10-K
1
f10k2020_westernuranium.htm
ANNUAL REPORT
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark
One)
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020
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 000-55626
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Ontario, Canada
98-1271843
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
330 Bay Street, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5H 2S8
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(970) 864-2125
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including
Area Code)
Securities registered
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of exchange on which
registered
N/A
Securities registered pursuant to Section
12(g) of the Act:
Common Shares
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned
issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No
☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any
registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.
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 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 has filed a report
on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section
404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
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 June 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of the common
shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $6,468,670.
As of April 15, 2021, 36,458,747 of the registrant’s no
par value common shares were outstanding.
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM
CORP.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
USE OF NAMES
ii
CURRENCY
ii
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION
ii
PART I
1
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
1
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
7
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
15
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
16
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
35
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
36
PART II
37
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
37
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
37
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
37
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
47
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
47
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
47
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
47
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
48
PART III
49
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
49
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
51
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
52
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
54
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
55
PART IV
ITEM 15. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
56
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
56
ITEM 17. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
57
SIGNATURES
58
i
USE OF NAMES
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless the context
otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Western” and “WUC”,
or the “Company” refer to Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., an Ontario Canadian corporation, and its subsidiaries.
CURRENCY
The accounts of the Company are reported
in U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts referenced in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the consolidated
financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION
The statements contained in this document that are not purely
historical are “forward-looking statements.” Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements, including those regarding future operations, are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove
to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and they involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking
statements contained in this document include statements regarding our proposed services, market opportunities and acceptance,
expectations for revenues, cash flows and financial performance, and intentions for the future. Such forward-looking statements
are included under Item 1. “Business” and Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations”. All forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date
hereof, based on information available to us as of such date, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. It
is important to note that such statements may not prove to be accurate and that our actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from our expectations are those described under Item 1. “Business,” Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Item
7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. All subsequent
written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by this section and other factors included elsewhere in this document.
ii
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
CORPORATE HISTORY
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (formerly known as
Western Uranium Corporation) was incorporated in December 2006 under the Ontario Business Corporations Act and was formerly a non-listed
reporting issuer subject to the rules and regulations of the Ontario Securities Commission. On November 20, 2014, the Company completed
a listing process on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”). As part of that process, the Company acquired 100% of
the issued and outstanding shares of Pinon Ridge Mining LLC (“PRM”), a Delaware limited liability company. The transaction
constituted a reverse takeover of Western by PRM. After obtaining appropriate shareholder approvals, the Company subsequently reconstituted
its Board of Directors and senior management team.
On August 18, 2014, the Company closed on the purchase of certain
mining properties in Colorado and Utah from Energy Fuels Holding Corp. Assets purchased included both owned and leased lands in
Utah and Colorado and all represent properties that have been previously mined for uranium to varying degrees in the past. The
acquisition included the purchase of the Sunday Mine Complex. The Sunday Mine Complex is located in western San Miguel County,
Colorado. The complex consists of the following five individual mines: the Sunday mine, the Carnation mine, the Saint Jude mine,
the West Sunday mine and the Topaz mine. The operation of each of these mines requires a separate permit and all such permits have
been obtained by Western and are currently valid. In addition, each of the mines has good access to a paved highway, electric power
to existing mine workings, office/storage/shop and change buildings, and extensive underground haulage development with multiple
vent shafts complete with exhaust fans. After the completion of the 2019/2020 project, the Sunday Mine Complex was advanced such
that it is operationally ready to re-start mining operations.
On September 16, 2015, Western completed its acquisition of
Black Range, an Australian company that was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until the acquisition was completed. The
acquisition terms were pursuant to a definitive Merger Implementation Agreement entered into between Western and Black Range. Pursuant
to the agreement, Western acquired all of the issued shares of Black Range by way of Scheme of Arrangement (“the Scheme”)
under the Australian Corporation Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Black Range Transaction”), with Black Range shareholders being
issued common shares of Western on a 1 for 750 basis. On August 25, 2015, the Scheme was approved by the shareholders of Black
Range and on September 4, 2015, Black Range received approval by the Federal Court of Australia. In addition, Western issued to
certain employees, directors and consultants options to purchase Western common shares. Such stock options were intended to replace
Black Range stock options outstanding prior to the Black Range Transaction on the same 1 for 750 basis.
In connection with the Black Range Transaction, Western acquired
the net assets of Black Range. These net assets consist principally of interests in a large uranium resource located in Colorado
(the “Hansen-Taylor Complex”) and a 100% interest in a 25 year license for Kinetic Separation (“Kinetic Separation”,
formerly known as “Ablation”) and related patents from Ablation Technologies, LLC. The Hansen-Taylor Complex is principally
a sandstone-hosted deposit that was discovered in 1977.
Furthermore, related to Kinetic Separation in connection with
the acquisition of Black Range Minerals Ltd. (“Black Range”), the Company assumed a call option agreement between Black
Range and Mr. George Glasier. Prior to the Black Range Transaction, George Glasier, the Company’s CEO, who is also a director
(“Seller”), transferred his interest in a former joint venture with Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection
with the transfer, Black Range issued 25 million shares of Black Range common stock to Seller and committed to pay $500,000 AUD
($392,086USD as of December 31, 2020) to Seller within 60 days of the first commercial application of the Kinetic Separation. Western
assumed this contingent payment obligation in connection with the Black Range Transaction.
The Kinetic Separation process is dramatically different from
conventional mining techniques. Subject to regulatory approvals for the use of Kinetic Separation, the benefits of Kinetic Separation
are as follows:
● Mining, crushing, and separation of waste from minerals (uranium and vanadium), used most effectively, occurs underground (inside
the mine). Under this approach the costs of moving material to the surface are less as 85%-90% of the mined material remains underground
and is never brought outside the mine.
● Less radiometric exposure throughout the process due to reduced waste rock on the surface and after the milling process less
tailings. Overall surface waste material is reduced and the time duration of material handling is reduced.
● Lower costs for transportation of post-kinetically separated material because 85-90% of the mined material would not need to
be transported.
● Once the kinetically separated material reaches the mill, the acid consumption at the mill and power is much less due to the
lower quantity and more concentrated material moving through the milling process.
1
Kinetic Separation can be used on legacy uranium stockpiles
in the western United States. WUC would kinetically separate these stockpiles, removing 85-90% of the uranium. This is an application
through which Kinetic Separation could positively contribute to the ‘greening of the environment’. According to a study there are
approximately 4,225 legacy uranium mines from the 1940-1970 period throughout the Western United States, most of which have waste
stockpiles.
In the estimation of management, Kinetic Separation mining allows
the cost of production of uranium to be reduced by 44-53%.
Our common shares are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange,
also known as the “CSE,” under the symbol “WUC”, and are also quoted in the United States on the OTCQX
Best Market under the symbol “WSTRF.” We are headquartered in Ontario, Canada with mining operations in the two U.S.
states of Utah and Colorado. The mailing address of our headquarters is 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, M5H2S8, Canada,
and the telephone number is (970) 864-2125. Our corporate website is located at http://www.western-uranium.com/.
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term
is defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act defines an “emerging growth
company” as one that had total annual gross revenues of less than $1,000,000,000 during the last fiscal year. Section 102(b)
(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards
until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not
have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial
accounting standard. The JOBS Act also provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period provided
by Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such
election to opt out is irrevocable.
Our wholly-owned subsidiaries are Western Uranium Corp., Pinon
Ridge Mining LLC, Black Range Minerals Limited, Black Range Copper Inc., Ranger Resources Inc., Black Range Minerals Inc., Black
Range Minerals Colorado LLC, Black Range Minerals Wyoming LLC, Haggerty Resources LLC, Ranger Alaska LLC, Black Range Minerals
Utah LLC, Black Range Minerals Ablation Holdings Inc. and Black Range Development Utah LLC.
OUR COMPANY
Western is in the business of exploring, developing, mining
and production of its uranium and vanadium resource properties.
Western is an exploration stage company for purposes of Industry
Guide 7 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Industry Guide 7 states that mining companies like
ours can be classified into three stages: exploration, development, or production. Exploration stage includes all companies engaged
in the search for mineral deposits, which are not in either the development or production stage. In order to be classified as a
development or production stage company, the Company must have already established reserves. The Company has not established reserves
for purposes of Industry Guide 7.
National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects (“NI 43-101”) is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure
a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. All historical mineral resource estimates
contained in this annual report have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
classification system. These standards differ from the mineral property disclosure requirements of Industry Guide 7, which, until December
31, 2020, applied to most SEC reporting issuers. However, on October 31, 2018, the SEC adopted changes to modernize the mineral property
disclosure requirements applicable to SEC registrants. New subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (the “SEC Modernization Rules”)
became effective on February 25, 2019 and, for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, replaces Industry Guide 7’s disclosure
requirements. Under the SEC Modernization Rules, consistent with global standards as embodied by the Committee for Reserves International
Reporting Standards (“CRIRSCO”), SEC registrants will be required to disclose specified information concerning mineral resources
that have been identified on their mineral properties. Consistent with CRIRSCO standards, the SEC Modernization Rules have also added
definitions to recognize measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources. Thus, although the SEC
Modernization Rules are not identical to Canada’s NI 43-101 standards, they are intended to be more consistent with those standards.
Our mineral properties are located in western Colorado and eastern
Utah and adjacent areas of the western United States. Our primary focus is bringing the fully permitted Sunday Mine Complex into
production, permitting the San Rafael Project and the commercialization of Kinetic Separation.
The Sunday Mine Complex is located in western San Miguel County,
Colorado. The complex consists of the following five individual mines: the Sunday mine, the Carnation mine, the Saint Jude mine,
the West Sunday mine and the Topaz mine. The operation of each of these mines requires a separate permit and all such permits have
been obtained by Western and are currently valid. In addition, each of the mines has good access to a paved highway, electric power
to existing mine workings, office/storage/shop and change buildings, and extensive underground haulage development with multiple
vent shafts complete with exhaust fans.
We have acquired a license for Kinetic Separation, which provides
a low cost, purely physical, method of separating uranium and vanadium mineralization from waste. No chemicals are added in the
process, yet very high mineral recoveries can be achieved with considerable mass reduction; facilitating the separation of a high-value,
high-grade ore product from a coarse-grained barren “clean sand” product.
Application of Kinetic Separation is expected to have a very
positive effect on the development of not only our Sunday Mine Complex, but also most of our and others’ deposits, because
it significantly reduces both capital and operating costs. Extensive test work has shown that from amenable sandstone-hosted ore
types, typically more than 90% of the mineralization can be separated into 10-20% of the initial sample mass.
2
OUR STRATEGY
Our vision is to become a leading uranium and vanadium developer and
producer. Our strategy is to build value for stockholders by advancing our projects towards scaled-up production. The increase in vanadium
price levels during 2017/2018 increased the relative importance of this resource to the Company. Hence, Western is increasingly able to
baseload mine production with vanadium as a co-product. As a result, during 2019 Western implemented a mine re-opening project at the
Sunday Mine Complex to identify high-grade vanadium ore, followed by bulk sampling and development drilling. Active mining was conducted
and the extracted ore was stockpiled underground in the mines. The project has continued in 2020 as multiple surface infrastructure projects
were completed to meet Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) requirements. Completion of the CDRMS prerequisites
has enabled the newly mined and stockpiled underground ore to be brought to the surface. Ore pad construction, the last of the surface
projects, was completed; however, its final inspection approvals were delayed until May 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Company
holds an exclusive 25-year license to use Kinetic Separation, a proven technology that we anticipate will improve the efficiency of the
mining from Western’s sandstone-hosted ore. The license agreement was entered into on March 17, 2015 and expires on March 16, 2040.
There are no remaining license fee obligations and there are no future royalties due under the agreement. The Company has the right to
sub-license the technology to third parties. The Company may not sell or assign the Kinetic Separation license; however, it could be transferred
in the sale of Western or the subsidiary holding the license.
At any time we may have acquisition or partnering opportunities
in various stages of active review, including, for example, our engagement of consultants and advisors to analyze particular opportunities,
analysis of technical, financial and other confidential information, submission of indications of interest, participation in preliminary
discussions and negotiations and involvement as a bidder in competitive processes.
Capital Raising
On April 16, 2019, the Company completed a private placement
of 3,914,632 units at a price of CAD $0.98 (USD $0.73) per unit for net proceeds of CAD $3,836,340 (USD $2,856,356). Each unit
consisted of one common share and a warrant to purchase one-half of one common share. Each warrant is exercisable at a price of
CAD $1.70 and expires three years from the date of issuance.
On June 17, 2019, the Company completed a private placement
of 192,278 units at a price of CAD $0.98 (USD $0.73) per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $188,432 (USD $140,555). Each unit consisted
of one common share and a warrant to purchase one-half of one common share. Each warrant is exercisable at a price of CAD $1.70
and expires three years from the date of issuance.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company issued
an aggregate of 4,106,910 common shares in connection with these private placements.
On February 16, 2021, the Company closed
on a non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) of 3,250,000 units (the “Units”) at a price
of CAD $0.80 per Unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in this Private Placement amount to CAD $2,600,000.
Each Unit consists of one common share
of Western (a “Share”) plus one common share purchase warrant of Western (a “Warrant”). Each warrant entitled
the holder to purchase one Share at a price of CAD $1.20 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of the
Private Placement. A total of 3,250,000 Shares and 3,250,000 Warrants were issued in the Private Placement.
On March 1, 2021, the Company closed on
a non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) of 3,125,000 units (the “Units”) at a price
of CAD $0.80 per Unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in this Private Placement amount to CAD $2,500,000.
Each Unit consists of one common share
of Western (a “Share”) plus one common share purchase warrant of Western (a “Warrant”). Each warrant entitled
the holder to purchase one Share at a price of CAD $1.20 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of the
Private Placement. A total of 3,125,000 Shares and 3,125,000 Warrants were issued in the Private Placement.
Uranium/Vanadium Production
Western historically positioned itself for operational flexibility
with the goal of beginning production as expeditiously as possible once market conditions for uranium and/or vanadium were favorable.
The 2018 vanadium price rally brought about those conditions for a period, thus catalyzing the Sunday Mine Complex project. Western
reinitiated active mining operations at the Sunday Mine Complex project with its infrastructure and exploratory projects, which
culminated in the commencement of production with the mining and stockpiling of the extracted uranium/vanadium ore. The well maintained
existing infrastructure from years of previous production allowed the Company to quickly advance the mine to a production ready
status. As the mining team refocused on surface infrastructure projects required by the CDRMS, the mines were shut; mining operations
and transporting extracted ore to the surface were delayed pending the inspection of the newly constructed ore pads and the completion
of a COVID-19 delayed permit hearing. The impact of COVID-19 delayed a re-start beyond 180 days, thus in October 2020 each of the
five Sunday mines were put back into Temporary Cessation. With the decline in vanadium prices during calendar year 2019, the economics
of the Sunday Mine Complex have shifted from an emphasis on vanadium production back toward co-production of uranium/vanadium.
The recent rally in uranium prices has become an increasingly important driver for scaled up production.
Western believes that its mineral resources have a reasonable
prospect for economic extraction. However, the Company has not yet completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”).
3
URANIUM MARKET OUTLOOK
World demand for clean, reliable, and affordable electricity is growing.
Given the expected construction of nuclear reactors and the expected growth of nuclear energy, we believe that the future for uranium
is positive. Further, 2020 production cuts in response to COVID-19 at peak sidelined approximately 50% of annual global uranium production.
In the U.S. implementation of the U.S. Uranium Reserve program and the Biden administration’s emphasis on climate change have the
potential to increase U.S. domestic uranium demand and create economic pricing levels for U.S. domestic producers. We believe these factors
will provide the price levels needed to support the additional production that will be required. Currently, excess (secondary)
inventory supplies are being drawn down, and additional primary production is forecast to be needed to fulfill the nuclear fuel requirements
of the growing global nuclear reactor fleet.
Once prices rise, it may be difficult for most suppliers to respond
in a timely manner, as it requires many years of permitting and development to bring new mines into production. These lead times will
put further upward pressure on prices. Thus, Western has a competitive advantage, as our mining properties are permitted and ready to
scale-up production on short notice.
As uranium prices have been depressed for about a decade due to overproduction
and reactor shutdowns subsequent to the impact of the 2011 Fukushima earthquake, investors are positioning in response to early signs
of a market recovery; the spot uranium price began 2020 at ~$24 and finished the year at ~$30, but had rebounded to a short-term ~$34
high in response to COVID-19 production cuts. Japanese utilities have nuclear reactors in the process of restarting (according to the
World Nuclear Association (“WNA”)). According to data from the WNA, Chinese utilities continue to aggressively build new reactors
and buy uranium, with the goal of becoming the world leader in nuclear electricity generation. In total, according to the WNA, there are
about 50 new reactors under construction in 13 countries and in all there are about 160 reactors on order or being planned, and over 300
more are proposed. It is projected that ~15 new nuclear reactors will be placed into service in 2021.
During the Trump administration, the U.S. government focused
on market distortions caused by foreign state-owned enterprises and the economic and geopolitical influence lost by allowing Russia
and China to take the lead in nuclear power. In support of the world’s largest nuclear reactor fleet, the U.S. has begun
implementing the recommendations of the Nuclear Fuel Working Group and has extended the Russian Suspension Agreement. The national
strategic uranium reserve was signed into law to stabilize the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle by supporting front-end domestic uranium
mining. The U.S. Department of Energy is establishing program guidelines to initiate 2021 purchases of $75 million of domestic
uranium. The U.S. government pursued the goals of energy independence, solidifying critical minerals supply chains and national
security. In September 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Addressing the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain from
Reliance on Critical Minerals from Foreign Adversaries. Both uranium and vanadium are among the 35 critical minerals identified
as essential to the economic and national security of the United States. This order mandated that multiple government agencies
undertake studies to develop solutions.
The Biden Administration’s “Plan to Build a Modern Sustainable
Infrastructure and an Equitable Clean Energy Future” emphasizes climate change solutions. Upon taking office, the Biden team immediately
rejoined the Paris Climate Accord and continued its pursuit of campaign promises of investments in clean energy, creating jobs producing
clean electric power, and achieving carbon-pollution free energy in electricity generation by 2035. Since taking office, Biden has reversed
a number of Trump’s pro-fossil fuel energy policies, which is expected to continue as the new administration has given all agencies
climate change initiatives and has already started a climate change working group. The existing U.S. nuclear reactor fleet currently produces
in excess of 50% of U.S. clean energy, and new advanced nuclear technologies promise to generate additional clean energy; thus, the expectation
is that the post-pandemic infrastructure spending will provide a major boost to clean energy and the nuclear industry will be a beneficiary.
A global supply/demand uranium imbalance is coming to the forefront
as the world continues to deplete the formerly excess inventories. There are many market and governmental catalysts propelling
investor expectations whose capital is flowing into the sector. Investors have taken note of constrained global uranium supplies,
improved uranium demand fundamentals, the pace of innovations in nuclear technology, and a global push for climate change solutions.
4
OVERVIEW OF THE URANIUM INDUSTRY
Spot prices rose from $21 per pound in January 2005 to a high
of $136 per pound in June 2007 in anticipation of sharply higher projected demand as a result of a resurgence in nuclear power
and the depletion of secondary supplies. Secondary supplies are inventories of uranium not publicly available for sale, they are
primarily held by utility companies and governments. The sharp price increase was driven in part by high levels of buying by utility
companies, which resulted in most utilities covering their requirements through 2009. A decrease in near-term utility demand coupled
with rising levels of supplies from producers and traders have led to downward pressure on uranium prices since the third quarter
of 2007. A rebound in uranium prices in conjunction with a recovery in commodities in 2010 was curtailed by the Fukushima disaster
in Japan.
Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, uranium spot prices entered a
steady decline until June 2014, when they rebounded slightly and peaked again in March 2015 at $39 per pound. After that peak, prices
again began to fall steadily reaching their lowest point of $18 per pound in November 2016. In May 2020, spot prices hit a $34 per pound
price before declining to close the year at $30 per pound.
The only significant commercial use for uranium is as a fuel
for nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity. According to the WNA, at the end of June 2020, there were 440 nuclear
reactors operable worldwide, with annual requirements of about 143.3 million pounds of uranium.
From the reports of leading investment banks, the macroeconomic conditions
driving uranium prices are as follows:
● Advanced nuclear power reactors,
small modular reactors, microreactors, a versatile test reactor, accidental tolerant fuels, and byproduct production of hydrogen were
all extended by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy,
● Decrease in primary supply due to global producers shutting down mining
operations that weren’t profitable at current pricing levels, depleted mines closing, and large COVID-19 related production shutdowns,
● Lowest uranium production in over
a decade, creating a global supply deficit where production was only about two-thirds of consumption,
● WNA reports there are about 50
large-scale nuclear reactors under construction with 15 projected to be put into service in 2021,
● The announced infrastructure plan
by the Biden Administration will provide a major boost to clean energy and the nuclear industry will be a beneficiary.
Across the ten banks and analysts most active in the sector, a term
structure of rising uranium spot prices which are significantly above today’s prices are forecast almost across the board from 2020
to 2024. These projected increases are primarily due to the projected supply / demand imbalance. There has been a uranium supply reduction
from both low prices, closures, and COVID-19. Nuclear energy is a growth industry, fueled primarily by new plants with the greatest number
located in China, Russia, and India over the next 5 years. Further, small modular reactors and advanced reactors are expected to begin
coming online during the next decade. This should lead to additional demand, causing a contracting shortage, in the coming years, as historical
contracts roll-off. Recently, due to mine closures in response to COVID-19, the market price of uranium has increased sharply, in contrast
to other commodities.
Based upon these pricing factors specific to the uranium industry,
we believe that uranium prices will improve over the coming years for Western to initiate full-scale production in its best properties.
Vanadium
With the exception of the Hansen/Taylor Deposit, most of the
Company’s mining assets, including the Sunday Mine Complex, contain vanadium either as a stand-alone product or a co-product
to uranium.
Conventional and new vanadium applications include steelmaking,
aerospace, stationary energy storage, batteries, and chemicals.
