection with the investment agreement with Tangiers, and as such, Tangiers may sell a large number of shares, resulting in substantial dilution to the value of shares held by existing stockholders.
Tangiers has agreed, subject to certain exceptions listed in the investment agreement with Tangiers, to refrain from holding an amount of shares which would result in Tangiers or its affiliates owning more than 4.99% of the then-outstanding shares of our common stock at any one time. These restrictions, however, do not prevent Tangiers from selling shares of our common stock received in connection with a put, and then receiving additional shares of our common stock in connection with a subsequent put. In this way, Tangiers could sell more than 4.99% of the outstanding common stock in a relatively short time frame while never holding more than 4.99% at one time.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
Our offices
We rent the premises for our principal office located at 5610 E. Sutler Lane, Tucson, Arizona 85712. We rent this office space for $522 per month plus a pro rata share of taxes and maintenance. Our employees work either from our principal office or from offices maintained in their homes.
We believe that our existing office facilities are adequate for our needs. Should we require additional space in the future, we believe that such space can be secured on commercially reasonable terms.
Our Pima Office
The Company entered into a 24-month office lease at 5232 E Pima Street, Suite D, Tucson, Arizona, effective October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2018, with a base rent of $2,100 per month through September 30, 2017 and then $2,163 per month through September 30, 2018.
Our mineral claims
All of the Company’s claims for mineral properties are in good standing as of January 31, 2018.
North Pipes:
We hold a 100% interest in 11 (unpatented) federal lode mining claims strategically placed on the Arizona Strip. The 11 unpatented federal lode mining claims with an area of 227.7 acres include breccia pipe targets (“Pipes”). Breccia pipes are cylindrical formations in the earth’s crust sometimes identified by a surface depression, or surface bump or no visible surface expression at all and contain a high concentration of fragmented rock “breccia” sometimes cemented by uranium and other minerals. We plan to ascertain whether our North Pipes claims possess commercially viable deposits of uranium. Due to the moratorium of location of lode mining claims on the Arizona Strip and the low price of U3O8 we have no current exploration plans and will not until the uranium price increases and the moratorium expires in about 15 years. We intend to hold a strategic position until such time that it is economically feasible to mount a new drilling program. We want to take advantage of more than a million dollars of exploration data which was acquired by Liberty Star when uranium prices were higher and before the moratorium was instituted.
North Pipes is located on the Arizona Strip, which is located approximately 10 miles south of the town of Fredonia, AZ. Access is by Hwy 389 and various dirt roads, some of which are maintained and some that are very primitive. 4WD vehicles are necessary for the primitive dirt roads. Some of the claims cannot be driven to and require hiking to their location or under an approved plan of operation it is possible to create an access road.
Our NPSP claims are undeveloped. There are neither open-pit nor underground mines, nor is there any mining plant or equipment located on the properties. There is no power supply to the properties. We have not found any mineral resources on any of our claims. The Arizona Strip was an active exploration district in the 1970’s and 1980’s with multiple producing uranium mines. No evidence of actual development work has been found on any of our properties and no significant exploration activities have been performed on our NPSP claims since 2008 due to many factors including the lowered uranium prices and the moratorium on locating claims. Below is a summary of prior exploration activities performed on our NPSP claims:
Geophysics: We have completed PEM (Pulse Electro-magnetic) geophysical surveys on some of our NPSP claims. Two types of PEM surveys were conducted in 2007: (i) Downhole PEM and (ii) In-Loop PEM. We have also used CSAMT and NSAMT (Controlled and Natural Source Audio-range Magneto Tellurics), run on the ground and executed by Zonge Engineering of Tucson AZ. A survey was also completed on an approximately six square mile area by VTEM helicopter borne electromagnetic survey along right angle crossing grid lines spaced 100 meters apart, which was performed by Geotech of Aurora, Ontario, Canada. Significant anomalies resulted from this survey. Preliminary drilling on one of Liberty Star’s anomalies intersected strong breccia, alteration and pyrite mineralization. The holes did not penetrate down to the elevation where uranium mineralization would be expected but are targets for future work. As of this date we have not developed any uranium resources on the Arizona Strip.
Stereoscopic geologic color air photo interpretation (photo-geology): Stereoscopic geologic interpretation of 1:24,000 (1 inch = 2,000 feet) high resolution color air photographs were contracted for and completed by Dr. Karen Wenrich and Edward Ulmer, a Registered Professional Geologist. Dr. Wenrich worked on the Arizona Strip uranium bearing breccia pipes almost exclusively during her twenty-three-year tenure with the United States Geological Survey from which she is now retired. During this period of study, she authored many professional papers on breccia pipes of the Grant Canyon area and is considered a foremost expert on them. Mr. Ulmer worked on the Arizona Strip in the mid to late 1970s working on both imagery interpretation and surface geology.
Geologic field mapping on the surface: Geological field mapping was conducted in the fall of 2005 through 2007 by our staff geologists as well as contracted geologists. Approximately 180 of the breccia pipe target areas have been mapped in detail 1:5,000 (1 inch = 417 feet). Several detailed measured stratigraphic sections have also been completed.
Geochemical sampling: A comprehensive soil geochemical survey was completed in 2007. We have collected approximately 14,000 soil samples over all identifiable breccia pipes, both those with known ore and those that are yet to be proven by drilling. A strict chain of custody procedures was followed and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) samples were inserted regularly into the sample stream. The samples were assayed for 63 elements. Assay analyses were conducted by a Certified Assay Lab, Acme Analytical Laboratories of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We believe that these samples allow us to identify potential uranium bearing breccia pipes versus barren or non-uranium bearing breccia pipes.
Drilling: In 2007 a drilling program was undertaken using both rotary drilling and core drilling. Rotary drilling was contracted by Boart Longyear. Diamond core drilling was completed by Redwall Drilling Inc., a former wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Star. A total of 22 holes were drilled for a total of 16,226 feet of drilling. Important intersections of rock generally associated with producing breccia pipes were made. We did not intersect any ore mineralization during the drilling program.
Total costs including claim staking (initially in 2005), claim maintenance and a drilling program (exploratory) in calendar years 2007 and 2008, are $5,220,794.
Beginning in 2006, Certified Professional Geologist Dr. Karen Wenrich and a dozen other well-regarded geoscientists engaged in an exploratory program centering on the region’s breccia pipes. By the time Dr. Wenrich came to work on the North Pipes project, she had 27 years with the USGS working on breccia pipe research and was a member of a Nobel Peace Prize winning team of UN atomic science specialists. The Liberty Star team worked with high resolution color aerial photographs and other reconnaissance covering approximately 2,000 square miles to format geological maps of the terrain. In addition to geology, geophysics gamma ray spectroscopy, approximately 14,000 soil samples were collected and analyzed by a certified lab for 63 elements. These were located precisely as they were collected using GPS. The results were compiled and plotted using GIS software, and various contouring and interpretation techniques. Expenses included food and lodging and a daily commute of approximately 100 miles. Road conditions were extreme and resulted in vehicle expenses of approximately $2.00 per mile. Various contractors were used in claim staking, and other contract work in sample collection. Helicopters and light planes were used for various transportation tasks. Home office support also involved permanent and contract support.
Exploratory drilling includes costs of travel, food and lodging, payments on the drill rig, drill bits, fuel, drilling permits, and maintenance costs of the drill rig and of support vehicles. Also included are the costs of reclamation bonds and reclamation costs of lands disturbed by drilling, as well as the costs of conducting archaeological surveys to identify prehistoric remains of human habitation or human activity.
Currently there are no planned costs for the North Pipes Super Project unless commodity prices, specifically for uranium, increase sufficiently to make exploration financially tenable. The Moratorium on acquiring any additional land has also negatively affected the current investment climate for such work. However, we have a letter agreement with Mr. Andrew Mueller to option our existing claims North Pipes claims to him for mining using his vertical bore technology. He believes this will make the Pipes exploitable.
Tombstone:
Our CEO, CFO, President, Chief Geologist and Chairman of the Board, James A. Briscoe, has long experience in the Tombstone district, southeast Arizona, where he first worked in 1972. In the mid-1980s, he concluded that much earlier regional geologic work had reached erroneous conclusions and that Tombstone was a large and ancient (72 million years before the present - or Laramide in age) volcanic structure - a caldera. He brought this to the attention of the US Geological Survey caldera experts, who after study concluded that Briscoe was correct. Subsequently, more than seventeen calderas of various ages have been identified in Arizona by the US Geological survey, the Arizona Geological Survey and others. Such calderas of Laramide age are all associated with porphyry alteration and copper and associated mineralization; many of these have become very large copper mines. Studies by Mr. Briscoe over the years, and more recently using advanced technology, have indicated that alteration associated mineralization at Tombstone is much more extensive than originally thought. This alteration lies largely under cover and is indicated by geochemistry, geophysics and projection of known geology into covered areas.
We hold 29 unpatented standard federal lode mining claims with an area of 604 acres located due east and southeast of the town of Tombstone, Arizona which defines the Walnut Creek Project
The Hay Mountain Project is located 6.5 miles southeast of Tombstone where we hold 7 Arizona State Mineral Exploration Permits (MEPs) covering (2966,.88 acres) or 4.63 square miles.; Access is by Hwy 89, Davis Rd. and Wild West road.
On April 29, 2008 Liberty Star announced that it had leased, with an option to purchase, three properties from JABA (US) Inc. in Arizona and Nevada, USA. Liberty Star President James A. Briscoe controls JABA (US) INC and the estate of Dr. J. M. Guilbert (deceased), former Director of the Company, holds a small stock position as well. The properties in Arizona are part of the Tombstone Walnut Creek project, at Tombstone and the East Silverbell project.
A 26 lode claim block at East Silverbell also belonging to JABA (US) Inc. lies adjunct to ASARCO patented mining claims of the Silverbell mine, in Pima County about 40 miles NW of Tucson AZ.
In Clark County Nevada, JABA (US) Inc. held title to the Providence patented claim immediately adjacent to the Montgomery Shoshone open pit silver gold mine, within the Beatty mining district. The Option covering the property in Nevada was sold in October, 2008 to NPX Metals. Proceeds from that sale were loaned immediately back to Liberty Star by Mr. Briscoe, with the understanding this would be repaid to JABA (US) Inc.
For the remaining claims owned by JABA (US) Inc. according to the option agreement, Liberty Star could earn up to 100% interest by keeping up annual assessment work and spending $175,000 in exploration expenditures on the properties between April 2008 and January 1, 2011 and subject to a Net Smelter Return Royalty (NSR) in perpetuity. This provision payment of assessment and related expenses has been met and option agreement has been maintained over the Tombstone and East Silverbell Claims.
At Hay Mountain, we plan to ascertain whether the Hay Mountain lode mining claims and AZ MEPs possess commercially viable deposits of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, zinc, rare earth metals and other valuable metals. We have a phased exploration plan that involves diamond core drilling of multiple holes over targets determined by analysis of geochemical sampling and ZTEM electromagnetic and magnetic survey. Initial phase 1 drilling is planned to take approximately one year. Should results indicate the viability of the project, additional phased work, both exploration and development, is planned over the course of seven total years to define the nature and size of an ore body(s) and move toward mining. Any exploration plans are dependent on acquiring suitable funding. No part of the phased program is currently funded.
