0001512228 false NioCorp Developments
Ltd. 2023 Q1 --06-30 false false Unlimited Unlimited 1 2554 112951
109005 2022-11-09 2023-09-18 2023-11-15 2023-12-14 2023-12-16
2024-12-17 2025-05-30 2022-12-18 2023-05-10 2024-06-30 2025-02-19
5000001 0001512228 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228 2022-11-14
0001512228 2022-09-30 0001512228 2022-06-30 0001512228 2021-07-01
2022-06-30 0001512228 2021-07-01 2021-09-30 0001512228 2021-06-30
0001512228 2021-09-30 0001512228 us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2021-06-30 0001512228 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-06-30
0001512228 us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2021-06-30 0001512228 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2022-06-30
0001512228 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2022-06-30 0001512228
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2022-06-30
0001512228 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2021-07-01 2021-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-07-01 2021-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
2021-07-01 2021-09-30 0001512228 us-gaap:CommonStockMember
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2022-07-01
2022-09-30 0001512228 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2021-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-09-30 0001512228
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2021-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2022-09-30 0001512228
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2022-09-30 0001512228
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2022-09-30
0001512228 srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 2021-07-01
2021-09-30 0001512228 srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember 2021-07-01
2021-09-30 0001512228 srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-06-30 0001512228
srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2021-06-30 0001512228 srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2021-06-30
0001512228 srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2021-06-30
0001512228 srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 2021-06-30
0001512228 srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember 2021-06-30 0001512228
srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember
2021-09-30 0001512228 srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember
us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-09-30 0001512228
srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2021-09-30
0001512228 srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember
us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember 2021-09-30
0001512228 srt:ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember 2021-09-30
0001512228 srt:RestatementAdjustmentMember 2021-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ConvertibleSecurityMember 2022-06-30 0001512228
niobf:ConvertibleSecurityMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ConvertibleSecurityMember 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:NordminConvertibleNoteMember currency:CAD 2022-07-01
2022-09-30 0001512228 niobf:ConvertibleSecurityMember
niobf:LindAssetManagementIVLLCMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30
0001512228 niobf:NordminAgreementMember
niobf:NordminConvertibleNoteMember currency:CAD 2022-09-30
0001512228 currency:CAD 2022-06-30 0001512228 currency:CAD
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228 currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.47Member 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.47Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.47Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.84Member 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.84Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.84Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.54Member 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.54Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.54Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.75Member 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.75Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.75Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.75OneMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.75OneMember 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.75OneMember currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.36Member 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.36Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.36Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.10Member 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.10Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.10Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.80Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.80Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.63Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice1.63Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.97Member 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:ExercisePrice0.97Member currency:CAD 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:GeneralSecurityAgreementMember
srt:ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:MarkSmithMember 2022-09-30 0001512228 niobf:MarkSmithMember
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:TechnicalStudiesAndEngineeringMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30
0001512228 niobf:TechnicalStudiesAndEngineeringMember 2021-07-01
2021-09-30 0001512228 niobf:FieldManagementAndOtherMember
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:FieldManagementAndOtherMember 2021-07-01 2021-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:ExplorationAndProductionEquipmentMember
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
us-gaap:ExplorationAndProductionEquipmentMember 2021-07-01
2021-09-30 0001512228 niobf:GeologistsAndFieldStaffMember
2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001512228
niobf:GeologistsAndFieldStaffMember 2021-07-01 2021-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member 2022-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member 2022-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member 2022-09-30
0001512228 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member 2022-06-30
0001512228 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member 2022-06-30
0001512228 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Member 2022-06-30
0001512228 niobf:BusinessCombinationAgreementMember
niobf:ElkCreekResourcesCorpMember 2022-09-30 0001512228 2022-09-22
2022-09-25 0001512228 srt:MaximumMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30
0001512228 srt:MinimumMember 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 iso4217:USD
xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares xbrli:pure
niobf:Numbers
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended
September 30, 2022
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from
to
Commission
file number:
000-55710
NioCorp
Developments Ltd.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
British Columbia, Canada |
|
98-1262185 |
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.) |
|
|
|
7000
South Yosemite Street,
Suite 115
Centennial,
CO
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
|
|
80112
(Zip
code)
|
|
|
|
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (855)
264-6267 |
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class |
|
Trading
Symbol(s) |
|
Name
of each exchange on which
registered |
Not
Applicable |
|
Not
Applicable |
|
Not
Applicable |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to
Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting
company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act:
Large
Accelerated Filer |
☐ |
Accelerated
Filer |
☐ |
Non-Accelerated Filer |
☒ |
Smaller
Reporting Company |
☒ |
|
Emerging
Growth Company |
☐ |
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐
No ☒
As of
November 14, 2022, the registrant had
279,450,884 Common Shares outstanding.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Contents
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data)
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of |
|
|
|
Note |
|
|
September
30,
2022 |
|
|
June 30,
2022 |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,192 |
|
|
$ |
5,280 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
189 |
|
|
|
402 |
|
Total current
assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,381 |
|
|
|
5,682 |
|
Non-current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
transaction costs |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
2,809 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Investment in
equity securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Right-of-use
assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
Land and
buildings, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
850 |
|
|
|
850 |
|
Mineral interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,085 |
|
|
|
16,085 |
|
Total
assets |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
23,246 |
|
|
$ |
22,756 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities |
|
|
6 |
|
|
$ |
3,670 |
|
|
$ |
817 |
|
Related party
loan |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
Convertible
debt |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
755 |
|
|
|
2,169 |
|
Operating lease liability |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
86 |
|
|
|
82 |
|
Total current
liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,511 |
|
|
|
5,068 |
|
Non-current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating lease liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Total
liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,511 |
|
|
|
5,091 |
|
SHAREHOLDERS’
EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
shares, unlimited
shares authorized; shares outstanding: 279,393,227 at
September 30, 2022 and 276,670,606 at June
30, 2022
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
130,684 |
|
|
|
129,055 |
|
Accumulated
deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(112,951 |
) |
|
|
(110,397 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(998 |
) |
|
|
(993 |
) |
Total
shareholders’ equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,735 |
|
|
|
17,665 |
|
Total
liabilities and equity |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
23,246 |
|
|
$ |
22,756 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share
data) (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months
ended September 30, |
|
|
|
Note |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee related costs |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
293 |
|
|
$ |
319 |
|
Professional
fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
Exploration
expenditures |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
1,288 |
|
|
|
621 |
|
Other operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
337 |
|
|
|
226 |
|
Total operating
expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,082 |
|
|
|
1,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
exchange loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
Interest
expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
605 |
|
Other (gain) loss on equity securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
2 |
|
Income
tax benefit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net loss |
|
|
4 |
|
|
$ |
2,554 |
|
|
$ |
2,088 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,554 |
|
|
$ |
2,088 |
|
Other
comprehensive loss (gain): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reporting currency translation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
(124 |
) |
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,559 |
|
|
$ |
1,964 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per common share, basic and
diluted |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
277,926,316 |
|
|
|
258,023,048 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months
ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss for the period |
|
$ |
(2,554 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,088 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash used in operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized (gain) loss on equity
securities |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
2 |
|
Accretion of convertible
debt |
|
|
236 |
|
|
|
551 |
|
Noncash lease expense |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
Depreciation |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Foreign exchange loss |
|
|
177 |
|
|
|
288 |
|
Total |
|
|
(2,143 |
) |
|
|
(1,247 |
) |
Change in working capital
items: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and
other |
|
|
209 |
|
|
|
(270 |
) |
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities |
|
|
196 |
|
|
|
(92 |
) |
Net cash used in operating
activities |
|
|
(1,738 |
) |
|
|
(1,609 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of land and
buildings |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(16 |
) |
Net cash used in financing
activities |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(16 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common
shares |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
664 |
|
Share issue costs |
|
|
(21 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Related party debt
repayments |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(318 |
) |
Net cash provided by financing
activities |
|
|
(21 |
) |
|
|
346 |
|
Exchange rate effect on cash and cash
equivalents |
|
|
(329 |
) |
|
|
(170 |
) |
Change in cash and cash equivalents
during period |
|
|
(2,088 |
) |
|
|
(1,449 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of period |
|
|
5,280 |
|
|
|
7,317 |
|
Cash and cash equivalent, end of
period |
|
$ |
3,192 |
|
|
$ |
5,868 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental cash flow
information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts paid for interest |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
40 |
|
Amounts paid for income
taxes |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Non-cash financing
transactions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversions of debt for common
shares |
|
$ |
1,650 |
|
|
$ |
1,350 |
|
Deferred transaction costs, accrued
but not paid |
|
|
2,809 |
|
|
|
- |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars,
except for Common Shares outstanding) (unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended September
30, 2022 and 2021 |
|
|
Common
Shares
Outstanding |
|
|
Common
Shares |
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss |
|
|
Total |
|
Balance, June 30, 2021 |
|
|
256,379,931 |
|
|
$ |
113,882 |
|
|
$ |
(99,510 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,159 |
) |
|
$ |
13,213 |
|
Exercise of warrants |
|
|
871,750 |
|
|
|
543 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
543 |
|
Exercise of options |
|
|
282,702 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
121 |
|
Debt conversions |
|
|
1,583,986 |
|
|
|
1,350 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,350 |
|
Share issuance
costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reporting currency
translation |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
Loss for the period |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2,088 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2,088 |
) |
Balance, September 30,
2021 |
|
|
259,118,369 |
|
|
$ |
115,896 |
|
|
$ |
(101,598 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,035 |
) |
|
$ |
13,263 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, June 30, 2022 |
|
|
276,670,606 |
|
|
$ |
129,055 |
|
|
$ |
(110,397 |
) |
|
$ |
(993 |
) |
|
$ |
17,665 |
|
Exercise of warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt conversions |
|
|
2,722,621 |
|
|
|
1,650 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,650 |
|
Share issuance costs |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(21 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(21 |
) |
Reporting currency
translation |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
Loss for the period |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2,554 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2,554 |
) |
Balance, September 30,
2022 |
|
|
279,393,227 |
|
|
$ |
130,684 |
|
|
$ |
(112,951 |
) |
|
$ |
(998 |
) |
|
$ |
16,735 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Notes to the
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2022
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts
or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)
1. |
DESCRIPTION OF
BUSINESS |
NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) was
incorporated on February 27, 1987, under the laws of the Province
of British Columbia and currently operates in one reportable
operating segment consisting of exploration and development of
mineral deposits in North America, specifically, the Elk Creek
Niobium/Scandium/Titanium property (the “Elk Creek Project”)
located in southeastern Nebraska.