When a very small amount of vanadium is added to steel the hardening
effect greatly increases its strength. And while steelmaking accounts for roughly 90% of all vanadium currently consumed, it’s
estimated that vanadium is only used in about 9% of all steels today.
In a research report, BMO Capital Markets identified a structural
change in the vanadium markets. China, the largest vanadium producer in the world, has seen supply disrupted by environmental monitoring
and rules while domestic demand was increasing. During 2017, BMO observed ferrovanadium exports falling by 30% year over year and
projected that China would become a net importer of ferrovanadium. In 2018, this forecast was validated as China which had been
a net vanadium exporter became a net vanadium importer. On the demand side, China announced a new high strength rebar standard
to increase earthquake resistance in February 2018 that became effective on November 1, 2018. On the supply side in its efforts
to fight pollution, Chinese environmental inspections resulted in the closing of dirty processes in which vanadium was recovered
as a byproduct. These policy changes were very positive for vanadium prices. As a result of these structural changes, vanadium
demand exceeded vanadium supply putting the market into a deficit and pushing the prices to all-time highs during the fourth quarter
of 2018.
5
The substantial appreciation in vanadium price during 2018 catalyzed
the Company to pursue the Sunday Mine Complex Vanadium Project during 2019.
After steelmaking, the second largest market for vanadium is
that of catalysts and chemical applications. Significant new sources of demand for vanadium are also expected to originate from
vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB).
Section 232 National Security Investigation
of Imports of Vanadium investigation was undertaken by the U.S. Department of Commerce during 2020. After a 270 day study period
the investigation was concluded and a report submitted to President Biden on February 22, 2021. The President has 90 days to decide
if he concurs with the findings and recommendations and determine whether to take an action to mitigate the impairment of national
security.
The current vanadium market price is $7.10 per pound as of December 31,
2020 which is an increase from the December 31, 2019 price when the price was $6.10 per pound.
COMPETITION
There is global competition for uranium properties, capital,
customers and the employment and retention of qualified personnel. We compete with multiple exploration companies for both properties
as well as skilled personnel. In the production and marketing of uranium, there are a number of producing entities globally, some
of which are government controlled and several of which are significantly larger and better capitalized than we are. Several of
these organizations also have substantially greater financial, technical, manufacturing and distribution resources than we have.
Our future uranium production may also compete with uranium
from secondary supplies, including the sale of uranium inventory held by the U.S. Department of Energy. At the current time, DOE
uranium sales have been suspended. In addition, there are numerous entities in the market that compete with us for properties and
operate in situ recovery (“ISR”) facilities. If we are unable to successfully compete for properties, capital, customers
or employees or with alternative uranium sources, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
With respect to sales of uranium, the Company competes primarily
based on price. We will market uranium to utilities and commodity brokers. We are in direct competition with supplies available
from various sources worldwide. We believe we compete with multiple operating uranium companies.
With respect to sales of vanadium, the Company will compete
primarily based upon availability and secondarily on price. There will be direct competition with primary production, secondary
production, and co-production from various companies and processors worldwide as individual entities come online or increase production
to address the supply deficit.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS AND PERMITTING
United States
Uranium extraction is regulated by the federal government, states
and, in some cases, by Indian tribes. Compliance with such regulation has a material effect on the economics of our operations
and the timing of project development. Our primary regulatory costs have been related to obtaining licenses and permits from federal
and state agencies before the commencement of production activities. The environmental regulatory requirements for the ISR industry
are well established. Many ISR projects have gone a full life cycle without any significant environmental impact. However, the
process can make environmental permitting difficult and timing unpredictable. Western does not plan to utilize an ISR mining process
on its properties.
Mining Permits are disclosed on a per mine
basis in the “Properties” section, below.
Reclamation and Restoration Costs and
Bonding Requirements
At the conclusion of conventional mining, a site is decommissioned
and reclaimed. Reclamation involves removing evidence of surface disturbance. The reclamation liabilities of the US mines are subject
to legal and regulatory requirements. Estimates of the costs of reclamation are reviewed periodically by the applicable regulatory
authorities. The reclamation liability represents the Company’s best estimate of the present value of future reclamation
costs in connection with the mineral properties. The Company determined the gross reclamation liabilities at December 31, 2020
of the mineral properties to be approximately $906,811.
The Company is required by State regulatory agencies to obtain
financial surety relating to certain of its future restoration and reclamation obligations. The Company has provided performance
bonds issued for the benefit of the Company in the amount of $906,811 to satisfy such regulatory requirements.
6
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Risks Related to Our Business
Our business activities are subject to significant risks, including
those described below. Every investor or potential investor in our securities should carefully consider these risks. If any of
the described risks actually occurs, our business, financial position and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Such risks are not the only ones we face and additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently
deem immaterial may also affect our business.
Our ability to become a successful operating mining company is
contingent on whether we can continue to access adequate operating capital and can ultimately mine our properties at a profit sufficient
to finance further mining activities and to acquire and finance additional reserves, all in spite of potentially significant fluctuations
in the market prices of uranium and vanadium.
The uranium/vanadium ore that we have mined remains stockpiled
underground at the Sunday Mine Complex. As a result, we have no saleable product and currently have no sources of operating cash.
If we cannot access additional sources of private or public capital, partner with another company that has cash resources and/or
find other means of generating revenue other than uranium or vanadium sales, we may not be able to remain in business.
Until we begin either uranium or vanadium sales, we have no
way to generate cash inflows unless we monetize certain of our assets or obtain additional financing. We can provide no assurance
that our properties will produce saleable production or that we will be able to continue to find, develop, acquire and finance
additional reserves. If we cannot monetize certain existing assets, partner with another company that has cash resources, find
other means of generating revenue other than uranium or vanadium production and/or access additional sources of private or public
capital, we may not be able to remain in business and our stockholders may lose their entire investment.
Our ability to function as an operating mining company will
be dependent on our ability to mine our properties at a profit sufficient to finance further mining activities and for the acquisition
and development of additional properties. The volatility of uranium prices makes long-range planning uncertain and raising capital
difficult.
Our ability to operate on a positive cash flow basis will be
dependent on mining sufficient quantities of uranium or vanadium at a profit sufficient to finance our operations and for the acquisition
and development of additional mining properties. Any profit will necessarily be dependent upon, and affected by, the long and short
term market prices of uranium and vanadium, which are subject to significant fluctuation. Uranium prices have been and will continue
to be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include the demand for nuclear power, political and economic
conditions in uranium producing and consuming countries, uranium supply from secondary sources and uranium production levels and
costs of production. A significant, sustained drop in uranium prices may make it impossible to operate our business at a level
that will permit us to cover our fixed costs or to remain in operation.
Evaluating our future performance may be difficult since
we have a limited financial and operating history, with significant negative cash flow and an accumulated deficit to date. Furthermore,
there is no assurance that we will be successful in securing any form of additional financing in the future, therefore substantial
doubt exists as to whether our cash resources and working capital will be sufficient to enable the Company to continue its operations
over the next twelve months. Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability
and to develop positive cash flow from our mining activities.
As more fully described within this annual report, we acquired
our first mineral properties in November of 2014. To date, we have been acquiring additional mineral properties and raising capital.
We hold uranium projects in various stages of exploration in the States of Colorado and Utah.
As more fully described under “Liquidity and Capital Resources”
of Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations”, we have a
history of significant negative cash flow and net losses, with an accumulated deficit balance of $11.1 million and $8.7 million
at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We have been reliant on equity financings from the sale of our common shares and on
debt financing in order to fund our operations. We do not expect to achieve profitability or develop positive cash flow from operations
in the near term. As a result of our limited financial and operating history, including our significant negative cash flow and
net losses to date, it may be difficult to evaluate our future performance.
7
At December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had working capital
of $162,375 and $1,678,747, respectively. The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to obtain
adequate additional financing which we have successfully secured since inception. However, there is no assurance that we will be
successful in securing any form of additional financing in the future, therefore substantial doubt exists as to whether our cash
resources and working capital will be sufficient to enable the Company to continue its operations over the next twelve months.
The consolidated financial statements for the two years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were prepared assuming that the Company
would continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company
will continue as a going concern. The Company has incurred continuing losses from operations and is dependent upon future sources
of equity or debt financing in order to fund its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result
from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Our reliance on equity and debt financings is expected to continue
for the foreseeable future, and their availability whenever such additional financing is required, will be dependent on many factors
beyond our control including, but not limited to, the market price of uranium, the continuing public support of nuclear power as
a viable source of electricity generation, the volatility in the global financial markets affecting our stock price and the status
of the worldwide economy, any one of which may cause significant challenges in our ability to access additional financing, including
access to the equity and credit markets. We may also be required to seek other forms of financing, such as asset divestitures or
joint venture arrangements to continue advancing our uranium projects, which would depend entirely on finding a suitable third
party willing to enter into such an arrangement, typically involving an assignment of a percentage interest in the mineral project.
Our long-term success, including the recoverability of the carrying
values of our assets and our ability to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with exploration and pre-extraction activities
and mining activities on our existing uranium projects, will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability
and positive cash flow from our operations by establishing ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium and to develop
these into profitable mining activities. The economic viability of our mining activities has many risks and uncertainties. These
include, but are not limited to: (i) a significant, prolonged decrease in the market price of uranium; (ii) difficulty in marketing
and/or selling uranium concentrates; (iii) significantly higher than expected capital costs to construct the mine and/or processing
plant; (iv) significantly higher than expected extraction costs; (v) significantly lower than expected uranium extraction; (vi)
significant delays, reductions or stoppages of uranium extraction activities; and (vi) the introduction of significantly more stringent
regulatory laws and regulations. Our mining activities may change as a result of any one or more of these risks and uncertainties
and there is no assurance that any ore body that we extract mineralized materials from will result in achieving and maintaining
profitability and developing positive cash flow.
Our operations are capital intensive, and we will require
significant additional financing to acquire additional uranium/vanadium projects, continue with our exploration and begin pre-extraction
activities on our existing uranium/vanadium projects.
Our operations are capital intensive and future capital expenditures
are expected to be substantial. We will require significant additional financing to fund our operations, including acquiring additional
uranium/vanadium projects, continuing with our exploration and beginning pre-extraction activities which include assaying, drilling,
geological and geochemical analysis and mine construction costs. In the absence of such additional financing, we would not be able
to fund our operations, including continuing with our exploration and pre-extraction activities, which may result in delays, curtailment
or abandonment of any one or all of our uranium projects.
Uranium/vanadium exploration and pre-extraction programs
and mining activities are inherently subject to numerous significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ significantly
from expectations or anticipated amounts. Furthermore, exploration programs conducted on our uranium/vanadium projects may not
result in the establishment of ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium/vanadium.
Uranium/vanadium exploration and pre-extraction programs and
mining activities are inherently subject to numerous significant risks and uncertainties, many beyond our control, including, but
not limited to: (i) unanticipated ground and water conditions and adverse claims to water rights; (ii) unusual or unexpected geological
formations; (iii) metallurgical and other processing problems; (iv) the occurrence of unusual weather or operating conditions and
other force majeure events; (v) lower than expected ore grades; (vi) industrial accidents; (vii) delays in the receipt of or failure
to receive necessary government permits; (viii) delays in transportation; (ix) availability of contractors and labor; (x) government
permit restrictions and regulation restrictions; (xi) unavailability of materials and equipment; and (xii) the failure of equipment
or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations. These risks and uncertainties could result in delays,
reductions or stoppages in our mining activities; increased capital and/or extraction costs; damage to, or destruction of, our
mineral projects, extraction facilities or other properties; personal injuries; environmental damage; monetary losses; and legal
claims.
8
Success in uranium/vanadium exploration is dependent on many
factors, including, without limitation, the experience and capabilities of a company’s management, the availability of geological
expertise and the availability of sufficient funds to conduct the exploration program. Even if an exploration program is successful
and commercially recoverable uranium/vanadium is established, it may take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling
and identification of the mineralization until extraction is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of extraction
may change such that the uranium ceases to be economically recoverable. Uranium/vanadium exploration is frequently non-productive
due, for example, to poor exploration results or the inability to establish ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium,
in which case the uranium project may be abandoned and written-off. Furthermore, we will not be able to benefit from our exploration
efforts and recover the expenditures that we incur on our exploration programs if we do not establish ore bodies that contain commercially
recoverable uranium/vanadium and develop these uranium/vanadium projects into profitable mining activities, and there is no assurance
that we will be successful in doing so for any of our uranium/vanadium projects.
Whether an ore body contains commercially recoverable uranium/vanadium
depends on many factors including, without limitation: (i) the particular attributes, including material changes to those attributes,
of the ore body such as size, grade, recovery rates and proximity to infrastructure; (ii) the market price of uranium, which may
be volatile; and (iii) government regulations and regulatory requirements including, without limitation, those relating to environmental
protection, permitting and land use, taxes, land tenure and transportation.
We have established the existence of mineralized materials for
uranium properties. We have not established proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through
the completion of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study for any of our uranium properties. Furthermore,
we have no current plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any of our uranium properties as it doesn’t serve a
business purpose at the present time.
We may not be able to realize anticipated benefits of
the Kinetic Separation process due to uncertainties associated with that process.
In order to utilize Kinetic Separation to process uranium/vanadium
bearing ore there are uncertainties that must be overcome which include the uncertainty as to the evolution of the regulatory framework
and technological considerations. Either may cause delays in start-up, and/or increase costs, and may preclude the realization
of the anticipated benefits of the Kinetic Separation process. Use of Kinetic Separation represents an additional processing step,
requiring additional equipment, support, material handling and a potential increase in water usage requirements.
We do not insure against all of the risks we face in our
operations.
In general, where coverage is available and not prohibitively
expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations.
We currently maintain insurance against certain risks including securities and general commercial liability claims and certain
physical assets used in our operations, subject to exclusions and limitations; however, we do not maintain insurance to cover all
of the potential risks and hazards associated with our operations. We may be subject to liability for environmental, pollution
or other hazards associated with our exploration, pre-extraction and extraction activities, which we may not be insured against,
which may exceed the limits of our insurance coverage or which we may elect not to insure against because of high premiums or other
reasons. Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance that any insurance coverage we currently have will continue to be available at
reasonable premiums or that such insurance will adequately cover any resulting liability.
Our inability to obtain financial surety would threaten
our ability to continue in business.
Future financial surety requirements to comply with federal
and state environmental and remediation requirements and to secure necessary licenses and approvals may increase significantly
as future development and production occurs at certain of our sites in the United States. The amount of the financial surety for
each producing property is subject to annual review and revision by regulators. We expect that the issuer of the financial surety
instruments will require us to provide cash collateral for a significant amount of the face amount of the bond to secure the obligation.
In the event we are not able to raise, secure or generate sufficient funds necessary to satisfy these requirements, we will be
unable to develop our sites and bring them into production, which inability will have a material adverse impact on our business
and may negatively affect our ability to continue to operate.
9
Acquisitions that we may make from time to time could
have an adverse impact on us.
From time to time, we examine opportunities to acquire additional
mining assets and businesses. Any acquisition that we may choose to complete may be of a significant size, may change the scale
of our business and operations, and may expose us to new geographic, political, operating, financial and geological risks. Our
success in our acquisition activities depends on our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, negotiate acceptable
terms for any such acquisition, and integrate the acquired operations successfully with those of our Company. Any acquisitions
would be accompanied by risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, there may be a significant
change in commodity prices after we have committed to complete the transaction and established the purchase price or exchange ratio;
a material ore body may prove to be below expectations; we may have difficulty integrating and assimilating the operations and
personnel of any acquired companies, realizing anticipated synergies and maximizing the financial and strategic position of the
combined enterprise, and maintaining uniform standards, policies and controls across the organization; the integration of the acquired
business or assets may disrupt our ongoing business and our relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and contractors;
and the acquired business or assets may have unknown liabilities which may be significant. In the event that we choose to raise
debt capital to finance any such acquisition, our leverage will be increased. If we choose to use equity as consideration for such
acquisition, existing shareholders may suffer dilution. Alternatively, we may choose to finance any such acquisition with our existing
resources. There can be no assurance that we would be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in
connection with such acquisitions.
The uranium industry is subject to numerous stringent
laws, regulations and standards, including environmental protection laws and regulations. If any changes occur that would make
these laws, regulations and standards more stringent, it may require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated or cause substantial
delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction programs and mining activities
are subject to numerous stringent laws, regulations and standards at the federal, state, and local levels governing permitting,
pre-extraction, extraction, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection and reclamation of
the environment, protection of endangered and protected species, mine safety, hazardous substances and other matters. Our compliance
with these requirements requires significant financial and personnel resources.
The laws, regulations, policies or current administrative practices
of any government body, organization or regulatory agency in the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, may change
or be applied or interpreted in a manner which may also have a material adverse effect on our operations. The actions, policies
or regulations, or changes thereto, of any government body or regulatory agency or special interest group, may also have a material
adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction programs and mining activities
are subject to stringent environmental protection laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. These laws and
regulations, which include permitting and reclamation requirements, regulate emissions, water storage and discharges and disposal
of hazardous wastes. Uranium mining activities are also subject to laws and regulations which seek to maintain health and safety
standards by regulating the design and use of mining methods. Various permits from governmental and regulatory bodies are required
for mining to commence or continue, and no assurance can be provided that required permits will be received in a timely manner.
Our compliance costs including the posting of surety bonds associated
with environmental protection laws and regulations and health and safety standards have been significant to date, and are expected
to increase in scale and scope as we expand our operations in the future. Furthermore, environmental protection laws and regulations
may become more stringent in the future, and compliance with such changes may require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated
or cause substantial delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
To the best of our knowledge, our operations are in compliance,
in all material respects, with all applicable laws, regulations and standards. We may not be able or may elect not to insure against
the risk of liability for violations of such laws, regulations and standards, due to high insurance premiums or other reasons.
Where coverage is available and not prohibitively expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against
such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations. However, we cannot provide any assurance that such insurance will continue to
be available at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will be adequate to cover any resulting liability.
We may not be able to obtain, maintain or amend rights,
authorizations, licenses, permits or consents required for our operations.
Our exploration and mining activities are dependent upon the
grant of appropriate rights, authorizations, licenses, permits and consents, as well as continuation and amendment of these rights,
authorizations, licenses, permits and consents already granted, which may be granted for a defined period of time, or may not be
granted or may be withdrawn or made subject to limitations. There can be no assurance that all necessary rights, authorizations,
licenses, permits and consents will be granted to us, or that authorizations, licenses, permits and consents already granted will
not be withdrawn or made subject to limitations.
10
Closure and remediation costs for environmental liabilities
may exceed the provisions we have made.
Natural resource companies are required to close their operations
and rehabilitate the lands in accordance with a variety of environmental laws and regulations. Estimates of the total ultimate
closure and rehabilitation costs for uranium operations are significant and based principally on current legal and regulatory requirements
and closure plans that may change materially. Any underestimated or unanticipated rehabilitation costs could materially affect
our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Environmental liabilities are accrued when they become known, are
probable and can be reasonably estimated. Whenever a previously unrecognized remediation liability becomes known, or a previously
estimated reclamation cost is increased, the amount of that liability and additional cost will be recorded at that time and could
materially reduce our consolidated net income in the related period.
The laws and regulations governing closure and remediation in
a particular jurisdiction are subject to review at any time and may be amended to impose additional requirements and conditions
which may cause our provisions for environmental liabilities to be underestimated and could materially affect our financial position
or results of operations.
Major nuclear incidents may have adverse effects on the
nuclear and uranium industries.
The nuclear incident that occurred in Japan in March 2011 had
significant and adverse effects on both the nuclear and uranium industries. If another nuclear incident were to occur, it may have
further adverse effects for both industries. Public opinion of nuclear power as a source of electricity generation may be adversely
affected, which may cause governments of certain countries to further increase regulation for the nuclear industry, reduce or abandon
current reliance on nuclear power or reduce or abandon existing plans for nuclear power expansion. Any one of these occurrences
has the potential to reduce current and/or future demand for nuclear power, resulting in lower demand for uranium and lower market
prices for uranium, adversely affecting the Company’s operations and prospects. Furthermore, the growth of the nuclear and
uranium industries is dependent on continuing and growing public support of nuclear power as a viable source of electricity generation.
The marketability of uranium concentrates will be affected
by numerous factors beyond our control which may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
The marketability of uranium concentrates extracted by us will
be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include macroeconomic factors, fluctuations in the market price
of uranium, governmental regulations, land tenure and use, regulations concerning the importing and exporting of uranium and environmental
protection regulations. The future effects of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but any one or a combination of these
factors may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
The only significant market for uranium is nuclear power
plants world-wide, and there are a limited number of customers.
We are dependent on a limited number of electric utilities that
buy uranium for nuclear power plants. Because of the limited market for uranium, a reduction in purchases of newly produced uranium
by electric utilities for any reason (such as plant closings) would adversely affect the viability of our business.
The price of alternative energy sources affects the demand
for and price of uranium.
The attractiveness of uranium as an alternative fuel to generate
electricity may be dependent on the relative prices of oil, gas, wind, solar, coal and hydro-electricity and the possibility of
developing other low-cost sources of energy. If the prices of alternative energy sources decrease or new low-cost alternative energy
sources are developed, the demand for uranium could decrease, which may result in a decrease in the price of uranium.
The title to our mineral property interests may be challenged.
Although we have taken reasonable measures to ensure proper
title to our interests in mineral properties and other assets, there is no guarantee that the title to any of such interests will
not be challenged. No assurance can be given that we will be able to secure the grant or the renewal of existing mineral rights
and tenures on terms satisfactory to us, or that governments in the jurisdictions in which we operate will not revoke or significantly
alter such rights or tenures or that such rights or tenures will not be challenged or impugned by third parties, including local
governments, aboriginal peoples or other claimants. Our mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers
or claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. A successful challenge to the precise area and
location of our claims could result in us being unable to operate on our properties as permitted or being unable to enforce our
rights with respect to our properties.
11
Due to the nature of our business, we may be subject to
legal proceedings which may divert management’s time and attention from our business and result in substantial damage awards.
Due to the nature of our business, we may be subject to numerous
regulatory investigations, securities claims, civil claims, lawsuits and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our business.