The Tombstone claims are undeveloped. However significant amounts of aeromagnetic surveys, IP (Induced Polarization Surveys), geologic mapping by the USGS and others, and geochemical surveys including soil, rock and vegetation sampling have been conducted at various times by various parties, over the last 60 years. When compiled and analyzed these various data suggest a compelling series of anomalies that are typical of buried, dirt and rock covered porphyry copper system(s). Below is a summary of prior exploration activities performed on our Tombstone claims: Technical Report: In mid-March 2011, Liberty Star contracted SRK to prepare three (3) Technical studies and Reports in a form similar to mineral reports prescribed under NI 43-101. Members of SRK’s engineering/scientific staff supervised by a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 and SRK’s Tucson Office Principal Geologist, Corolla Hoag, and geologist Dr. Jan Rasmussen have visited the Tombstone property. This information was combined with historic technical reports going back to 1878 and more recent data up to August 2011 (the date of their reports). The three Technical Reports are entitled: (1) Walnut Creek Exploration Report, Tombstone District, Arizona -August 31, 2011, 147 pages; (2) The Tombstone Caldera South Exploration Report, Tombstone District, Arizona -August 31, 2011, 144 pages; and (3) Hay Mountain Exploration Report, Tombstone District, Arizona - August 31 2011, 155 pages. Because the Company’s stock does not trade on any Canadian stock exchanges, these three Technical Reports were not submitted to SEDAR, the electronic system for the official filing of documents by public companies and investment funds across Canada. We had also requested that SRK prepare a report on the Tombstone Consolidated Mines patented claims. These claims covered the entirety of historic productive area of the Tombstone mines which date to their discovery in 1877. However, before that report could be completed a competitor acquired a lease on those lands. These Technical Reports thoroughly summarize and illustrate the salient geotechnical data of the Tombstone Mining District covering about 250 square miles and present much data in computer map format. In such context, they analyze Liberty Star’s exploration programs as related to the entire area, make estimates and recommend execution of proposed Company exploration programs. Because of competitive pressure and the unique nature of the data which includes 40+ years of private report compilation by Mr. Briscoe, these reports are considered confidential and will not be released for the foreseeable future. Geochemical sampling at the Hay Mountain Project: In 2011 and early 2012 we collected nearly 1,800 rock, soil and vegetation samples over 621 sample sites over approximately 14 square miles centered on the Hay Mountain property. These samples have been assayed for 63 elements generating about 113,000 analyses. The samples were prepared by MEG Inc. and have been shipped to ALS Minerals (ALS-Chemex) a Certified (under NI 43-101 criteria and approved by regulatory processes) geochemical analysis lab in Vancouver, British Columbia. Assay results have been sent to our Tucson office and all assays have been received. Our geology team has generated computer analyses that allow interpretation of the data.
Geologic Mapping: Small scale geologic mapping was performed in the Hay Mountain area by two different U.S. Geological Survey Senior Geologists. The first was by James Gilluly starting in the late 1930s and published in the early 1950’s, as a Professional Paper 281, 1956, and the second by Harold Drewes, published USGS Professional Paper 1144 1981. The Drewes map was a simplified version of the Gilluly map with faults adjusted to Drewes’s interpretation. Unfortunately, little or no refinement of the rock types or actual outcropping rocks was accomplished. Gilluly, while apparently generally correct in outcrop identification, disturbingly on close examination it appears he missed important outcropping rocks and at least in the Hay Mountain area of the major geochemical anomaly he misinterpreted stratigraphic rock types. In the area we have termed the Chrysocolla Block he failed to note the outcrop completely and our thorough examination revealed it to be Earp formation, whereas all the surrounding mapped area was mapped as the younger Colina limestone. This would put the Chrysocolla Block more than 1,000 feet above the Earp and 1,700 feet or more above the receptive-to- mineralization Horquilla formation where most of the production from Bisbee has been found and high grade which is now being drilled out at Rosemont Camp about 50 miles to the west. This critical error we have corrected on our maps to show this area as the lower Earp and believe that the recently discovered gossan outcrops are lying perhaps 200 to 400 feet above the Earp- Horquilla contact. Furthermore, neither Gilluly nor Drewes noticed pervasively fluidized and rounded limestone breccia which covers square miles and is typical feature of porphyry copper deposits. We believe perhaps massive copper (chalcopyrite) mineralization will be located in the Horquilla formation 200 to 400 feet below the gossan outcrops in the Earp formation. This analysis plus all of our geochemistry and geophysics is the justification for our currently planned drill hole program.
ZTEM EM Survey: We requested and received a cost estimate from Geotech of Aurora (Toronto area) Ontario, Canada, which is the only purveyor of this helicopter borne electromagnetic (EM) geophysical method. This geophysical method has the ability to “look down” into the crust of the earth about 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) and detect sulfides and other rock types and structures which may be associated with porphyry copper systems. Test work over known Safford, Arizona porphyry copper deposits along with thousands of verifying drill holes show the geometry of such mineral systems can be determined, thus identifying whether it is a porphyry copper system or some other mineral system. When combined with our geochemical data, we can determine the position of the copper-moly center of the system and design our drill program to efficiently test and define mineralization. We flew ZTEM in July 2013 and the analysis report was received in February 2014.
East Silverbell:
Located northwest of Tucson, Arizona, these claims currently are within the Ironwood Forest National Monument, which was established after the claims were staked and validated by numerous drill holes in addition to extensive technical studies. We plan to ascertain whether the East Silverbell claims possess commercially viable deposits of copper. We hold an option to explore 26 unpatented standard federal lode mining claims with an area of 536.03 acres located in the same region. The optioned mineral claims are owned by JABA US Inc., a corporation in which two of our directors are owners. On April 29, 2008 Liberty Star announced that it had leased, with an option to purchase, three properties from JABA US Inc. in Arizona and Nevada, USA. The properties in Arizona, are part of the Tombstone (and the 26 claims) East Silverbell projects. The option covering the property in Nevada was sold in October, 2008 to NPX Metals, and the proceeds were paid by JABA US Inc. as a loan to Liberty Star. According to the option agreement, Liberty Star can earn up to 100% interest by keeping up annual assessment work and spending $175,000 in exploration expenditures on the properties between April 2008 and January 1, 2011, subject to a Net Smelter Return (NSR) Royalty. This provision has been met for the assessment work and other related expense payments, and even though the work commitment is now in arrears, the option agreement has been maintained over the Tombstone and East Silverbell Claims.
Located approximately 30 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona, 18 miles from the Avra Valley road off ramp and then 18 miles west, just north of that road on dirt roads (accessible with a 2-wheel drive vehicle), the claims currently are within the Ironwood Forest National Monument, which was created after the claims were staked, underwent detailed geochem and geophysical studies and drilled with numerous drill holes revealing a mineralized body. We plan to ascertain whether the East Silverbell claims possess commercially viable deposits of copper. Due to difficulty of doing work on the Ironwood Forest National Monument, which was created after drill definition of a mineral body on our claims, we are negotiating with an adjacent fee-simple, land-owner on which half of the mineral zone lies, to explore in detail to develop a viable ore body.
The East Silverbell claims are undeveloped. The ESB block of claims were staked circa 1994 about five miles east of the ASARCO Solvent-Extraction-Electro-Winning (SXEW) plant. The East Silverbell claims are directly adjacent and contiguous to the ASARCO Patented (fee simple) lands. Circa 1994 JABA (US) Inc. compiled geophysics -consisting of existing, widely spaced airborne magnetics, collected soil and vegetation geochemical samples, performed detailed photo interpretation from high resolution color aerial photography, mapped surface geology, breccia pipes and performed detailed mapping and interpretation of leached capping and performed very closely spaced man borne magnetic surveys over alteration and projection of the edge of the Silverbell caldera and associated mineral belt that includes the Silverbell porphyry copper mines that could be seen on the color air photos. The surface magnetic survey was interpreted by geophysicist Edward DeRidder, who pointed out a magnetic low that he interpreted as a porphyry copper magnetic low. Subsequently, north-south Induced Polarization (IP) lines were run and interpreted by Zonge Engineering, to show a sulfide response at 900 to 1,000 feet below the surface. All of this data was plotted in 3D images showing overlapping and mutually reinforcing geochemical, ground magnetic and IP geophysics, and geologic- alteration mapped anomalies. Half of this responsive area lies on the adjacent ASARCO ground and half lies on JABA (US) ground. Subsequent to these studies, the ground was lease-optioned to Valarie Gold Exploration Inc., (Valarie) a Canadian exploration company. They drilled 6 holes to a predetermined depth of 600 feet, using a rotary drill and recovered drill chips, sampled at 5-foot intervals. The drilling penetrated and recovered classic chalcocite leached capping typical of that material occurring over ore bodies in the Silverbell mines of North Silverbell, El Tiro and Oxide open pit mines. Geochemical assays of the cuttings showed three to four relict ghost copper enriched zones to the final arbitrary depth of six hundred feet. These holes did not penetrate the leached chalcocite capping rock and did not enter sulfides. Valarie relinquished their lease. Later Kennecott Copper Corp. optioned the claims and drilled three rotary drill holes. Of these holes two twisted off the drill bits at shallow depth and had to be abandoned while in the leached chalcocite capping. One hole penetrated to a depth of 1,000 feet but poor sampling procedures negated any meaningful data from this hole, when primary samples were irretrievably lost. These two drill attempts were predictably not successful but geochemistry from the Valarie drill holes did show shadow geochemical copper enrichment indicating chalcocite enrichment in the sulfide blanket below and the Kennecott effort did recover some chalcocite (enriched copper sulfide) circa 1998 the Ironwood Forrest National Monument was created over JABA(US) Inc.’s valid mining claims. The surface of these claims cannot be used to extract the copper mineral body below by the open pit mining method. Since half of the geophysically, geochemically, geologically, alteration indicated mineral body is located on ASARCO patented land and because the ASARCO SXEW plant is only five miles to the west, it is believed that this mineral body can be extracted from the ASARCO property by underground - in situ leach technology at some point in the future. To date we have not identified any ore reserves on the East Silverbell Project.
We have not found any mineral resources on any of our claims.
Sampling Protocols for all projects
Liberty Star trains all employees/contractors conducting sample collection by use of a handheld digital mobile device (X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer) to record accurate analysis of 31 elements including gold, silver copper, molybdenum, uranium, thorium, manganese and other elements from each in situ sample. The XRF device leads the sampler through a series of dropdown menu windows with various description capabilities and the ability to record a GPS coordinate of the location. Data from the XRF is uploaded to our computer database daily. The X-ray (XRF) identified by Mr. Briscoe about 25 years ago is now a recognized and valuable portable assay tool.