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a
going concern basis that contemplates the realization of assets and
discharge of liabilities at their carrying values in the normal
course of business for the foreseeable future. These financial
statements do not reflect any adjustments that may be necessary if
the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
The Company currently earns no operating revenues and will require
additional capital in order to advance the Elk Creek Project to
construction and commercial operation. As further discussed in Note
4, these matters raised substantial doubt about the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern, and the Company is
dependent upon the generation of profits from mineral properties,
obtaining additional financing and maintaining continued support
from its shareholders and creditors.
|
a) |
Basis of Preparation and
Consolidation |
The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles of the United States of America (“US GAAP”)
and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). The interim condensed consolidated financial
statements include the consolidated accounts of the Company and its
wholly owned subsidiaries with all significant intercompany
transactions eliminated. The accounting policies followed in
preparing these interim condensed consolidated financial statements
are those used by the Company as set out in the audited
consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022.
Certain transactions include reference to Canadian dollars (“C$”)
where applicable.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary
(including reclassifications and normal recurring adjustments) for
a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations,
and cash flows at September 30, 2022, and for all periods
presented, have been included in these interim condensed
consolidated financial statements. Certain information and footnote
disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial
statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed
or omitted pursuant to appropriate SEC rules and regulations. These
interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read
in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements
for the year ended June 30, 2022. The interim results are not
necessarily indicative of results for the full year ending June 30,
2023, or future operating periods.
|
b) |
Recent Accounting
Standards |
Issued and
Adopted
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with
Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and
Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU
2020-06”), which simplifies the accounting for convertible
instruments. ASU 2020-06 removes certain accounting models which
separate the embedded conversion features from the host contract
for convertible instruments. Either a modified retrospective method
of transition or a fully retrospective method of transition is
permissible for the adoption of this standard. ASU 2020-06 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021,
including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company
adopted ASU 2020-06 on July 1, 2022, with no material effect on the
Company’ s current financial position, results of operations or
financial statement disclosures.
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2022
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per
share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)
Issued and Not
Effective
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the
FASB that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective
date. Unless otherwise discussed, management believes that the
impact of recently issued standards did not or will not have a
material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements
upon adoption.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity
with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during
the reporting period. The Company regularly evaluates estimates and
assumptions related to the deferred income tax asset valuations,
convertible debt valuations, and share-based compensation. The
Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts,
historical experience, and various other factors that it believes
to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form
the basis for making judgments about the other sources. The actual
results experienced by the Company may differ materially and
adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are
material differences between estimates and the actual results,
future results of operations will be affected.
|
d) |
Basic and Diluted Earnings
per Share |
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the
weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the
period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net
loss by the weighted-average number of Common Share equivalents
outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock
method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of
this calculation, options to purchase Common Shares (“Options”) and
warrants to purchase Common Shares (“Warrants”) are considered to
be Common Share equivalents and are only included in the
calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is
dilutive. The following shares underlying Options, Warrants, and
outstanding convertible debt were antidilutive due to a
net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded
from the dilutive securities computation as indicated below.
Schedule of excluded from the
dilutive securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended September
30, |
|
Excluded potentially dilutive securities (1): |
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Options |
|
|
14,464,000 |
|
|
|
15,225,000 |
|
Warrants |
|
|
18,516,253 |
|
|
|
13,470,118 |
|
Convertible debt |
|
|
1,030,000 |
|
|
|
14,744,000 |
|
Total
potential dilutive securities |
|
|
34,010,253 |
|
|
|
43,439,118 |
|
|
(1) |
The number of shares is based on the maximum
number of shares issuable on exercise or conversion of the related
securities as of the period end. Such amounts
have not been adjusted for the treasury stock
method or weighted average outstanding calculations as required if
the securities were dilutive. |
As previously reported, the Company restated its consolidated
balance sheets as of June 30, 2022 and 2021, and consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive income, equity and cash
flows for the years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. In addition,
the restatement impacted the first, second and third
quarters of our fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The summarized
restatement impacts for the comparable interim period in fiscal
year 2022 are presented below. The restatement corrects
errors related to the accounting for the unamortized deferred
financing costs and debt discounts upon extinguishments of debt
related to debt conversions.
.
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2022
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per
share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)
Restatement Impacts to the
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss (unaudited)
Restatement Impacts to the
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive
Loss (unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
the three months ended September 30, 2021 |
|
|
|
As Previously Reported |
|
|
Restatement
Impacts |
|
|
Restated |
|
Foreign exchange loss |
|
$ |
210 |
|
|
$ |
15 |
|
|
$ |
225 |
|
Interest
expense |
|
|
492 |
|
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
605 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
1,960 |
|
|
|
128 |
|
|
|
2,088 |
|
Reporting
currency translation |
|
|
(109 |
) |
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
(124 |
) |
Total
comprehensive loss |
|
|
1,851 |
|
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
1,964 |
|
Restatement Impacts to the
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
Restatement Impacts to the
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Previously Reported |
|
|
Restatement
Impacts |
|
|
Restated |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
loss for the period |
|
$ |
(1,960 |
) |
|
$ |
(128 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,088 |
) |
Accretion of
convertible debt |
|
|
438 |
|
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
551 |
|
Foreign exchange
loss |
|
|
273 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
288 |
|
Restatement Impact to the
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
(unaudited)
Restatement Impacts to the
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
(unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Previously
Reported |
|
|
Restatement
Impacts |
|
|
Restated |
|
June 30, 2021 opening balance
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit |
|
$ |
(99,076 |
) |
|
$ |
(434 |
) |
|
$ |
(99,510 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(1,143 |
) |
|
|
(16 |
) |
|
|
(1,159 |
) |
Total
Shareholders’ equity |
|
|
13,663 |
|
|
|
(450 |
) |
|
|
13,213 |
|
Activity
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
for the period |
|
|
(1,960 |
) |
|
|
(128 |
) |
|
|
(2,088 |
) |
Reporting currency translation |
|
|
109 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
September 30, 2021 ending balance
adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
(101,036 |
) |
|
|
(562 |
) |
|
|
(101,598 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(1,034 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1,035 |
) |
Total
equity |
|
|
13,826 |
|
|
|
(563 |
) |
|
|
13,263 |
|
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2022
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per
share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)
The Company incurred a loss of $2,554 for the three
months ended September 30, 2022 (2021 - $2,088)
and had a working capital deficit of $3,130 and an accumulated
deficit of $112,951 as of
September 30, 2022. As a development stage issuer, the Company has
not yet commenced its mining operations and accordingly does not
generate any revenue. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had
cash of $3,192 which may not be sufficient to fund
normal operations for the next twelve months without deferring
payment on certain liabilities or raising additional funds. In
addition, the Company will be required to raise additional funds
for construction and commencement of operations. These factors
raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as
a going concern.
The Company’s ability to continue operations and fund its
expenditures, which have historically averaged approximately
$1,265
per quarter over the preceding three-year period, is dependent on
management’s ability to secure additional financing. Management is
actively pursuing additional sources of financing, and while it has
been successful in doing so in the past, there can be no assurance
it will be able to do so in the future. Other than the proposed
business combination and potential financing packages discussed in
Note 13, the Company did not have any further funding commitments
or arrangements for additional financing as of September 30, 2022.
These consolidated financial statements do not give effect to any
adjustments required to realize the Company’s assets and discharge
its liabilities in other than the normal course of business and at
amounts different from those reflected in the accompanying
financial statements.
Since March 2020, several measures have been implemented in the
United States, Canada, and the rest of the world in response to the
increased impact from the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic
and subsequent COVID-19 variants. In addition, recent worldwide
events have created general global economic uncertainty as well as
uncertainty in capital markets, supply chain disruptions, increased
interest rates, and the potential for geographic recessions. We
believe this could have an adverse impact on our ability to obtain
financing, development plans, results of operations, financial
position, and cash flows during the current fiscal year. The full
extent to which these events and our precautionary measures may
continue to impact our business will depend on future developments,
which continue to be highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at
this time.
5. |
DEFERRED TRANSACTION
COSTS |
The Company has deferred third-party costs, including legal fees,
other professional and consulting fees, and due diligence fees,
incurred in connection with the proposed transaction discussed in
Note 13. These costs are deferred until closing, at which time a
portion of the costs will be recorded against convertible debt to
be entered into in connection with the proposed transaction, with
the remainder treated as a reduction to the value of Common Shares
issued.
6. |
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND
ACCRUED LIABILITIES |
Schedule of account payable and
accrued liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of |
|
|
|
Note |
|
|
September 30,
2022
|
|
|
June 30,
2022
|
|
Accounts payable, trade |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,904 |
|
|
$ |
115 |
|
Accounts payable accruals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
467 |
|
|
|
654 |
|
Consent accrual |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Interest payable to related
party |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Other accruals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
Total
accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,670 |
|
|
$ |
817 |
|
NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2022
(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars,
except per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)
Changes in the
convertible security (the “Lind III Convertible Security”) issued
to Lind Global Asset Management III, LLC, are as
follows:
|
|
Lind III
Convertible
Security |
|
Balance, June 30, 2022 |
|
$ |
2,169 |
|
Accretion expense |
|
|
236 |
|
Conversions |
|
|
(1,650 |
) |
Balance, September 30, 2022 |
|
$ |
755 |
|
Based on the Company’s closing Common Share price of C$1.43 as of September 30, 2022,
conversion of the remaining Lind III Convertible Security
undiscounted face value of $815 (including accrued
interest) would require the issuance of approximately 1,030,000
Common Shares. For each C$0.01 change
in the fair value of one Common Share, the total Common Shares the
Company
would be obligated to issue would change by approximately 8,000
shares.