The outcome of these lawsuits is uncertain and subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual costs to be incurred will depend
upon many unknown factors. We may be forced to expend significant resources in the defense of these suits, and we may not prevail.
Defending against these and other lawsuits in the future may not only require us to incur significant legal fees and expenses,
but may become time-consuming for us and detract from our ability to fully focus our internal resources on our business activities.
The results of any legal proceeding cannot be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, the difficulty
of predicting decisions of regulators, judges and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. There can
be no assurances that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or operating results.
Competition from better-capitalized companies affects
prices and our ability to acquire both properties and personnel.
There is global competition for uranium properties, capital,
customers and the employment and retention of qualified personnel. In the production and marketing of uranium, there are a number
of producing entities, some of which are government controlled and all of which are significantly larger and better capitalized
than we are. Many of these organizations also have substantially greater financial, technical, manufacturing and distribution resources
than we have.
Our future uranium production will also compete with uranium
recovered from the de-enrichment of highly enriched uranium obtained from the dismantling of United States and Russian nuclear
weapons and imports to the United States of uranium from the former Soviet Union and from the sale of uranium inventory held by
the United States Department of Energy. In addition, there are numerous entities in the market that compete with us for properties
and are attempting to become licensed to operate ISR and/or underground mining facilities. If we are unable to successfully compete
for properties, capital, customers or employees or with alternative uranium sources, it could have a materially adverse effect
on our results of operations.
Because we have limited capital, inherent mining risks
pose a significant threat to us compared with our larger competitors.
Because we have limited capital we may be unable to withstand
significant losses that can result from inherent risks associated with mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents,
flooding, earthquake, interruptions due to weather conditions and other acts of nature which larger competitors could withstand.
Such risks could result in damage to or destruction of our infrastructure and production facilities, as well as to adjacent properties,
personal injury, environmental damage and processing and production delays, causing monetary losses and possible legal liability.
Our business could be harmed if we lose the services of our key personnel.
Our business and mineral exploration programs depend upon our
ability to employ the services of geologists, engineers and other experts. In operating our business and in order to continue our
programs, we compete for the services of professionals with other mineral exploration companies and businesses. In addition, several
entities have expressed an interest in hiring certain of our employees. Our ability to maintain and expand our business and continue
our exploration programs may be impaired if we are unable to continue to employ or engage those parties currently providing services
and expertise to us or identify and engage other qualified personnel to do so in their place. To retain key employees, we may face
increased compensation costs, including potential new stock incentive grants and there can be no assurance that the incentive measures
we implement will be successful in helping us retain our key personnel.
If we fail to maintain proper and effective internal controls,
our ability to produce accurate and timely consolidated financial statements could be impaired, which could harm our operating
results, our ability to operate our business and investors’ views of us.
Ensuring that we have adequate internal financial and accounting
controls and procedures in place so that we can produce accurate consolidated financial statements on a timely basis is a costly
and time-consuming effort that will need to be evaluated frequently. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies
to conduct an annual review and evaluation of their internal controls. The Company is in the process of reviewing its internal
control over financial reporting in the interest of complying with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Our failure to maintain
the effectiveness of our internal controls in accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material
adverse effect on our business. We could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which
could have an adverse effect on the price of our common shares.
12
The Company may be subject to certain tax consequences
in its business, which may increase the cost of doing business.
The Company may not be able to structure its acquisitions to
result in tax-free treatment for the companies or their stockholders, which could deter third parties from entering into certain
business combinations with the Company or result in being taxed on consideration received in a transaction.
The COVID-19 coronavirus could adversely impact our business,
including our mine development plans.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, was
reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, the COVID-19 coronavirus has spread to multiple countries, including the
United States. As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread in the United States, we may experience disruptions that could
severely impact our business, including:
● interruption of key mining activities due to limitations on travel, gathering, or business operations
imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others.
● limitations in employee resources, including because of sickness of employees or their families
or the desire of employees to avoid contact with large groups of people.
● delays in financial reporting and filings due to the impact of mitigation efforts on staff and
service providers
● changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak which may
require us to change the ways in which mining is conducted, which may result in unexpected costs.
● delays in necessary interactions with regulators and other important agencies and contractors due
to limitations in employee resources or new procedures due to limitations imposed by COVID-19.
● reduction in the global demand for uranium and vanadium due to reduced production levels in the
primary applications of uranium and vanadium. Restrictions for COVID-19 could cause a decline in energy consumption or indirectly
reduced oil prices could lessen the demand for nuclear power.
● COVID-19 has globally resulted in uranium mine closures that have taken substantial uranium supply
offline and increased the spot price of uranium to date during this crisis, there is no guarantee that this relationship will continue
as the COVID-19 crisis is ongoing and the dynamic of the mine closure/spot price relationship may change.
The global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to
rapidly evolve. The extent to which the COVID-19 coronavirus may impact our business will depend on future developments, which
are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration
of the outbreak, travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States and other countries, business closures or business
disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the disease.
Risks Related to Our Stock
If we are unable to raise additional capital, our business
may fail and stockholders may lose their entire investment.
We had $565,250 and $2,084,782 in cash at December 31, 2020
and December 31, 2019, respectively. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional capital after we exhaust
our current cash. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the
issuance of such securities would likely result in substantial dilution to existing stockholders. If we borrow money, we will have
to pay interest and may also have to agree to restrictions that limit our operating flexibility.
If additional capital is not available in sufficient amounts
or on a timely basis, we will experience liquidity problems, and we could face the need to significantly curtail current operations,
change our planned business strategies and pursue other remedial measures. Any curtailment of business operations would have a
material negative effect on operating results, the value of our outstanding stock is likely to fall, and our business may fail,
causing our stockholders to lose their entire investment.
Shareholders could be diluted if we were to use common
shares to raise capital.
We may need to seek additional capital to carry our business
plan. This financing could involve one or more types of securities including common shares, convertible debt or warrants to acquire
common shares. These securities could be issued at or below the then prevailing market price for our common shares. Any issuance
of additional common shares could be dilutive to existing stockholders and could adversely affect the market price of our common
shares.
13
The Company’s common shares may be traded infrequently
and in low volumes, which may negatively affect the ability to sell shares.
The Company’s common shares may trade infrequently and
in low volumes on both the CSE and OTCQX, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common shares at or near
bid prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation may be attributable to a number of factors,
including the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors
and others in the investment community who can generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of
such institutionally oriented persons, they tend to be risk-averse in this environment and would be reluctant to follow an early
stage company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more advanced and viable.
As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in the Company’s shares is minimal or
non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support
continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. The Company cannot give you any assurance that a broader or more
active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained. Due to these conditions, we can give you
no assurance that you will be able to sell your shares at or near bid prices or at all if you need money or otherwise desire to
liquidate your shares. Further, institutional and other investors may have investment guidelines that restrict or prohibit
investing in securities traded in the over-the-counter market. These factors may have an adverse impact on the trading and
price of our securities, and could result in the loss by investors of all or part of their investment.
The Company’s common share price may be volatile.
The future trading price of the Company’s common shares
may be volatile and may fluctuate substantially. The price of the common shares may be higher or lower than the price you pay for
your shares, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control and may not be directly related to
its operating performance. These factors include the following:
●
price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
●
significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of mineral exploration and mining companies;
●
changes in government regulations or regulatory policies with respect to mineral exploration and mining companies or in the status of our regulatory approvals;
●
actual or anticipated changes in earnings or fluctuations in operating results;
●
announcements by us or by our competitors of acquisitions or of new products, commercial relationships or capital commitments;
●
disruption to our operations or those of other contractors critical to our operations;
●
the emergence of new competitors;
●
commencement of, or our involvement in, litigation;
●
dilutive issuances of our common shares or the incurrence of additional debt;
●
adoption of new or different accounting standards;
●
general economic conditions and trends and slow or negative growth of related markets;
●
loss of a major funding source; or
●
departures of key personnel.
Due to the continued potential volatility of its stock price,
the Company may be the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and
divert management’s attention and resources from the business.
14
The sale of shares by our directors and officers may adversely
affect the market price for our shares.
Sales of significant amounts of common shares held by our officers
and directors, or the prospect of these sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. Management’s
stock ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us,
which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock price.
We have never paid or declared any dividends on our common
shares.
We have never paid or declared any dividends on our common shares
or preferred stock. Likewise, we do not anticipate paying, in the near future, dividends or distributions on our common shares.
Any future dividends on common shares will be declared at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend, among other
things, on our earnings, our financial requirements for future operations and growth, and other facts as we may then deem appropriate.
Our Chief Executive Officer is one of our largest stockholders,
and as a result he can exert control over us and have actual or potential interests that may diverge from yours.
George Glasier, our CEO, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, about
14.2% of our common shares. As a result, Mr. Glasier might be able to influence many matters requiring stockholder approval, including
the election of directors and approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have
the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control, and could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a
premium for their common shares as part of a sale of our company and may affect the market price of our stock.
Furthermore, Mr. Glasier may have interests that diverge from
those of other holders of our common shares. As a result, Mr. Glasier may vote the shares he owns or controls or otherwise cause
us to take actions that may conflict with your best interests as a stockholder, which could adversely affect our results of operations
and the trading price of our common shares. Through this control, Mr. Glasier can control our management, affairs and all matters
requiring stockholder approval, including the approval of significant corporate transactions, a sale of our company, decisions
about our capital structure and the composition of our Board of Directors.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF
COMMENTS
None
15
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Company headquarters is maintained through a lease at 330 Bay
Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2S8.
An operations facility is rented at 31617 Hwy 90 Road, Nucla,
Colorado, USA 81424 which houses the Kinetic Separation units and an office.
1. Sunday Mine Complex
2. San Rafael
3. Sage
4. Dunn
5. Van 4
6. Hansen/Taylor Ranch
7. Bullen Property
16
PROPERTIES
We have no proven or probable reserves. However, as a company
incorporated in Canada we have provided below resources qualifying under National Instrument 43-101, for our Sunday Mines Complex
and our San Rafael Uranium Project.
On September 16, 2015, in connection with the Black Range Transaction,
the Company acquired additional mineral properties. The mining assets acquired through Black Range included assets in the states
of Colorado, Wyoming and Alaska. None of these mining assets are operational at this time. As these properties have not formally
established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent uncertainty as to whether or not any mineralized material
can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mining properties acquired on August 18,
2014 that the Company retains as of December 31, 2019, include: San Rafael Uranium Project located in Emery County, Utah; The Sunday
Mine Complex located in western San Miguel County, Colorado; The Van 4 Mine located in western Montrose County, Colorado; The Sage
Mine project located in San Juan County, Utah, and San Miguel County, Colorado USA, and the Dunn Project located in San Juan County,
Utah.
The Company’s mining properties acquired on September 16, 2015 that
the Company retains as of December 31, 2019, include Hansen, North Hansen, Hansen Picnic Tree, and Taylor Ranch, located in Fremont and
Teller Counties, Colorado. The Company also acquired the Keota project located in Weld County, Colorado, and Ferris Haggerty located in
Carbon County, Wyoming.
The near term plan for the Company’s resources is to mine
initially at the Sunday Complex. The Sunday Mine Complex is an advanced stage property with a significant drilling and production
history. Mining and drilling occurred contemporaneously from the 1950’s through the mid 1980’s. From the 1980’s
to the present, mining and drilling occurred only sporadically, typically when uranium or vanadium prices were high. The last provious
mining interval was from 2006 to 2009, and based on the available records, only in 2009 did surface any drilling take place since
mid-1980. Past operators have generated abundant geologic and mining data and there are open faces underground that show mineralized
zones.
Near term exploration is not needed because the underground
infrastructure has been already developed.
1.
Sunday Mines Complex
The Property
The Sunday Mine Complex
is located in western San Miguel County and is part of the Uravan Mineral Belt. The property is situated 25 miles north of Dove
Creek, Colorado, on the north flank of Disappointment Valley and portions of Big Gypsum Valley. Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc.
(“EFR”) acquired the property in June 2012 from Denison Mines Corp. The complex consists of five individual mines with
mine workings located along a two mile stretch of the southern side of Big Gypsum Valley, with underground workings extending generally
south, with associated vents and surface facilities. The mines are, from east to west: Sunday, Carnation, Saint Jude, West Sunday,
and Topaz. The mines were last previously actively mined from 2007 to 2009.
The property consists of 221 unpatented
claims on public land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) Tres Rios Field Office, covering
approximately 3,800 acres. The area covers parts of sections 10, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24, and 26 T44N
R18W, and sections 18, 19, 20, and 30 T44N R17W. Total annual BLM claim maintenance fee are approximately $34,255 due
September 1st each year. The property has access to grid power and has a natural underground source of water due to an aquifer.
As a mine that has produced in the recent past, the Sunday Mine Complex has a robust infrastructure. The roads are all-weather,
electric power is grid-tied, surface facility structures that meet Colorado State standards exist, and water is present. During
2019, a mine re-opening project was implemented at the Sunday Mine Complex to identify high-grade vanadium ore, followed by bulk
sampling and development drilling. Active mining was conducted and the extracted ore was stock piled underground in the mine. Each
of the five associated mining permits are in Temporary Cessation status.
GMG, Sunshine, and Patsun claims
(totaling twenty claims in the northeast portion of the property) carry a 12.5% royalty on all ore produced.
Accessibility
The property is best accessed from
Colorado. Access from Colorado is via State Highway 141 east out of Naturita, CO for about 3.7 mi (6 km) until the 141/145 Highway
junction, then about 22.4 mi (36 km) south on Hwy 141, then about 6.2 mi (10 km) northwest on County Road 20R (Gypsum Valley Road).
The State Highway 141 is a paved all-weather road and the County Road 20R is a gravel road passable in all but the worst weather.
17
History
The Sunday Mine Complex consists of
six different mines. These are the Topaz, West Sunday, Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and the GMG. The mines have had a number of
owners and operators. Maps and documents made available to the author show that the following companies have been involved in the
all or parts of the property prior to WUC acquisition of the SMC in April 2014: Matterhorn Mining (1950’s-1960’s, Climax
Uranium 1960’s, Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) 1970’s-1980’s, Atlas Minerals (1980’s), Energy Fuels Nuclear
(early 1990’s), International Uranium Corp. (1990’s-2000’s), Denison Mines (USA) (2000’s), and Energy Fuels
(2010’s). The documents are incomplete as so this list may be as well. Since UCC days, the ownership has been clear. In 1983
Union Carbide transferred its mineral interests to UMETCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary. For the sake of consistency, the name Union
Carbide will be used even if technically the ownership was UMETCO at the time.
Records made available by the Company
and a search of public documents on-line indicates exploration drilling starting on the property in the early 1950’s. Two
Defense Minerals Exploration Administration (DMEA) reports, one on the Sunday area and the other on the Topaz area, indicated some
drilling and minor surface extraction had occurred by the mid 1950’s (DMEA, 1953 & 1956). Additionally, historic
maps of the area show the Sunday mines in operation in the 1950’s (Denison Mines, 2008).
The records & anecdotal evidence
indicate that from the mid-1960’s until the early 1980’s, the SMC produced material from relatively steady ongoing
mining operations. These ceased in 1984 when Union Carbide closed their Uravan mill. Since then, the property has been idle, with
the exception of brief periods in the late 1980’s when UCC mined for a short time during a spike in vanadium prices, in the
mid-1990’s with International Uranium Corporation and another one in 2006-2009 when Denison Mines extracted ore from the
mine. During all three periods, the ore was processed at the White Mesa Mill located just south of Blanding, UT.
Exploration and development drilling
on the property was contemporaneous with the mining. The available database records show that at least 1,419 holes have been drilled
on the property. This is an incomplete list, as an examination of the available maps and cross-sections show a number of holes
that are not in the database. A best estimate for total distance drilled is about 850,100 ft (259,175 m). Anecdotal evidence and
some maps also give evidence that underground long holes (test holes drilled from the mine workings anywhere from 50 ft (15 m)
to 300 ft (91 m) long) were used extensively throughout the mined areas.
The 2-D digitized mine workings, done
by Denison Mines show extensive stopping and drifting within parts of the SMC. Generational mine maps indicate that more mine workings
exist than are shown in the digital database. A very conservative rough estimate of the linear mine workings based on the digital
database is in excess of 50,000 ft (15,244 m) with many stopes. Figure 6.2.1 shows the known drill hole and mine working locations.
Based on the records and on field inspection,
it is evident that the Property has a significant history of drill exploration and mine development.
Anthony R. Adkins, P. Geol., LLC was
commissioned by Western Uranium & Vanadium to prepare an Independent Technical Report compliant with the Canadian National
Instrument 43-101 on the Sunday Mine Complex Uranium (SMC) Project, an advanced-stage uranium property. The report was finalized
on July 7, 2015 and filed on sedar.com on July 16, 2015.
The report states that the Sunday Mine Complex has Measured
and Indicated Resources of 203,217 tons grading at 0.25% U3O8 containing 1,007,803 lbs U3O8 and Inferred Resources of 264,604 tons
grading at 0.36% containing 1,906,081 lbs U3O8. This Technical Report resource is an historic estimate under NI 43-101. The historic
mineral resource estimate was calculated by the area of influence method, which is a common way for resources in the Uravan Mineral
Belt to be estimated.
The Sunday Mine Complex Technical Report filed by Western Uranium &
Vanadium estimates mineral resources and not reserves. That report does not use categories other than “mineral resources”
and “mineral reserves”, and the Sunday Mine Complex property was reported as having no reserve quality mineralization.
There is no more recent or available data on the Sunday Mine Complex project resource than that of the Western Uranium &
Vanadium Technical Report from 2015. In order to disclose the historic resource as current, the Company needs to have completed
and filed an NI 43-101 technical report on sedar.com which includes discussion on the reasonable prospect for economic extraction
of the mineral resource. A qualified person (as understood under NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical
estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral
resources or mineral reserves. In order to upgrade or verify the historical estimate provided by the Western Uranium &
Vanadium Technical Report, the Company would have to engage a qualified person to, among other things, take account of any exploration
or other work on the Sunday Mine Complex since the date of the historical estimate and otherwise produce a report under NI 43-101.
Project Geology
Geologically, the main hosts for uranium-vanadium mineralization
in the Sunday Mine Complex are fluvial sandstone beds assigned to the upper part of the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic Morrison
Formation, with minor production coming from conglomeratic sandstones assigned to the lower portion of the Brushy Basin Member
of the Morrison Formation. Mineralization from both members is present at the property, with the mine production coming from the
Salt Wash Member. Beds generally strike NW-SE and dip SW, with some exceptions within fault bounded blocks adjacent to Big Gypsum
Valley.
18
Restoration and Reclamation
Each of the mines are permitted separately
with the DRMS and are considered to be in temporary cessation status. The mines and their permitted acres and financial warranties are,
from east to west, the Sunday (60 acres, $330,242), Carnation (9.8 acres, $40,245), Saint Jude (9.8 acres, $69,828 ), West Sunday (12.1
acres, $85,036), and Topaz (30 acres, $99,893).
Permitting Status
The air permits for the site are currently
being renewed with APCD. A Stormwater permit is in place with the WQCD and a Stormwater Management Plan is in effect.
However, a mine water treatment plant will need to be permitted for treating mine water, as there is currently 55 million gallons of water
in the lower portion of the mine where most of the remaining resource is located. This will require a discharge permit with the DWQC and
revisions to the Plan of Operations, EPP, and one of the DRMS mine permits. Special Use Permits are also in place with San Miguel County,
which mainly address road maintenance and transportation issues with some limitations in effect on when and how many trucks may be used
for ore haulage to the mill. On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a Notice of Hearing to Declare Termination of Mining Operations
to Western for the Sunday Mine Complex. At issue is the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate
mine, with very different facts that is retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in
meeting existing rules and regulations. A permit hearing was scheduled for October 21, 2020 to determine temporary cessation status. In
a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved temporary cessation status for each of the five Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West Sunday,
St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the July 22, 2020 permit
hearing. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July
22, 2020 decision by requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. The Company anticipates joining with the MLRB in defense of their
July 22, 2020 decision.
Major permits currently in place at the Sunday Complex include:
●
Sunday 112d Mine Permit M-1977-285 (DRMS)
●
St. Jude 110d Mine Permit M-1978-039-HR (DRMS)
●
West Sunday 112d Mine Permit M-1981-021 (DRMS)
●
Carnation 110d Mine Permit M-1977-416 (DRMS)
●
Topaz 112d Mine Permit M-1980-055-HR (DRMS)
●
West Sunday Plan of Operations COC 52049 (BLM)
●
Sunday, St. Jude and Carnation Plan of Operations COC-53227 (BLM)
●
Resolution #1997-18 Mine Permit (San Miguel County)
●
Resolution 2007-34 Topaz and Sunday Expansion (San Miguel County)
●
Resolution 2008-41 Increased Ore Haulage (San Miguel County)
●
Road & Bridge Special Construction Permit (SCP) 06-14 (San Miguel County)
19
2.
San Rafael
The Property
The San Rafael Uranium Project land position is comprised of
a contiguous claim block covered by 136 BM unpatented federal lode mining claims and 10 Hollie unpatented federal lode mining claims.
The San Rafael Project is located in the historic Tidwell District
about 10 miles west of Green River, Utah. Most of the property is north of Interstate Highway 70 at the Hanksville exit.
Energy Fuels became operator of the San Rafael Project when
it acquired Magnum Minerals in June 2009. It consisted of two core uranium deposits, the Deep Gold and the Down Yonder. In January
2011, EFR acquired the 10 Hollie claims from Titan Uranium. These claims covered the eastern portion of the Deep Gold deposit,
greatly increasing resources. WUC acquired the property from Energy Fuels and currently holds the 146 claims in the project area.
The San Rafael Uranium Project is currently being held as a
property that is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for the
project. Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property. Power and water
sources have not yet been formally assessed.
Magnum’s acquisition of the claims and some of the data
Magnum purchased encumbers the claims. This includes a 2% Net Smelter Return royalty to Uranium One, successor to Energy Metals
for claims acquired by Magnum as earn-in to a JV, and a 2% net sales price royalty to Kelly Dearth on the BM claims. There is no
royalty on the Hollie claims.