Liberty Star also uses professionally created video training to teach samplers the proper techniques of obtaining a representative sample whether it is soil, rock or vegetation and instruction on avoiding cross contamination between samples. After samples are collected they are stored in a secure location under lock and key until they are shipped via FedEx or UPS using chain of custody guidelines to a professional sample prep lab in Washoe Valley, Nevada run by Shea Clark Smith, MSc/ Geochemist. Mr. Smith prepares the samples by crushing, mixing, pulverizing and homogenizing. Then a 200-gram sample is scientifically split for shipment to a Certified Assay Laboratory of each original sample. Standards, blanks and duplicates are added to the sample stream, including such Quality Assurance Quality Control (QA/QC) every 10th assay sample is re-assayed and a blind standard is inserted every tenth sample interval, before being sent to a certified assay lab using ICP-MS analysis the samples are randomized. Once Liberty Star gets the analysis data back from the laboratory, checks for quality assurance and control are made using data from the blanks, standards and duplicates. The results are sent to Liberty Star by email and a paper copy mailed for verification and as a permanent record. The data are then de- randomized and processed for interpretation by various software programs designed for the purpose.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We currently have no outstanding litigation.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Under Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and under Item 104 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Exchange Act, each operator of a coal or other mine is required to include disclosures regarding certain mine safety results in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. The operation of our mine(s) that may be developed in the future would be subject to regulation by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. We do not own any mines in the United States and as a result, this information is not required.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTC Pink Tier of the OTC Markets and on the OTCBB under the symbol, “LBSR.” The OTC Market is a network of security dealers who buy and sell stock. The dealers are connected by a computer network that provides information on current “bids” and “asks”, as well as volume information. Trading in stocks quoted on the OTC Pink tier is often thin and is characterized by wide fluctuations in trading prices due to many factors that may be unrelated or have little to do with a company’s operations or business prospects. Prior to January 14, 2016, our common stock was quoted on the OTCQB.
The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing bid quotations for our common stock for each of the periods indicated as reported by the OTC Markets. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Our transfer agent,The Nevada Agency and Transfer Company, of Suite 880 Bank of America, 50 West Liberty Street, Reno, Nevada 89501 (telephone: 775.322.0626; facsimile 775.322.5632) is the registrar and transfer agent for our common stock.
As of May 15, 2018, we had 2,583,191,587 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, with 144 record stockholders. The number of record holders does not include beneficial owners of common stock whose shares are held in the names of banks, brokers, nominees or other fiduciaries. The closing sale price for our common stock on May 10, 2018, as reported on the OTC Pink was $0.0017.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued 24,964,736 units to investors for total proceeds of $58,000. Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock and one-half warrant to purchase one-half equivalent share each of the Company’s common stock. The warrants have an exercise prices ranging from of $0.0028 to $0.0053 and have a three-year term.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, a total of $261,626 of convertible notes were converted into 298,015,472 shares of the Company’s common stock. The conversions occurred on multiple dates with conversion prices ranging from $0.00066 to $0.00113.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate of 92,609,558 shares of common stock for total proceeds of $170,334 to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC under the Investment Agreement.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued 25,241,904 shares to third-parties for services with an aggregate fair value of approximately $57,081, including 24,242,424 shares issued to settle accounts payable of $44,000, resulting in a loss on settlement of $9,333.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued 1,750,000 shares for the exercise of warrants with aggregate proceeds of $4,900.
In issuing the securities set forth above, we relied on the registration exemption provided for in Rule 506 of Regulation D and/or Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Dividends
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to increase our working capital and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated audited financial statements and the related notes that appear elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. We refer you to the section of this annual report on Form 10-K entitled, “Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K, particularly in the section entitled “Risk Factors.”
Overview
We are an exploration company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the States of Arizona and Alaska. Claims in the State of Alaska are held in the name of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Big Chunk. Claims in the State of Arizona are held in the name of Liberty Star. We use the term “Super Project” to indicate a project in which numerous mineral targets have been identified within a mineral province such as the Arizona Strip or a large structural feature such as a caldera, which occur at Big Chunk, East Silverbell, and Tombstone, any one or more of which could potentially contain commercially viable quantities of minerals.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We had cash and cash equivalents in the amount of $36,086 and negative working capital of $1,498,869 as of January 31, 2018. We had cash inflows from financing activities of $681,234 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018. We will need additional funds in order to proceed with our planned exploration program.
Convertible promissory notes
We have issued the following convertible promissory notes in private placements of our securities to institutional investors pursuant to exemptions from registration set out in Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933.
On December 14, 2016, we entered into a convertible promissory note (the “December 2016 Note”) to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC (“Tangiers”) for a principal sum of up to $110,000, bearing interest at 12% per annum. The consideration is up to $100,000, which would produce an original issue discount of $10,000 if all the consideration is received. The lender paid $30,000 pursuant to the terms of the December 2016 Note on December 19, 2016, which resulted in the Company recording a $3,000 original issue discount. The maturity date is one year from the effective date of each payment, as well as any unpaid interest and other fees. The December 2016 Note may be convertible into shares of common stock of our company after 180 days of funding at a conversion price of 62.5% of the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the five trading days previous to the conversion. We may repay the December 2016 Note at any time before 150 days from the effective date of the December 2016 Note, or prepay at 130% of the principal from 151 to 180 days, after which we may not make any further payments on the December 2016 Note prior to the maturity date without written approval from the lender. As of January 31, 2017, we had $33,467 of principal and interest outstanding for the December 2016 Note. On June 16, 2017, Tangiers converted this note in full for 34,222,222 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding for the December 2016 Note.
On February 2, 2017, the Company and Tangiers entered into Amendment #1 to the December 2016 Note (“Amendment #1”). Amendment #1 provides that, on or before February 2, 2017, Tangiers would make a payment to the Company of $77,000, which includes a 10% OID. The net proceeds of $70,000 were received on February 2, 2017. The maturity date is February 3, 2018. Also, on February 2, 2017, the Company and Tangiers entered into Amendment #2 to the December 2016 Note (“Amendment #2”). Amendment #2 provides that the conversion price under the Note is equal to 60% of the lowest trading price of the Company’s common stock during the 20 consecutive trading days prior to Tangier’s conversion election. The default percentages of 5% and 10% of the discount of conversion price point remained the same other than reflecting the amended discount price. In addition, the provision in the Note relating to a right of first refusal was removed by Amendment #2. During the year ended January 31, 2018, Tangiers converted an aggregate of $86,240 of this note for 98,128,686 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On April 11, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible promissory note dated April 10, 2017 (the “April 2017 Note”). The total principal under the April 2017 Note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on January 10, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the noteholder converted an aggregate of $53,242 of this note for 66,340,374 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On June 20, 2017, we received proceeds of $50,000, net of a $3,000 fee, under a convertible note dated June 20, 2017 (the “June 2017 Note”). The total principal under the June 2017 Note is $53,000, bears interest at 8% per annum, is due on June 20, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price of 65% of the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 10 trading days to the date of conversion. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the noteholder converted an aggregate of $55,184 of this note for 53,869,646 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On July 27, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated July 26, 2017 (the “July 2017 Note”). The total principal under the July 2017 Note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on April 26, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the noteholder converted an aggregate of $30,000 of this note for 45,454,544 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $23,090 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On September 15, 2017, we received proceeds of $40,000, net of a $3,000 fee, under a convertible note dated September 15, 2017 (the “September 2017 Note”). The total principal under the September 2017 Note is $43,000, bears interest at 8% per annum, is due on September 13, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price of 65% of the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 10 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $44,906 of principal and interest outstanding.
On October 18, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated October 18, 2017 (the “October 2017 Note”). The total principal under the October 2017 Note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on October 18, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $51,693 of principal and interest outstanding.
On November 22, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated November 20, 2017 (the “November 2017 Note”). The total principal under the note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on November 20, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $51,184 of principal and interest outstanding.
On December 21, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated December 20, 2017 (the “December 2017 Note”). The total principal under the note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on December 20, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $50,691 of principal and interest outstanding.
On January 25, 2018, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated January 22, 2018 (the “January 2018 Note”). The total principal under the note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on January 22, 2019, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $50,148 of principal and interest outstanding.
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, we also entered into certain private investment agreements pursuant to which we received a total of $228,334 and $402,968 in net proceeds, respectively.
Results of Operations for the Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2018
We had a net loss of $992,799 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 compared to net loss of $1,496,550 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017. Net loss decreased by $503,751 due primarily to a decrease in geological and geophysical costs of $30,016 due to decreased survey and land research, a decrease in public relations expense of $70,518 due to a decrease in investor conferences attended, and a decrease in loss on change in fair value of derivative liability of $325,236 due to a decrease in convertible notes and the related derivative liability.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no 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 stockholders.
Presentation of Financial Information
Our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 reflect financial information for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017.
Since we have not generated any revenue, we have included a reference to our ability to continue as a going concern in connection with our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017. Our accumulated deficit at January 31, 2018, was approximately $55 million and the net loss from operations for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 was $699,492. All of our exploration costs are expensed as incurred.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which assumes that adequate sources of financing will be obtained as required and that our assets will be realized, and liabilities settled in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability of assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
In order to continue as a going concern, we require additional financing. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to us when needed or, if available, that it can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. If we are not able to continue as a going concern, we would likely be unable to realize the carrying value of our assets reflected in the balances set out in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K. The critical accounting policies adopted by our company are as follows:
Going Concern
Since we have not generated any revenue, we have negative cash flows from operations, and negative working capital we have included a reference to the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern in connection with our consolidated financial statements for the period ended January 31, 2018. Our total stockholders’ deficit at January 31, 2018 was $1,494,780.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which assumes that adequate sources of financing will be obtained as required and that our assets will be realized, and liabilities settled in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability of assets and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Mineral claims
We account for costs incurred to acquire, maintain and explore mineral properties as charged to expense in the period incurred until the time that a proven mineral resource is established at which point development of the mineral property would be capitalized. Currently, we do not have any proven mineral resources on any of our mineral properties.
Convertible promissory notes
We reviewed the convertible promissory notes and the related subscription agreements to determine the appropriate reporting within the financial statements. We report convertible promissory notes as liabilities at their carrying value less unamortized discounts in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance. We bifurcate conversion options and detachable common stock purchase warrants and report them as liabilities at fair value at each reporting period when required in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance. No gain or loss is reported when the notes are converted into shares of our common stock in accordance with the note’s terms.
Common stock purchase warrants
We report common stock purchase warrants as equity unless a condition exists which requires reporting as a derivative liability at fair market value. The valuation of the derivative liability of the warrants is determined through the use of a Monte Carlo options model that values the liability of the warrants based on a risk-neutral valuation where the price of the option is its discounted expected value.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of January 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Matter
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.