Schedule of stock
option
|
|
Number of
Options |
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price |
|
Balance, June 30,
2022 |
|
|
14,464,000 |
|
|
C$ |
0.83 |
|
Granted |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Cancelled/expired |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Balance, September 30, 2022 |
|
|
14,464,000 |
|
|
C$ |
0.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes information about Options
outstanding at September 30, 2022:
Schedule of information about
stock options outstanding
Exercise Price |
|
|
Expiry Date |
|
Number
Outstanding |
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value |
|
|
Number
Exercisable |
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value |
|
C$ |
0.47 |
|
|
November 9, 2022 |
|
|
2,804,000 |
|
|
C$ |
2,692 |
|
|
|
2,804,000 |
|
|
C$ |
2,692 |
|
C$ |
0.84 |
|
|
September 18,
2023 |
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
619 |
|
|
|
1,050,000 |
|
|
|
619 |
|
C$ |
0.54 |
|
|
November 15,
2023 |
|
|
3,785,000 |
|
|
|
3,369 |
|
|
|
3,785,000 |
|
|
|
3,369 |
|
C$ |
0.75 |
|
|
December 14,
2023 |
|
|
1,825,000 |
|
|
|
1,241 |
|
|
|
1,825,000 |
|
|
|
1,241 |
|
C$ |
0.75 |
|
|
December 16,
2023 |
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
C$ |
1.36 |
|
|
December 17,
2024 |
|
|
3,975,000 |
|
|
|
278 |
|
|
|
3,975,000 |
|
|
|
278 |
|
C$ |
1.10 |
|
|
May
30, 2025 |
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
165 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
165 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,464,000 |
|
|
C$ |
8,721 |
|
|
|
14,464,000 |
|
|
C$ |
8,721 |
|
The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the
total intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing Common Share
price of C$1.43 as of September 30, 2022, that
would have been received by the Option holders had all Option
holders exercised their Options as of that date. There were no
in-the-money Options vested and exercisable as of September 30,
2022. As of September 30, 2022, there was $0 of unrecognized
compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation
arrangements granted under the Option plans.
NioCorp
Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September
30, 2022
(expressed
in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as
otherwise stated) (unaudited)
Schedule of warrant
transactions
|
|
Number of
Warrants |
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price |
|
Balance,
June 30, 2022 |
|
|
18,516,253 |
|
|
C$ |
1.16 |
|
Granted |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Cancelled/expired |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Balance,
September 30, 2022 |
|
|
18,516,253 |
|
|
C$ |
1.16 |
|
At
September 30, 2022, the Company had outstanding exercisable Common
Share purchase warrants (“Warrants”), as follows:
Schedule of
outstanding exercisable warrants
|
Number |
|
|
Exercise
Price |
|
|
Expiry
Date |
|
500,000 |
|
|
C$ |
0.80 |
|
|
December 18, 2022 |
|
4,412,118 |
|
|
C$ |
1.63 |
|
|
May 10, 2023 |
|
5,046,135 |
|
|
C$ |
1.10 |
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
8,558,000 |
|
|
C$ |
0.97 |
|
|
February 19, 2025 |
|
18,516,253 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9. |
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES |
Borrowings
under the non-revolving credit facility agreement (the “Smith
Credit Facility”) with Mark Smith, Chief Executive Officer,
President, and Executive Chairman of NioCorp, bear interest at a
rate of 10% and drawdowns from the Smith
Credit Facility are subject to a 2.5% establishment fee. Amounts
outstanding under the Smith Credit Facility are secured by all of
the Company’s assets pursuant to a general security agreement. The
Smith Credit Facility contains financial and non-financial
covenants customary for a facility of its size and nature. The
maturity date for the Smith Credit Facility is June 30,
2023.
As of
September 30, 2022, the principal amount outstanding under the
Smith Credit Facility was $2,000 and accounts
payable and accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2022, include
accrued interest of $51 payable under the Smith Credit
Facility.
10. |
EXPLORATION
EXPENDITURES |
Schedule of exploration
expenditures
|
|
For the Three Months
Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Technical studies and engineering |
|
$ |
141 |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
Field
management and other |
|
|
154 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
Metallurgical
development |
|
|
993 |
|
|
|
436 |
|
Geologists and field staff |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,288 |
|
|
$ |
621 |
|
NioCorp
Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September
30, 2022
(expressed
in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as
otherwise stated) (unaudited)
The Company incurred
lease costs as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months
Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Operating Lease Cost: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed
rent expense |
|
$ |
21 |
|
|
$ |
21 |
|
Variable rent
expense |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Short term lease
cost |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Sublease
income |
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
Net lease cost –
other operating expense |
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year
Lease Maturities |
|
Total
lease payments – through September 2023 |
|
$ |
93 |
|
Less
portion of payments representing interest |
|
|
(7 |
) |
Present
value of lease payments – current lease liability |
|
$ |
86 |
|
12. |
FAIR VALUE
MEASUREMENTS |
The Company
measures the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based
on US GAAP guidance which defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about
fair value measurements.
The
Company classifies financial assets and liabilities as
held-for-trading, available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, loans and
receivables, or other financial liabilities depending on their
nature. Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognized
at fair value on their initial recognition.
Financial
assets and liabilities classified as held-for-trading are measured
at fair value, with gains and losses recognized in net income.
Financial assets classified as held-to-maturity, loans and
receivables, and financial liabilities other than those classified
as held-for-trading are measured at amortized cost, using the
effective interest method of amortization. Financial assets
classified as available-for-sale, including investments in equity
securities, are measured at fair value, with unrealized gains and
losses being recognized in income.
Financial
instruments including receivables, accounts payable and accrued
liabilities, and related party loans are carried at amortized cost,
which management believes approximates fair value due to the
short-term nature of these instruments.
The
following tables present information about the assets and
liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as
of September 30, 2022, and June 30, 2022, respectively, and
indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the
Company utilized to determine such fair value. In general, fair
values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices
(unadjusted) in active markets for identical instruments. Fair
values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that are
observable, such as quoted prices, interest rates, and yield
curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs are unobservable
data points for the financial instrument and include situations
where there is little, if any, market activity for the
instrument.
NioCorp
Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September
30, 2022
(expressed
in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as
otherwise stated) (unaudited)
Schedule of fair values
determined by level 3 inputs are unobservable data
|
|
As of September 30,
2022 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
3,192 |
|
|
$ |
3,192 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Equity
securities |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total |
|
$ |
3,202 |
|
|
$ |
3,202 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
As of June 30,
2022 |
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
5,280 |
|
|
$ |
5,280 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Equity
securities |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total |
|
$ |
5,290 |
|
|
$ |
5,290 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
The
Lind III Convertible Security discussed in Note 7 was initially
recorded at fair value, which represented a nonrecurring fair value
measurement using a Level 3 input. At September 30, 2022 and June
30, 2022, the estimated fair value of this instrument approximated
carrying value given that the instrument was issued in fiscal 2021
and has a short time period until maturity.
On September
25, 2022, the Company, GX Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware
corporation (“GXII”), and Big Red Merger Sub Ltd (“Merger Sub”), a
Delaware corporation incorporated in September 2022, and a direct,
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a business
combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”).
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, as the result of a
series of transactions, GXII will become a subsidiary of the
Company (as successor by merger to the Company’s subsidiary, Elk
Creek Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ECRC”)), with
the pre-combination public shareholders of GXII receiving Common
Shares based on a fixed exchange ratio of 11.1829212 (the “Exchange
Ratio”) Common Shares for each GXII Class A common share held and
not redeemed, and the GXII founders receiving shares in GXII (as
successor by merger to ECRC) based on the Exchange Ratio. Pursuant
to the Business Combination Agreement, after closing, the GXII
founders will have the right to exchange such shares for Common
Shares on a one-for-one basis under certain conditions. Pursuant to
the Business Combination Agreement, the Company will also assume
the obligations under the issued and outstanding GXII warrants,
which will be converted into warrants exercisable into Common
Shares following closing of the Transaction. The Business
Combination Agreement contemplates that the Company will undertake
a reverse stock split of the Common Shares at the time of close in
connection with an expected cross-listing to the Nasdaq Stock
Market (“Nasdaq”). In addition, pursuant to the Business
Combination Agreement, post-closing, the Company’s Board will
include two directors from pre-combination GXII. The transactions
contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the
ancillary agreements thereto are referred to collectively as the
“Transaction.”
As
currently structured, the Business Combination Agreement is
expected to be accounted for as a recapitalization in accordance
with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, GXII will be treated as
the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes.
Accordingly, the transaction is treated as the equivalent of
NioCorp issuing Common Shares for the net assets of GXII,
accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of GXII will be
stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible
assets recorded.
In
addition, in connection with the entry into the Business
Combination Agreement, the Company announced the signing of
non-binding letters of intent (“LOIs”) for two separate financing
packages with Yorkville Advisors Global, LP (“Yorkville”). Subject
to entering into definitive agreements, these financings could
provide the Company with access to up to an additional $81.0 million to help advance the Elk Creek
Project. The financings contemplated by the LOIs include $16.0 million in convertible
debentures that are expected to be funded at the closing of the
Transaction, and subject to certain limitations can be repaid by
the Company in either cash or Common Shares, and a standby equity
purchase facility pursuant to which the Company will have the
ability to
NioCorp
Developments Ltd.
Notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September
30, 2022
(expressed
in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as
otherwise stated) (unaudited)
require
Yorkville, subject to the conditions set out in the definitive
agreements, to purchase up to $65.0 million of its Common
Shares.