The unpatented claims are located on approximately 2,900 acres
of land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 35, T21S, R14E, SLPM, Emery
County, Utah. Holding cost $22,630 due to BLM for claim maintenance fees prior to September 1 each year.
20
Accessibility
The property is located on the eastern side of the San Rafael
Swell in east-central Utah, approximately 140 air miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The little desert community of Green River,
Utah is located about ten miles to the east. In a general sense the San Rafael Uranium Project property position lies within a
wedge shaped area, roughly bound along its northeast edge by US Highway 6-50 and along its southeast edge by Interstate 70.
Concerning additional local access features, U.S. Highway 6-50
crosses just north of the greater San Rafael Uranium Project area in a northwesterly direction and is roughly paralleled by the
regional railroad line. Access to the property is generally good year around, except for periods of heavy snowstorms during December
through February and increased monsoon rains and summer cloudburst storms during August through October. Access for drilling and
other exploration activity is excellent, except during occasional heavy rainy periods which can create heavy flash flooding and
roads mudding-up and becoming impassable.
History
The Deep Gold deposit was originally discovered by Continental
Oil Company (Conoco) and Pioneer Uravan geologists in the late 1960s and 1970s to early 1980s, respectively. Exploration drilling
was conducted just east of the core of the Tidwell Mineral Belt and north-northeast of the Acerson Mineral Belt. The area containing
the deposits was considered to contain highly prospective paleo trunk stream channel trends. Some of the larger historic producing
mines in the area were Atlas Minerals’ Snow, Probe, and Lucky Mines. The deposit in the San Rafael Project is an open concordant,
channel-controlled, sandstone-hosted, trend type, with mineralization hosted in the upper sandstone sequence of the Salt Wash Member
of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation.
In addition to Conoco, Pioneer Uravan, and Atlas Minerals, the
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and other companies (Union Carbide, Energy Fuels Nuclear, and others) conducted exploration drilling
and mining in the area. Some of these companies performed historic resource estimates on the Deep Gold deposits, but, they are
not considered compliant with NI 43-101 standards. These resource estimates are of historical importance, were generated by senior
mining companies with significant uranium exploration and production experience and are considered as relevant checks to this updated
Technical Report.
Depth to mineralization at the Deep Gold deposit in Section
23 averages 800 feet, with hole depths averaging approximately 1,000 feet. Magnum purchased and otherwise acquired most of the
available historic exploration data produced by the previous operators. A 100 hole, 100,000 foot drilling program is warranted
to discover and define additional uranium resources. Total cost for this work would be $US 1.3 million to $US 1.5 million, based
on an all-inclusive cost of $US 15/foot.
The Tidwell Mineral Belt and the San Rafael Uranium District
have been the sites of considerable historic exploration drilling and production, with over 4 million pounds of uranium and 5.4
million pounds of vanadium produced. Production from the Snow, immediately up dip of the Deep Gold deposit, which produced for
nine years, starting in March 1973 and ending in January, 1982 consisted of 650,292 pounds of U3O8 contained in 173,330 tons of
material at an average grade of 0.188% U3O8 (Wilbanks, 1982).
O. Jay Gatten, P. Geol., LLC was commissioned
by Western Uranium & Vanadium to prepare an Independent Technical Report compliant with the Canadian National Instrument
43-101 on the San Rafael Uranium Project (including the: Deep Gold Uranium Deposit and the Down Yonder Uranium Deposit), an advanced-stage
uranium property. The report was finalized on November 19, 2014 and filed on sedar.com on November 20, 2015.
The filed Technical Report states that the Deep Gold deposit
of the San Rafael Project comprises a historic indicated uranium resource of 475,000 tons grading at 0.25% U3O8 containing 2,415,300
lbs U3O8 and a historic inferred Mineral Resource of 92,350 tons grading at 0.32% U3O8 containing 587,800 lbs U3O8. This Technical
Report resource is an historic estimate under NI 43-101. The historic mineral resource estimate was calculated by using polygonal
and statistical methods. Both methods have been successfully applied in the evaluation of resources at many prospects and
operating mines within the Salt Wash sandstone uranium deposits.
The San Rafael Uranium Project Technical Report filed by Western
Uranium & Vanadium estimates mineral resources and not reserves. That report does not use categories other than “mineral
resources” and “mineral reserves”, and the San Rafael Uranium Project property was reported as having no reserve
quality mineralization. There is no more recent or available data on the San Rafael Uranium Project resource than that of the Western
Uranium & Vanadium Technical Report from 2014. In order to disclose the historic resource as current, the Company needs
to have completed and filed an NI 43-101 technical report on sedar.com which includes discussion on the reasonable prospect for
economic extraction of the mineral resource. A qualified person (as understood under NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to
classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the historical
estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. In order to upgrade or verify the historical estimate provided by the
Western Uranium & Vanadium Technical Report, the Company would have to engage a qualified person to, among other things,
take account of any exploration or other work on the San Rafael Uranium Project since the date of the historical estimate and otherwise
produce a report under NI 43-101.
21
Project Geology
Geologically, the main hosts for uranium-vanadium
mineralization in the San Rafael Project are the fluvial sandstone beds assigned to the upper part of the Salt Wash Member of the
Jurassic Morrison Formation.
Restoration and Reclamation
All exploration permits have been terminated and all bonds released.
An EA was completed by BLM in 2008 for drilling up to 150 holes. A large area has been surveyed for cultural and paleontological
resources which would expedite future exploration permits. No mine permitting activities have yet occurred.
Permitting Status
All exploration permits have been terminated and all bonds released.
An EA was completed by BLM in 2008 for drilling up to 150 holes. A large area has been surveyed for cultural and paleontological
resources which would expedite future exploration permits. No mine permitting activities have yet occurred.
22
3.
Sage
The Property
On July 1, 2014 PRM concluded a deal with EFR to acquire 44
contiguous unpatented mining claims on the Utah side of the Colorado-Utah state line at the head of Summit Canyon at the south
end of the Uravan Mineral Belt.
The 94 unpatented claims are located on approximately
1,942 acres land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in sections 34 and 35, T32S, R26E, SLPM, San Juan County, Utah
and sections 25 and 26, T43N, R20W, NMPM, and sections 19, 29, 30, 31, and 32, T43N, R19W, NMPM San Miguel County, Colorado. Holding
cost is $14,370 due to BLM for claim maintenance fees prior to September 1 each year. The property has access to grid
power, however, no source of industrial water has yet been identified. The Sage Mine Project is currently being held as a property
that is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for the project.
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property.
Accessibility
The Sage Plain Project property can be accessed from the north,
south, and east on paved, all-weather county roads. The nearest towns with stores, restaurants, lodging, and small industrial supply
retailers are Monticello, Utah, 26 road miles to the west, and Dove Creek, Colorado, 20 road miles to the southeast. Larger population
centers with more supplies and services are available farther away at Moab, Utah (61 road miles to the north) and Cortez, Colorado
(54 road miles to the southeast).
U.S. Highway 491 connects Monticello, Utah to Dove Creek and
Cortez, Colorado. There are two routes north from this highway to the project. At one mile west of the Colorado/Utah state line
(16 miles east of Monticello or 10 miles west of Dove Creek), San Juan County Road 370 goes north for 10 miles to the Calliham
Mine portal site drive way. The mine portal is one-half mile east of Road 370, on a private road. An alternate route is to turn
north on Colorado Highway 141(2 miles west of Dove Creek) for 9.5 miles to Egnar, Colorado, then turn west on San Miguel County.
Road H1 for 1.2 miles before intersecting San Juan County Road 370. Road 370 would be taken north for 4 miles to the Calliham Mine
portal site driveway. Road H1 from Egnar would also be used if one was traveling to the project on Highway 141 from farther north
in Colorado, such as Naturita, Colorado (a total of 62 miles away).
History
The property includes the historic producing Sage Mine and boarders
the famous Deremo Mine and the Calliham Mine (combined historic production of over 8 million lbs. U3O8 and
70 million lbs. V2O5). The uranium-vanadium deposits occur in the upper and middle sandstones of the Salt Wash Member
of the Morrison Formation.
WUC is in possession of historic mine and drill maps. About
200 historic holes were drilled on the claims at the Sage Mine. A considerable, but unknown amount of drilling occurred historically
on the eastern (Colorado) part of the claims along the benches of Summit and Bishop Canyons. Historic production from several small
mines occurred on the Colorado claims (Red Ant, Black Spider, etc.).
The Sage Mine was developed, operated, and permitted by Atlas
Minerals in the 1970s. It closed in 1982 and was ultimately sold and the permit transferred to Butt Mining Company under a Small
Mine NOI. Jim Butt operated the mine for a short time in the early 1990s when vanadium prices were high; however, the mine has
been idle since that time.
In the fall of 2011, Colorado Plateau Partners drilled seven
holes totaling 4,873 feet at the Sage Mine property to confirm historic map data and explore for a possible east-west channel connecting
the mine to a mineralized body to the west. The drilling was successful in meeting the objectives of confirming the accuracy of
the historic data and verifying a historically defined mineralized body. One hole exploring a possible mineralized trend connecting
the mine to the western mineralized body intercepted 2.0 feet of 0.407% eU3O8. Another hole intercepted mineralization greater
than 1.0 foot of 0.16% eU3O8.
Prior to the Company’s acquisition of the Sage Mine property,
Energy Fuels, Colorado Plateau Partners (a Joint Venture between Energy Fuels and Lynx-Royal) completed a NI 43-101 Technical Report
on the Sage Plain Project (Technical Report on Colorado Plateau Partners LLC (Energy Fuel Resources Corporation/Lynx-Royal
JV) Sage Plain Project, San Juan County, Utah and San Miguel County, Colorado by Douglas C. Peters, Certified Professional Geologist,
Peters Geosciences Golden, Colorado December 16, 2011) (the “Sage Mine Energy Fuels Technical Report”).
The Sage Mine Energy Fuels Technical Report resource is an historic estimate
under NI 43-101.
23
The historic mineral resource estimate was calculated by a modified
polygonal method. The Sage Mine area had drill spacing of 50-150 feet. At locations where drifting or stopping has removed portions
of polygons, appropriate reductions to the resources assigned in those polygons were made. Mining assumptions were used in determining
a cutoff grade for the resource estimates. The minimum mining thickness for this type of deposit is considered to be 2 feet. Uranium
resource grades of 0.00% were used to dilute any intercept less than 1 foot of to meet the 2 feet minimum.
The Sage Mine Energy Fuels Technical Report filed by Colorado
Plateau Partners estimates mineral resources and not reserves. That report does not use categories other than “mineral resources”
and “mineral reserves”, and the Sage Mine property was reported as having no reserve quality mineralization. There
is no more recent or available data on the Sage Mine project resource than that of the Energy Fuels Technical Report from Colorado
Plateau Partners. In order to disclose the historic resource as current, the Company needs to have completed and filed an NI 43-101
technical report to sedar.com. A qualified person (as understood under NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the
historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as
current mineral resources or mineral reserves. In order to upgrade or verify the historical estimate provided by the Sage Mine
Energy Fuels Technical Report, the Company would have to engage a qualified person to, among other things, take account of any
exploration or other work on the Sage Mine since the date of the historical estimate and otherwise produce a report under NI 43-101.
Energy Fuels submitted an Exploration NOI to the BLM in March
2013 for the site thereby establishing a nominal permit for the facility. Permitting for mine expansion was started in 2012, but
was discontinued due to other priorities. This work included installing 3 monitoring wells around a proposed portable water treatment
plant (exploration permit E/037/0188; bond $16,020) and conducting baseline studies (archeology, biology, groundwater). Eight baseline
groundwater sampling events have been completed, which will allow for submittal of a complete groundwater discharge permit application
to DWQ. The Sage Mine Energy Fuels Technical Report resource provides an historic estimate. The Company has a high degree of confidence
in the referenced NI 43-101 Technical Report which references the Company’s Sage Project.
Other than offsetting some of the historic drill holes and use
of gamma logs where available, no verification of the historical data has been conducted. No core is available at the present time
from the earlier exploration or production work.
It was Douglas C. Peter’s (author of the referenced NI
43-101 Technical Report) opinion that the uranium and vanadium data from drilling in 2011 and from historical information on analyses
and down hole probing were adequate for the purposes of that technical report and for basic resource estimation using those data.
Project Geology
The Sage Plain and nearby Slick Rock and Dry Valley/East Canyon
districts uranium vanadium deposits are a similar type to those elsewhere in the Uravan Mineral Belt. The location and shape of
mineralized deposits are largely controlled by the permeability of the host sandstone. Most mineralization is in trends where Top
Rim sandstones are thick, usually 40 feet or greater.
The Sage Plain District appears to be a large channel of Top
Rim sandstone which trends northeast, as one of the major trunk channels that is fanning into distributaries in the southern portion
of the Uravan Mineral Belt. The Calliham/Crain/Skidmore (Calliham Mine) and Sage Mine deposits, as well as nearby Deremo and Wilson/Silverbell
mines appear to be controlled by meandering within this main channel.
The Morrison sediments accumulated as oxidized detritus in the
fluvial environment. During early burial and diagenesis, the through-flowing ground water within the large, saturated pile of Salt
Wash and Brushy Basin material remained oxidized, thereby transporting uranium in solution. When the uranium-rich waters encountered
the zones of trapped reduced waters, the uranium precipitated. Vanadium may have been leached from the detrital iron-titanium mineral
grains and subsequently deposited along with or prior to the uranium.
The thickness, the gray color, and pyrite and carbon contents
of sandstones, along with gray or green mudstone, were recognized by early workers as significant and still serve as exploration
guides. Much of the Top Rim sandstone in the Sage Plain Project area exhibits these favorable features; therefore, portions of
the property with only widely spaced drill holes hold potential. However, without the historic drill data, it cannot be determined
where sedimentary facies are located (e.g., channel sandstones thin and pinch-out, or sandstone grades and interfingers into pink
and red oxidized sandstone and overbank mudstones). Furthermore, locations of interface zones of the oxidized and reduced environments
are hard to predict. Until more historic data are obtained and/or more drilling occurs on the property away from the historic mines,
these outlying areas remain exploration targets.
Restoration and Reclamation
A financial warrant is posted with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
Board for the amount of $40,124.
24
Permitting Status
Although the mine is permitted (S/037/0058) and bonded ($40,124) for
reclamation, it is not permitted for mining. Because of its location on BLM managed land, an Environmental Assessment will need to be
prepared for the site by a third-party contractor once a Plan of Operations is submitted for the mine operation. An amendment to the Small
Mine Reclamation NOI will also be needed with Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining to allow for mine expansion.
Existing permits
include:
Small Mine Reclamation
permit with the Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining.
Basis of Disclosure
The scientific and technical information provided in this Form
10-K on the Sage Mine, as well all data and exploration information reported in this Form 10-K on the Sage Mine, is based on the
information reported in the Sage Mine Energy Fuels Technical Report.
4.
Dunn
The Property
The 11 unpatented claims are located on approximately 220 acres
of land administered by the BLM in sections 14 and 15, T32S, R25E, SLPM, San Juan County, Utah. Holding costs of the 11 claims
will be $1,705 due to BLM before September 1 each year.
The Dunn Project is currently being held as a property that
is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for the project. Western
Uranium & Vanadium Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property. Power and water sources have not
yet been formally assessed.
Accessibility
The property lies in Bear Trap Canyon, a tributary at the head
of East Canyon. This is midway between the EFR Rim Mine and the Calliham/Sage mine area. Access to the Dunn project is from
West Summit Road (San Juan County Road 313), 10.8 miles north of the junction with U.S. Highway 491. West Summit Road is a two-lane
paved road that is well maintained year round. At 10.8 miles, a graveled Class D County Road (unnamed), spurs off of West Summit
Road, passes through the leased lands and terminates at the Dunn Portal at approximately 2.1 miles from the spur. The nearest town
to the Dunn project is Monticello, Utah which is approximately 65 miles away. The closest commercial airport facilities are located
in Cortez, Colorado, approximately 65 miles to the southeast, and Moab, Utah approximately 65 miles to the northwest; both airports
have daily commercial flights to-and-from Denver International Airport.
History
The first discovery of uranium-vanadium mineralization within
close proximity to the Dunn project was by Homestake Mining Company in the late 1960s at what would eventually become the Wilson
Mine 4 miles to the east. Mineralization associated with the Dunn mine was discovered by Gulf Oil Corporation in the late 1960s,
which was subsequently acquired by Homestake, followed by Atlas Minerals in the 1970’s. Between 1975 and 1983 Atlas completed
243 drill holes at the Dunn project with an average total depth of 724 feet. By 1981, Atlas had delineated a resource that could
justify the construction of a 3,825 foot decline. The decline successfully reached the perimeter of delineated mineralization,
but before any production-mining, Atlas ceased operations in 1983 when faced with financial setbacks that required them to divert
funds.
In July, 2013, Energy Fuels Resources acquired the Dunn Mine
property from American Strategic Minerals Corporation and Kyle Kimmerle.
Project Geology
The Dunn project occurs on structurally
unaffected terrain between the gently folded Boulder Knoll anticline to the southwest and the more prominent salt-cored Lisbon
Valley anticline to the northeast. The strata beneath the project are relatively flat, and no major faults or folds are expected
to disrupt bedding or unit contacts.
Uranium-vanadium mineralization at the
Dunn is hosted in the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic Morrison formation which occurs at approximately 500 to 750 feet below the
surface. The average depth to the mineralized sandstones within the Salt Wash Member is 650 feet from the surface.
The primary uranium mineral is uraninite
with minor amounts of coffinite. The primary vanadium mineral is Montroseite.
Restoration and Reclamation.
No liabilities currently exist.
25
Permitting Status
No permits currently exist.
Basis of Disclosure
The scientific and technical information provided in this Form
10-K on the Dunn Project American Strategic Mineral Corporation is based on information provided in a NI 43-101 Technical Report
prepared by American Strategic Minerals Corporation (the previous owner of the Dunn Project) entitled Technical Report on American
Strategic Minerals Corporation’s Dunn Project, San Juan County, Utah by Dr. David A. Gonzales, PhD, PG, Durango, Colorado
March 23, 2012. Mr. Gonzales is a qualified person for purposes of NI 43-101. However, none of the data, other exploration information
or other results reported in that report are being incorporated into this Form 10-K.
5.
Van #4
The Property
The Van#4 is located in the Uravan Mineral Belt on Monogram
Mesa in Montrose County, Colorado. The property had been held by Denison and its predecessors for many years. The property consists
of 80 unpatented mining claims covering the mine site and long-known deposit to the east, plus two large claim groups to the north,
east, and south with exploration potential.
The 80 unpatented claims are located on approximately 1,900 acres
land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in sections 27, 28, 29, 33, and 34, T48N, R17W, NMPM, and some in section
3, T47N, R17W, Montrose County, Colorado. The Holding costs of the 80 claims will be $12,400 due to BLM before September
1 each year. There are no royalties encumbering these claims.
The property includes the Van #4 shaft and associated surface
facilities, which need renovation. The mine is connected to the Ura decline on claims in Bull Canyon to the southwest,
not owned by WUC. It has been on standby for many years. Denison completed reclamation of two of the ventilation holes in
2008 and 2010. The property has access to grid power; however, no source of industrial water has been identified yet. The Van 4
mine is currently being held as a property that is exploratory in nature. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for
the project. Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property. Power and water
sources have not yet been assessed.
A prior owner of the Van 4 Mine had been
granted a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”)
which was set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary
Cessation. PRM subsequently participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing,
three non-profit organizations who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The
MLRB board members voted to grant a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties
filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017. The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the
Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff
organizations are seeking for the court to set aside the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to
PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On
May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby the additional five-year temporary cessation period was
granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed, ruling
that the additional five-year temporary cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised Western that it
will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The Judge has subsequently issued
an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine into reclamation. On January 22, 2020, the
MLRB held a hearing and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit and ordered
commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five (5) years. The Company commenced reclamation of the Van 4 Mine
but progress has been delayed both by COVID-19 restrictions and countywide fire and open flame restrictions. The reclamation cost is fully
covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property.
Accessibility
The Van #4 mine is accessible via Montrose
County Roads year-round.
History
The Van#4 was initially permitted in the late 1970s and early
1980s by Union Carbide as part of a number of small mines named the Thunderbolt Group. Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (EFN) acquired
the mine in 1984 and then transferred the mine and permits to International Uranium Corporation (IUC) in 1997. IUC re-permitted
the mine with DRMS (then known as the Division of Minerals and Geology) in 1999 because the previous permit had included other
mines in the area that were not acquired by IUC. Mine Permit M-1997-032 with DRMS is currently in good standing and bonded
for $75,057. Amendment AM-1, which incorporated the approved EPP, was issued on May 30, 2012. The permit has been transferred over
the years from IUC to Denison Mines (USA) Corp. to Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. and now to WUC by way of PRM.
26
Project Geology
The uranium-vanadium deposits occur in the upper and middle
sandstones of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. Deposits in this part of the Uravan Mineral Belt have a moderate
V2O5: U3O8 ratio. The Company is in possession of much historic mine and drill data (former Union Carbide/Umetco property), as
well as up-to-date mine maps. Denison drilled most recently (summer 2008) 21 wide-spaced exploration holes in sections 27
and 34. All have been reclaimed and the permit terminated.
Restoration and Reclamation.
There is a reclamation bond held by the
Colorado DRMS for $75,057.
Permitting Status
Permit compliance is currently limited to an annual stormwater inspection; stormwater improvement
work was completed in 2010 and 2012. The air permit with APCD was recently allowed to lapse, as the company does not have any immediate
development or operation plans for the mine. The mine does not have EPA approval for radon emissions; however, this approval may
not be needed to restart mining, as the life-of-mine production will likely be less than 100,000 tons. The DRMS mining permit was
put into Temporary Cessation in February, 2014. Existing major permits at the mine include:
●
BLM Plan of Operations COC-62522 (same as DRMS Permit M-97-032)
●
DRMS 110d (Small Mine, DMO) Mine Permit M-97-032
27
6.