Houston, Texas
May 15, 2018
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of the Consolidated Financial Statements
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of the Consolidated Financial Statements
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of the Consolidated Financial Statements
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of the Consolidated Financial Statements
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - Organization
Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. (the “Company”, “we” or “Liberty Star”) was formerly Liberty Star Gold Corp. and formerly Titanium Intelligence, Inc. (“Titanium”). Titanium was incorporated on August 20, 2001 under the laws of the State of Nevada. On February 5, 2004, we commenced operations in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties business. Big Chunk Corp. (“Big Chunk”) is our wholly owned subsidiary and was incorporated on December 14, 2003 in the State of Alaska. Until 2016 Big Chunk was engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties business in the State of Alaska. Redwall Drilling Inc. (“Redwall”) was our wholly owned subsidiary and was incorporated on August 31, 2007 in the State of Arizona. Redwall performed drilling services on the Company’s mineral properties. Redwall ceased drilling activities in July 2008 and was dissolved on March 30, 2010. We formed the wholly owned subsidiary, Hay Mountain Super Project LLC (“HMSP”) incorporated on October 24, 2014, to serve as the primary holding company for development of the potential ore bodies encompassed in the Hay Mountain area of interest in Arizona. In April 2007, we changed our name to Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. We have not generated any revenues from operations.
NOTE 2 - Summary of significant accounting policies
The summary of significant accounting policies presented below is designed to assist in understanding the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Such consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are the representations of the Company’s management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in all material respects and have been consistently applied in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The significant accounting policies adopted by the Company are as follows:
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The valuation of stock-based compensation, classification and valuation of common stock purchase warrants, classification and value of embedded conversion options, value of beneficial conversion features, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, the determination of useful lives and recoverability of depreciable assets, accruals, and contingencies are significant estimates made by management. It is at least reasonably possible that a change in these estimates may occur in the near term.
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Big Chunk and HMSP. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Cash and cash equivalents
We consider cash held at banks and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. We maintain our cash in bank deposit accounts which, for periods of time, may exceed federally insured limits. At January 31, 2018 and 2017, we had no cash balances in bank deposit accounts that exceeded federally insured limits.
Mineral claim costs
We account for costs incurred to acquire, maintain and explore mineral properties as a charge to expense in the period incurred until the time that a proven mineral resource is established, at which point development of the mineral property would be capitalized. Currently, we do not have any proven mineral resources on any of our mineral properties.
Long-lived assets and impairment of long-lived assets
Property and equipment is stated at cost. We capitalize all purchased equipment over $500 with a useful life of more than one year. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and are amortized over their estimated useful lives or the lease term, whichever is shorter. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred while betterments or renewals are capitalized. Property and equipment is reviewed periodically for impairment. The estimated useful lives range from 3 to 7 years.
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of a long-lived asset group to be held and used in operations is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount to the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. If such asset group is considered to be impaired, the impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less the costs of disposal.
Convertible promissory notes
We report convertible promissory notes as liabilities at their carrying value less unamortized discounts, which approximates fair value. We bifurcate conversion options and detachable common stock purchase warrants and report them as liabilities at fair value at each reporting period when required in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance. When convertible promissory notes are converted into shares of our common stock in accordance with the debt’s terms, no gain or loss is recognized. We account for inducements to convert as an expense in the period incurred, included in debt conversion expense.
Derivative liabilities
The valuation of the derivative liability of our warrants is determined through the use of a Monte Carlo options model that values the liability of the warrants based on a risk-neutral valuation where the price of the option is its discounted expected value. The technique applied generates a large number of possible (but random) price paths for the underlying common stock via simulation, and then calculates the associated exercise value (i.e. “payoff”) of the option for each path. These payoffs are then averaged and discounted to a current valuation date resulting in the fair value of the option.
The valuation of the derivative liability attached to the convertible debt is arrived at through the use of a Monte Carlo model that values the derivative liability within the notes. The technique applied generates a large number of possible (but random) price paths for the underlying (or underlyings) via simulation, and then calculates the associated payment value (cash, stock, or warrants) of the derivative features. The price of the underlying common stock is modeled such that it follows a geometric Brownian motion with constant drift, and elastic volatility (increasing as stock price decreases). The stock price is determined by a random sampling from a normal distribution. Since the underlying random process is the same, for enough price paths, the value of the derivative is derived from path dependent scenarios and outcomes. The features in the notes are analyzed and incorporated into the model included the conversion features with the reset provisions, the call/redemption/prepayment options, and the default provisions. Based on these features, there are six primary events that can occur; payments are made in cash; payments are made with stock; the note holder converts upon receiving a redemption notice; the note holder converts the note; the issuer redeems the note; or the Company defaults on the note. The model simulates the underlying economic factors that influenced which of these events would occur, when they were likely to occur, and the specific terms that would be in effect at the time (i.e. stock price, conversion price, etc.). Probabilities are assigned to each variable such as redemption likelihood, default likelihood, and timing and pricing of reset events over the remaining term of the notes based on management projections. This leads to a cash flow simulation over the life of the note. A discounted cash flow for each simulation is completed and is compared to the discounted cash flow of the note without the embedded features, thus determining a value for the derivative liability.
Common stock purchase warrants
We report common stock purchase warrants as equity unless a condition exists which requires reporting as a derivative liability at fair market value.
Stock based compensation
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for all share-based payment awards made to employees based on the estimated fair values, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Non-employee stock-based compensation is accounted for based on the fair value of the related stock or options or the fair value of the services on the grant date, whichever is more readily determinable. The fair value of options to be granted are estimated on the date of each grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and amortized ratably over the option’s vesting periods, which approximates the service period.
Environmental expenditures
Our operations have been and may in the future be affected from time to time in varying degree by changes in environmental regulations, including those for future removal and site restoration costs. The likelihood of new regulations and their overall effect upon us are not predictable. We provide for any reclamation costs in accordance with the accounting standards codification section 410-30. It is management’s opinion that we are not currently exposed to significant environmental and reclamation liabilities and have recorded no reserve for environmental and reclamation expenditures as of January 31, 2018 or 2017.
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
The Company measures and discloses certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Authoritative guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
Income taxes
Income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Future tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply when the asset is realized or the liability settled. The effect on future tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that enactment occurs. To the extent that the Company does not consider it more likely than not that a future tax asset will be recovered, it provides a valuation allowance against the excess. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits, if any, are classified as additional income taxes in the statement of operations. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local examinations by tax authorities for the tax year ended January 31, 2014 and prior.
Net income (loss) per share
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share takes into consideration shares of common stock outstanding (computed under basic income or loss per share) and potentially dilutive shares of common stock that are not anti-dilutive. For the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, the following number of potentially dilutive shares have been excluded from diluted net income (loss) since such inclusion would be anti-dilutive:
Newly Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09) “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU 2014-09 will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue upon the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five- step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of the time value of money in the transaction price and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 (early adoption is not permitted). The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. On July 9, 2015, the FASB decided to delay the effective date of the new revenue standard by one year. The FASB also agreed to allow entities to choose to adopt the standard as of the original effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The pronouncement requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. ASU 2016-01requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset, and eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. These changes become effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018. The expected adoption method of ASU 2016-01 is being evaluated by the Company and the adoption is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the existing guidance for lease accounting, Leases (Topic 840). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize leases on their balance sheets, and leaves lessor accounting largely unchanged. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted for all entities. ASU 2016-02 requires a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to elect to use certain transition relief. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, FASB issued (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation - Improvements to Employee Shared-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). This guidance is intended to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual periods. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on its financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230) (“ASU 2016-15”), which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This update applies to all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not currently expect ASU 2016-15 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures upon adoption.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (ASU 2017-04)”. Under the amendments, an entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The FASB also eliminated the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment, and if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. The same impairment test will therefore apply to all reporting units, and an entity will be required to disclose the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets. SEC filers are required to adopt the new standard for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates on or after January 1, 2017. The Company does not currently expect ASU 2017-04 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures upon adoption.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting (“ASU 2017-09”), which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a stock-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. This update applies to any entity that changes the terms or conditions of a stock-based payment award. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not currently expect ASU 2017-09 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures upon adoption.
In July 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features and II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception (“ASU 2017-11”), which addresses the complexity of accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features and addresses the difficulty of navigating Topic 480 because of the existence of extensive pending content in the ASC as a result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. This update applies to all entities that issue financial instruments that include down round features and entities that present earnings per share in accordance with Topic 260. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If early adopted in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The Company does not currently expect ASU 2017-11 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures upon adoption.
NOTE 3 - Going concern
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) with the on-going assumption that we will be able to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business. However, certain conditions noted below currently exist which raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern. Our operations have primarily been funded by the issuance of common stock and debt. Continued operations are dependent on our ability to complete equity financings or generate profitable operations in the future. Management’s plan in this regard is to secure additional funds through future equity financings, joint venture agreements or debt. Such financings may not be available or may not be available on reasonable terms.
The Company has incurred losses from operations, has a working capital deficit and requires additional funds for further exploratory activity and to maintain its claims prior to attaining a revenue generating status. There are no assurances that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of our properties. In addition, the Company may not find sufficient ore reserves to be commercially mined. As such, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Management is working to secure additional funds through the exercise of stock warrants already outstanding, equity financings, debt financings or joint venture agreements. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
NOTE 4 - Mineral claims
At January 31, 2018, we held a 100% interest in 11 standard federal lode mining claims on the Colorado Plateau Province of Northern Arizona (the “North Pipes Claims”).
At January 31, 2018, we held a 100% interest in 95 standard federal lode mining claims located in the Tombstone region of Arizona. 29 federal lode mining claims are owned by JABA (US) Inc, an Arizona Corporation in which one of our directors, James A. Briscoe, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, controls JABA (US) Inc., and the estate of Dr. J. M. Guilbert (deceased), a former director of the Company, holds a small stock position, as well and 66 federal lode mining claims belong to Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. At January 31, 2018, we held Arizona State Land Department Mineral Exploration Permits covering 2,966.88 acres in the Tombstone region of Arizona.
At January 31, 2018, we held an option to explore 26 standard federal lode mining claims located in the East Silverbell region of northwest Tucson, Arizona. The mineral claims are owned by JABA (US) Inc., an Arizona Corporation in which one of our directors, James A. Briscoe, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, is an owner. The additional owner Dr. John Guilbert is now deceased and his ownership is part of his estate.
Title to mineral claims involves certain inherent risks due to difficulties of determining the validity of certain claims as well as potential for problems arising from the frequently ambiguous conveyance history characteristic of many mineral properties.
All of the Company’s claims for mineral properties are in good standing as of January 31, 2018.