The
proposed Transaction is expected to close in the first calendar
quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain
customary closing conditions contained in the Business Combination
Agreement, including, among other things, (i) obtaining required
approvals of the Transaction and related matters by the respective
shareholders of NioCorp and GXII, (ii) the effectiveness of the
registration statement on Form S-4 that the Company originally
filed on November 7, 2022, (iii) receipt of approval for listing on
Nasdaq of the NioCorp Common Shares to be issued in connection with
the Transaction, (iv) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq of
the NioCorp warrants to be issued in exchange for the GXII warrants
that NioCorp has agreed to assume, (v) receipt of approval from the
TSX with respect to the issuance and listing of the NioCorp Common
Shares issuable in connection with the Transaction, (vi) that
NioCorp and its subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor by
merger to ECRC) will have at least $5.000001 million of
net tangible assets upon the consummation of the Transaction, after
giving effect to any redemptions by GXII public stockholders and
after payment of underwriters’ fees or commissions, (vii) that, at
closing, NioCorp and its subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor
by merger to ECRC) will have received cash in an amount equal to or
greater than $15.0
million, subject to certain adjustments, and (viii) the absence of
any injunctions enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the
Business Combination Agreement. The proposed additional financings
contemplated by the LOIs will also be subject to the approval of
the TSX and the Company’s shareholders.
On
September 25, 2022, the Company and Lind entered into an agreement
(the “Lind Consent”), which included the following principal terms:
(i) the consent of Lind to the Transaction and Yorkville financing
transactions, including all actions taken by NioCorp as set out in
the Business Combination Agreement to permit the completion of the
Transaction; (ii) the consent of Lind to NioCorp’s expected Nasdaq
listing and the consolidation of the NioCorp Common Shares in order
to meet the minimum listing requirements thereof; (iii) the waiver
of Lind of its participation right for up to 15% of the total offering in the
proposed standby equity purchase agreement between NioCorp and
Yorkville; and (iv) the waiver of Lind of certain restrictive
covenants in the Lind III Convertible Security.
As
consideration for entering into the Lind Consent, Lind received,
amongst other things: (i) the right to receive payment of
$500, which will be reduced to
$200
if the Transaction have not been consummated on or before April 30,
2023 (collectively, the Consent Payment”); (ii) an extension of its
existing participation rights under the Lind III Convertible
Security in future financings of NioCorp for a further two year
period, subject to certain exceptions as well as an extension of
such participation rights beyond the additional two year period if
Yorkville or any affiliate is a party to any such applicable
transaction; and (iii) the right to receive additional warrants
(the “Consent Warrants”) if on the date that is eighteen months
following consummation of the Transaction, the closing trading
price of the NioCorp Common Shares on the TSX or such other stock
exchange on which such shares may then be listed, is less than
C$1.00, subject to
adjustments. The number of Consent Warrants to be issued is based
on the Canadian dollar equivalent (based on the then current
Canadian to US dollar exchange rate as reported by Bloomberg, LP)
of $5.0 million divided by the
five-day VWAP of NioCorp Common Shares on the date of issuance.
Further, the number of Consent Warrants issued will be
proportionately adjusted based on the percentage of warrants
currently held by Lind that are exercised, if any, prior to the
issuance of any Consent Warrants.
The
final Consent Payment value and the issuance of Consent Warrants
under the Lind Consent, if any, are subject to shareholders’
approval of the Transaction, an event which is outside of
management control. Therefore, pending shareholders’ approval of
the Transaction, the Company has included the minimum $200 payment at September 30, 2022,
as an accrued liability (see Note 6) with a corresponding increase
in deferred transaction costs.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction
with our unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial
statements as of, and for the three months ended September 30,
2022, and the related notes thereto, which have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States (“US GAAP”). This discussion and analysis
contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual
results may differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements and information as a result of many
factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth elsewhere
in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See “Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements” below.
All
currency amounts are stated in thousands of U.S. dollars
unless noted otherwise.
As
used in this report, unless the context otherwise indicates,
references to “we,” “our,” the “Company,” “NioCorp,” and “us” refer
to NioCorp Developments Ltd. and its subsidiaries,
collectively.
Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the exhibits attached hereto
contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”), and “forward-looking information”
within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation
(collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking
statements concern our anticipated results and developments in the
operations of the Company in future periods, planned exploration
activities, the adequacy of the Company’s financial resources, and
other events or conditions that may occur in the future.
Forward-looking
statements have been based upon our current business and operating
plans, as approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, and may
include statements regarding our cash and other funding
requirements and timing and sources thereof; results of feasibility
studies; the accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates and
assumptions on which they are based; the results of economic
assessments and exploration activities; and current market
conditions and project development plans, and the Transaction (as
defined below). The material assumptions used to develop the
forward-looking statements and forward-looking information included
in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include: our expectations of
mineral prices; our forecasts and expected cash flows; our
projected capital and operating costs; accuracy of mineral resource
estimates and resource modeling and feasibility study results;
expectations regarding mining and metallurgical recoveries; timing
and reliability of sampling and assay data; anticipated political
and social conditions; expected national and local government
policies, including legal reforms; successful advancement of the
Company’s required permitting processes; and the ability to
successfully raise additional capital; NioCorp and GXII (as defined
below) being able to receive all required regulatory, third-party
and shareholder approvals for the proposed Transaction; the amount
of redemptions by GXII public stockholders; the execution of
definitive agreements relating to the convertible debenture
transaction and the standby equity purchase facility contemplated
by the term sheets with Yorkville (as defined below); and other
current estimates and assumptions regarding the proposed
Transaction and its benefits.
Forward-looking
statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such
as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,”
“potential,” “possible,” and similar expressions, or statements
that events, conditions, or results “will,” “may,” “could,” or
“should” (or the negative and grammatical variations of any of
these terms) occur or be achieved. 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. Such forward-looking statements reflect
the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are
subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance,
or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks
related to the following:
Risks
Related to Our Business:
|
● |
risks
related to our ability to operate as a going concern; |
|
● |
risks
related to our requirement of significant additional
capital; |
|
● |
risks
related to our limited operating history; |
|
● |
risks
related to our history of losses; |
|
● |
risks
related to the restatement of our consolidated financial statements
with respect to the Affected Periods and the impact of such
restatement on our future financial statements and other financial
measures; |
|
● |
risks
related to the material weakness in our internal control over
financial reporting, our efforts to remediate such material
weakness and the timing of remediation; |
|
● |
risks
related to cost increases for our exploration and, if warranted,
development projects; |
|
● |
risks
related to a disruption in, or failure of, our information
technology systems, including those related to
cybersecurity; |
|
● |
risks
related to equipment and supply shortages; |
|
● |
risks
related to current and future offtake agreements, joint ventures,
and partnerships; |
|
● |
risks
related to our ability to attract qualified management; |
|
● |
risks
related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or other global
health crises on our business plans, financial condition and
liquidity; and |
|
● |
risks
related to the ability to enforce judgment against certain of our
directors. |
Risks
Related to Mining and Exploration:
|
● |
risks
related to estimates of mineral resources and reserves; |
|
● |
risks
related to mineral exploration and production
activities; |
|
● |
risks
related to our lack of mineral production from our
properties; |
|
● |
risks
related to the results of our metallurgical testing; |
|
● |
risks
related to the price volatility of commodities; |
|
● |
risks
related to the establishment of a reserve and resource for Rare
Earth Elements (“REEs” or “Rare Earths”) and the development of a
viable recovery process for REEs; |
|
● |
risks
related to the estimation of mineral resources and mineral
reserves; |
|
● |
risks
related to changes in mineral resource and reserve
estimates; |
|
● |
risks
related to competition in the mining industry; |
|
● |
risks
related to the management of the water balance at our Elk Creek
Project; |
|
● |
risks
related to claims on the title to our properties; |
|
● |
risks
related to potential future litigation; and |
|
● |
risks
related to our lack of insurance covering all our
operations. |
Risks
Related to Government Regulations:
|
● |
risks
related to our ability to obtain or renew permits and licenses for
production; |
|
● |
risks
related to government and environmental regulations that may
increase our costs of doing business or restrict our
operations; |
|
● |
risks
related to changes in federal and/or state laws that may
significantly affect the mining industry; |
|
● |
risks
related to the impacts of climate change, as well as actions taken
or required by governments related to strengthening resilience in
the face of potential impacts from climate change; and |
|
● |
risks
related to land reclamation requirements. |
Risks
Related to Our Debt:
|
● |
risks
related to covenants contained in agreements with our secured
creditors that may affect our assets; and |
|
● |
risks
related to the extent to which our level of indebtedness may impair
our ability to obtain additional financing. |
Risks
Related to Our Common Shares:
|
● |
risks
related to qualifying as a “passive foreign investment company”
under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
and |
|
● |
risks
related to our Common Shares, including price volatility, lack of
dividend payments, dilution and penny stock rules. |
Risks
Related to the Proposed Transaction
|
● |
risks
related to the amount of any redemptions by GXII public
stockholders being greater than expected, which may reduce the cash
in trust available to NioCorp upon the consummation of the
Transaction; |
|
● |
risks
related to the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the
Business Combination Agreement (as defined below) and/or payment of
the termination fees; |
|
● |
risks
related to the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be
instituted against NioCorp or GXII following announcement of the
Business Combination Agreement and the Transaction; |
|
● |
risks
related to the inability to complete the Transaction due to, among
other things, the failure to obtain NioCorp shareholder approval or
GXII stockholder approval or the execution of definitive agreements
relating to the convertible debenture transaction and the standby
equity purchase facility contemplated by the term sheets with
Yorkville; |
|
● |
the
risk that the announcement and consummation of the Transaction
disrupts NioCorp’s current plans; |
|
● |
risks
relating to the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of
the Transaction; |
|
● |
risks
relating to unexpected costs related to the Transaction;
and
|
|
|
|
|
● |
the
risks that the consummation of the Transaction is substantially
delayed or does not occur, including prior to the date on which
GXII is required to liquidate under the terms of its charter
documents. |
Should one
or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary
materially from those described herein. This list is not exhaustive
of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the
future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the
Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially
from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a
variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including
without limitation those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors”
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June
30, 2022, as well as other factors described elsewhere in this
report and the Company’s other reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The
Company’s forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q are based on the beliefs, expectations, and
opinions of management as of the date of this report. The Company
does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements
if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations, or opinions
should change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth
above, investors should not attribute undue certainty to, or place
undue reliance on, forward-looking statements.