Hansen/Taylor
The Property
Within the Project area, Black Range has mining agreements,
owns fee minerals, holds options to purchase fee mineral rights, holds federal unpatented mining claims and mineral leases with
the State of Colorado, and has in place surface access agreements, including:
- 1 x private Mineral Lease
- 1 x State Mineral Lease (UR3324)
- 1 x option to purchase 100% of the Hansen and Picnic Tree
Deposits
- 108 Federal unpatented mining claims
The Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project is currently being held as a
property that is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Neither exploration plans nor a mining plan exist for the project.
Black Range Minerals has not undertaken development work at the property since groundwater well installation in 2013. Power and
water sources have not yet been formally assessed.
Notably a portion of the Hansen/Taylor deposit was in dispute
during 2017. On September 16, 2015, in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Black Range, the Company assumed an option
and exploration agreement (the “Option and Exploration Agreement”) with STB Minerals, LLC, a Colorado limited liability
company (“STB”). The Option and Exploration Agreement gives the Company the right to purchase 51% of the mineral rights
of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits (for which the Company already holds 49% of the rights). If the Company
were to exercise its option under the Option and Exploration Agreement, it would require the Company to (a) make a cash payment
of $2,500,000 immediately upon exercise; (b) issue common shares to STB amounting to a value of $3,750,000 immediately upon exercise;
and (c) issue common shares to STB amounting to a value of $3,750,000 on the date that is 180 days following exercise. The Option
and Exploration Agreement was scheduled to expire by its terms on July 28, 2017 if not exercised.
The Option and Exploration Agreement provided an extension for
an “event of force majeure”. Under this clause, the Company would receive an extension of the period during which it
could exercise its option if it experiences an unreasonable delay outside its control that prevents it from exercising the option. On
May 10, 2017, the Company provided to STB a notice that it was exercising the force majeure clause due to the delay by government
regulators in licensing the Company’s Kinetic Separation and permitting mining at the Hansen property. STB has contested
the Company’s finding that an event of force majeure has occurred. Ongoing negotiations continued until September 21, 2017
when the Company and STB agreed to settle the matter through the pre-established arbitration mechanism. Prior to the commencement
of arbitration, a settlement was agreed to on February 28, 2018 through the execution of an Amendment of Option and Exploration
Agreement. As consideration, the Company paid STB a $20,000 extension payment and granted STB the right to seek a bona fide written
offer over the remaining term, and agreed to the removal of the force majeure clause from the agreement. The Company received an
extension until July 28, 2019 and a right of first refusal to match any bona fide written offer. Hence the Company already owned
49% of the resource property and retained an option to purchase the 51% of the resource property that the Company did not already
own for the duration of the agreement. Further the Company believes the execution of this agreement was without financial implications,
and as such, the Company has not made any adjustment to these consolidated financials related to this matter.
Prior to July 28, 2019, the Company decided not to exercise
the option to purchase the remaining 51% of the mineral rights of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits, and thus
the option has expired unexercised.
Accessibility
The Project is located in Fremont County, in South Central Colorado
approximately 30 miles northwest of the city of Canon City. Canon City is the closest population center, and had a population of
16,400 in 2010. The largest metropolitan area in close proximity to the Project is Colorado Springs which is located approximately
46 miles northeast of Canon City and has a population of approximately 416,000. Figure 1 shows the locations of these population
centers with respect to the Project.
For ground travel, Canon City is best accessed from Denver/Colorado
Springs via I-25 south to State Highway 115 which intersects Highway 50 just east of Canon City. For air travel, alternatives include
the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), which is a 16-gate facility served by 14 airlines and Denver’s International
Airport (DEN), which is 149 miles from Canon City. There is a small airport, Fremont County Airport (CNE), located in Canon City,
which is open to private flights. The property has access to grid power; however, no source of industrial water has been identified
yet.
History
Uranium mineralization was discovered in the Tallahassee Creek
District in 1954 by two groups of prospectors. Between 1954 and 1972, 16 small open pit and underground mines were operated in
the district. Discoveries, and most producing mines and production were in the Tallahassee Creek Conglomerate, with one mine, the
Smaller Mine, producing from the Echo Park Formation. Exploration efforts were minimal until Rampart Exploration Company (Rampart),
under contract to Cyprus, explored the Taylor Ranch area beginning in 1974 and discovered the Hansen Uranium Deposit along with
other uranium deposits in the district. Cyprus took the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits through a positive final feasibility analysis
in 1980 for an open-pit mining and conventional uranium milling operation, and secured all necessary operating permits in 1981.
The collapse of the uranium market led to Cyprus abandoning the project which lay dormant until Black Range Minerals began activities
in late 2006.
28
Black Range Mineral’s Taylor Ranch Project, CO, consists
of a combination of private, BLM and State Section minerals, and private, BLM and State Section surface rights. Ownership of the
private minerals and surface has mainly been by local ranchers. Western Nuclear held a portion of the property briefly in 1968.
Cyprus gained control of mineral and surface rights during the period 1975-1978.
In 1993, Cyprus sold their Tallahassee Creek holdings to Noah
(Buddy) and Diane Taylor who had managed ranching activities on the property. The Taylors were not able to make the final payment
to Cyprus and sold the southern portion of their holdings which included the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits to New Mexico and
Arizona Land (now NZ Minerals) in 1996 who, in 1998, sold the property to South T-Bar Ranch, a subsidiary of Colorado developer
Land Properties, while reserving a 49% interest in the minerals.
This part of Cyprus’ prior holdings was subdivided, mainly
into 35-acre parcels. Beginning in December 2006, through various purchases, leases and option agreements, Black Range Minerals
has obtained mineral rights to most of the original Cyprus holdings.
Prior to the Hansen/Taylor Project being acquired by WUC, a mineral resource
for the Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project for Black Range Minerals Limited. Black Range Reported a JORC compliant indicated uranium resources.
This historic resource estimate was originally reported to Black Range Minerals Limited by Tetra Tech in four resource memos (collectively,
the Tetra Tech Reports): 1) High Park Kriging Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project, April 25, 2008; 2) North Hansen, Boyer Kriging
Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project, April 29, 2009; 3) Technical Memorandum – Boyer, Hansen and Picnic Tree Area Kriging
Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project, August 24, 2009; and 4) Technical Memorandum – Boyer, Hansen and Picnic Tree Area
Kriging Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project (Updated 2010), August 12, 2010. These memos were originally prepared by Rex Bryan
of Tetra Tech, a qualified person under NI 43-101. The results reported in the Tetra Tech Reports are historical estimates under NI 43-101.
There is high confidence in the geologic interpretation of the
historic Black Range Minerals resource provided in the Tetra Tech Reports. The deposit is stratified and laterally consistent drill
hole logging and surface mapping supports this conclusion. The data source for geologic interpretation is primarily drill hole
logs and surface mapping. The model currently assumes minimal post mineralization faulting. Deposit domains were confined by corresponding
geologic units. Continuity of geology is on a regional sedimentary scale and is regular. Grade continuity is subject to deposition
of carbonaceous material and oxidation reduction interfaces of palaeo-groundwater carrying mobilized uranium. Commonly accepted
multi-pass kriging methods were used to estimate the mineral resources. Uranium domains were modeled using wireframe solids, resources
were quantified outside the solids with drastically reduced search ranges. Estimates were checked and compared to historic estimates.
Blocks were sized as a tradeoff between mineralized shapes and general mining selectivity. The block heights are four to six times
the half foot sample collection but block lengths and widths are several times smaller than the drill spacing in order to adequately
fit the mineralized shapes. It is assumed that due to the soft sedimentary nature of the mineral zone, good selectivity can be
achieved.
The historic Black Range Minerals resource reported in the Tetra
Tech Reports uses JORC indicated and inferred resource categories and does not contain reserves. That report does not use categories
other than “mineral resources” and “mineral reserves”. There are no more recent estimates or data available
to WUC or Black Range Minerals. In order to verify this estimate, the Company would need to prepare a NI 43-101 Technical Report
to disclose the mineral resources as current. This would involve, among other things verifying the results under NI 43-101 standards
and potentially conducted new or additional analyses under NI 43-101 standards, as well as taking into account any exploration
or other work conducted on this property since the latest of the Tetra Tech Reports. A qualified person (as defined under NI 43-101)
has not completed sufficient work to classify this historical estimate as current under that rule, and the Company is not treating
this historical estimate as current.
Project Geology
The deposits that make up the Project are tabular sandstone
deposits associated with redox interfaces. The mineralisation is hosted in Tertiary sandstones and/or clay bearing conglomerates
within an extinct braided stream, fluvial system or palaeo channel. Mineralisation occurred post sediment deposition when oxygenated
uraniferous groundwater moving through the host rocks came into contact with redox interfaces, the resultant chemical change caused
the precipitation of uranium oxides. The most common cause of redox interfaces is the presence of carbonaceous material that was
deposited simultaneously with the host sediments. In parts of the Project the palaeochannel has been covered by Tertiary volcanic
rocks and throughout the Project basement consists of Pre-Cambrian plutonics and metamorphic rocks. The volcanic and Pre-Cambrian
rocks are believed to be the source of the uranium.
29
Restoration and Reclamation
BRM has a bond of $154,927 with the DRMS covering exploration
activities for the project.
Permitting Status
The project currently has an exploration permit through the
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety as well as a Conditional Use Permit with the Fremont County Planning and Zoning
Department.
Basis of Disclosure
The scientific and technical information provided in this Form
10-K on the Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project, as well all data and exploration information reported in this Form 10-K on the Hansen/Taylor
Ranch Project, is based on the information reported in the Tetra Tech Reports.
30
31
7.
Bullen Property (Weld County)
The Property
The Bullen Property is a private land parcel
located in Weld County Colorado and is inclusive of 139 surface acres and 160 mineral acres. The property location is Township
9 North, Range 60 West, 6 th P.M., Section 34:NW/4.
Accessibility
The Bullen Property is accessible via Weld
County roads year-round.
History
The Bullen Property is an oil and gas property
located in Weld County Colorado. The Company acquired this non-core property in 2015 in the Black Range Minerals Limited acquisition.
Black Range purchased the property in 2008 for its Keota Uranium Project. This project ran from 2008 to 2013, and at its peak there
were five strategic interests which comprised approximately 3,300 acres in the Keota Uranium District. After the project ceased,
the Bullen Property was the only acreage retained in Weld County by virtue of its outright ownership.
In 2017, the Company signed a three year
oil and gas lease which in 2020 was extended for an additional three year term or the end of continuous operations. The consideration
was in the form of upfront bonus payments and backend production royalty payments. Additional right-of-way easement agreements
were signed which allowed for the development of a pipeline. The lease agreement allows the Company to retain property rights to
vanadium, uranium, and other mineral resources.
In early 2020 Bison Oil & Gas
traded this lease to Mallard Exploration (“Mallard”), Mallard subsequently filed an application with the Colorado Oil &
Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to update the permitting to create a new pooled unit.
In late 2020 Mallard began development of the pooled unit. By March
31, 2021, the drilling portion of the project had been completed for the eight horizontal wells named Blue Teal Fed. Seven wells were
drilled to a 2.5 miles lateral length and one well was drilled to a 3.0 mile lateral length. These DJ-Basin wells target the Niobrara
formation. During May 2021, Mallard will commence the well completion stage, fracking, and flow back. Despite some weather delays over
the winter, the Operations Plan remains close to schedule and production is projected to commence during the third quarter.
Project Geology
The Bullen Property is located within the
Denver-Julesburg Basin (“D-J Basin”) which is inclusive of multiple oil and gas formations.
Permitting Status
Mallard’s application with the Colorado
Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) created a new order to establish a drilling and spacing unit and set the maximum
number of horizontal wells that may be drilled. The field rules were approved on August 24, 2020 (COGCC Order No. 535-1325). This
order pooled five adjoining parcels into a 3,200 acre pooled unit (“Unit”) and set the maximum number of wells at 24.
A total of 16 wells have been permitted in the Unit.
OTHER
Ferris Haggerty
The Property
A reclamation liability remains at this
Wyoming copper project. No leases or land use remain. The Ferris Haggarty project is a reclamation-only project.
Accessibility
The reclamation project is accessible 4 to 6 months out of the
year due to snow and closed access. Take Wyoming Highway west from Encampment, Wyoming for approximately 11 miles. Once across
the divide, to the northeast there is a pullout for Medicine Bow National Forest recreation. Follow 4 wheel drive route 412 (Continental
Divide Trail) for approximately 5 miles to the Haggerty creek watershed. Turn southwest onto a steep 4 wheel drive rout and travel
for approximately 1.5 miles until you are at the property.
32
History
The Ferris-Haggerty Mine Site was one of the richest
components of the Grand Encampment Mining District in Carbon County, Wyoming. The site was first exploited by Ed
Haggerty, a prospector from Whitehaven, England, in 1897, when he established the Rudefeha Mine on a rich deposit of copper
ore. Haggerty was backed by George Ferris and other investors, of whom all but Ferris dropped out. The partners sold an interest
to Willis George Emerson, who raised investment funding for improvements to the mine. These facilities included a 16-mile (26 km)
aerial tramway from Grand Encampment over the Continental Divide to the smelter in Encampment and a 4-mile (6.4 km)
pipeline to the mine. The mine’s assets were eventually acquired by the North American Copper Company for $1 million. By 1904 the
mine had produced $1.4 million in copper ore, and was sold to the Penn-Wyoming Copper Company. However, even with copper prices
peaking in 1907, the company had difficulty making a profit from the remove mine site. The company was over-capitalized and under-insured,
and was suffered devastating fires at the mine site in March 1906 and May 1907 which halted production. Business disputes and a
fall in copper prices prevented re-opening of the mine even after it was rebuilt. Machinery was salvaged after a foreclosure in
1913. A total of $2 million in copper ore was extracted from the mine during its life.
Project Geology
The Deposit is a tabular injection of magmatic metal differentiation
product at the margins of an ultramafic intrusive of early Archean age (2.2 billion years ago). This intrusive was injected into
pre-existing high siliceous sandstones and shales of massive thickness (+2,000 ft). Mineralization at the Ferris-Haggarty mine
consists of disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite grains that occur along bedding planes of the host quartzite. However, the massive
ore body mined at the Ferris-Haggarty was described by Spencer (1904) to lie along quartzite-Schist contacts and to cross cut foliation.
Based on the historic description, the ore may have been remobilized from the host quartzite during regional metamorphism and emplaced
along the quartzite-schist contact by way of permeable fractures. The impermeable hanging wall schist may have formed a natural
barrier to the ore solutions and produced an unusually rich ore body.
Restoration and Reclamation
Grass must grow on the drill pad disturbance
areas from drilling which took place in 2007. These drill pads are located at 10,000 feet above sea level on the north face of
a mountain on the Continental Divide.
A $10,000 reclamation bond remains with the Wyoming DEQ. Upon
completing reclamation, the Company will receive the bond money back.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Company’s carrying value of property,
plant and equipment is as follows:
IP – Kinetic Separation - $9,488,051 The Company holds
a license to use Kinetic Separation, a proven technology that we anticipate will improve the efficiency of the sandstone hosted
uranium mining process, although there are some uncertainties about whether the anticipated benefits will be realized. See Item
1, “Business – The Kinetic Separation Process.” Kinetic Separation is a low cost, purely physical method of uranium
and vanadium ore extraction. Kinetic Separation has been initially tested in order to understand the hydro and mechanical separation
processes. The Company used a prototype Kinetic Separation test system to test several different samples of uranium ore from the
Sunday Mine Complex and the Hansen/Taylor Ranch properties. In all cases, uranium ore that was entered into the Kinetic Separation
pilot test system appeared to concentrate most of the uranium into the post kinetically separated material consisting of a fraction
of the original mass, leaving most of the post kinetically separated materials which did not contain any uranium. The results of
these tests have not yet been validated by a Competent Person.
During 2016, the Company submitted
documentation to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”) for a determination ruling regarding the
type of license which may be required for the application of Kinetic Separation at the Sunday Mine Complex within the state of Colorado.
During May and June of 2016, CDPHE held four public meetings in several cities in Colorado as part of the process. On July 22, 2016 CDPHE
closed the comment period. In connection with this matter, the CDPHE consulted with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”).
In response, the CDPHE received an advisory opinion dated October 16, 2016, which did not contain support for the NRC’s opinion
and with which the Company’s regulatory counsel does not agree. NRC’s advisory opinion recommended that Kinetic Separation
should be regulated as a milling operation but did recognize that there may be exemptions to certain milling regulatory requirements because
of the benign nature of the non-uranium bearing sands produced after Kinetic Separation is completed on uranium-bearing ores. On December
1, 2016, the CDPHE issued a determination that the proposed Kinetic Separation operations at the Sunday Mine must be regulated by the
CDPHE through a milling license. The 2018 increase in the blended uranium/vanadium price has brought the Company closer to production.
Beginning in 2017, the Company’s regulatory counsel has prepared significant documentation in preparation for a prospective submission.
On September 13, 2019, the Company’s regulatory counsel submitted a white paper to the NRC entitled Recommendations on the Proper
Legal and Policy Interpretation for Using Kinetic Separation Processes at Uranium Mine Sites. On July 24, 2020, the NRC staff responded
with a letter in support of the original conclusion; Western’s regulatory counsel is evaluating alternatives.
Mineral Properties $11,735,522 – The Company holds mineral
properties as outlined below.
33
Pinon Ridge Properties
On August 18, 2014, the Company purchased mining assets from
Energy Fuels Holding Corp. in an arm’s length transaction. The mining assets include both owned and leased land in the states of
Utah and Colorado. All of the mining assets represent properties which have previously been mined to different degrees for uranium.
As some of the properties have not formally established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent uncertainty
as to whether or not any mineralized material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mining properties acquired
on August 18, 2014 which the Company still retains as of December 31, 2020, include: San Rafael Uranium Project located in Emery
County, Utah; The Sunday Mine Complex located in western San Miguel County, Colorado; The Van 4 Mine located in western Montrose
County, Colorado; The Sage Mine project located in San Juan County, Utah; and the Dunn project located in San Juan and San Miguel
counties, Colorado.
Black Range Properties
On September 16, 2015, in connection with the Black Range Transaction,
the Company acquired additional mineral properties. The mining assets acquired through Black Range include leased land in the states
of Colorado, Wyoming and Alaska. None of these mining assets were operational at the date of acquisition. As these properties have
not formally established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent uncertainty as to whether or not any mineralized
material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mining properties acquired on September 16, 2015 which
the Company still retains as of December 31, 2020, include Hansen, North Hansen, Hansen Picnic Tree, Taylor Ranch, located in Fremont
County, Colorado. The Company also acquired Keota located in Weld County, Wyoming.
In connection with the Black Range Transaction, Western assumed
a mortgage secured by land, building and improvements at 1450 North 7 Mile Road, Casper, Wyoming, with interest payable at 8.00%
and payable in monthly payments of $11,085 with the final balance of $1,044,015 due as a balloon payment on January 16, 2016. The
Company did not pay the mortgage on its due date. On May 26, 2016, the Company executed agreements with the mortgage holder whereby
in an equal exchange the mortgage was exchanged for the land, building and improvements on which it was secured, pursuant to which
no further financial consideration is required.
During the second quarter of 2016, the Company initiated actions
to cancel its coal mining leases in Alaska. In connection therewith, the Company notified the state of Alaska of its intent to
forfeit the posted bond in satisfaction of the reclamation liabilities at the site. In response to the Company’s notification,
the Company received notification that the state of Alaska was initiating forfeiture of the Company’s performance bond for
reclamation. However, the notice indicated an additional surety bond of $150,000 in excess of the $210,500 cash bond, which had
been posted by the Company upon purchase of the property. The Company and its advisors do not believe that it is obligated for
this additional amount of claimed reclamation obligation. The Company is working with its legal counsel and the State of Alaska
to resolve this matter. The Company has not recorded an additional $150,000 obligation as the Company does not expect, based on
the advice of legal counsel, to be obligated to an amount greater than that presently reflected in the reclamation liability. During
the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company adjusted the fair value of its reclamation obligation and for the Alaska mine, accreted
$183,510 to bring its reclamation liability to face value. The portion of the reclamation liability related to the Alaska mine,
and its related restricted cash are included in current liabilities, and current assets, respectively, at a value of $215,976 and
$215,976. On January 20, 2017, the State of Alaska notified the Company that its reclamation bond had been forfeited to be used
to satisfy the reclamation obligation. However, no amount had yet been determined in respect to the final cost of the reclamation
obligation.
As the properties are not in production, they are not covered
by various types of insurance including property and casualty, liability and umbrella coverage. We have not experienced any material
uninsured or under insured losses related to our properties in the past and believe our approach sufficient given the inactivity.
On September 16, 2015, in connection with the Company’s
acquisition of Black Range, the Company assumed an option and exploration agreement (the “Option and Exploration Agreement”)
with STB Minerals, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“STB”). The Option and Exploration Agreement gives the
Company the right to purchase 51% of the mineral rights of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits (for which the
Company already holds 49% of the rights). If the Company were to exercise its option under the Option and Exploration Agreement,
it would require the Company to (a) make a cash payment of $2,500,000 immediately upon exercise; (b) issue common shares to STB
amounting to a value of $3,750,000 immediately upon exercise; and (c) issue common shares to STB amounting to a value of $3,750,000
on the date that is 180 days following exercise. The Option and Exploration Agreement was scheduled to expire by its terms on July
28, 2017 if not exercised.
34
The Option and Exploration Agreement provided an extension for
an “event of force majeure”. Under this clause, the Company would receive an extension of the period during which
it could exercise its option if it experiences an unreasonable delay outside its control that prevents it from exercising the option. On
May 10, 2017, the Company provided to STB a notice that it was exercising the force majeure clause due to the delay by government
regulators in licensing the Company’s Kinetic Separation and permitting mining at the Hansen property. STB has contested
the Company’s finding that an event of force majeure has occurred. Ongoing negotiations continued until September 21, 2017
when the Company and STB agreed to settle the matter through the pre-established arbitration mechanism. Prior to the commencement
of arbitration, a settlement was agreed to on February 28, 2018 through the execution of an Amendment of Option and Exploration
Agreement. As consideration, the Company paid STB a $20,000 extension payment and granted STB the right to seek a bona fide written
offer over the remaining term, and agreed to the removal of the force majeure clause from the agreement. The Company received an
extension until July 28, 2019 and a right of first refusal to match any bona fide written offer. Hence the Company already owned
49% of the resource property and retained an option to purchase the 51% of the resource property that the Company did not already
own for the duration of the agreement. Further the Company believes the execution of this agreement was without financial implications,
and as such, the Company has not made any adjustment to these consolidated financials related to this matter.