NOTE 5 - Property and equipment
The balances of our major classes of depreciable assets and useful lives are:
Depreciation expense was $4,377 and $5,666 for the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
NOTE 6 - Long-term debt and convertible promissory notes
Following is a summary of convertible promissory notes:
On December 14, 2016, we entered into a convertible promissory note (the “December 2016 Note”) to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC (“Tangiers”) for a principal sum of up to $110,000, bearing interest at 12% per annum. The consideration is up to $100,000, which would produce an original issue discount of $10,000 if all the consideration is received. The lender paid $30,000 pursuant to the terms of the December 2016 Note on December 19, 2016, which resulted in the Company recording a $3,000 original issue discount. The maturity date is one year from the effective date of each payment, as well as any unpaid interest and other fees. The December 2016 Note may be convertible into shares of common stock of our company after 180 days of funding at a conversion price of 62.5% of the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the five trading days previous to the conversion. We may repay the December 2016 Note at any time before 150 days from the effective date of the December 2016 Note, or prepay at 130% of the principal from 151 to 180 days, after which we may not make any further payments on the December 2016 Note prior to the maturity date without written approval from the lender. As of January 31, 2017, we had $33,467 of principal and interest outstanding for the December 2016 Note. On June 16, 2017, Tangiers converted this note in full for 34,222,222 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding for the December 2016 Note.
On February 2, 2017, the Company and Tangiers entered into Amendment #1 to the December 2016 Note (“Amendment #1”). Amendment #1 provides that, on or before February 2, 2017, Tangiers would make a payment to the Company of $77,000, which includes a 10% OID. The net proceeds of $70,000 were received on February 2, 2017. The maturity date is February 3, 2018. Also, on February 2, 2017, the Company and Tangiers entered into Amendment #2 to the December 2016 Note (“Amendment #2”). Amendment #2 provides that the conversion price under the Note is equal to 60% of the lowest trading price of the Company’s common stock during the 20 consecutive trading days prior to Tangier’s conversion election. The default percentages of 5% and 10% of the discount of conversion price point remained the same other than reflecting the amended discount price. In addition, the provision in the Note relating to a right of first refusal was removed by Amendment #2. During the year ended January 31, 2018, Tangiers converted an aggregate of $86,240 of this note for 98,128,686 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On April 11, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible promissory note dated April 10, 2017 (the “April 2017 Note”). The total principal under the April 2017 Note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on January 10, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the noteholder converted an aggregate of $53,242 of this note for 66,340,374 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On June 20, 2017, we received proceeds of $50,000, net of a $3,000 fee, under a convertible note dated June 20, 2017 (the “June 2017 Note”). The total principal under the June 2017 Note is $53,000, bears interest at 8% per annum, is due on June 20, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price of 65% of the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 10 trading days to the date of conversion. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the noteholder converted an aggregate of $55,184 of this note for 53,869,646 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $0 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On July 27, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated July 26, 2017 (the “July 2017 Note”). The total principal under the July 2017 Note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on April 26, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. During the year ended January 31, 2018, the noteholder converted an aggregate of $30,000 of this note for 45,454,544 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of January 31, 2018, we had $23,090 of principal and interest outstanding under this note.
On September 15, 2017, we received proceeds of $40,000, net of a $3,000 fee, under a convertible note dated September 15, 2017 (the “September 2017 Note”). The total principal under the September 2017 Note is $43,000, bears interest at 8% per annum, is due on September 13, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price of 65% of the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 10 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $44,906 of principal and interest outstanding.
On October 18, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated October 18, 2017 (the “October 2017 Note”). The total principal under the October 2017 Note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on October 18, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $51,693 of principal and interest outstanding.
On November 22, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated November 20, 2017 (the “November 2017 Note”). The total principal under the note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on November 20, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $51,184 of principal and interest outstanding.
On December 21, 2017, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated December 20, 2017 (the “December 2017 Note”). The total principal under the note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on December 20, 2018, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $50,691 of principal and interest outstanding.
On January 25, 2018, we received proceeds of $48,000, net of a $2,000 fee, under a convertible note dated January 22, 2018 (the “January 2018 Note”). The total principal under the note is $50,000, bears interest at 12% per annum, is due on January 22, 2019, and is convertible in shares of the Company’s common stock after 180 days at a conversion price with a 45% discount to the lowest weighted average market price during the previous 20 trading days to the date of conversion. As of January 31, 2018, we had $50,148 of principal and interest outstanding.
During the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded debt discounts of $247,299 and $259,813, respectively, due to the derivative liabilities, and original issue debt discounts of $25,000 and $10,800, respectively, due to the convertible notes. The Company recorded amortization of these discounts of $265,229 and $276,437 for the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
NOTE 7 - Derivative Liabilities
The embedded conversion feature in the convertible debt instruments that the Company issued (See Note 6), that became convertible during the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, qualified it as a derivative instrument since the number of shares issuable under the note is indeterminate based on guidance in FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. This convertible note tainted all other equity linked instruments including outstanding warrants and fixed rate convertible debt on the date that the instrument became convertible.
The valuation of the derivative liability of the warrants was determined through the use of a Monte Carlo options model that values the liability of the warrants based on a risk-neutral valuation where the price of the option is its discounted expected value. The technique applied generates a large number of possible (but random) price paths for the underlying common stock via simulation, and then calculates the associated exercise value (i.e. “payoff”) of the option for each path. These payoffs are then averaged and discounted to a current valuation date resulting in the fair value of the option.
The valuation of the derivative liability attached to the convertible debt was arrived at through the use of a Monte Carlo model that values the derivative liability within the notes. The technique applied generates a large number of possible (but random) price paths for the underlying (or underlyings) via simulation, and then calculates the associated payment value (cash, stock, or warrants) of the derivative features. The price of the underlying common stock is modeled such that it follows a geometric Brownian motion with constant drift, and elastic volatility (increasing as stock price decreases). The stock price is determined by a random sampling from a normal distribution. Since the underlying random process is the same, for enough price paths, the value of the derivative is derived from path dependent scenarios and outcomes. The features in the notes that were analyzed and incorporated into the model included the conversion features with the reset provisions, the call/redemption/prepayment options, and the default provisions. Based on these features, there are six primary events that can occur; payments are made in cash; payments are made with stock; the note holder converts upon receiving a redemption notice; the note holder converts the note; the issuer redeems the note; or the Company defaults on the note. The model simulates the underlying economic factors that influenced which of these events would occur, when they were likely to occur, and the specific terms that would be in effect at the time (i.e. stock price, conversion price, etc.). Probabilities were assigned to each variable such as redemption likelihood, default likelihood, and timing and pricing of reset events over the remaining term of the notes based on management projections. This led to a cash flow simulation over the life of the note. A discounted cash flow for each simulation was completed, and it was compared to the discounted cash flow of the note without the embedded features, thus determining a value for the derivative liability.
Key inputs and assumptions used to value the convertible notes and warrants upon issuance or tainting and also as of January 31, 2018:
● The stock projections are based on the historical volatilities for each date. These ranged in the 139-140% range. The stock price projection was modeled such that it follows a geometric Brownian motion with constant drift and a constant volatility, starting with the market stock price at each valuation date;
● An event of default would not occur during the remaining term of the note;
● Conversion of the notes to stock would be completed monthly after any holding period and would be limited based on: 5% of the last 6 months average trading volume and the ownership limit identified in the contract assuming the underlying number of common shares increases at 1% per month.
● The effective discount was determined based on the historical trading history of the Company based on the specific pricing mechanism in each note;
● The Company would not have funds available to redeem the notes during the remaining term of the convertible notes;
● Discount rates were based on risk free rates in effect based on the remaining term and date of each valuation and instrument.
● The Holder would exercise the warrant at maturity if the stock price was above the exercise price;
● The Holder would exercise the warrant after any holding period prior to maturity at target prices starting at 2 times the exercise price for the Warrants or higher subject to monthly limits of: 5% of the last 6 months average trading volume increasing by 1% per month and the ownership limit identified in the contract assuming the underlying number of common shares increases at 1% per month.
Using the results from the model, the Company recorded a derivative liability during the year ended January 31, 2018 of $387,864 for newly granted and existing warrants (see note 10) that were tainted and a derivative liability of $355,057 for the fair value of the convertible feature included in the Company’s convertible debt instruments. The derivative liability recorded for the convertible feature created a “day 1” derivative loss of $107,758 and a debt discount of $247,299 which is being amortized over the remaining term of the note using the effective interest rate method and is classified as convertible debt on the balance sheet. Interest expense related to the amortization of this debt discount for the year ended January 31, 2018, was $246,842. Additionally, $18,387 of original issuance cost was charged to interest expense as a result of the conversion of a portion of the underlying debt instrument (See Note 6). The remaining unamortized debt discount related to the derivative liability was $457 as of January 31, 2018. The Company recorded the change in the fair value of the derivative liability as a gain of $144,351 to reflect the value of the derivative liability for warrants and convertible notes as of January 31, 2018. The Company also recorded a reclassification from derivative liability to equity of $136,866 for warrants becoming untainted and $293,018 due to the conversions of a portion of the Company’s convertible notes.
Since no convertible note was convertible as of January 31, 2017, no derivative liability remained as of that date.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of the Company’s derivative liability:
NOTE 8 - Common stock
Our common shares are all of the same class, are voting and entitle stockholders to receive dividends as defined. Upon liquidation or wind-up, stockholders are entitled to participate equally with respect to any distribution of net assets or any dividends that may be declared.
On July 15, 2015, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from 1,250,000,000 to 6,250,000,000.
Between February 2014 and July 2014, pursuant to the investment agreement with KVM, KVM purchased 34,214,226 shares for $456,924, of which $55,673 is still owed to the Company and is reflected as a stock subscription receivable as of January 31, 2018.
Common Stock Issued During the Year Ended January 31, 2017
On June 20, 2015, we entered into an investment agreement (the “Investment Agreement”) with Tangiers Investment Group, LLC (the “Investor”), whereby the Investor has agreed to invest up to $8,000,000 to purchase shares of our common stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement and a registration rights agreement, we may, in our sole discretion, deliver a notice to the Investor which states the dollar amount which we intend to sell to the Investor on a certain date. The amount that we shall be entitled to sell to Investor shall be equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the average daily volume (U.S. market only) of the common stock for the ten (10) trading days prior to the applicable notice date so long as such amount does not exceed an accumulative amount per month of $100,000. The minimum amount shall be equal to $5,000. In connection with the Investment Agreement, we also entered into a registration rights agreement dated June 20, 2015, whereby we agreed to file a Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the SEC within thirty (30) days of the date of the registration rights agreement and to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC within ninety (90) days after we have filed the Registration Statement. We filed Form S-1 on July 2, 2015 and Form S-1 Amendment No. 1 on July 29, 2015, for registration of 100,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Investment Agreement, which was declared effective by the SEC on August 5, 2015.
The Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC on January 21, 2016 and Amendment No. 1 thereto on February 24, 2016, for registration of 350,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Investment Agreement dated June 20, 2015 with Tangiers Investment Group, LLC. The registration statement, as amended, was declared effective by the SEC on March 15, 2016. During the year ended January 31, 2017, the Company issued an aggregate of 110,098,238 shares of common stock for total proceeds of $179,291 to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC under the Investment Agreement.
During the year ended January 31, 2017, $62,160 of the August 2013 Note was converted into 46,526,995 shares of the Company’s common stock. The conversions occurred on multiple dates with conversion prices ranging from $0.00117 to $0.00152.