Qualified
Person
All
technical and scientific information included in this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q derived from the June 2022 Elk Creek Project
feasibility study prepared by qualified persons (within the meaning
of both National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K
(“S-K 1300”), as applicable) has been reviewed and approved by
Scott Honan, M.Sc., SME-RM, NioCorp’s Chief Operating Officer. Mr.
Honan is a “Qualified Person” as such term is defined in NI 43-101
and S-K 1300.
Company
Overview
NioCorp
is developing the Elk Creek Project, located in southeast Nebraska.
The Elk Creek Project is an advanced Niobium (“Nb”), Scandium
(“Sc”) and Titanium (“Ti”) development stage property. The Company
is evaluating the potential to produce several Rare Earth
byproducts from the Elk Creek Project. Niobium is used to produce
various superalloys that are extensively used in high performance
aircraft and jet turbines. It also is used in High-Strength,
Low-Alloy (“HSLA”) steel, a stronger steel used in automobiles,
bridges, structural systems, buildings, pipelines, and other
applications that generally increases strength and/or reduces
weight, which can result in environmental benefits, including
reduced fuel consumption and material usage and fewer air
emissions. Scandium can be combined with aluminum to make
high-performance alloys with increased strength and improved
corrosion resistance. Scandium also is a critical component of
advanced solid oxide fuel cells, an environmentally preferred
technology for high-reliability, distributed electricity
generation. Titanium is a component of various superalloys and
other applications that are used for aerospace applications,
weapons systems, protective armor, medical implants and many
others. It also is used in pigments for paper, paint, and plastics.
Rare Earths are critical to electrification and decarbonization
initiatives and can be used to manufacture the strongest permanent
magnets commercially available.
Our
primary business strategy is to advance our Elk Creek Project to
commercial production. We are focused on obtaining additional funds
to carry out our near-term planned work programs associated with
securing the project financing necessary to complete mine
development and construction of the Elk Creek Project.
Recent
Corporate Events
On
September 25, 2022, the Company, GXII, and Merger Sub, entered into
the Business Combination Agreement. Pursuant to the Business
Combination Agreement, as the result of a series of transactions,
GXII will become a subsidiary of the Company (as successor by
merger to the Company’s subsidiary, ECRC), with the pre-combination
public shareholders of GXII receiving Common Shares based on the
Exchange Ratio of 11.1829212 Common Shares for each GXII Class A
common share held and not redeemed, and the GXII founders receiving
shares in GXII (as successor by merger to ECRC) based on the
Exchange Ratio. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement,
after closing, the GXII founders will have the right to exchange
such shares for Common Shares on a one-for-one basis under certain
conditions. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the
Company will also assume the obligations under the issued and
outstanding GXII warrants, which will be converted into warrants
exercisable into Common Shares following closing of the
Transaction. The Business Combination Agreement contemplates that
the Company will undertake a reverse stock split of the Common
Shares at the time of close in connection with an expected
cross-listing to Nasdaq. In addition, pursuant to the Business
Combination Agreement, post-closing, the Company’s Board will
include two directors from pre-combination GXII. The transactions
contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the
ancillary agreements thereto are referred to collectively as the
“Transaction.”
The
business combination pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement
will be accounted for as a recapitalization in accordance with
GAAP. Under this method of accounting, GXII will be treated as the
“acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly,
the transaction is treated as the equivalent of NioCorp issuing
Common Shares for the net assets of GXII, accompanied by a
recapitalization. The net assets of GXII will be stated at
historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets
recorded.
In
addition, in connection with the entry into the Business
Combination Agreement, the Company announced the signing of
non-binding LOIs for two separate financing packages with
Yorkville. Subject to entering into definitive agreements, these
financings could provide the Company with access to up to an
additional $81.0 million to help advance the Elk Creek Project. The
financings contemplated by the LOIs include $16.0 million in
convertible debentures that are expected to be funded at the
closing of the Transaction, and subject to certain limitations can
be
repaid by
the Company in either cash or Common Shares, and a standby equity
purchase facility pursuant to which the Company will have the
ability to require Yorkville, subject to the conditions set out in
the definitive agreements, to purchase up to $65.0 million of its
Common Shares.
The
proposed Transaction is expected to close in the first calendar
quarter of 2023, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain
customary closing conditions contained in the Business Combination
Agreement, including, among other things, (i) obtaining required
approvals of the Transaction and related matters by the respective
shareholders of NioCorp and GXII, (ii) the effectiveness of the
registration statement on Form S-4 that the Company originally
filed on November 7, 2022, (iii) receipt of approval for listing on
Nasdaq of the NioCorp Common Shares to be issued in connection with
the Transaction, (iv) receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq of
the NioCorp warrants to be issued in exchange for the GXII warrants
that NioCorp has agreed to assume, (v) receipt of approval from the
TSX with respect to the issuance and listing of the NioCorp Common
Shares issuable in connection with the Transaction, (vi) that
NioCorp and its subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor by
merger to ECRC) will have at least $5.000001 million of net
tangible assets upon the consummation of the Transaction, after
giving effect to any redemptions by GXII public stockholders and
after payment of underwriters’ fees or commissions, (vii) that, at
closing, NioCorp and its subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor
by merger to ECRC) will have received cash in an amount equal to or
greater than $15.0 million, subject to certain adjustments, and
(viii) the absence of any injunctions enjoining or prohibiting the
consummation of the Business Combination Agreement. The proposed
additional financings contemplated by the LOIs will also be subject
to the approval of the TSX and the Company’s
shareholders.
Final
proceeds will depend upon redemption rates of current GXII
shareholders at the consummation of the proposed Transaction. In
connection with the closing of the Transaction, a significant
number of GXII shareholders may exercise their redemption rights.
See Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors—If the Transaction is
consummated, the combined company may not realize all or any of the
anticipated benefits expected as a result of the
Transaction.”
Elk
Creek Project Update
On
September 6, 2022, the Company announced that it filed with the SEC
a Technical Report Summary (“TRS”) based on the Company’s 2022
Feasibility Study for the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project. The
TRS was filed with the SEC to comply with Item 601(b)(96) and S-K
1300, which regulates disclosure of Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves. A companion Technical Report for Canadian purposes,
pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”), was filed by
NioCorp on SEDAR on June 28, 2022. The technical data and economic
conclusions of these reports are substantively identical, with
minor differences between the reports resulting only from the
respective disclosure requirements of S-K 1300 and NI
43-101.
On
September 6, 2022, the Company announced that its
demonstration-scale processing plant (the “demonstration plant”) in
Quebec, Canada had commenced a three-tonne sample of representative
ore from the Elk Creek Project. The demonstration plant project is
intended to demonstrate that the Company can extract and separate
rare earth elements from ore that NioCorp expects to mine from the
Project site, subject to receipt of necessary project financing,
and that its simplified process for potentially producing niobium,
scandium, and titanium is technically and economically
feasible.
The
demonstration plant will process Elk Creek ore samples in three
phases.
|
● |
Phase
1 is designed to demonstrate a new approach to the initial
processing of the ore that NioCorp expects to mine from the Project
site, subject to receipt of necessary project funding, including
calcination, initial leaching, and rare earth
extraction; |
|
● |
Phase
2 is designed to demonstrate an improved process for the second
stage of leaching along with Niobium and Titanium separation;
and |
|
● |
Phase
3 is designed to demonstrate the technical viability of separating
high-purity versions of several target magnetic rare earth products
from Elk Creek ore samples, as well as confirming previously
achieved high recovery rates for high-purity Scandium
trioxide. |
The
potential magnetic rare earth products include
Neodymium-Praseodymium (“NdPr”) oxide, Dysprosium oxide, and
Terbium oxide. NioCorp will utilize conventional solvent extraction
(“SX”) technology to test a rare earth separation approach
developed by NioCorp and L3 Process Innovation (“L3”).
On
October 25, 2022, the Company announced that its demonstration
plant had completed demonstrating its planned process for removing
calcium and magnesium from ore obtained from the Elk Creek Project.
This positive result, which is part of Phase I operations of the
demonstration plant, is a key milestone in NioCorp’s proposed
optimization of its process flow sheet for the Project, which was
designed by L3 and NioCorp.
The
well-known and time-tested process NioCorp is employing to remove
calcium and magnesium carbonates from the ore using thermal
treatment and leaching is part of the demonstration plant’s Phase I
flowsheet. This step operated successfully, and the removed calcium
and magnesium were produced at demonstration scale as a mixed
calcium and magnesium carbonate. Removing carbonate minerals in
this fashion is expected to reduce the size of the follow-on
planned production steps and make them more efficient.
Characterization of the calcium and magnesium carbonate from the
completed demonstration plant production runs has demonstrated very
low levels of impurities, and an overall 99% purity of the mixed
calcium-magnesium carbonate. Phase I demonstration plant operations
will continue with calcination and a ramp-up of leaching operations
as testwork and assembly of Phase II and Phase III of the
demonstration plant’s planned operations proceed in
parallel.