Prior to July 28, 2019, the Company decided not to exercise
the option to purchase the remaining 51% of the mineral rights of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits, and thus
the option has expired unexercised.
Disposal of Mining Properties
In July and October 2016, the Company elected not to renew leases
relating to four projects that were obtained through either the August 2014 acquisition from Energy Fuels Holding Corp. or the
acquisition of Black Range Minerals. The decision to not renew the four leases was based upon a number of factors, the most significant
of which were the location of the projects, the development stage of each product, and the amount of uranium and vanadium resources
within each project. The forfeiture of these leases has no material adverse impact on the fair value of the Company’s mining
assets.
On January 1, 2018, the Company’s Taylor Ranch Lease reached
its expiration date and the Company elected not to negotiate a renewal.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Other than described below, management is not aware of any material
legal proceedings that are pending or that have been threatened against us or our subsidiaries or any of our respective properties,
and none of our directors, officers, affiliates or record or beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common shares, or any associate
of any such director, officer, affiliate or shareholder, is (i) a party adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries in any legal proceeding
or (ii) has an adverse interest to us or any of our subsidiaries in any legal proceeding.
The Company is subject to periodic inspection
by certain regulatory agencies for the purpose of determining compliance by the Company with the conditions of its licenses. In
the ordinary course of business, minor violations may occur; however, these are not expected to result in material expenditures
or have any other material adverse effect on the Company.
A prior owner of the Van 4 Mine had been
granted a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”)
which was set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary
Cessation. PRM subsequently participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing,
three non-profit organizations who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The
MLRB board members voted to grant a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties
filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017. The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the
Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff
organizations are seeking for the court to set aside the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to
PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On
May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby the additional five-year temporary cessation period was
granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed, ruling
that the additional five-year temporary cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised Western that it
will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The Judge has subsequently issued
an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine into reclamation. On January 22, 2020, the
MLRB held a hearing and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit and ordered
commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five (5) years. The Company commenced reclamation of the Van 4 Mine
but progress has been delayed both by COVID-19 restrictions and countywide fire and open flame restrictions. The reclamation cost is fully
covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property.
35
On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a
Notice of Hearing to Declare Termination of Mining Operations related to the status of the mining permits issued by the state of Colorado
for the Sunday Mine Complex. At issue is the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate mine (Van
4,) with very different facts that are retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in
meeting existing rules and regulations. The hearing was scheduled to be held during several monthly MLRB Board meetings, but this matter
has been delayed several times. The permit hearing was held during the MLRB Board monthly meeting on July 22, 2020. At issue was the status
of the five existing permits which comprise the Sunday Mine Complex. Due to COVID restrictions, the hearing took place utilizing a virtual-only
format. The Company prevailed in a 3 to 1 decision which acknowledged that the work completed at the Sunday Mines under DRMS oversight
was timely and sufficient for Western to maintain these permits. In a subsequent July 30, 2020 letter, the DRMS notified the Company that
the status of the five permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz) had been changed to Active status effective June
10, 2019, the original date on which the change of the status was approved. On August 23, 2020, the Company initiated a request for temporary
cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex as the mines had not be restarted within a 180-day window due to the direct and indirect
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, a permit hearing was scheduled for October 21, 2020 to determine temporary cessation status.
In a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved temporary cessation status for each of the five Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West Sunday,
St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the July 22, 2020 permit
hearing. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July
22, 2020 decision by requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. Management anticipates joining with the MLRB in defense of their
July 22, 2020 decision.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
For Western, safety is a core value, and
we strive for superior performance. Our health and safety management system, which includes detailed standards and procedures for
safe production, addresses topics such as employee training, risk management, workplace inspection, emergency response, accident
investigation, and program auditing. In addition to strong leadership and involvement from all levels of the organization, these
programs and procedures form the cornerstone of safety at Western, ensuring that employees are provided a safe and healthy environment
and are intended to reduce workplace accidents, incidents and losses, comply with all mining-related regulations and provide support
for both regulators and the industry to improve mine safety.
The operation of our U.S. based mine is
subject to regulation by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) under the Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”). MSHA inspects our mine on a regular basis and issues various citations and orders
when it believes a violation has occurred under the Mine Act Following passage of The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response
Act of 2006, MSHA significantly increased the number of citations and orders charged against mining operations. The dollar penalties
assessed for citations issued has also increased in recent years.
Western is required to report certain mine
safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K, and that required information is included in Exhibit 95 and is incorporated by reference in
this Annual Report.
36
PART IV
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S
COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common shares trade on the OTCQX Market
under the “WSTRF” trading symbol.
Our common shares are listed for trading
in Canada on the CSE under the symbol “WUC”.
Stockholders
According to our transfer agent, as of
April 15, 2021 there were approximately 3,431 holders of record of our common shares.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not Applicable
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
The information disclosed in this annual report, and the information
incorporated by reference herein, include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions
or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future
events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,”
“continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,”
“plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,”
“would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that
a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated
by reference in this quarterly report are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential
effects on us and speak only as of the date of each such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will
be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond
our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in Item 1A,
“Risk Factors,” and this Item 7 of this annual report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or
should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking
statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited
consolidated annual financial statements and footnotes thereto contained in this annual report.
37
Overview
General
Western Uranium & Vanadium
Corp. (“Western” or the “Company”, formerly Western Uranium Corporation) was incorporated in December 2006
under the Ontario Business Corporations Act. On November 20, 2014, the Company completed a listing process on the Canadian Securities
Exchange (“CSE”). As part of that process, the Company acquired 100% of the members’ interests of Pinon Ridge Mining
LLC (“PRM”), a Delaware limited liability company. The transaction constituted a reverse takeover (“RTO”)
of Western by PRM. Subsequent to obtaining appropriate shareholder approvals, the Company reconstituted its Board of Directors
and senior management team. Effective September 16, 2015, Western completed its acquisition of Black Range Minerals Limited (“Black
Range”).
On August 18, 2014, the Company
closed on the purchase of certain mining properties in Colorado and Utah from Energy Fuels Holding Corp. Assets purchased included
both owned and leased lands in Utah and Colorado and all represent properties that have been previously mined for uranium to varying
degrees in the past. The acquisition included the purchase of the Sunday Mine Complex. The Sunday Mine Complex is located in western
San Miguel County, Colorado. The complex consists of the following five individual mines: the Sunday mine, the Carnation mine,
the Saint Jude mine, the West Sunday mine and the Topaz mine. The operation of each of these mines requires a separate permit and
all such permits have been obtained by Western and are currently valid. In addition, each of the mines has good access to a paved
highway, electric power to existing declines, office/storage/shop and change buildings, and extensive underground haulage development
with several vent shafts complete with exhaust fans. These properties were formerly secured by a first priority interest collateralizing
a $500,000 promissory note which was paid in full on August 31, 2018 and thus the properties are now held free and clear of encumbrances.
The Sunday Mine Complex is the Company’s core resource property and was assigned active status effective June 2019.
On September 16, 2015, Western
completed its acquisition of Black Range, an Australian company that was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until the
acquisition was completed. The acquisition terms were pursuant to a definitive Merger Implementation Agreement entered into between
Western and Black Range. Pursuant to the agreement, Western acquired all of the issued shares of Black Range by way of Scheme of
Arrangement (“the Scheme”) under the Australian Corporation Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Black Range Transaction”),
with Black Range shareholders being issued common shares of Western on a 1 for 750 basis. On August 25, 2015, the Scheme was approved
by the shareholders of Black Range and on September 4, 2015, Black Range received approval by the Federal Court of Australia. In
addition, Western issued to certain employees, directors and consultants options to purchase Western common shares. Such stock
options were intended to replace Black Range stock options outstanding prior to the Black Range Transaction on the same 1 for 750
basis.
The Company has registered offices
at 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 2S8 and its common shares are listed on the CSE under the symbol “WUC”
and are traded on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol “WSTRF”. Its principal business activity is the acquisition
and development of uranium and vanadium resource properties in the states of Utah and Colorado in the United States of America
(“United States”).
38
Recent Developments
Kinetic Separation Licensing
During 2016, the Company submitted
documentation to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”) for a determination ruling regarding
the type of license which may be required for the application of Kinetic Separation at the Sunday Mine Complex within the state
of Colorado. During May and June of 2016, CDPHE held four public meetings in several cities in Colorado as part of the process.
On July 22, 2016 CDPHE closed the comment period. In connection with this matter, the CDPHE consulted with the United States Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (“NRC”). In response, the CDPHE received an advisory opinion dated October 16, 2016, which did
not contain support for the NRC’s opinion and with which the Company’s regulatory counsel does not agree. NRC’s
advisory opinion recommended that Kinetic Separation should be regulated as a milling operation but did recognize that there may
be exemptions to certain milling regulatory requirements because of the benign nature of the non-uranium bearing sands produced
after Kinetic Separation is completed on uranium-bearing ores. On December 1, 2016, the CDPHE issued a determination that the proposed
Kinetic Separation operations at the Sunday Mine must be regulated by the CDPHE through a milling license. The 2018 increase in
the blended uranium/vanadium price has brought the Company closer to production. Beginning in 2017, the Company’s regulatory
counsel has prepared significant documentation in preparation for a prospective submission. On September 13, 2019, the Company’s
regulatory counsel submitted a white paper to the NRC entitled Recommendations on the Proper Legal and Policy Interpretation for
Using Kinetic Separation Processes at Uranium Mine Sites. On July 24, 2020, the NRC staff responded with a letter in support of
the original conclusion; Western’s regulatory counsel is evaluating alternatives.
Letter of Intent with Pinon Ridge Mill
The Company entered into a letter of intent with Pinon Ridge
Corporation for use of its Kinetic Separation at the permitted uranium recovery facilities at the Pinon Ridge Mill site. The letter
of intent provided for the processing of all of Western’s ore produced by its mines in the region at the mill site to produce
U308 and vanadium utilizing both the application of Kinetic Separation and traditional milling techniques, at a cost to be determined
in a definitive agreement. The Pinon Ridge Mill license is held by Pinon Ridge Resources Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Pinon Ridge Corporation, which is owned by Mr. George Glasier, our Chief Executive Officer and a director, Mr. Andrew Wilder,
a director, and Mr. Russell Fryer, a former executive chairman and director. On February 22, 2019, the Company and Pinon Ridge
Corporation cancelled and released each other from obligations under the letter of intent.
Incentive Stock Option Plan
The Company maintains an Incentive Stock Plan (the “Plan”)
which permits the granting of stock options as incentive compensation. See Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management and Related Stockholder Matters – Equity Compensation Plan Information,” for more detailed information about
the Plan.
Sunday Mine Complex Vanadium Project Supplementary Requirements
On June 18, 2019, The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and
Safety (CDRMS) issued a letter indicating limited supplementary requirements prior to the removal of material (ore) from the Sunday Mine
Complex underground workings and further offsite handling. In a follow-up meeting on Monday, August 5, 2019, the Company agreed to construct
an ore pad on the surface before stockpiling or storing ore outside the mine and acquire certification that the storm drainage system
was constructed in accordance with the existing plan prior to the removal of ore from the SMC. On August 15, 2019, the Company sent a
response letter to CDRMS providing the requested additional information regarding the reopening of the Sunday Mine Complex mines. On September
18, 2019, the CDRMS issued a letter indicating that activities at the Sunday Mines did not meet the definition of a “Mining Operation”
and thus at that time, the Division did not consider the permits in active status. In the letter, CDRMS reiterated that prior to the removal
of ore material from the mines and upgrading to an active status, the CDRMS surface requirements needed to be completed, inspected and
accepted by CDRMS. The CDRMS further noted requirements that would apply to Western’s proposed off-site kinetic separation test
facility. On April 9, 2020, CDRMS issued a letter acknowledging that the Construction Completion Reports and As-Built Certifications for
the ore storage pads have been reviewed and accepted. It was further noted that prior to ore being removed and placed on the ore pad an
inspection would still need to be completed, but due to COVID-19 the CDRMS staff were subject to a no-travel policy under the Governor’s
Stay-at-Home Order. Hence, CDRMS offered an alternative remote procedure requiring extensive photo documentation and a signed affidavit
from both the manufacturer and installation crew certifying that the ore pad liner was installed in accordance with the approved Environmental
Protection Plan. Additional requirements included the submission of a comprehensive hydrogeology report and completion of the Sunday Mine
Complex MLRB permit hearing process. With this approval, Western has now completed every project, study, and submission stipulated as
required under the existing Environmental Protection Plan by CDMRS, and all submissions have been made. The hydrogeology report is currently
being reviewed by CDMRS and approval is needed to conduct mining activities below the static groundwater level or to affect ground or
surface waters. The Company is working toward the completion of an updated Plan of Operations, which is required for resumption of mining
activities at the Topaz Mine.
39
Sunday Mine Complex Permitting Status
On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a Notice of Hearing to
Declare Termination of Mining Operations related to the status of the mining permits issued by the state of Colorado for the Sunday Mine
Complex. At issue is the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate mine (Van 4) with very different
facts that are retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in meeting existing rules
and regulations. The hearing was scheduled to be held during several monthly MLRB Board meetings, but this matter has been delayed several
times. The permit hearing was held during the MLRB Board monthly meeting on July 22, 2020. At issue was the status of the five existing
permits which comprise the Sunday Mine Complex. Due to COVID restrictions, the hearing took place utilizing a virtual-only format. The
Company prevailed in a 3 to 1 decision which acknowledged that the work completed at the Sunday Mines under DRMS oversight was timely
and sufficient for Western to maintain these permits. In a subsequent July 30, 2020 letter, the DRMS notified the Company that the status
of the five permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz) had been changed to Active status effective June 10, 2019, the
original date on which the change of the status was approved. On August 23, 2020, the Company initiated a request for temporary cessation
status for the Sunday Mine Complex as the mines had not be restarted within a 180-day window due to the direct and indirect impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, a permit hearing was scheduled for October 21, 2020 to determine temporary cessation status. In a
unanimous vote, the MLRB approved temporary cessation status for each of the five Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St.
Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the July 22, 2020 permit
hearing. On November 10, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the October 21, 2020 permit hearing. On November
6, 2020, the MLRB signed an order placing the five Sunday Mine Complex mine permits into Temporary Cessation. On November 12, 2020, a
coalition of environmental groups filed a complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July 22, 2020 decision by requesting
termination of the Topaz Mine permit. On December 15, 2020, the same coalition of environmental groups amended their complaint against
the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the October 21, 2020 decision requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. The Company has joined
with the MLRB in defense of their July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 decisions. According to the judicial review timetable, an opening
brief and answer brief will be filed with the Denver District Court during second quarter 2021.
Van 4 Mine Permitting Status
A prior owner of the Van 4 Mine had been
granted a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”)
which was set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary
Cessation. PRM subsequently participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing,
three non-profit organizations who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The
MLRB board members voted to grant a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties
filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017. The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the
Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff
organizations are seeking for the court to set aside the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to
PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On
May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby the additional five-year temporary cessation period was
granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed, ruling
that the additional five-year temporary cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised Western that it
will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The Judge has subsequently issued
an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine into reclamation. On January 22, 2020, the
MLRB held a hearing and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit and ordered
commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five (5) years. The Company commenced reclamation of the Van 4 Mine
but progress has been delayed both by COVID-19 restrictions and countywide fire and open flame restrictions. The reclamation cost is fully
covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property.
Warrant Extension for Warrants issued in 2018 Private Placement
On April 20, 2020, the Company announced the extension by nine months
of the common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) issued to investors in non-brokered private placements that closed
on May 4, June 30, and August 9, 2018 (the “2018 Private Placements”) and the amendment of the trigger price in the acceleration
clause of each Warrant. A total of 2,671,116 Warrants were amended.
In accordance with ASC 178-20-35-3, the
Company must record a warrant modification expense to account for the effects of these amendments to the original terms. See Note
8 for more information.
40
Each Warrant originally entitled the holder to purchase one common
share in the capital of the Company at a price of $1.15 CAD at any time prior to May 4, June 30, and August 9, 2020, respectively. Each
of these dates was extended by nine months such that the Warrants expired or will expire on February 4, April 30, and May 9, 2021, respectively.
Additionally, each Warrant originally contained an acceleration clause that allowed the Company to accelerate the expiration date of the
warrant if the closing price of the Company’s common shares was equal to or greater than $2.50 CAD for a period of five consecutive
trading dates. The Company is amending this clause by lowering the trigger price from $2.50 CAD to $1.83 CAD. The Company performed a
Black-Scholes analysis to determine the fair value of the Warrants using the pre-modification terms and the post-modification terms on
the date of modification. Based on the Company’s analysis performed, the Company recorded a warrant modification expense of $639,012
on April 20, 2020.
Uranium Section 232 Investigation/Nuclear Fuel Working Group
Process
In the United States, an investigation
under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (U.S) was undertaken by the U.S Department of Commerce (“DoC”)
in 2018 to assess the impact to national security of the importation of the vast majority of uranium utilized by the ~100 operative
civilian nuclear reactors within the United States. In response to the Section 232 report, the White House disseminated a Presidential
Memoranda in July 2019. At that time, President Trump formed the Nuclear Fuel Working Group (“NFWG”) to find solutions
for reviving and expanding domestic nuclear fuel production and reinvigorating recommendations. As a first step in addressing this
issue, President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget included a $150 million line item each year for the next decade to establish
a Uranium Reserve.
Thereafter, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette
stated that the Department of Energy (“DoE”) was preparing to release the NFWG report in early March 2020. This announcement
was made prior to the coronavirus contagion which has delayed the report release. In parallel, Congress has requested that the
DoE prepare a report on Key Challenges in Reconstituting Uranium Mining and Conversion Capabilities in the United States. The extended
deadline for industry to supply responses to the Request For Information launched by DoE was March 30, 2020. Western continued
to participate in the process and made an RFI submission.
On April 23, 2020, the DoE released the
NFWG report entitled “Restoring America’s Competitive Nuclear Energy Advantage – A strategy to assure U.S. national
security”. The report outlines a strategy for the reestablishment of critical capabilities and direct support to the front
end of the U.S. domestic nuclear fuel cycle. The Summary of Measures included the following which could benefit U.S. uranium miners:
direct purchases of uranium by establishing a Uranium Reserve, ending DoE’s program which barters uranium and re-evaluates
DoE’s Excess Uranium Inventory Management Policy, creating a level playing field for all energy sources in power markets,
streamlining regulatory reform and land access for uranium dumping in the U.S. market. The NFWG finding and recommendations presented
by the DoE are a positive outcome for U.S. uranium miners; however, the ultimate outcome and timing remains uncertain as this is
a continuing process requiring approvals and budget appropriation from Congress and implementation by U.S. government agencies.
Presently, Western is one of the very few uranium companies holding previously producing, permitted, and developed mines in the
United States and thus well positioned to benefit in the short-term from a favorable determination.
Implementation of the NFWG recommendations remains an ongoing process.
During July 2020, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations has decided not to provide $150 million uranium reserve funding for fiscal
2021. Instead the DoE was given 180 days to develop and submit the uranium reserve plan. Subsequently, Senator Barrasso introduced a bill
into the U.S. Senate entitled the “The American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020 and Representatives Latta and Cheney introduced
a bill to the U.S. House entitled the Nuclear Prosperity and Security Act. These bills implement the key provisions of the NFWG report’s
recommendations; both include the creation of a national uranium reserve. In parallel, the preparation of a Congressional report by the
DoE on Key Challenges in Reconstituting Uranium Mining and Conversion Capabilities in the United States remains ongoing and is anticipated
to be imminently completed for the U.S. House. In November 2020, Post-U.S. election, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released its
funding measures and allocations recommending the creation and funding of the American Uranium Reserve. In October 2020, the DoC extended
the Russian Suspension Agreement for an additional 20 years until 2040. Existing categories of quotas on imports of Russian uranium into
the U.S. were reduced by a graduated scale and additional provisions were modified to eliminate loopholes. An extension of this agreement
was among the NFWG’s recommendations. In further implementation of the report’s recommendations, the DoE made multiple investment
awards to companies advancing new nuclear technologies. TerraPower and X-energy received awards to build demonstration models of their
advanced reactor designs and NuScale received support to deploy the first U.S. small modular reactor (“SMR”) plan comprised
of 12 modules at the Idaho National Laboratory. The International Development Finance Corp. signed a letter of intent to finance NuScale’s
development of 42 SMR modules in South Africa. In an acknowledgement of the future growth potential of new nuclear technologies, the U.S.
government has increased its industry support to a level not seen in decades, this is being done to level the playing field versus state-sponsored
foreign entities. In December 2020, the U.S.Congress passed the COVID-Relief and Omnibus Spending Bill, which included $75 million for
the establishment of a strategic U.S. Uranium Reserve. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working on establishing the parameters of
the program. There will be a different outcome as a President Biden appointed Secretary of Energy transitioned into leading DOE and the
focus has shifted toward climate change.
41
Vanadium Section 232 Investigation
In the United States, a petition for an investigation under Section
232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (U.S) was requested by two domestic companies in November 2019. On June 2, 2020, the U.S. Secretary
of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, initiated an investigation into whether the present quantities or circumstances of vanadium imports into the
United States threaten to impair the national security. The initiation of this investigation created a 270 day window, which lasts until
February 2021, to compile and deliver a report to the President of the United States. The Section 232 National Security Investigation
of Imports of Vanadium was concluded and a report submitted to President Biden on February 22, 2021. The President has 90 days to decide
if he concurs with the findings and recommendations and determine whether to take an action to mitigate the impairment of national security.
As a remedy, the petitioners requested a 40% tariff on vanadium imports from all sources and the establishment of a stockpiling program.
