Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Dakota Territory Resource Corp,” "the Corporation" “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Dakota Territory Resource Corp. You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may also contain statistical data and estimates we obtained from industry publications and reports generated by third parties. Although we believe that the publications and reports are reliable, we have not independently verified their data.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements”. Such forward-looking statements concern our anticipated results and developments in our operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of our properties, plans related to our business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, include, but are not limited to:
the progress, potential and uncertainties of our 2019-2020 exploration program at our properties located in the Homestake District of the Black Hills of South Dakota (the “Project”);
the success of getting the necessary permits for future drill programs and future project exploration;
expectations regarding the ability to raise capital and to continue our exploration plans on our properties; and
plans regarding anticipated expenditures at the Project.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:
risks associated with lack of defined resources that are not SEC Guide 7 Compliant Reserves, and may never be;
risks associated with our history of losses and need for additional financing;
risks associated with our limited operating history;
risks associated with our properties all being in the exploration stage;
risks associated with our lack of history in producing metals from our properties;
risks associated with our need for additional financing to develop a producing mine, if warranted;
risks associated with our exploration activities not being commercially successful;
risks associated with ownership of surface rights at our Project;
risks associated with increased costs affecting our financial condition;
risks associated with a shortage of equipment and supplies adversely affecting our ability to operate;
risks associated with mining and mineral exploration being inherently dangerous;
risks associated with mineralization estimates;
risks associated with changes in mineralization estimates affecting the economic viability of our properties;
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risks associated with uninsured risks;
risks associated with mineral operations being subject to market forces beyond our control;
risks associated with fluctuations in commodity prices;
risks associated with permitting, licenses and approval processes;
risks associated with the governmental and environmental regulations;
risks associated with future legislation regarding the mining industry and climate change;
risks associated with potential environmental lawsuits;
risks associated with our land reclamation requirements;
risks associated with gold mining presenting potential health risks;
risks related to title in our properties
risks related to competition in the gold mining industries;
risks related to economic conditions;
risks related to our ability to manage growth;
risks related to the potential difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified personnel;
risks related to our dependence on key personnel;
risks related to our United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filing history; and
risks related to our securities.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report by the foregoing cautionary statements.
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of Dakota Territory Resource Corp. and notes thereto as set forth herein. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect our business, including without limitation, the disclosures made under “Risk Factors.”
Our audited financial statements are stated in United States dollars and are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
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Overview
We are an exploration stage company engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. Dakota Territory maintains 100% ownership of three mineral properties located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, including the Blind Gold, City Creek and Homestake Paleoplacer Properties, all of which are located in the heart of the Homestake District and cover a total of approximately 4,059 acres. We currently have limited operations and have not established that any of our projects or properties contain any proven or probable reserves under SEC Industry Guide 7.
On March 9, 2012 the Company entered into an agreement with North Homestake Mining Company to exchange common stock to affect the acquisition of North Homestake’s gold exploration properties located in South Dakota. The Agreement was completed on September 26, 2012 and the Company concurrently effected a 10 for 1 reverse stock split. The merger was recorded as a reverse recapitalization and the issuances of common stock were recorded as a reclassification between paid-in capital and par value of Common Stock. North Homestake Mining Company was incorporated in the State of Nevada on April 12, 2011.
On December 31, 2012, the Company completed an agreement to acquire 57 unpatented lode mining claims covering approximately 853 acres in the Black Hills of South Dakota in exchange for 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which was valued at $0.15 per share on the transaction date.
On February 24, 2014 the Company acquired surface and mineral title to the 26.16 acres of the Squaw and Rubber Neck Lodes that comprise Mineral Survey 1706 in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The property is located immediately to the north and adjoining the Company’s Paleoplacer Property.
On March 3, 2014, we completed an acquisition of approximately 565.24 mineral acres in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota. The acquisition increased our mineral interests in the Homestake District by nearly 23%, to over 3,057 acres. As part of the property acquisition, we purchased an additional 64.39 mineral acres located immediately southwest and contiguous to our Paleoplacer Property, including mineral title to the historic Gustin, Minerva and Deadbroke Gold Mines.
On April 5, 2017 we acquired of a combination of surface and mineral title to 284 acres in the Homestake District of the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota. The acquisition included 61 acres located immediately south and contiguous with our City Creek Property; 82 acres located approximately one half mile south of our Blind Gold Property at the western fringe of the historic Maitland Gold Mine; and 141 acres located immediately north and contiguous to our Homestake Paleoplacer Property.
On November 19, 2018 the Company acquired 42 unpatented lode mining claims covering approximately 718 acres located immediately to the north and adjacent to the Company’s City Creek Property. The acquisition was based on recently completed inversion modeling of our geophysical survey data. Through this staking, the City Creek project area was expanded from approximately 449 acres to 1,167 acres.
On May 7, 2019, the Company entered into a new five-year Lease with Option to Purchase Agreement for the Squaw and Rubber Neck Lodes that comprise Mineral Survey 1706, which is a key component of the Company’s overall Homestake Paleoplacer Property in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as the continuation of our business is dependent upon obtaining further long-term financing, successful exploration and development of our property interests and, finally, achieving a profitable level of operations. The issuance of additional equity securities by us could result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will increase our liabilities and future cash commitments.
Current Plan of Operations
Our planned operations during fiscal 2020 are focussed on advancing our Blind Gold, City Creek and Homestake Paleoplacer gold exploration properties and to continue to build on our overall property position in the Homestake District of the Black Hills of South Dakota.