During the year ended January 31, 2017, the Company issued 76,220,079 units to investors for total proceeds of $223,677. Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock and one or one-half warrant to purchase one share or one-half equivalent share each of the Company’s common stock. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.0027, $0.0028, or $0.0040 and have a three-year term.
During the year ended January 31, 2017, $159,289 of the November 2015 Note was converted into 122,373,003 shares of the Company’s common stock. The conversions occurred on multiple dates with conversion prices ranging from $0.00098 to $0.00149.
During the year ended January 31, 2017, $55,000 of the December 2015 Note was converted into 47,168,177 shares of the Company’s common stock. The conversions occurred on multiple dates with conversion prices ranging from $0.00105 to $0.00116.
During the year ended January 31, 2017, the Company issued 32,519,915 shares to third-parties for services with an aggregate fair value of approximately $67,296. These shares include 30,644,915 shares issued to a service provider for services pursuant to a subscription agreement that allows for additional shares to be issued in the event the service provider receives aggregate proceeds less than $40,000 from their sale of this stock.
Common Stock Issued During the Year Ended January 31, 2018
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued 24,964,736 units to investors for total proceeds of $58,000. Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock and one-half warrant to purchase one-half equivalent share each of the Company’s common stock. The warrants have an exercise prices ranging from of $0.0028 to $0.0053 and have a three-year term.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, a total of $261,626 of convertible notes were converted into 298,015,472 shares of the Company’s common stock. The conversions occurred on multiple dates with conversion prices ranging from $0.00066 to $0.00113.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate of 92,609,558 shares of common stock for total proceeds of $170,334 to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC under the Investment Agreement.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued 25,241,904 shares to third-parties for services with an aggregate fair value of approximately $57,081, including 24,242,424 shares issued to settle accounts payable of $44,000, resulting in a loss on settlement of $9,333.
During the year ended January 31, 2018, the Company issued 1,750,000 shares for the exercise of warrants with aggregate proceeds of $4,900.
NOTE 9 - Share-based compensation
The 2010 Stock Option Plan was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors on August 10, 2010. The plan allows for up to 95,500,000 shares to be granted to key employees and non-employee consultants after specific objectives are met. The 2007 Stock Option Plan was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors on December 10, 2007. The plan allows for up to 2,500,000 shares to be granted to key employees and non-employee consultants after specific objectives are met. The 2004 Stock Option Plan was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors on December 27, 2004. The plan allows for up to 962,500 shares to be granted to key employees and non-employee consultants after specific objectives are met. Employees can receive incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options while non-employee consultants can receive only non-qualified stock options. The options granted vest under various provisions using graded vesting, not to exceed four years. The options granted have a term not to exceed ten years from the date of grant or five years for options granted to more than 10% stockholders. The option price set by the Plan Administration shall not be less than the fair market value per share of the common stock on the grant date or 110% of the fair market value per share of the common stock on the grant date for options granted to greater than 10% stockholders. Options remaining available for grant under the 2010 Stock Option Plan at January 31, 2018 and 2017 are 7,500,000 and 0, respectively. Options remaining available for grant under the 2007 Stock Option Plan at January 31, 2018 and 2017 are 112,500 and 75,000, respectively. Options remaining available for grant under the 2004 Stock Option Plan at January 31, 2018 and 2017 are 41,250 and 41,250.
In September 2013, there were 7,423,624 stock options granted at an exercise price of $0.0257 per share, exercisable until September 5, 2023 with a fair value net of forfeitures at grant date of $210,300. The options granted were 100% vested for directors and shall vest in 25% immediately and 25% over four years increments on a yearly basis over the next four years for employees. In order to calculate the fair value of stock options at the date of grant, we use the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The volatility used was based on our historical volatility. The expected term was determined based on the simplified method outlined in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Remaining stock option expense to be recognized in future periods related to the award is $0 as of January 31, 2018.
During the year ended January 31, 2017, the Company granted 1,951,376 incentive stock options to employees and directors previously reserved under the Company’s stock option plans with an exercise price of $0.0257. The options all fully vested by September 2016 and expire in September 2023. The Company did not issue incentive stock options during the year ended January 31, 2018.
The following tables summarize the Company’s stock option activity during the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2016. Incentive stock options to employees and directors outstanding at January 31, 2018 are as follows:
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated based on the stock price of $0.0020 and $0.0016 per share as of January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
We estimate the fair value of option awards on the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company uses historical volatility, disregarding identifiable periods of time in which share price was extraordinarily volatile due to certain events that are not expected to recur during the expected term, as its method to estimate expected volatility. The Company used the following assumptions to estimate the fair value of stock option grants to employees and non-employees:
Share-based compensation expense is reported in our consolidated statements of operations as follows:
At January 31, 2018, there was $0 of unrecognized share-based compensation for all share-based awards outstanding.
Non-qualified stock options to non-employee consultants and vendors outstanding as of January 31, 2018 are as follows:
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated based on the stock price of $0.0020 and $0.0016 per share for the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2016, respectively.
During the years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, we recognized $6,991 and $74,808 of compensation expense related to incentive and non-qualified stock options previously granted to officers, employees and consultants.
NOTE 10 - Warrants
As of January 31, 2018, there were 141,414,489 whole share purchase warrants outstanding and exercisable. The warrants have a three-year term, a weighted average remaining life of 2.52 years and a weighted average exercise price of $0.006 per whole warrant for one common share. Whole share purchase warrants outstanding at January 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
The weighted average intrinsic value for warrants outstanding was $0 as of January 31, 2018 and 2017.
On May 31, 2016, the Company extended the expiration date of all 93,887,870 warrants issued between May 1, 2013 and May 1, 2016 for an additional three years at their original exercise prices ranging from $0.0021 to $0.0324. These warrants included 43,156,160 warrants purchased by officers and directors at their original exercise prices ranging from $0.0021 to $0.0207.
NOTE 11 - Income taxes
As of January 31, our deferred tax asset is as follows:
Management has elected to provide a deferred tax asset valuation allowance equal to the potential benefit due to our history of losses. If we demonstrate the ability to generate future taxable income, management will re-evaluate the allowance. The decrease in the valuation allowance of $3,625,000 is primarily the result of the change in corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% (see below) for the year ended January 31, 2018. The increase of $492,000 during the year ended January 31, 2017 primarily represents the increase in net operating loss carry-forwards during the period offset against the valuation allowance. As of January 31, 2018, our estimated net operating loss carry-forward is approximately $30 million and expires beginning in 2026 through 2038.
We have identified our federal and Arizona state tax returns as “major” tax jurisdictions. The periods our income tax returns are subject to examination for these jurisdictions are the tax years ended January 31, 2015 through January 31, 2018. We believe our income tax filing positions and deductions will be sustained on audit, and we do not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to our financial position. Therefore, no liabilities for uncertain income tax positions have been recorded.
Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limits the ability to utilize net operating losses if a 50% change in ownership occurs over a three-year period. Such limitation of the net operating losses may have occurred but we have not analyzed it at this time as the deferred tax asset is fully reserved. We have federal and state net operating loss carry-forwards that are available to offset future taxable income.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the US federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and requires the Company to re-measure certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are anticipated to reverse in the future, which is generally 21%. The Company adopted the new rate as it relates to the calculations of deferred tax amounts as of January 31, 2018.
NOTE 12 - Related party transactions
We were a party to the following transactions with related parties during the year ended January 31, 2018:
We rented an office from Jim Briscoe, our Chairman of the Board, CEO, CFO and President, on a month-to-month basis for $522 per month. The total rent expense related to this office was $6,264 for the year ended January 31, 2018. No amount was due as of January 31, 2018.
At January 31, 2018, we had a balance of accrued unpaid wages of $668,949 to Jim Briscoe, our Chairman of the Board, CEO, CFO and President. Additionally, we had a balance of accrued unpaid wages of $15,625 to a former President.
We have an option to explore 26 standard federal lode mining claims at the East Silverbell project and 29 standard federal lode mining claims at the Walnut Creek project from JABA. James A. Briscoe, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, controls JABA and the estate of Dr. J. M. Guilbert (deceased), a former director of the Company, holds a small stock position, as well. We are required to pay annual rentals to maintain the claims in good standing. We paid $8,525 in rental fees to maintain these mineral claims during the year ended January 31, 2018. The original option agreement was for the period from April 11, 2008 through January 1, 2011 and was extended through June 1, 2013, June 1, 2015 and then to June 1, 2021. This may be further extended in five year periods or increments in the future by any JABA director.
At January 31, 2018, we had accounts payable to JABA of $34,798, which is reflected as accounts payable to related party on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
We were a party to the following transactions with related parties during the year ended January 31, 2017:
We rented an office from Jim Briscoe, our Chairman of the Board, CEO and CFO, & President on a month-to-month basis for $522 per month. The total rent expense related to this office was $6,264 for the year ended January 31, 2018. No amount was due as of January 31, 2017.
At January 31, 2017, we had a balance of accrued unpaid wages of $595,070 to Jim Briscoe, our Chairman of the Board, CEO, CFO and President. Additionally, we had a balance of accrued unpaid wages of $15,625 to a former President.
On May 31, 2016, the Company extended the expiration date of all 93,887,870 warrants issued between May 1, 2013 and May 1, 2016 for an additional three years at their original exercise prices ranging from $0.0021 to $0.0324. These warrants included 43,156,160 warrants purchased by officers and directors at their original exercise prices ranging from $0.0021 to $0.0207.
On October 11, 2016, the Company issued 6,879,950 stock options to Jim Briscoe, our Chairman of the Board, CEO ,CFO & President, at an exercise price of $0.003. The options vested immediately and have a 10-year term.
We have an option to explore 26 standard federal lode mining claims at the East Silverbell project and 29 standard federal lode mining claims at the Walnut Creek project from JABA (US) Inc., an Arizona corporation in which one of our directors is an owner, and the estate of a former director now deceased has a small holding. We are required to pay annual rentals to maintain the claims in good standing. We paid $27,494 in rental fees to maintain the mineral claims during the year ended January 31, 2017. The original option agreement was for the period from April 11, 2008 through January 1, 2011 and was extended through June 1, 2013, June 1, 2015 and then to June 1, 2021. This may be further extended in five year periods or increments in the future by any JABA (US) Inc. director.
At January 31, 2017, we had accounts payable to JABA (US) Inc. of $34,798, which is reflected as accounts payable to related party on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 13 - Commitments and Contingencies
We are required to pay annual rentals for our federal lode mining claims for the North Pipes project in the State of Arizona. The rental period begins at noon on September 1st through the following September 1st and rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. The annual rentals are $155 per claim. The rentals of $1,705 for the period from September 1, 2017 to September 1, 2018 have been paid. The rentals due by September 1, 2018 for the period from September 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019 of $1,705 have not been paid.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our federal lode mining claims for our East Silverbell project in the State of Arizona. The rental period begins at noon on September 1st through the following September 1st and rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. The annual rental is $155 per claim. The rentals of $4,030 for the period from September 1, 2017 to September 1, 2018 have been paid. The annual rentals due by September 1, 2018 of $4,030 are required to maintain the East Silverbell claims are for the period from September 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019 have not been paid. There is no requirement for annual assessment or exploration work on the federal lode mining claims. There are no royalties associated with the federal lode mining claims.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our federal lode mining claims for the Tombstone project in the State of Arizona. The rental period begins at noon on September 1st through the following September 1st and rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. The annual rentals are $155 per claim. The rentals due by September 1, 2018 for the period from September 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019 of $14,725 have not been paid.