Separate tariff rate quotas were requested for refined vanadium products. Western has submitted survey data and continues to support this
investigation and remedies that level the playing field for U.S. domestic producers versus foreign state-sponsored competitors.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan
On May 6, 2020, the Company obtained the
PPP Loan of $73,116. The loan had a fixed interest rate of 1%, required the Company to make seventeen (17) monthly payments, after
a seven months deferral period, and had a maturity date of May 6, 2022. The entirety of the loan principal was eligible for forgiveness
to the extent that the proceeds are utilized toward permissible expenditures within the initial period. On December 2, 2020, the
Company received notice from the U.S. Small Business Association that the entire PPP Loan balance and accrued interest would be
forgiven in full on such date. The Company recorded the loan forgiveness as other income in the Company’s consolidated statement
of operations.
COVID-19 Coronavirus
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus,
COVID-19, was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, the COVID- 19 coronavirus has spread to multiple countries,
including the United States and Canada. As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread in the United States and Canada, we may
experience disruptions that could severely impact our business. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to evolve
rapidly. The extent to which the COVID-19 coronavirus may impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly
uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak,
travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States, Canada and other countries, business closures or business disruptions
and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States, Canada and other countries to contain and treat the disease.
42
Year Ended December 31, 2020 as Compared to the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
The following table presents the Company’s financial results
for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Revenue
Lease revenue
$ 54,620
$ 44,620
Expenses
Mining expenditures
393,182
466,117
Professional fees
299,908
362,698
General and administrative
1,136,049
1,122,591
Consulting fees
39,137
138,096
Total operating expenses
1,868,276
2,089,502
Operating loss
(1,813,656 )
(2,044,882 )
Interest expense, net
13,338
65,345
Warrant modification expense
639,012
-
Gain on forgiveness of debt
(73,116 )
-
Net loss
(2,392,890 )
(2,110,227 )
Other Comprehensive income (expense)
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
(110,860 )
43,486
Comprehensive Loss
(2,503,750 )
(2,066,741 )
Net loss per share - basic and diluted
$ (0.08 )
$ (0.07 )
Summary:
Our consolidated net loss for the years ended December 31, 2020
and 2019 was $2,392,890 and $2,110,227 or $0.08 and $0.07 per share, respectively. The principal components of these year over
year changes are discussed below.
Our comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2020
and 2019 was $2,503,750 and $2,066,741, respectively.
Revenue
Our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was
$54,620 and $44,620, respectively. This revenue resulted from lease revenue pursuant to a July 2017 oil and gas lease agreement,
which was extended for an additional three years in 2020, February 2018 pipeline easement, and July 2018 right-of-way agreement.
This revenue is derived from the Weld County Colorado (DJ-Basin) oil and gas property acquired in the Black Range Minerals acquisition.
Mining Expenditures
Mining expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2020 were
$393,182 as compared to $466,117 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in mining expenditures of $72,935, or 15.6%
was principally attributable to the Sunday Mine Complex project’s disproportionately larger exploration, development, and
mining expenditures during 2019 versus the surface infrastructure portion of the projects conducted during 2020.
43
Professional Fees
Professional fees for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $299,908 as
compared to $362,698 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in professional fees of $62,790, or 17.3% was due to a $31,123
decrease in professional services utilization and $21,890 decrease in investor relations expenditure.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020
were 1,136,049 as compared to $1,122,591 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in general and administrative expense of $13,458,
or 1.2% is due to a $87,581 increase in payroll and stock based compensation, offset by a $53,160 decrease due to reduced 2020 travel
and convention expenditures and $25,373 in reduced utilities costs from not having the mines open during 2020.
Consulting Fees
Consulting fees for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $39,137
as compared to $138,096 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in consulting fees of $98,959, or 71.7% was principally
due to the Company’s reduced utilization of consultants during the current period.
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net, for the year ended December 31, 2020
was $13,338 as compared to $65,345 for the years ended December 31, 2019. The decrease of interest expense, net, of $52,007 was
due to the acceleration of amortization expense in 2019 on the Van 4 Mine as it was placed into reclamation.
Warrant Modification Expense
Warrant modification expense for the year ended December 31,
2020 was $639,012 as compared to $0 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in warrant modification expense relates
to the Company’s decision on April 20, 2020 to extend warrants issued to investors during various 2018 private placements
and amend the trigger price in the acceleration clause for each tranche of warrants, resulting in a warrant modification expense
of $639,012.
Gain on Forgiveness of Debt
Gain on forgiveness of debt for the year ended December 31,
2020 was $73,116 as compared to $0 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The gain on forgiveness of debt relates to the Company
having its PPP Loan forgiven by the U.S. Small Business Association in December 2020.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign exchange (loss) gain for the year ended December 31,
2020 was $(110,860) as compared to $43,486 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase of the foreign exchange loss of $154,346
is primarily due to a swing from a gain in 2019 to a loss in 2020 from holding cash balances in Canadian Dollars and the translation
loss from using United Stated Dollars as the reporting currency.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s cash balance as of December 31, 2020 was
$565,250. The Company’s cash position is highly dependent on its ability to raise capital through the issuance of debt and
equity and its management of expenditures for mining development and for fulfillment of its public company reporting responsibilities.
Management believes that in order to finance the development of the mining properties and Kinetic Separation, the Company will
be required to raise additional capital by way of debt and/or equity. The Company could potentially require additional capital
in 2021 if the scope of the Sunday Mine Complex expands. This outlook is based on the Company’s current financial position
and is subject to change if opportunities become available based on current exploration program results and/or external opportunities.
44
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $1,513,626 for the
year ended December 31, 2020, as compared with $1,784,544 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Of the $1,513,626 in net cash
used in operating activities, $2,392,890 is derived from our net loss before non-cash adjustments. During the years ended December
31, 2020, $10,628 represented an increase in depreciation, $15,712 represented an increase in accretion of reclamation liability,
$73,116 represented a gain on forgiveness of debt, $204,808 represented an increase in stock based compensation, $639,012 represented
an increase in warrant modification expense, $67,029 represented an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets, $110,543
represented a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses, and $125,380 represented an increase in deferred revenue.
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $0 for the year ended
December 31, 2020, as compared with $71,042 for the year ended December 31, 2019. This capital expenditure in 2019 represents the
initiation of expenditures needed to re-open the Sunday Mine Complex.
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $73,116 and $2,996,911, respectively. The Company applied for and received $73,116 in the form
of a PPP Loan on May 6, 2020 from the U.S. Small Business Association, as discussed above, which was forgiven on December 2, 2020.
Reclamation Liability
The Company’s mines are subject to
certain asset retirement obligations, which the Company has recorded as reclamation liabilities. The reclamation liabilities of
the United States mines are subject to legal and regulatory requirements, and estimates of the costs of reclamation are reviewed
periodically by the applicable regulatory authorities. The reclamation liability represents the Company’s best estimate of
the present value of future reclamation costs in connection with the mineral properties. The Company determined the gross reclamation
liabilities of the mineral properties as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, to be approximately $906,811 and $897,662, respectively.
On March 2, 2020, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation,
terminating mining operations and ordering commencement of final reclamation. The Company has begun the reclamation of the Van
4 Mine. The reclamation cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property. The Company adjusted
the fair value of its reclamation obligation for the Van 4 Mine. The portion of the reclamation liability related to the Van 4
Mine, and its related restricted cash are included in current liabilities, and current assets, respectively, at a value of $75,057.
The Company expects to begin incurring the reclamation liability after 2054 for all mines that are not in reclamation and accordingly,
has discounted the gross liabilities over their remaining lives using a discount rate of 5.4% to net discounted aggregated values
as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 of $309,940 and $294,228, respectively. The gross reclamation liabilities as of December 31, 2020
and 2019 are secured by financial warrantees in the amount of $906,811 and $897,662, respectively.
Oil and Gas Lease and Easement
On July 18, 2017, an oil and gas lease became effective with
respect to minerals and mineral rights owned by the Company of approximately 160 surface acres of the Company’s property
in Colorado. As consideration for entering into the lease, the Company received $120,000 during the third quarter of 2017. The
lease will be in force for an initial term of three years and may be extended by the lessee at 150% of the initial rate. The lessee
has also agreed to pay the Company a royalty of 18.75% of the lessee’s revenue attributed to oil and gas produced, saved,
and sold attributable to the net mineral interest. The Company is recognizing the initial payment incrementally over the term of
the lease.
On February 26, 2018, the Company entered into a further agreement
with the same entity as the oil and gas lease to provide them with an easement to an additional part of the Company’s property
solely for the purposes of transporting the oil and gas extracted via a pipeline. As consideration for the easement, the Company
received $36,960 during the first quarter of 2018. The Company is recognizing this payment incrementally over the eight-year term
of the easement.
45
On June 23, 2020, the same entity discussed above elected to
extend the oil and gas lease easement for three additional years commencing on the date the lease would have previously expired.
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company
recognized aggregate revenue of $54,620 and $44,620, respectively, under these oil and gas lease arrangements.
In early 2020, Bison Oil & Gas traded this lease to Mallard Exploration
(“Mallard”). Mallard subsequently filed an application with the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”)
to update the permitting to create a new pooled unit.
In late 2020, Mallard began development of the pooled unit. By March
31, 2021, the drilling portion of the project had been completed for the eight horizontal wells named Blue Teal Fed. Seven wells were
drilled to a 2.5 miles lateral length and one well was drilled to a 3.0 mile lateral length. These DJ-Basin wells target the Niobrara
formation. During May 2021, Mallard will commence the well completion stage, fracking, and flow back. Despite some weather delays over
the winter, the Operations Plan remains close to schedule and production is projected to commence during the third quarter of 2021. Upon
production, the Company will receive a net royalty of 1/16th.
Related Party Transactions
The Company has transacted with related parties pursuant to
service arrangements in the ordinary course of business, as follows:
Prior to the acquisition of Black Range, Mr. George Glasier,
the Company’s CEO, who is also a director (“Seller”), transferred his interest in a former joint venture with
Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black Range issued 25 million shares of Black Range
common stock to Seller and committed to pay AUD $500,000 (USD $392,086 as of December 31, 2020) to Seller within 60 days of the
first commercial application of the Kinetic Separation. Western assumed this contingent payment obligation in connection with the
acquisition of Black Range. At the date of the acquisition of Black Range, this contingent obligation was determined to be probable.
Since the deferred contingent consideration obligation is probable and the amount estimable, the Company recorded the deferred
contingent consideration as an assumed liability in the amount of $392,086 and $351,099 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Going Concern
The Company has incurred continuing losses from its operations
and as of December 31, 2020, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $11,087,459 and working capital of $162,375.
Since inception, the Company has met its liquidity requirements
principally through the issuance of notes and the sale of its common shares.
The Company’s ability to continue its operations and to
pay its obligations when they become due is contingent upon the Company obtaining additional financing. Management’s plans
include seeking to procure additional funds through debt and equity financings, to secure regulatory approval to fully utilize
its Kinetic Separation and to initiate the processing of ore to generate operating cash flows.
There are no assurances that the Company will be able to raise
capital on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, or that cash flows generated from its operations will be sufficient to meet
its current operating costs and required debt service. If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of additional capital,
it may be required to reduce the scope of its planned product development, which could harm its financial condition and operating
results, or it may not be able to continue to fund its ongoing operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern to sustain operations for at least one year from the issuance of the accompanying financial
statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome
of these uncertainties.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2020, there were no off-balance sheet transactions.
The Company has not entered into any specialized financial agreements to minimize its investment risk, currency risk or commodity
risk.
Critical Accounting Estimates and
Policies
The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires
management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the
date of the consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
46
Significant assumptions about the future and other sources of
estimation uncertainty that management has made at the end of the reporting period, that could result in a material adjustment
to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities, in the event that actual results differ from assumptions made, include, but
are not limited to, the following: fair value of transactions involving common shares, assessment of the useful life and evaluation
for impairment of intangible assets, valuation and impairment assessments on mineral properties, deferred contingent consideration,
the reclamation liability, valuation of stock-based compensation, valuation of available-for-sale securities and valuation of long-term
debt, HST and asset retirement obligations. Other areas requiring estimates include allocations of expenditures, depletion and
amortization of mineral rights and properties.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY
DATA
This information appears following Item 17 of this report and
is included herein by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS
WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, our principal executive
officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on their evaluation of our
disclosure controls and procedures, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls
and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2020, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports
that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (a) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in
the SEC’s rules and forms and (b) accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Description of Material Weakness
Management has concluded that the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2020, due to the lack of segregation of duties and the
failure to report disclosures on a timely basis.
Remediation of Material Weakness
Management has developed a plan and related
timeline for the Company to design a set of control procedures and the related required documentation thereof in order to address
this material weakness. However, its implementation was delayed as a decline in commodity prices caused the Company to pursue aggressive
cost cutting and de-staffing which has increasingly concentrated duties on the remaining staff. Until the Company has the proper
staff in place, it likely will not be able to remediate its material weaknesses.
47
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes
those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors
of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use
or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of
our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report
was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to a provision under the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that grants a permanent exemption for non-accelerated filers from complying with
Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting
identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act that occurred
during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
48
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth information regarding the members
of our board of directors (the “Board”) and our executive officers.
Name
Age
Position(s)
George Glasier
77
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Robert Klein
55
Chief Financial Officer
Bryan Murphy
52
Director, Chairman
Andrew Wilder
50
Director
Executive Officers
George Glasier, J.D ., our Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer, founded Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. He has over thirty years’ experience in the uranium industry
in the United States, with extensive experience in sales and marketing; project development and permitting uranium processing facilities.
He is the founder of Energy Fuels Inc. (Volcanic Metals Exploration Inc.) and served as its Chief Executive Officer and President from
January 2006 to March 2010. He was responsible for assembling a first-class management team, acquiring a portfolio of uranium projects,
and leading the successful permitting process that culminated in the licensing of the Piñon Ridge uranium mill; planned for construction
in Western Montrose County, Colorado. He began his career in the uranium industry in the late 1970’s with Energy Fuels Nuclear,
which built and operated the White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah, becoming the largest uranium producer in the United States.
Robert Klein is Chief Financial Officer of Western
Uranium & Vanadium Corp. He is in charge of accounting and finance, and is closely involved in capital markets activities,
corporate transactions, investor relations, public relations, and legal, and compliance. Formerly, Mr. Klein served as Vice President
Finance and had leading roles in reporting, corporate transactions, and Western’s public listings on the CSE and OTCQX. Mr.
Klein was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Cross River Group and began his association with Western on an Operating Partner
basis after the formation of Western’s predecessor company, Pinon Ridge Mining, LLC. Previously, Mr. Klein was a Managing Director
at Analytical Research, an alternative investments research firm. He has a broad financial background derived from senior operating
and investment roles with asset managers and through Exeter Analytics, a consulting firm he founded. Mr. Klein was formerly the
CFO of Five Points Capital, a hedge fund spin-out from Soros Fund Management. After having begun his career in public accounting,
Mr. Klein worked for Lehman Brothers, an investment bank, and William E. Simon & Sons, a merchant bank and private investment
firm. Rob holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, received an M.B.A. from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at
the University of Maryland and a B.S. in Accounting from George Mason University.
Non-Employee Directors
Andrew Wilder serves
as a Director for Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River
Group, a firm that provides capital, strategic business development and operations to alternative asset managers and operating
companies. Prior to founding Cross River, Mr. Wilder co-founded and was the Chief Operating Officer for Kiski Group, an advisory
firm organized in 2009 to help institutions develop their alternative manager platforms by helping vet managers and offer infrastructure
solutions in areas of investment and business risk management. In 2001, Mr. Wilder co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer
and Chief Financial Officer of North Sound Capital LLC, a long/short equity hedge fund manager. North Sound launched with $15 million
in July of 2001 and reached $3 billion AUM and 65 employees within 5 years. Mr. Wilder was responsible for building and overseeing
all aspects of the business ex-research. In 2003, Mr. Wilder also co-founded Columbus Avenue Consulting, an independent fund administration
business with 90 clients and $7 billion in AUA when it was subsequently sold in 2012. Mr. Wilder’s prior career included
heading operations for C. Blair Asset Management, a $500 million long/short equity hedge fund, and serving as a Manager in audit
of Deloitte & Touche (in their Cayman Islands and Toronto practices). Mr. Wilder received the Chartered Accountant (Canada)
designation, holds the CFA designation, and received an MBA from the University of Toronto and a BA from the University of Western
Ontario.
49
Bryan Murphy is Founder
of Magellan Limited, an advisory firm focusing on providing strategic, M&A, and financial advisory services and currently serves
as CFO and Head of Finance for Biome Renewables Inc., an early stage renewable energy innovation and industrial design company.
Formerly, Mr. Murphy was Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quest Partners, a boutique investment bank that focuses on the provision
of M&A, corporate finance, and business strategy services. In these capacities, Mr. Murphy has developed extensive international
experience and relationships advising high-growth businesses across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. In the prior dozen
years, Mr. Murphy held senior management roles at Canadian Tire Corporation overseeing divisions and business lines. Additionally,
Mr. Murphy was formerly a board member of Covenant House Toronto, one of Canada’s largest homeless youth agencies. Bryan
has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration majoring in Finance and an MBA with Distinction from the University
of Western Ontario Richard Ivey School of Business. Bryan earned the ICD.D designation from the Rotman School of Management at
the University of Toronto and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Involvement of Officers and Directors
in Certain Legal Proceedings
None of our officers and directors
has filed for bankruptcy, been convicted in a criminal proceeding or been the subject of any order, judgment, or decree permanently,
temporarily, or otherwise limiting activities (1) in connection with the sale or purchase of any security or commodity or in connection
with any violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws, (2) engaging in any type of business practice,
or (3) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker,
leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or an associated person of
any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director
or employee of an investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any
conduct or practice in connection with such activity.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among
our directors and executive officers.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics that
applies to our officers, directors, employees and consultants. A copy of the code of ethics will be sent, free of charge, to any
person who sends a written request for a copy to Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., 330 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5H 2S8.
Audit Committee
Western has established a separately
designated audit committee of the Board of Directors consisting of Andrew Wilder, George Glasier, and Bryan Murphy. Our audit committee
is responsible for oversight of audits, corporate governance, board nominations, and executive compensation. The Board has determined
that one of its members, Andrew Wilder, who has previously served as Western’s Chief Financial Officer, qualifies as an “audit
committee financial expert”.
50
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information
regarding compensation earned by our named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
TOTAL
($)
George Glasier (1)
2020
$ 220,000
$ -
$ -
$ 53,839
$ -
$ 273,839
President and Chief Executive Officer
2019
$ 203,333
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 203,333
Robert Klein (2)
2020
$ 127,500
$ 22,500
$ -
$ 53,839
$ -
$ 203,839
Chief Financial Officer
2019
$ 120,000
$ 30,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 150,000
(1)
Mr. Glasier chose to decline his 2018 stock option grant, requesting instead that those options be reallocated to further incentivize other members of management. On January 6, 2020, Mr. Glasier was granted an option to purchase 125,000 of our common shares at an exercise price of CAD $1.03 per share which expires five years from the date of issuance. This option vested in two installments: two-thirds on the date of grant, and one-third on June 30, 2020.
(2)
On January 6, 2020, Mr. Klein was granted an option to purchase 125,000 of our common shares at an exercise price of CAD $1.03 per share which expires five years from the date of issuance. This option vested in two installments: two-thirds on the date of grant, and one-third on June 30, 2020.
Employment Agreements
George Glasier
On February 8, 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with George Glasier, its Chief Executive Officer. The employment agreement automatically renews each year unless either party provides
a 90-day advance written notice of their desire to not renew the agreement. The employment agreement provides for a base salary of $180,000
per annum and a discretionary annual cash bonus to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. On May 30, 2019, the Board
of Directors approved an addendum to Mr. Glasier’s employment agreement, increasing his annual salary from $180,000 to $220,000.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, if the Company terminates the employment agreement without cause, or if a change of control occurs,
the Company is required to pay to Mr. Glasier a lump sum payment equal to two and one-half times his annual base salary.
Robert Klein
On November 12, 2020, the Company entered into a new employment agreement
with its Chief Financial Officer, Robert Klein. The agreement was effective as of October 1, 2020 and has an initial term that ends on
September 30, 2021. The agreement will automatically renew for successive annual terms unless either party provides a 90-day advance written
notice of their intention not to renew. The Agreement provides for a base salary of $150,000 per year, the amount of which is subject
to review by the Board of Directors at least annually. Under the agreement, Mr. Klein is eligible to receive bonuses after the end of
each calendar year or earlier in the discretion of the Board, and a bonus will also be considered upon the closing of a strategic transaction
by the Company. The agreement provides that Mr. Klein is eligible to participate generally in any employee benefit plan of the Company
or its affiliates and to receive annual stock option grants under the Company’s incentive stock option plan in amounts to be determined
and approved by the Board.
Outstanding
Equity Awards Table
The following table sets forth unexercised
options, unvested stock and equity incentive plan awards outstanding for our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020.
Outstanding Option Awards at Fiscal
Year-End for 2020
Name
Number of securities
underlying unexercised
options (#) exercisable
Number of securities
underlying unexercised
options (#) unexercisable
Option
exercise price
($CAD)
Option
expiration
date
George Glasier
150,000
-
$ 2.50
10/4/2021
200,000
-
$ 1.60
10/10/2022
125,000
-
$ 1.03
1/6/2025
Robert Klein
100,000
-
$ 2.50
10/4/2021
200,000
-
$ 1.60
10/10/2022
250,000
-
$ 2.15
9/24/2023
125,000
-
$ 1.03
1/6/2025
51
Outstanding Stock Awards at Fiscal Year-End for 2020
None.
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth a summary
of the compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 earned by each director who is not a named executive officer and
who served on the Board during the year.
Name
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
Total
($)
Andrew Wilder (1)
$ 18,480
$ -
$ 53,839
$ 72,319
Bryan Murphy (2)
$ 47,133
$ -
$ 53,839
$ 100,972
(1)
Mr. Wilder is paid a CAD $2,000 monthly fee for his services
as a Director. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company incurred $18,480 in director fees for Mr. Wilder’s services.
Mr. Wilder was also granted an option to purchase 125,000 of
our common shares at an exercise price of CAD $1.03 per share which expires five years from the date of issuance with a grant date
fair value of $53,839. The total options were fully vested on September 30, 2020.