Other Activities
Our
long-term financing efforts continued during the quarter ended
September 30, 2022, including the proposed Transaction, discussed
above. As funds become available through the Company’s fundraising
efforts, we expect to undertake the following
activities:
|
● |
Continuation
of the Company’s efforts to secure federal, state and local
permits; |
|
● |
Continued
evaluation of the potential to produce Rare Earth
products; |
|
● |
Negotiation
and completion of offtake agreements for the remaining uncommitted
production from the project; |
|
● |
Negotiation
and completion of engineering, procurement and construction
agreements; |
|
● |
Completion
of the final detailed engineering for the underground portion of
the Elk Creek Project; |
|
● |
Initiation
and completion of the final detailed engineering for surface
project facilities; |
|
● |
Construction
of natural gas and electrical infrastructure under existing
agreements to serve the Elk Creek Project site; |
|
● |
Completion
of water supply agreements and related infrastructure to deliver
fresh water to the project site; |
|
● |
Initiation
of revised mine groundwater investigation and control
activities; |
|
● |
Land
clearing operations intended to prepare property owned by ECRC for
the commencement of project construction, |
|
● |
Initiation
of long-lead equipment procurement activities; and |
|
● |
Operation
of a small-scale demonstration plant to address process
recommendations contained in the NI 43-101 technical report for the
Elk Creek Project filed on SEDAR on May 29, 2019 and to quantify
REE metallurgical performance. |
Financial
and Operating Results
The
Company has no revenues from mining operations. Operating expenses
incurred related primarily to performing exploration activities, as
well as the activities necessary to support corporate and
shareholder duties, and are detailed in the following
table.
|
|
For the Three Months
Ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee-related costs |
|
$ |
293 |
|
|
$ |
319 |
|
Professional
fees |
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
Exploration
expenditures |
|
|
1,288 |
|
|
|
621 |
|
Other
operating expenses |
|
|
337 |
|
|
|
226 |
|
Total operating
expenses |
|
|
2,082 |
|
|
|
1,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange
loss |
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
Interest
expense |
|
|
300 |
|
|
|
605 |
|
Loss (gain) on
equity securities |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
2 |
|
Income
tax benefit |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
2,554 |
|
|
$ |
2,088 |
|
Three
months ended September 30, 2022 compared to three months ended
September 30, 2021
Significant
items affecting operating expenses are noted below:
Employee-related
costs decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to timing of
the retirement of our general counsel in the second quarter of
fiscal 2021.
Professional
fees increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to
the timing of legal services related to the TRS filed with the SEC
on September 6, 2022.
Exploration
expenditures increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily
due to the timing of demonstration plant development and start-up
costs incurred in 2022, as well as costs related to the completion
and filing of the TRS filed with the SEC on September 6,
2022.
Other
operating expenses include investor relations, general office
expenditures, equity offering and proxy expenditures, board-related
expenditures and other miscellaneous costs. These costs increased
in 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to increased financial
advisory fees and investor relations fees associated with our
ongoing financing efforts.
Other
significant items impacting the change in the Company’s net loss
are noted below:
Foreign
exchange loss is primarily due to changes in the U.S. dollar
against the Canadian dollar and reflects the timing of foreign
currency transactions, primarily U.S. dollar-based related party
loans, and subsequent changes in exchange rates. The decline in
foreign exchange loss during 2022 as compared 2021 is due to a
declining U.S. dollar-based debt balance, partially offset by
increased foreign exchange rates in 2022.
Interest
expense decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the
impacts of conversions on the outstanding balance of the Lind III
Convertible Security.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
We
have no revenue generating operations from which we can internally
generate funds. To date, our ongoing operations have been financed
by the sale of our equity securities by way of private placements,
convertible securities issuances, the exercise of incentive stock
options and share purchase warrants, and related party
loans.
As of
September 30, 2022, the Company had cash of $3.2 million and a
working capital deficit of $3.1 million, compared to cash of $5.3
million and working capital surplus of $0.6 million on June 30,
2022.
We
expect that the Company will operate at a loss for the foreseeable
future. The Company’s current planned cash needs are approximately
$16.0 million until June 30, 2023. In addition to outstanding
accounts payable and short-term liabilities, our average monthly
planned expenditures are approximately $1,125 per month where
approximately $475 is for corporate overhead and estimated costs
related to securing financing necessary for advancement of the Elk
Creek Project. Approximately $650 per month is planned for
expenditures relating to the advancement of Elk Creek Project by
NioCorp’s wholly owned subsidiary, ECRC. The Company’s ability to
continue operations and fund our current work plan is dependent on
management’s ability to secure additional financing.
The
Company anticipates that it does not have sufficient cash to
continue to fund basic operations for the next twelve months, and
additional funds totaling $12.0 million to $13.5 million are likely
to be necessary to continue advancing the project in the areas of
financing, permitting, and detailed engineering. Management is
actively pursuing such additional sources of debt and equity
financing, and while it has been successful in doing so in the
past, there can be no assurance it will be able to do so in the
future.
Elk
Creek property lease commitments are $6 until June 30, 2023. To
maintain our currently held properties and fund our currently
anticipated general and administrative costs and planned
exploration and development activities at the Elk Creek Project for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Company will likely
require additional financing during the current fiscal year. Should
such financing not be available in that timeframe, we will be
required to reduce our activities and will not be able to carry out
all our presently planned activities at the Elk Creek
Project.
On
September 25, 2022, the Company, GXII and Merger Sub entered into
the Business Combination Agreement. The NioCorp Board considered a
number of factors as generally supporting its decision to enter
into the Business Combination Agreement, including, but not limited
to, the following material factors:
|
● |
Anticipated
Acceleration of Financing Efforts. The Transaction has the
potential to (1) provide NioCorp with up to $285.0 million in net
cash proceeds at the consummation of the Transaction, depending
upon the amount of redemptions by GXII public stockholders, and up
to an additional $81.0 million over the next three years (as
further discussed below), depending on the consummation of other
additional financing arrangements that NioCorp and GXII intend to
pursue prior to and following the expected closing of the
Transaction and (2) significantly accelerate NioCorp’s efforts to
obtain the required Elk Creek Project financing by increasing
exposure to institutional investors looking to make strategic
investments in critical minerals plays that are crucial to the
world’s clean energy transition; |
|
● |
Non-Binding
Yorkville Term Sheets. The signing of non-binding LOIs for two
separate financing packages with Yorkville, where, subject to
entering into definitive agreements, such financings could provide
NioCorp with access to up to an additional $81.0 million to help
advance the Elk Creek Project. The financings contemplated by the
LOIs include $16.0 million in convertible debentures that are
expected to be funded at the closing of the Transaction, and
subject to certain limitations can be repaid by NioCorp in either
cash or NioCorp Common Shares, and a standby equity purchase
facility pursuant to which NioCorp will have the ability to require
Yorkville, subject to the conditions set out in the definitive
agreements, to purchase up to $65.0 million of NioCorp Common
Shares; |
|
● |
Anticipated
Benefits of Nasdaq Listing. A listing on Nasdaq, which is an
established national exchange in the United States, would provide
broader access to capital and financing alternatives and would
otherwise enhance NioCorp’s public profile; and |
|
● |
Minimum
Cash Condition. The consummation of the Transaction is subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions
contained in the Business Combination Agreement, including, among
other things, that, at the closing, NioCorp and its subsidiaries
(including GXII, as successor by merger to ECRC) will have received
cash in an amount equal to or greater than $15.0 million, subject
to certain adjustments. |
The
NioCorp Board also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks
and other potentially negative factors concerning the Transaction,
including, but not limited to, the following:
|
● |
Risks
of Failure to Complete the Transaction. The risks
that: |
|
o |
the
Transaction may not be completed despite the parties’ efforts,
including the possibility that the conditions to the parties’
obligations to complete the Transaction (which include certain
conditions that are not within the control of the parties to the
Business Combination Agreement) may not be satisfied or that
completion of the Transaction may be unduly delayed, and any
resulting adverse impacts on NioCorp, its business and the trading
price of NioCorp Common Shares; |
|
o |
the
circumstances under which the Business Combination Agreement could
be terminated and the impact of such termination, including the
requirement that NioCorp must pay GXII (1) a Base Termination Fee
of $15.0 million if it terminates the Business Combination
Agreement in order to enter into an agreement providing for a
Superior Proposal (as defined in the Business Combination
Agreement), for a change of recommendation of the NioCorp Board, or
a material breach of certain of NioCorp’s covenants relating to
soliciting acquisition proposals or (2) an Intentional Breach
Termination Fee of $25.0 million if GXII terminates the Business
Combination Agreement as a result of a willful and material breach
by NioCorp or as a result of NioCorp’s failure to consummate the
closing of the Transaction within five business days after all the
conditions to closing have been satisfied; |
|
o |
if
GXII is entitled to the Base Termination Fee or the Intentional
Breach Termination Fee upon termination of the Business Combination
Agreement, NioCorp is also required to pay all documented and
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses paid or payable by GXII and its
sponsor in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and
the Transaction, not to exceed $5.0 million; and |
|
o |
the
substantial costs to be incurred in connection with the
Transaction, including those incurred regardless of whether the
Transaction are completed; |
|
● |
Risks
Relating to the Benefits of the Transaction. The risks
of: |
|
o |
not
realizing all the anticipated benefits expected as a result of the
Transaction, including the anticipated acceleration of its
financing efforts and the benefits of the expected Nasdaq listing,
and that general economic and market conditions outside the control
of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement could
deteriorate, any of which could result in NioCorp being unable to
achieve the financing necessary to advance, complete construction
and commence operation of the Elk Creek Project; and |
|
o |
the
substantial costs to be incurred in connection with the
Transaction, including those incurred regardless of whether the
anticipated benefits of the Transaction are realized; |
|
● |
Risks
Relating to the Financing. The absence of committed financing
and that the parties may not be able to negotiate definitive
documentation related to the Yorkville LOIs or may not otherwise be
able to consummate the financing transactions contemplated thereby,
which could cause NioCorp to encounter difficulties in completing
the Transaction with financing terms as favorable as anticipated or
at all; and |
|
● |
Restrictions
on the Conduct of Business. The Business Combination Agreement
places certain restrictions on the conduct of the NioCorp business
prior to the consummation of the Transaction and other alternatives
reasonably available to NioCorp if it did not pursue the
Transaction, including continuing to pursue alternative financing
arrangements. |
Except
as set forth above, we currently have no further funding
commitments or arrangements for additional financing at this time,
other than the potential exercise of options and warrants, and
there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain any such
additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all.
Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in the Business
Combination Agreement, there is significant uncertainty that we
would be able to secure any
additional
financing in the current equity or debt markets. The quantity of
funds to be raised and the terms of any proposed equity or debt
financing that may be undertaken will be negotiated by management
as opportunities to raise funds arise. In addition to the proposed
Transaction and subject to receipt of the consent of GXII as may be
required pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, management
may pursue funding sources of both debt and equity financing,
including but not limited to the issuance of equity securities in
the form of Common Shares, Warrants, subscription receipts, or any
combination thereof in units of the Company pursuant to private
placements to accredited investors or pursuant to equity lines of
credit or public offerings in the form of underwritten/brokered
offerings, at-the-market offerings, registered direct offerings, or
other forms of equity financing and public or private issuances of
debt securities including secured and unsecured convertible debt
instruments or secured debt project financing. Management does not
currently know the terms pursuant to which such financings may be
completed in the future, but any such financings will be negotiated
at arm’s length. Future financings involving the issuance of equity
securities or derivatives thereof will likely be completed at a
discount to the then-current market price of the Company’s
securities and will likely be dilutive to current shareholders. In
addition, we could raise funds through the sale of interests in our
mineral properties, although current market conditions and the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent worldwide events
have substantially reduced the number of potential buyers/acquirers
of any such interests. However, we cannot provide any assurances
that we will be able to be successful in raising such
funds.
Based
on the conditions described within, management has concluded and
the audit opinion and notes that accompany our financial statements
for the year ended June 30, 2022, disclose that substantial doubt
exists as to our ability to continue in business. The financial
statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been
prepared under the assumption that we will continue as a going
concern. We are a development stage issuer and we have incurred
losses since our inception. We may not have sufficient cash to fund
normal operations and meet debt obligations for the next twelve
months without deferring payment on certain current liabilities and
raising additional funds. The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent
worldwide events have created general global economic uncertainty
as well as uncertainty in capital markets, supply chain
disruptions, increased interest rates, and the potential for
geographic recessions. During fiscal year 2022 and continuing into
fiscal year 2023, these events continued to create uncertainty with
respect to overall project funding and timelines. We believe that
the going concern uncertainty cannot be alleviated with confidence
until the Company has entered into a business climate where funding
of its planned ongoing operating activities is secured. Therefore,
these factors raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue
as a going concern.
We
have no exposure to any asset-backed commercial paper. Other than
cash held by our subsidiaries for their immediate operating needs
in Colorado and Nebraska, all of our cash reserves are on deposit
with major United States and Canadian chartered banks. We do not
believe that the credit, liquidity, or market risks with respect
thereto have increased as a result of the current market
conditions. However, in order to achieve greater security for the
preservation of our capital, we have, of necessity, been required
to accept lower rates of interest, which has also lowered our
potential interest income.
Operating
Activities
During
the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company’s operating
activities consumed $1.7 million of cash (2021: $1.6 million). The
cash used in operating activities for the three months ended
September 30, 2022, reflects the Company’s funding of losses of
$2.6 million, partially offset by the accretion of convertible debt
and other non-cash transactions. Overall, operational outflows
during the three months ended September 30, 2022, increased
slightly from the corresponding period of 2021 due to an increase
in exploration-related spending at the Elk Creek Project. Going
forward, the Company’s working capital requirements are expected to
increase substantially in connection with the development of the
Elk Creek Project.
Financing
Activities
Financing
inflows were nil during the three months ended September 30, 2022,
as compared to $0.3 million during the corresponding period in
2021, primarily reflecting the timing of warrant and option
exercises during 2021.
Cash
Flow Considerations
The
Company has historically relied upon debt and equity financings to
finance its activities. The Company may pursue additional debt
and/or equity financing in the medium term; however, there can be
no assurance the Company will be able to obtain any required
financing in the future on acceptable terms.
The
Company has limited financial resources compared to its proposed
expenditures, no source of operating income, and no assurance that
additional funding will be available to it for current or future
projects, although the Company has been successful in the past in
financing its activities through the sale of equity
securities.
The
ability of the Company to arrange additional financing in the
future will depend, in part, on the prevailing capital market
conditions, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
timing and availability of funding, and its success in developing
the Elk Creek Project. Any quoted market for the Common Shares may
be subject to market trends generally, notwithstanding any
potential success of the Company in creating revenue, cash flows,
or earnings, and any depression of the trading price of the Common
Shares could impact its ability to obtain equity financing on
acceptable terms.
Historically,
the Company has used net proceeds from issuances of Common Shares
to provide sufficient funds to meet its near-term exploration and
development plans and other contractual obligations when due.
However, development and construction of the Elk Creek Project will
require substantial additional capital resources. This includes
near-term funding and, ultimately, funding for Elk Creek Project
construction and other costs. See “Liquidity and Capital
Resources” above for the Company’s discussion of arrangements
related to possible future financings.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
There
have been no material changes in our critical accounting estimates
discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” under the heading “Critical
Accounting Estimates and Recent Accounting Pronouncements” as of
June 30, 2022, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2022.
Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
NioCorp
believes that it qualified as a “passive foreign investment
company” (“PFIC”) as defined under Section 1297 of the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, in recent years,
including its taxable years ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021.
However, based on the current composition of its income and assets,
as well as current business plans and financial expectations,
NioCorp does not currently expect to be treated as a PFIC for its
taxable year or foreseeable future taxable years. However, this
conclusion is a factual determination that must be made annually at
the close of each taxable year and, thus, is subject to change. In
addition, it is possible notwithstanding NioCorp’s conclusion that
the IRS could assert, and that a court could sustain, a
determination that NioCorp is a PFIC. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance that NioCorp (or any of its subsidiaries) will not be
treated as a PFIC for any taxable year. Current and prospective
United States shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to
the tax consequences of PFIC classification and the U.S. federal
tax treatment of PFICs. Additional information on this matter is
included in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022,
under the heading “Risks Related to the Common Shares.”
Other
The
Company has one class of shares, being Common Shares. A summary of
outstanding shares, share options, warrants, and convertible debt
option as of November 14, 2022, is set out below, on a
fully-diluted basis.
|
Common
Shares Outstanding
(fully
diluted)
|
Common
Shares |
279,450,884 |
Stock
options1 |
14,364,000 |
Warrants1 |
18,516,253 |
Convertible
Debt2 |
1,155,200 |
|
1 |
Each
exercisable into one Common Share |
|
2 |
Represents
Common Shares issuable on conversion of aggregate outstanding
principal amounts of $0.8 million of convertible debt as of
November 14, 2022, assuming a market price per Common Share of
$0.81 on that date. |
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK
Interest rate risk
The
Company’s exposure to changes in market interest rates, relates
primarily to the Company’s earned interest income on cash deposits
and short-term investments. The Company maintains a balance between
the liquidity of cash assets and the interest rate return thereon.
The carrying amount of financial assets, net of any provisions for
losses, represents the Company’s maximum exposure to credit
risk.
Foreign currency exchange risk
The
Company incurs expenditures in both U.S. dollars and Canadian
dollars. Canadian dollar expenditures are primarily related to
certain Common Share-related costs and corporate professional
services. As a result, currency exchange fluctuations may impact
the costs of our operating activities. To reduce this risk, we
maintain sufficient cash balances in Canadian dollars to fund
expected near-term expenditures.
Commodity price risk
The
Company is exposed to commodity price risk related to the elements
associated with the Elk Creek Project. A significant decrease in
the global demand for these elements may have a material adverse
effect on our business. The Elk Creek Project is not in production,
and the Company does not currently hold any commodity derivative
positions.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
At
the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, an evaluation was carried
out under the supervision of and with the participation of our
management, including the CEO and the Chief Financial Officer
(“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e)
and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that
evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that, as of the end
of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure
controls and procedures were not effective due to the material
weakness in internal control over financial reporting described
below.
The
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to
ensure that: (i) information required to be disclosed by us in
reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time
periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) material
information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the
Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management,
including the CEO and the CFO, as appropriate, to allow for
accurate and timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
Management
does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will
prevent all error and all fraud. The effectiveness of our or any
system of disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed
and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that the
objectives of the system will be met and is subject to certain
limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing,
implementing and evaluating controls and procedures and the
assumptions used in identifying the likelihood of future
events.
Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financing Reporting
Existing as of September 30, 2022
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement
of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not
be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Our
management concluded that we did not maintain effective internal
control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2022, due to a
material weakness relating to our controls, specifically, the
Company’s controls over the accounting for non-routine transactions
were not adequately designed to ensure the consideration of all
related relevant accounting guidance when such transactions were
recorded. This material weakness resulted in the restatement of the
Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 and the interim periods
ended September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022.
Additionally, this material weakness could result in a misstatement
of the aforementioned account balances or disclosures that would
result in a material misstatement to the annual or interim
consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or
timely detected.
Remediation Plan for the Material Weakness
In
order to remediate the material weakness, the Company’s management
plans to enhance the design of its control over the consideration
of all related relevant accounting guidance for the initial
recording and subsequent measurements of non-routine transactions.
The material weakness cannot be considered remediated until the
newly designed control activity operates for a sufficient period of
time and management has concluded, through testing, that all
related relevant accounting guidance for non-routine transactions
has been considered in connection with the Company’s normal
quarterly close and review procedures for each quarter. Until the
material weakness is remediated, we will continue to perform
additional analyses and other post-closing procedures to ensure
that our consolidated financial statements are prepared in
accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting during the three months ended September 30,
2022, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to
materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We
know of no material, active, or pending legal proceedings against
the Company, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material
proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which
any of our directors, officers, or affiliates, or any registered or
beneficial shareholder, is an adverse party or has a material
interest adverse to our interest.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You
should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in Item 1A,
“Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, which could materially affect
the Company’s business, financial condition or future
results.
The
information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,
including without limitation, the risk factors presented below,
updates and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors
and information disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.