We are required to pay annual rentals for our Arizona State Land Department Mineral Exploration Permits (“AZ MEP”) at our Tombstone Hay Mountain project in the State of Arizona. AZ MEP permits are valid for 1 year and renewable for up to 5 years. The rental fee is $2.00 per acre for the first year, which includes the second year, and $1.00 per acre per year for years three through five. The minimum work expenditure requirements are $10 per acre per year for years one and two and $20 per acre per year for years three through five. If the minimum work expenditure requirement is not met the applicant can pay the equal amount in fees to the Arizona State Land Department to keep the AZ MEP permits current. The rental period begins on September 30th through the following September 29th for our Hay Mountain permits. Rental payments are due by the first day of the rental period. We hold AZ MEP permits for 2,966.88 acres at our Tombstone project. We plan to pay rental fees for our AZ MEP’s before September 29, 2018 in the amount of $3,500. Required minimum work expenditures for the period ending September 29, 2018 is $29,668.
The Company entered into a 24-month office lease at 5232 E Pima Street, Suite D, Tucson, Arizona, effective October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2018, with a base rent of $2,100 per month through September 30, 2017 and then $2,163 per month through September 30, 2018.
NOTE 14 - Fair value of financial instruments
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, convertible notes payable, notes payable, and derivative liability. It is management’s opinion that we are not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments. With the exception of the derivative liability, the fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying values based on their short maturities or for long-term debt based on borrowing rates currently available to us for loans with similar terms and maturities. Gains and losses recognized on changes in estimated fair value of the warrant liability are reported in other income (expense) as gain (loss) on change in fair value.
NOTE 15 - Subsequent events
On February 23, 2018, we received proceeds of $50,000 from the issuance of a convertible note. The note bears interest at 8%, includes OID of $3,000, matures on November 30, 2018, and is convertible after 180 days into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of 65% of the market price of the Company’s common stock during the 10 trading days prior to conversion.
On March 26, 2018, we received proceeds of $50,000 from the issuance of a convertible note. The note bears interest at 8%, includes OID of $3,000, matures on January 15, 2019, and is convertible after 180 days into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of 65% of the market price of the Company’s common stock during the 10 trading days prior to conversion.
On April 25, 2018, we received proceeds of $40,000 from the issuance of a convertible note. The note bears interest at 8%, includes OID of $3,000, matures on February 15, 2019, and is convertible after 180 days into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of 65% of the market price of the Company’s common stock during the 10 trading days prior to conversion.
In March and April 2018, we issued a total of 136,765,605 shares of our common stock for conversions of convertible debt totaling $88,059.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of January 31, 2018. Based upon such review and evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the date of such evaluation due to the size and nature of the existing business operation. Given the size of our current operation and existing personnel, the opportunity to implement internal control procedures that segregate accounting duties and responsibilities is limited. Until the organization can increase in size to warrant an increase in personnel, formal internal control procedure will not be implemented until they can be effectively executed and monitored.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion of this evaluation. Based on its evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of January 31, 2018 due to the size and nature of the existing business operation. Given the size of our current operation and existing personnel, the opportunity to implement internal control procedures that segregate accounting duties and responsibilities is limited. Until the organization can increase in size to warrant an increase in personnel, formal internal control procedure will not be implemented until they can be effectively executed and monitored.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect 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.
Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. In addition, the design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and controls may become inadequate if conditions change. There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Management identified the following material weaknesses during its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting as of January 31, 2018.
a) Lack of proper segregation of duties due specifically to the small size of the Company.
The Company’s management is committed to improving the Company’s internal controls and will: (1) continue to use third party specialists to address shortfalls in staffing and to assist the Company with accounting and finance responsibilities; (2) increase the frequency of independent reconciliations of significant accounts which will mitigate the lack of segregation of duties until there are sufficient personnel.
Until the organization can increase in size to warrant an increase in personnel, formal internal control procedure will not be implemented until they can be effectively executed and monitored. As a result of the size of the current organization, there will not be significant levels of supervision and review.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding our internal controls over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(c) of the SarbanesOxley Act that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes to the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the year ended January 31, 2018.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
All directors of our company hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders or until their successors have been elected and qualified. The officers of our company are appointed by our board of directors and hold office until their death, resignation or removal from office. Our directors and executive officers, their ages, positions held, and duration as such, are as follows:
Name
Position(s) Held with the Company
Age
Date First Elected or Appointed
James A. Briscoe
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board
February 3, 2004
Keith Brill
Director
December 23, 2009
Peter O’Heeron
Director
September 6, 2012
Brett Gross
Director
October 20, 2014
Patricia Madaris
VP Finance
May 8, 2015
Business Experience
James A. Briscoe. Mr. Briscoe was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board in 2004 and Chief Financial Officer in 2008. Mr. Briscoe is a Registered Professional Geologist in the states of Arizona and California. From 1996 to 2005, Mr. Briscoe was the Vice President of Exploration, and Chairman of the Board of JABA Exploration Inc., a TSX Venture Exchange Canadian public company. Mr. Briscoe is also the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Geologist of JABA (US) Inc. He was also the President of Compania Minera JABA, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico. Compania Minera JABA, S.A. de C.V. is no longer active and is in the process of dissolution.
We believe Mr. Briscoe is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his knowledge of our company’s history and current operations, which he gained from working for our company as described above, in addition to his extensive experience in the industry.
Gary Musil. Mr. Musil was appointed as one our directors in 2003 and as our corporate Secretary in 2003. Mr. Musil was our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer from 2003 to 2004. Mr. Musil has more than 30 years of management and financial consulting experience. Mr. Musil has served as an officer and director on numerous public mining companies since 1988. This experience has resulted in his overseeing exploration projects in Peru, Chile, Eastern Europe (Slovak Republic), British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick (Canada). Prior to this, he was employed for 15 years with Dickenson Mines Ltd. and Kam-Kotia Mines Ltd. as a controller for the producing silver/lead/zinc mine in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Musil currently serves as an officer/director of four TSX Venture Exchange public companies in Canada. Mr. Musil has been the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a director of International Montoro Resources Inc., a TSX Venture company and a reporting issuer in Canada, since 1999. Mr. Musil has been the chief financial officer and secretary and a director of Belmont Resources Inc., a TSX Venture company and a reporting issuer in Canada, since 1992. Mr. Musil has been the chief financial officer and a director of Megastar Development Corp, a TSX Venture company and a reporting issuer in Canada, since 2006. Mr. Musil has been the Chief Financial Officer and secretary of Highbank Resources Ltd., a TSX Venture company and a reporting issuer in Canada, since 1988. Gary Musil stepped down as a Board Director for Liberty Star Uranium & Metals in 2017.
Keith Brill. Mr. Brill was appointed as one of our directors in, 2009. Mr. Brill received an International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) from the Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina in 2005. He graduated from the South Carolina Honors College, University of South Carolina in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, major in Economics and Finance, minor in Spanish. Mr. Brill has been a management consultant with PA Consulting Group, Inc., a leading global consulting firm, since 2004. He has provided multinational Fortune 500 companies with consulting advice on topics including cost reduction, operational efficiency, and IT strategy. Mr. Brill has extensive experience in conducting ROI analysis, developing business cases, and providing strategic financial advice on major business transformation programs.
We believe Mr. Brill is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his knowledge of our company’s history and current operations, which he gained from working for our company as described above, in addition to his education and business experience as described above.
Peter O’Heeron. Mr. O’Heeron joined the board in 2012. Mr. O’Heeron leads an operational investment group which identifies early stage opportunities in the medical field with strong intellectual property positions. Through his 20+ years of medical product development experience, Mr. O’Heeron brings together the resources from strategic disciplines necessary to commercialize unique technologies. Prior to founding Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, Mr. O’Heeron founded NeoSurg Technologies, Inc. to develop a minimally invasive access system. As a result of his efforts, NeoSurg Technologies was successful in developing the T2000 Minimally Invasive Access System, the world leader in reposable surgical instrumentation. Mr. O’Heeron completed the sale of NeoSurg Technologies to CooperSurgical in 2005. Mr. O’Heeron graduated from Texas State University with a BS in Healthcare Administration and a minor in Business Administration. He received his Masters in Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston. Mr. O’Heeron currently holds 5 patents and has 4 patents pending.
We believe Mr. O’Heeron is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his knowledge of our company’s history and current operations, which he gained from working with our company as described above, in addition to his education and business experience as described above. He also catalyzed a negotiation with Northern Dynasty which benefited the company by millions of dollars.
Brett Gross. Mr. Gross joined the board in 2014. Mr. Gross has served as Vice President and Regional Managing Attorney for URS Energy & Construction, Inc., an AECOM company, fka Washington Group International, Inc. since August 2005. Mr. Gross is a mining engineer (BS, Ohio State University, 1982; MS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1988; PE, Colorado and Alabama) and attorney (JD, University of Denver, 2001) with over 30 years of experience, both domestic and international. His work experience includes surface and underground mining operations, engineering, and delivery of construction mega-projects across multiple industrial and commercial markets, and the practice of law related to each of these sectors. Mr. Gross brings a combination of professional skills that benefits every aspect of our business. Mr. Gross’ engineering career began at Virginia Tech, with research focused on rock mechanics and the stability of underground openings, particularly the phenomenon of “coal bumps” and “rock bursts,” and studying methods to monitor stress changes in the longwall barrier pillar during the onset of the active longwall face. The ensuing years of his career have been intimately involved with a broad spectrum of engineering, operations, management and project delivery. Since 2002, Mr. Gross has practiced law both in private practice and as in-house counsel, negotiating and closing complex deals with what today is among the largest engineering and construction firms in the United States.
We believe Mr. Gross is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his education and business experience as described above.
Patricia Madaris. Ms. Madaris has served as our VP Finance since May 2015. Prior to that time, Ms. Madaris served as the Executive Assistant to our CEO and Board of Directors since 2011. Since beginning her work at our company, she has proven to be beneficial in facilitating many areas of our public company, working to engage, negotiate, and close financings, and overseeing and working actively in financial reporting, and projected budgeting for ongoing operations. She has also worked as an accountant/manager for corporations in Arizona, Florida, and California since 2005. Ms. Madaris has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Ms. Madaris also holds an MBA graduating with highest honors in February 2017.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our directors or officers.
Board and Committee Meetings
The board of directors of our company held three formal meetings during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which our shareholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018. Shareholders may contact our President, James A. Briscoe, to recommend nominees to our board of directors.