We are planning to fly a broad high definition airborne geophysical survey to enhance our current drill targets, as well as to screen other areas of interest within the district. We have budgeted for several field sampling /mapping programs and to perform preliminary metallurgical test work at the Homestake Paleoplacer Property. We have planned to complete site preparations, and to conduct our first drill program on the Paleoplacer Property. Additionally, our budget provides for the commencement of necessary permit work for the Blind Gold and City Creek Properties and provides for our general operating expenses and the maintenance of the Company’s Mining Claims and leases.
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Table: Fiscal Year 2020 Proposed
Exploration Expenditures (000)
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General & administrative
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$ 600
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Airborne survey
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$ 475
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Field programs/Met Testing/Data
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$ 90
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Drilling/Drill Support/Site Work
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$ 158
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Permitting & Environmental
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$ 185
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Property Holding /Acquisition
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$ 265
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TOTAL
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$1,773
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Our operations for fiscal year 2020 are planned and budgeted at approximately $1.773 million. Our current working capital will not be sufficient to cover our estimated capital requirements during the next twelve-month period and we will therefore be required to raise additional funds in the amount of approximately $1.75 million through the issuance of equity securities or through debt financing. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in raising the required capital or that actual cash requirements will not exceed our estimates.
Since we are an exploration stage company and have not generated revenues to date, our cash flow projections are subject to numerous contingencies and risk factors beyond our control, including exploration and development risks, competition from well-funded competitors, and our ability to manage growth. We can offer no assurance that our expenses will not exceed our projections.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2019, we had a working capital deficit of approximately $2.395 Million and our accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2019 was approximately $4,889,000. We had a net loss for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 of approximately $524,000.
During our fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, we had planned to spend approximately $897,000 for diamond drilling, $23,000 for field programs and $90,000 for assays, as well as approximately $691,000 for expenses related to exploration programs. The timing of these expenditures is dependent upon a number of factors, including financing and the availability of drill contractors. We estimate that general and administrative expenses during fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 will be approximately $600,000 to include payroll, legal and accounting services and other general and other expenses necessary to conduct our operations.
We have no employees. Our management, all of whom are consultants, conduct our operations. We do not expect any material changes in the number of employees over the next twelve-month period. Given the early stage of our exploration properties, we intend to continue to outsource our professional and personnel requirements by retaining consultants on an as needed basis. However, if we are successful in our initial and any subsequent drilling programs, we may retain employees.
We currently do not have sufficient funds to complete exploration and development work on our properties, which means that we will be required to raise additional capital, enter into joint venture relationships or find alternative means to finance placing one or more of our properties into commercial production, if warranted. Failure to obtain sufficient financing may result in the delay or indefinite postponement of exploration and development or production on one or more of our properties and any properties we may acquire in the future or even a loss of property interests. We cannot be certain that additional capital or other types of financing will be available when needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favorable or acceptable to us. Our ability to arrange additional financing in the future will depend, in part, on the prevailing capital market conditions as well as our business performance.
Going Concern
The unaudited financial statements accompanying the report have been prepared on a going concern basis, which implies that our company will continue to realize its assets and discharge it liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. Our company has not generated revenues since inception and it’s unlikely to pay cash dividends or generate earnings in the immediate or foreseeable future. The continuation of our company as a going concern is dependent upon the continued financial support from related party advances, the ability of our company to obtain necessary equity financing to achieve our operating objectives, and the attainment of profitable operations. As of December 31, 2019, we had cash of approximately $27,000. In addition to funding our general and administrative expenses, we are obligated to address our current obligations totaling approximately $2.5Million. This includes current obligation amounts for accounts payable – related party of approximately $1,870,000 and notes payable – related party of approximately $326,000.
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These circumstances raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, as described in Note 1 of our December 31, 2019 unaudited financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that uncertainty. The continuation of our business is dependent upon obtaining further long-term financing, successful exploration and development of our property interests and, finally, achieving a profitable level of operations. The issuance of additional equity securities by us could result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will increase our liabilities and future cash commitments.
There are no assurances that we will be able to obtain further funds required for our continued operations. We are pursuing various financing alternatives to meet our immediate and long-term financial requirements. 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 obtain the additional financing on a timely basis, we will be forced to scale down or perhaps even cease the operation of our business.
Results of Operations
Nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
We had no operating revenues for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. We are not currently profitable. As a result of ongoing operating losses, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $4,889,000 as of December 31, 2019.
Our exploration costs were approximately $63,000 and $33,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 were approximately $451,000 and approximately $403,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2018. Our general and administrative expenditures were primarily for legal, accounting & professional fees, investor relations and other general and administrative expenses necessary for our operations.
We had losses from operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 totaling approximately $514,000 and $436,000, respectively, and a net loss for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 totaling approximately $524,000 and $461,000, respectively. We accrued interest expense on notes payable totaling approximately $9,000 and $25,000, respectively, for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
We had no operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. We are not currently profitable. As a result of ongoing operating losses, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $4,889,000 as of December 31, 2019.
Our exploration costs were approximately $24,000 and $12,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2019 were approximately $165,000 and approximately $108,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Our general and administrative expenditures were primarily for legal, accounting & professional fees, investor relations and other general and administrative expenses necessary for our operations.
We had a net loss from operations for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 totaling approximately $189,000 and $120,000, respectively. We accrued interest on notes payable totaling approximately $3,000 and $8,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We had a net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 totaling approximately $192,000 and $128,000, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019 and 2018, we have off-balance sheet arrangements for annual payments in relation to the mineral leases as disclosed in foot note 3 of the financial statements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingencies. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material. Management believes that the following critical accounting estimates and judgments have a significant impact on our financial statements; Valuation of options granted to Directors and Officers using the Black-Scholes model, and fair value of mineral properties.
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