Failure to consummate the Transaction could negatively impact the
price of our Common Shares and have a material adverse effect on
our results of operations, cash flows and financial
position.
The
consummation of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of certain customary closing conditions contained in the
Business Combination Agreement, including, among other things, (i)
obtaining required approvals of the Transaction and related matters
by the respective shareholders of NioCorp and GXII, (ii) the
effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4, (iii)
receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq of the NioCorp Common
Shares to be issued in connection with the Transaction, (iv)
receipt of approval for listing on Nasdaq of the NioCorp Assumed
Warrants, (v) receipt of approval from the TSX with respect to the
issuance and listing of the NioCorp Common Shares issuable in
connection with the Transactions, (vi) that NioCorp and its
subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor by merger to ECRC) will
have at least $5.000001 million of net tangible assets upon the
consummation of the Transactions, after giving effect to any
redemptions by GX Public Stockholders and after payment of
underwriters’ fees or commissions, (vii) that, at closing, NioCorp
and its subsidiaries (including GXII, as successor by merger to
ECRC) will have received cash in an amount equal to or greater than
$15.0 million, subject to certain adjustments, and (viii) the
absence of any injunctions enjoining or prohibiting the
consummation of the Business Combination Agreement.
Many
of the conditions to completion of the Transaction pursuant to the
Business Combination Agreement are not within NioCorp’s or GXII’s
control, and we cannot predict with any certainty when these
conditions will be satisfied, if at all. Although NioCorp and GXII
are working to complete the Transaction, satisfying the conditions
to and completion of the Transaction may take longer, and could
cost more, than we expect. For example, the requirements for
obtaining the required stock exchange clearances and approvals
could delay the completion of the Transaction for a period of time
or prevent it from occurring. Any delay in completing the
Transaction within the expected timeframe may adversely affect the
benefits that we expect to achieve from the Transaction. If any of
these conditions are not satisfied or waived, it is possible that
the Business Combination Agreement may be terminated and the
Transaction may not be completed.
If
the Transaction is not completed for any reason, including as a
result of NioCorp’s shareholders or GXII’s stockholders failing to
approve the applicable proposals or the Business Combination
Agreement is otherwise terminated, our ongoing business may be
materially adversely affected and, without realizing any of the
benefits of having completed the Transaction, we would be subject
to a number of risks, including the following:
|
● |
we
may experience negative reactions from the financial markets,
including negative impacts on the price of our Common
Shares; |
|
|
|
|
● |
we
will still be required to pay certain significant costs relating to
the Transaction, such as legal, accounting, financial advisor and
printing fees; |
|
|
|
|
● |
we
may be required to pay a termination fee and reimburse GXII for
certain of its expenses under the terms of the Business Combination
Agreement; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
Business Combination Agreement places certain restrictions on the
conduct of the our business until the earlier of the termination of
the Business Combination Agreement and the closing date of the
Transaction, which restrictions may have delayed or prevented the
us from undertaking business opportunities that, absent the
Business Combination Agreement, may have been pursued; |
|
|
|
|
● |
matters
relating to the Transaction require substantial commitments of time
and resources by management, which could have resulted in the
distraction of management from ongoing business operations and
pursuing other opportunities that could have been beneficial to us;
and |
|
|
|
|
● |
litigation
related to any failure to complete the Transaction or related to
any enforcement proceeding commenced against us to perform our
obligations under the Business Combination Agreement. |
If
the Transactions are not completed, any of the risks described
above may materialize and they may have a material adverse effect
on our results of operations, cash flows, financial position and
the price of our Common Shares.
If the Transaction is consummated, the combined company may not
realize all or any of the anticipated benefits expected as a result
of the Transaction.
The
success of the Transaction, if consummated, will depend, in part,
on the combined company’s ability to realize the anticipated
benefits expected from the Transaction. In particular, a
significant number of GXII shareholders may exercise their
redemption rights in connection with the closing of the
Transaction. In addition, the Business Combination Agreement does
not make the consummation of the Transaction conditional on the
entry into definitive documentation and consummation of the
financing transactions contemplated by the LOIs with Yorkville, and
there is no assurance that such financing transactions will be
consummated. As a result, even if the minimum cash and net tangible
asset conditions to closing set forth in the Business Combination
Agreement are satisfied and the Transaction is consummated, after
giving effect to (i) payments made to GXII stockholders who
properly exercise their redemption rights and (ii) payments for
potential taxes and certain expenses incurred by NioCorp and GXII
in connection with the Transaction, to the extent not otherwise
paid prior to the closing, the combined company may have less net
cash proceeds available for general corporate purposes than
anticipated. In addition, the listing of NioCorp’s Common Shares on
Nasdaq may not provide the anticipated benefits of broader access
to capital and financing alternatives or otherwise enhance
NioCorp’s public profile. If the Combined Company is not successful
in realizing these anticipated benefits, including the anticipated
benefits of listing NioCorp’s Common Shares on the Nasdaq and the
anticipated acceleration of financing efforts to advance, complete
construction and commence operation of the Elk Creek Project, such
consequences may adversely affect the combined company’s results of
operations, cash flows, financial position and the price of our
Common Shares.
We may not be able to negotiate definitive documentation related to
the Yorkville financings and may not otherwise be able to
consummate the financing transactions contemplated thereby, which
could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
We
may not be able to negotiate definitive agreements relating to the
convertible debenture transaction and the standby equity purchase
facility contemplated by the LOIs with Yorkville, which could cause
NioCorp and GXII to encounter difficulties in completing the
Transaction with financing terms as favorable as anticipated or at
all. In addition, if the Yorkville financings are not completed,
there can be no assurance that we will be able to find an investor
of equal interest as Yorkville or a party that would be willing to
consummate a transaction on terms as favorable as those
contemplated by the LOIs. Failure by NioCorp to have access to
financing on the terms and conditions as favorable as those
contemplated by the LOIs may be materially adverse to
NioCorp.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
The
following Common Shares were issued pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of
the Securities Act, in connection with the voluntary conversion of
a portion of the amount outstanding under the Lind III Convertible
Security and based upon representations and warranties of Lind III
in connection therewith.
Date
|
Conversion
Amount
(000) |
Shares
Issued |
Conversion
Price/Share |
July
27, 2022 |
$600 |
1,025,796 |
C$0.7504 |
August
8, 2022 |
$250 |
431,286 |
C$0.7496 |
September
7, 2022 |
$600 |
958,193 |
C$0.8236 |
September
26, 2022 |
$200 |
307,346 |
C$0.8845 |
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Pursuant
to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act, issuers that are
operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal
or other mine in the United States are required to disclose
specified information about mine health and safety in their
periodic reports. These reporting requirements are based on the
safety and health requirements applicable to mines under the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”) which
is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and
Health Administration (“MSHA”). During the three-month
period
ended September 30, 2022, the Company and its subsidiaries and
their properties or operations were not subject to regulation by
MSHA under the Mine Act and thus no disclosure is required under
Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No. |
|
Title |
2.1(2)** |
|
Business Combination Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by
and among NioCorp Developments Ltd., GX Acquisition Corp. II and
Big Red Merger Sub Ltd |
3.1(1) |
|
Notice of Articles dated April 5, 2016 |
3.2(1) |
|
Articles, as amended, effective as of January 27,
2015 |
10.1(2) |
|
GXII Support Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by and
among GX Acquisition Corp. II, NioCorp Developments Ltd., GX
Sponsor II LLC, in its capacity as a shareholder of GX Acquisition
Corp. II, and certain other shareholders of GX Acquisition Corp.
II |
10.2(2) |
|
Company Support Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by and
among GX Acquisition Corp. II, NioCorp Developments Ltd. and
certain shareholders of NioCorp Developments Ltd. |
10.3(2)# |
|
Employment Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by and
between Elk Creek Resources Corporation and Neal
Shah |
10.4(2)# |
|
Employment Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by and
between Elk Creek Resources Corporation and Scott
Honan |
10.5(2)# |
|
Employment Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2022, by and
between Elk Creek Resources Corporation and Jim
Sims |
10.6(2)# |
|
Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement |
10.7(3) |
|
Waiver and Consent Agreement, dated September 25, 2022, between
NioCorp Developments Ltd. and Lind Global Asset Management III,
LLC
|
31.1 |
|
Certification of Chief Executive
Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 |
31.2 |
|
Certification of Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 |
32.1 |
|
Certification of the Chief Executive
Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.2 |
|
Certification of the Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
101.INS(4) |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH(4) |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension- Schema |
101.CAL(4) |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Calculations |
101.DEF(4) |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Definitions |
101.LAB(4) |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Labels |
101.PRE(4) |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Presentations |
104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and
contained in Exhibit 101) |
|
# |
Management
compensation plan, arrangement or agreement. |
|
** |
Certain
exhibits to this agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item
601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted exhibit will be
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
request. |
|
(1) |
Previously
filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Draft Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (Registration No. 377-01354) submitted to the SEC on
July 26, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference. |
|
(2) |
Previously
filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
(File No. 000-55710) filed with the SEC on September 29, 2022, and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
|
(3) |
Previously
filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (Registration No. 333-268227) filed with the SEC on November 7,
2022, and incorporated herein by reference. |
|
(4) |
Submitted
Electronically Herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are
the following formatted in inline XBRL (Extensible Business
Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Interim Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2022 and June 30, 2022,
(ii) the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of
Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three Months ended
September 30, 2022 and 2021, (iii) the Condensed Interim
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months ended
September 30, 2022 and 2021, (iv) the Condensed Interim
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Three
Months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and (v) the Notes to
the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial
Statements. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements 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.
NIOCORP
DEVELOPMENTS LTD. |
|
(Registrant) |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Mark A. Smith |
|
|
Mark
A. Smith |
|
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and
Executive Chairman |
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
Date:
November 14, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Neal Shah |
|
|
Neal
Shah |
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
|
Date:
November 14, 2022 |
|
Niocorp Developments (QX) (USOTC:NIOBF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2023 to Feb 2023
Niocorp Developments (QX) (USOTC:NIOBF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2022 to Feb 2023