For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 our only standing committee of the board of directors was our audit committee. We do not have a nominating committee or a compensation committee.
Audit Committee
Currently our audit committee consists of our entire board of directors. We do not have a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018, the audit committee did not hold any meetings. Rather, the business of the audit committee was conducted by resolutions consented to in writing by all the members of the board and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our board of directors has determined that it does not have a member of its board of directors or audit committee that qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
We believe that the members of our board of directors are collectively capable of analyzing and evaluating our consolidated financial statements and understanding internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. In addition, we believe that retaining an independent director who would qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” would be overly costly and burdensome and is not warranted in our circumstances given the early stages of our development and the fact that we have not generated any material revenues to date.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
Our directors and executive officers have not been involved in any of the following events during the past 10 years:
1. any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
2. any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offences);
3. being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities;
4. being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated.
5. being 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,
6. being 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934), 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.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, to file reports regarding ownership of, and transactions in, our securities with the SEC and to provide us with copies of those filings. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018, all filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than 10% percent beneficial owners were complied with, except that Mr. O’Heeron failed to complete filing one Form 4 with respect to one transaction.
Code of Ethics
Effective March 15, 2004, our company’s board of directors adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all employees, including our company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and VP Finance. As adopted, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics sets forth written standards that are designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
1. honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
2. full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by us;
3. compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
4. the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; and
5. accountability for adherence to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires, among other things, that all of our company’s Senior Officers commit to timely, accurate and consistent disclosure of information; that they maintain confidential information; and that they act with honesty and integrity.
In addition, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics emphasizes that all employees, and particularly senior officers, have a responsibility for maintaining financial integrity within our company, consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, and federal and state securities laws. Any senior officer that becomes aware of any incidents involving financial or accounting manipulation or other irregularities, whether by witnessing the incident or being told of it, must report it to our company. Any failure to report such inappropriate or irregular conduct of others is to be treated as a severe disciplinary matter. It is against our company policy to retaliate against any individual who reports in good faith the violation or potential violation of our company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by another.
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2004 as Exhibit 14.1 to our annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. We will provide a copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to any person without charge, upon request. Requests can be sent to: Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp., 5610 E. Sutler Lane, Tucson, Arizona 85712.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Following are the particulars of all compensation paid or accruing to our named executive officers for the last two fiscal years ended.
Summary Compensation Table
(1) The value of perquisites and other personal benefits and property have been excluded because they total, in the aggregate, less than $10,000.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth for each named executive officer certain information concerning the outstanding equity awards as of January 31, 2018.
COMPENSATION PLANS
As of January 31, 2018, we had three compensation plans in place, entitled “2004 Stock Option Plan”, “2007 Stock Option Plan” and “2010 Stock Option Plan”. These plans have been approved by our security holders. These plans have been given retroactive effect of the 1-for-4 reverse stock split on September 1, 2009.
A total of 0 and 13,502,626 options were granted during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Long-Term Incentive Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers, except that our directors and executive officers receive stock options at the discretion of our Board. We do not have any material bonus or profit sharing plans pursuant to which cash or non-cash compensation is or may be paid to our directors or executive officers, except that stock options may be granted at the discretion of our Board.
Employment Contracts
We have not entered into any written employment agreements or compensation arrangements with any of our named executive officers. We have entered into a verbal agreement with James A. Briscoe, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, for an annual salary of $148,000, plus a monthly automobile allowance.
Compensation of Directors
We have no formal plan for compensating our directors for their service in their capacity as directors, although such directors are expected in the future to receive stock options to purchase common stock as awarded by our board of directors or (as to future stock options) a compensation committee which may be established. Directors are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of our board of directors. Our board of directors may award special remuneration to any director undertaking any special services on our behalf other than services ordinarily required of a director. No director received and/or accrued any compensation for their services as a director, including committee participation and/or special assignments.
No compensation was paid to or earned by any director in his capacity as a director, during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
We have set forth in the following table certain information regarding our common stock beneficially owned on May 1, 2018 for (i) each shareholder we know to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our named executive officers and directors, and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group. In general, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of such security, or the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which the person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. All percentages are calculated based upon a total number of 2,583,191,587 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of May 15, 2018, plus, in the case of the individual or entity for which the calculation is made, that number of options or warrants owned by such individual or entity that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
(1) Based on 2,583,191,587 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of May 15, 2018. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that the beneficial owners of the common stock listed above, based on information furnished by such owners, have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where applicable.
(2) This amount includes: (i) 59,454,950 incentive stock options that are currently exercisable, (ii) 2,822,912 common stock purchase warrants that are currently exercisable, and (iii) 2,187,500 shares held by Alaska Star Minerals LLC, which is wholly owned by Mr. Briscoe.
(3) This amount represents incentive & non-qualified stock options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
(4) This amount includes 5,542,973 incentive stock options and 677,507 common stock purchase warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
(5) This amount includes 39,655,742 common stock purchase warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.
* less than 1%
Equity Compensation Plan Information
As of January 31, 2018, we had three compensation plans in place, entitled “2004 Stock Option Plan”, “2007 Stock Option Plan” and “2010 Stock Option Plan”. These plans have been approved by our security holders. These plans have been given retroactive effect of the 1-for-4 reverse stock split on September 1, 2009.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
There has been no transaction, or currently proposed transaction, in which our company was or is to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at yearend for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any of the following persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest:
(a) Any director or executive officer of our company;
(b) Any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of any class of our voting securities; and
(c) Any member of the immediate family (including spouse, parents, children, siblings and in- laws) of any of the foregoing persons.
Director Independence
Our board of directors consists of the four directors: James A. Briscoe, Keith Brill, Peter O’Heeron and Brett Gross. Our common stock is quoted on the OTC Pink tier operated by the OTC Markets Group, which does not impose any director independence requirements. Under NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2), a director is not independent if he or she is also an executive officer or employee of the corporation or was, at any time during the past three years, employed by the corporation. Using this definition of independent director, we have three independent directors consisting of Keith Brill, Peter O’Heeron and Brett Gross.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table shows the fees that were billed for the audit and other services provided by MaloneBailey, LLP for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2018 and 2017.
Audit Fees - This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with engagements for those fiscal years. This category also includes advice on audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements.
Audit-Related Fees - This category consists of assurance and related services by the independent registered public accounting firm that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees.” The services for the fees disclosed under this category include consultation regarding our correspondence with the SEC, other accounting consulting and other audit services.
Tax Fees - This category consists of professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for tax compliance and tax advice. The services for the fees disclosed under this category include tax return preparation and technical tax advice.
All Other Fees - This category consists of fees for other miscellaneous items.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures with respect to Services Performed by Independent Auditors
The board of directors pre-approves all services provided by our independent auditors. All of the above services and fees were reviewed and approved by the board of directors before the respective services were rendered.
The board of directors has considered the nature and amount of fees billed by MaloneBailey, LLP and believes that the provision of services for activities unrelated to the audit is compatible with maintaining MaloneBailey, LLP’s independence.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
3.1
Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our registration statement on Form SB-2, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2002).
3.2
Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our quarterly report on Form 10-QSB, filed with the SEC on December 14, 2007).
3.3
Certificate of Change to Authorized Capital (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 2, 2009).
3.4
Articles of Merger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our annual report on Form 10-KSB , filed with the SEC on March 31, 2004).
10.1
Letter Agreement dated November 14, 2011 with Northern Dynasty (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 25, 2011).
10.2
Form of Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 29, 2011).
10.3
Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 24, 2012).
10.4
Form of Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 30, 2012).
10.5
Settlement Agreement dated November 13, 2012 with Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2012).
10.6
Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 2, 2014).
10.7
Securities Purchase Agreement dated October 15, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 20, 2014).
10.8
Convertible Promissory Note dated October 15, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 20, 2014).
10.9
Investment Agreement dated December 15, 2014 with Tangiers Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014).
10.10
Registration Rights Agreement dated December 15, 2014 with Tangiers Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014).
10.11
Investment Agreement dated June 20, 2015 with Tangiers Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 30, 2015).
10.12
Registration Rights Agreement dated June 20, 2015 with Tangiers Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 30, 2015).
10.13
Convertible Promissory Note dated November 2, 2015 issued to JMJ Financial (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to our Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on December 15, 2015).
10.14
12% Convertible Promissory Note dated December 29, 2015 issued to JSJ Investments, Inc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K with the SEC on January 7, 2016).
10.15
Promissory Note issued to Tangiers Investment Group, LLC dated December 14, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2017).
10.16
Amendment No. 1 dated February 2, 2017 by and between Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. and Tangiers Investment Group, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2017).
10.17
Amendment #2 dated February 2, 2017 by and between Liberty Star Uranium & Metals Corp. and Tangiers Investment Group, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 9, 2017).
10.18
12% Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. dated April 10, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 18, 2017).
10.19
Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 7, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 26, 2017).
10.20
Convertible Promissory Note dated June 20, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 26, 2017).
10.21
12% Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. dated July 26, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 1, 2017).
10.22
Convertible Promissory Note issued to Power Up Lending Group Ltd. dated September 13, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 21, 2017).
10.23
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of September 13, 2017, by and between the registrant and Power Up Lending Group Ltd. (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 21, 2017).
10.24
12% Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. dated October 18, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 27, 2017).
10.25
12% Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. dated November 20, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 27, 2017).
10.26
12% Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. dated December 20, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 27, 2017).
10.27
12% Convertible Promissory Note issued to JSJ Investments Inc. dated January 22, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 26, 2018).
10.28
Convertible Promissory Note issued to Power Up Lending Group Ltd. dated February 23, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018).
10.29
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of February 23, 2018, by and between the registrant and Power Up Lending Group Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018).
10.30
Convertible Promissory Note issued to Power Up Lending Group Ltd. dated March 26, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 5, 2018).
10.31
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of March 26, 2018, by and between the registrant and Power Up Lending Group Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 5, 2018).
10.32
Convertible Promissory Note issued to Power Up Lending Group Ltd. dated April 25, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2018).
10.33
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of April 25, 2018, by and between the registrant and Power Up Lending Group Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2018).
14.1
Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 1, 2009).
21.1*
Subsidiaries.
31.1*
Section 302 Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of James A. Briscoe
32.1*
Section 906 Certification under Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of James A. Briscoe
101.INS*
XBRL INSTANCE DOCUMENT
101.SCH*
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA
101.CAL*
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION CALCULATION LINKBASE
101.DEF*
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE
101.LAB*
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE
101.PRE*
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE
* Filed herewith.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 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.
LIBERTY STAR URANIUM & METALS CORP.
Dated: May 15, 2018 By: /s/ James A. Briscoe
James A. Briscoe
Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer and President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James A. Briscoe as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ James A. Briscoe
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman of the Board (principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
May 15, 2018
Paul Mathieson
/s/ Keith Brill
Director
May 15, 2018
Keith Brill
/s/ Brett Gross
Director
May 15, 2018
Brett Gross
/s/ Peter O’Heeron
Director
May 15, 2018
Peter O’Heeron