(2)
Mr. Murphy is paid a CAD $5,000 monthly fee for his services
as Chairman and Director. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company incurred $47,133 in director fees for Mr. Murphy’s
services.
Mr. Murphy was also granted an option to purchase 125,000 of
our common shares at an exercise price of CAD $1.03 per share which expires five years from the date of issuance with a grant date
fair value of $53,839. The total options were fully vested on September 30, 2020.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of our class of common shares as of April 15, 2021 by:
●
each person, or group of affiliated persons, known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares;
●
each of our directors and executive officers; and
●
all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
The amounts and percentages of common shares beneficially owned
are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. The information
relating to our 5% beneficial owners is based on information we received from such holders. Under the rules of the SEC, a person
is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power
to vote or direct the voting of a security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition
of a security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days. Securities that can be so acquired are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing such person’s
ownership percentage, but not for purposes of computing any other person’s percentage. Under these rules, more than one person
may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to
which such person has no economic interest.
Except as otherwise set forth in the footnotes to the table
below, the address of persons listed below is c/o Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M5H 2S8. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, each of the beneficial owners listed has, to our knowledge,
sole voting and investment power with respect to the indicated common shares.
52
Name of Beneficial Owner
Number of
Common Shares
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Shares (1)
5% or Greater Stockholders
George Glasier (2)
5,258,333
14.2 %
Directors and Named Executive Officers
George Glasier (2)
5,258,333
14.2 %
Andrew Wilder (3)
725,000
1.9 %
Robert Klein (4)
695,000
1.9 %
Bryan Murphy (5)
537,500
1.5 %
All executive officers and directors as a group (4 persons)
7,215,833
18.6 %
(1)
Based on 36,458,747 common shares outstanding on April 15, 2021 and, with respect to each individual holder, rights to acquire our common shares exercisable within 60 days of April 15, 2021.
(2)
Consists of 4,783,333 common shares and 475,000 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Glasier.
(3)
Consists of 725,000 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Wilder.
(4)
Consists of 20,000 common shares and 675,000 common shares
issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Klein.
(5)
Consists of 31,250 common shares, 31,250 common shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and 475,000 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Murphy.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The Company maintains an Incentive Stock
Option Plan (the “Plan”) that permits the granting of stock options as incentive compensation. Shareholders of the
Company approved the Plan on June 30, 2008 and amendments to the Plan on June 20, 2013, and the Board of Directors approved additional
changes to the Plan on September 12, 2015.
The purpose of the Plan is to attract,
retain and motivate directors, management, staff and consultants by providing them with the opportunity, through stock options,
to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and benefit from its growth.
At December 31, 2020, a total of 2,808,000
stock options issued under the Plan were outstanding.
The Plan provides that the aggregate number
of common shares for which stock options may be granted will not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the
time stock options are granted. At December 31, 2020, a total of 30,083,747 common shares were outstanding, and at that date the
maximum number of stock options eligible for issue under the Plan was 3,008,375. A stock option exercise price shall not be less
than the most recent share issuance price. The maximum term is five years. There are no specific vesting provisions under the Plan.
Options are non-assignable and non-transferable except that stock options may be transferred to the spouse of an optionee or to
the registered retirement savings plan or registered pension plan of an optionee.
A stock option exercise price shall not
be less than the most recent share issuance price. The maximum term is five years. There are no specific vesting provisions under
the Plan. Options are non-assignable and non-transferable except that stock options may be transferred to the spouse of an optionee
or to the registered retirement savings plan or registered pension plan of an optionee.
53
The Plan provides that if an optionee’s
employment is terminated for any reason, or if the service of a director, senior executive or consultant of the Company who is
an optionee is terminated, any vested stock option of such optionee may be exercised during a period of ninety (90) days following
the date of termination of such employment or service, as the case may be. In the case of an optionee’s death, any vested stock
option of such optionee at the time of death may be exercised by his or her heirs or legatees or their liquidator during a period
of one year following such optionee’s death.
The total number of common shares issuable
to any one person during a 12-month period may not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of common shares issued and outstanding.
Options granted to consultants providing investor relations activities must vest over 12 months in stages of no more than 25% in
any three-month period. Also, in any 12-month period, no options exercisable for more than 2% of the Company’s issued and
outstanding shares may be awarded to consultants or employees conducting investor relations activities. The Plan provides that
where options are cancelled or lapse under the Plan, the associated common shares become available again and new options may be
granted in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
The Board may make any amendment to the
Plan, without shareholder approval, except an increase in the number of common shares reserved for issue under the Plan or a reduction
of an option exercise price. The terms of any existing option may not be altered, suspended or discontinued without the consent
in writing of the Optionee.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
As of December 31, 2020
Plan Category
Number of
securities to
be issued
upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
Weighted-
average
exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under
equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a))
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders
2,808,000
$ 1.42
200,375
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders
-
n/a
-
Total
2,808,000
$ 1.56
200,375
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Transactions with Related Persons
Prior to the acquisition of Black Range, Mr. George Glasier,
the Company’s CEO, who is also a director (“Seller”), transferred his interest in a former joint venture with
Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black Range issued 25 million shares of Black Range
common stock to Seller and committed to pay AUD $500,000 (USD $392,086 as of December 31, 2020) to Seller within 60 days of the
first commercial application of the kinetic separation technology. Western assumed this contingent payment obligation in connection
with the acquisition of Black Range. At the date of the acquisition of Black Range, this contingent obligation was determined to
be probable. Since the deferred contingent consideration obligation is probable and the amount is estimable, the Company recorded
the deferred contingent consideration as an assumed liability in the amount of $392,086 and $351,099 as of December 31, 2020 and
December 31, 2019, respectively.
54
Director Independence
The Board of Directors facilitates its exercise of independent
supervision over management by ensuring representation on the Board by directors who are independent of management and by promoting
frequent interaction and feedback.
Directors are considered to be independent if they have no direct
or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is a relationship which could, in the
view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment.
The Company’s Board currently consists of three directors.
Among this group, Bryan Murphy is the only independent director based upon the tests for independence set forth in National Instrument
52-110 Audit Committees .
SEC rules require a separate determination of independence of
the Company’s directors based on the definition of independence of a U.S. national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation
system which has requirements that a majority of the board of directors be independent. Because the Company’s common shares
are not currently listed on a national securities exchange, it currently uses the definition in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2)
for determining director independence. Under that definition, only Bryan Murphy would be considered an independent director. Mr.
Murphy would also be considered an independent director under Rule 5605(c)(2)’s provisions relating to audit committee composition.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND
SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate
fees billed by MNP LLP (“MNP”), our independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2020 and December 31, 2019. These fees are categorized as audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees, and all other fees. The nature
of the services provided in each category is described in the table below.
2020
2019
Audit fees
$ 75,069
$ 66,552
Audit-related fees
-
-
Tax fees
22,319
10,031
All other fees
-
-
Total fees
$ 97,388
$ 76,583
Audit fees. Consist of fees billed for
professional services rendered for the audit of the consolidated financial statements and review of the quarterly interim consolidated
financial statements. These fees also include the review of registration statements and the delivery of consents in connection
with registration statements.
Audit-related fees. There were no fees
billed by MNP for professional services rendered for audit-related services for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Tax fees. Consists of fees incurred for the Company’s U.S. and
Canadian tax preparation fees and tax consulting fees.
All other fees. There were no fees billed
by MNP for professional services rendered for other compliance purposes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
The Company’s Board of Directors
has established pre-approval policies and procedures, pursuant to which the Board approved the foregoing audit and tax services
provided by MNP in 2020 and 2019 consistent with the Board’s responsibility for engaging Western’s independent auditors.
The Board also considered whether the non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm are compatible
with an auditor maintaining independence. The Board has determined that the rendering of such services is compatible with MNP maintaining
its independence.
55
PART IV – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 15. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE
OF PROCEEDS
The Company did not make any unregistered
sales of equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES
Documents Filed as Part of This Report.
(a) The following financial
statements are being filed as part of this Annual Report.
Consolidated Financial Statements of Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. and Subsidiaries
Page No.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019
F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other
Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 2019
F-4
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7
(b) The following exhibits
are being provided as required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1 (1)
Share Exchange Agreement between Pinon Ridge Mining LLC, Homeland Uranium Inc., Homeland Uranium (Utah), et al., dated November 6, 2014.
2.2 (1)
Merger Implementation Agreement between Black Range Minerals Limited and Western Uranium Corporation, dated March 20, 2015.
2.3 (1)
Credit Facility between Western Uranium Corporation and Black Range Minerals Limited, dated March 20, 2015.
2.4 (2)
Termination and Liquidation Agreement between Ablation Technologies LLC, Black Range Minerals Ablation Holdings Inc. and Mineral Ablation, LLC dated March 17, 2015
3.1 (1)
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.
3.2 (1)
Amended and Restated By-laws.
56
10.1 (3)
Call Option Agreement
10.2 (2)
Technology License Agreement between Ablation Technologies LLC and Black Range Mineral Ablation Holdings Inc. dated as of March 17, 2015
10.3 (4)
Incentive Stock Option Plan (Rolling 10%), as amended
10.4 (5)
Employment Agreement between George Glasier and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated February 8, 2017
10.5 (5)
Employment Agreement between Robert Klein and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated May 12, 2017
10.6 (6)
Employment Agreement between Robert Klein and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated November 13, 2017
10.7 (7)
Addendum to Employment Agreement between George Glasier and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated May 30, 2019
10.8 (8)
Employment Agreement, dated November 12, 2020, by and between Robert Klein and Western Uranium and Vanadium Corp.
21.1 (1)
List of Subsidiaries
31.1 *
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2 *
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32.1 *
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
95 *
Mine Safety Disclosure Exhibit
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
+
Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of the omitted schedules and exhibits to the SEC upon request.
*
Filed herewith
(1)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10 filed on April 29, 2016
(2)
Previously filed as an exhibit with Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Form 10 filed on July 22, 2016
(3)
Previously filed as an exhibit with Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Form 10 filed on June 22, 2016
(4)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 12, 2016
(5)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2017
(6)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on April 2, 2018
(7)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2019
(8)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 16, 2020
ITEM 17. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None
57
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.
WESTERN URANIUM &VANADIUM CORP.
Date: April 15, 2021
By:
/s/ George Glasier
George Glasier
Chief Executive Officer and President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Dated: April 15, 2021
By:
/s/ George Glasier
George Glasier
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: April 15, 2021
By:
/s/ Robert Klein
Robert Klein
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Dated: April 15, 2021
By:
/s/ Bryan Murphy
Bryan Murphy
Director
Dated: April 15, 2021
By:
/s/ Andrew Wilder
Andrew Wilder
Director
58
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020
AND 2019
(Stated in USD)
F- 1
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Western Uranium &
Vanadium Corp.
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Western
Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of
operations and other comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related
notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its consolidated
operations and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America.
Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming
that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has incurred
continuing losses and negative cash flows from operations and is dependent upon future sources of equity or debt financing in order to
fund its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s
plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required
to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements
are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform,
an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial
statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for
our opinion.
/s/ MNP LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
Mississauga, Canada
April 15, 2021
F- 2
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Stated in USD)
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash
$ 565,250
$ 2,084,782
Restricted cash, current portion
75,057
75,057
Prepaid expenses
136,883
189,818
Marketable securities
2,405
2,759
Other current assets
11,251
25,345
Total current assets
790,846
2,377,761
Restricted cash, net of current portion
831,754
822,605
Mineral properties and equipment
11,735,522
11,746,150
Kinetic separation intellectual property
9,488,051
9,488,051
Total assets
$ 22,846,173
$ 24,434,567
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$ 488,794
$ 599,337
Reclamation liability, current portion
75,057
75,057
Deferred revenue, current portion
64,620
24,620
Total current liabilities
628,471
699,014
Reclamation liability, net of current portion
234,883
219,171
Deferred tax liability
2,708,887
2,708,887
Deferred contingent consideration
392,086
351,099
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
108,480
23,100
Total liabilities
4,072,807
4,001,271
Commitments
Shareholders’ Equity
Common shares, no par value, unlimited authorized shares, 30,084,053 and 30,084,053 shares issued as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively and 30,083,747 and 30,083,747 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
29,886,367
29,042,547
Treasury shares, 306 and 306 shares held in treasury as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
-
-
Accumulated deficit
(11,087,459 )
(8,694,569 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
(25,542 )
85,318
Total shareholders’ equity
18,773,366
20,433,296
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$ 22,846,173
$ 24,434,567
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 3
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Stated in USD)
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Revenues
Lease revenue
$ 54,620
$ 44,620
Expenses
Mining expenditures
393,182
466,117
Professional fees
299,908
362,698
General and administrative
1,136,049
1,122,591
Consulting fees
39,137
138,096
Total operating expenses
1,868,276
2,089,502
Operating loss
(1,813,656 )
(2,044,882 )
Accretion and interest
13,338
65,345
Warrant modification expense
639,012
-
Gain on forgiveness of debt
(73,116 )
-
Net loss
(2,392,890 )
(2,110,227 )
Other comprehensive (expense) income
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
(110,860 )
43,486
Comprehensive loss
$ (2,503,750 )
$ (2,066,741 )
Net loss per share - basic and diluted
$ (0.08 )
$ (0.07 )
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
30,083,747
28,859,646
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Stated in USD)
Common Shares
Treasury Shares
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Deficit
Income
Total
Balance as of January 1, 2019
25,976,837
$ 25,865,367
306
$ -
$ (6,584,342 )
$ 41,832
$ 19,322,857
Stock based compensation - stock options
-
180,269
-
-
-
-
180,269
Private placement - April 16, 2019
3,914,632
2,856,356
-
-
-
-
2,856,356
Private placement - June 17, 2019
192,278
140,555
-
-
-
-
140,555
Foreign exchange gain
-
-
-
-
-
43,486
43,486
Net loss
-
-
-
-
(2,110,227 )
-
(2,110,227 )
Balance as of December 31, 2019
30,083,747
$ 29,042,547
306
$ -
$ (8,694,569 )
$ 85,318
$ 20,433,296
Stock based compensation - stock options
-
204,808
-
-
-
-
204,808
Warrant modification expense
-
639,012
-
-
-
-
639,012
Foreign Exchange (loss)
-
-
-
-
-
(110,860 )
(110,860 )
Net loss
-
-
-
-
(2,392,890 )
-
(2,392,890 )
Balance as of December 31, 2020
30,083,747
$ 29,886,367
306
$ -
$ (11,087,459 )
$ (25,542 )
$ 18,773,366
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 5
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Stated in USD)
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ (2,392,890 )
$ (2,110,227 )
Reconciliation of net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation
10,628
6,612
Accretion of and additions to reclamation liability
15,712
69,583
Gain on forgiveness of debt
(73,116 )
-
Stock based compensation
204,808
180,269
Warrant modification expense
639,012
-
Change in marketable securities
354
2,022
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
67,029
5,800
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(110,543 )
106,017
Deferred revenue
125,380
(44,620 )
Net cash used in operating activities
(1,513,626 )
(1,784,544 )
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Purchase of property and equipment
-
(71,042 )
Net cash used in investing activities
-
(71,042 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Proceeds from loan payable
73,116
-
Issuances of Common shares, net of offering costs
-
2,996,911
Net cash provided by financing activities
73,116
2,996,911
Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash
(69,873 )
42,224
Net decrease in cash and restricted cash
(1,510,383 )
1,183,549
Cash and restricted cash - beginning
2,982,444
1,798,895
Cash and restricted cash - ending
$ 1,472,061
$ 2,982,444
Cash
$ 565,250
$ 2,084,782
Restricted cash
906,811
897,662
Total
$ 1,472,061
$ 2,982,444
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest
$ -
$ -
Income taxes
$ -
$ -
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE 1 – BUSINESS
Nature of operations
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (“Western”
or the “Company”, formerly Western Uranium Corporation) was incorporated in December 2006 under the Ontario Business
Corporations Act. On November 20, 2014, the Company completed a listing process on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”).
As part of that process, the Company acquired 100% of the members’ interests of Pinon Ridge Mining LLC (“PRM”),
a Delaware limited liability company. The transaction constituted a reverse takeover (“RTO”) of Western by PRM. Subsequent
to obtaining appropriate shareholder approvals, the Company reconstituted its Board of Directors and senior management team. Effective
September 16, 2015, Western completed its acquisition of Black Range Minerals Limited (“Black Range”).
The Company’s registered office is
located at 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 2S8 and its common shares are listed on the CSE under the
symbol “WUC.” On April 22, 2016, the Company’s common shares began trading on the OTC Pink Open Market, and on
May 23, 2016, the Company’s common shares were approved for trading on the OTCQX Best Market. Its principal business activity
is the acquisition and development of uranium and vanadium resource properties in the states of Utah and Colorado in the United
States of America (“United States”).
On June 28, 2016, the Company’s registration
statement became effective and Western became a United States reporting issuer. Thereafter, the Company was approved for Depository
Trust Company eligibility through the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, which facilitates electronic book-entry delivery,
settlement and depository services for shares in the United States.
On June 29, 2018, the shareholders of the
Company approved the name change of the Company from “Western Uranium Corporation” to “Western Uranium &
Vanadium Corp.” The name change became effective in Ontario, Canada on October 1, 2018; thereafter on October 4, 2018 Western’s
shares started trading under the new name on the CSE and OTCQX and the Company announced the name change by news release.
Note
2 – Liquidity and going concern
The Company has incurred continuing losses
from its operations and negative operating cash flows from operations and as of December 31, 2020, the Company had an accumulated
deficit of $11,087,459 and working capital of $162,375.
Since inception, the Company has met its liquidity requirements principally
through the issuance of notes and the sale of its common shares. On May 6, 2020, the Company obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan
(the “PPP Loan”) of $73,116. The loan had a fixed interest rate of 1%, required the Company to make seventeen (17) monthly
payments, after a deferral period, and had a maturity date of May 6, 2022. On December 2, 2020, the Company received notice from the U.S.
Small Business Association that the entire PPP Loan balance and accrued interest was forgiven in full on such date. The Company recorded
the loan forgiveness as other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
The Company’s ability to continue
its operations and to pay its obligations when they become due is contingent upon the Company obtaining additional financing. Management’s
plans include seeking to procure additional funds through debt and equity financings, to secure regulatory approval to fully utilize
its kinetic separation technology and to initiate the processing of ore to generate operating cash flows.
There are no assurances that the Company
will be able to raise capital on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, or that cash flows generated from its operations will
be sufficient to meet its current operating costs. If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of additional capital,
it may be required to reduce the scope of its planned product development, which could harm its financial condition and operating
results, or it may not be able to continue to fund its ongoing operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern to sustain operations for at least one year from the issuance of these consolidated financial
statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome
of these uncertainties.
F- 7
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements
are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles
(“U.S. GAAP”).
The accompanying consolidated financial
statements include the accounts of Western and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Western Uranium Corp. (Utah), PRM, Black Range, Black
Range Copper Inc., Ranger Resources Inc., Black Range Minerals Inc., Black Range Minerals Colorado LLC, Black Range Minerals Wyoming
LLC, Haggerty Resources LLC, Ranger Alaska LLC, Black Range Minerals Utah LLC, Black Range Minerals Ablation Holdings Inc. and
Black Range Development Utah LLC. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
The Company has established the existence
of mineralized materials for certain uranium projects. The Company has not established proven or probable reserves, as defined
by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under Industry Guide 7, through the completion
of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study for any of its uranium projects.
Exploration Stage
In accordance with U.S. GAAP, expenditures
relating to the acquisition of mineral rights are initially capitalized as incurred while exploration and pre-extraction expenditures
are expensed as incurred until such time the Company exits the Exploration Stage by establishing proven or probable reserves. Expenditures
relating to exploration activities such as drill programs to search for additional mineralized materials are expensed as incurred.
Expenditures relating to pre-extraction activities such as the construction of mine wellfields, ion exchange facilities and disposal
wells are expensed as incurred until such time proven or probable reserves are established for that uranium project, after which
subsequent expenditures relating to mine development activities for that particular project are capitalized as incurred.
Companies in the Production Stage as defined
under Industry Guide 7, having established proven and probable reserves and exited the Exploration Stage, typically capitalize
expenditures relating to ongoing development activities, with corresponding depletion calculated over proven and probable reserves
using the units-of-production method and allocated to future reporting periods to inventory and, as that inventory is sold, to
cost of goods sold. The Company is in the Exploration Stage which has resulted in the Company reporting larger losses than if it
had been in the Production Stage due to the expensing, instead of capitalizing, of expenditures relating to ongoing mine development
and extraction activities. Additionally, there would be no corresponding amortization allocated to future reporting periods of
the Company since those costs would have been expensed previously, resulting in both lower inventory costs and cost of goods sold
and results of operations with higher gross profits and lower losses than if the Company had been in the Production Stage. Any
capitalized costs, such as expenditures relating to the acquisition of mineral rights, are depleted over the estimated extraction
life using the straight-line method. As a result, the Company’s consolidated financial statements may not be directly comparable
to the financial statements of companies in the Production Stage.
F- 8
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies, CONTINUED
Use of Estimates
The preparation of these consolidated financial
statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the periods reported. By their
nature, these estimates are subject to measurement uncertainty and the effects on the consolidated financial statements of changes
in such estimates in future periods could be significant. Significant areas requiring management’s estimates and assumptions
include determining the fair value of transactions involving common shares, assessment of the useful life and evaluation for impairment
of Kinetic Separation intellectual property, valuation and impairment assessments on mineral properties and equipment, deferred
contingent consideration, the reclamation liability, valuation of stock-based compensation, and valuation of available-for-sale
securities. Other areas requiring estimates include allocations of expenditures, depletion and amortization of mineral rights and
properties. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
The reporting currency of the Company,
including its subsidiaries, is the United States dollar. The financial statements of subsidiaries located outside of the U.S. are
measured in their functional currency, which is the local currency. The functional currency of the parent (Western Uranium &
Vanadium Corp. (Ontario)) is the Canadian dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the exchange
rates at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated using average monthly exchange rates. Non-monetary assets
are translated at their historical exchange rates. Translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss
in the consolidated balance sheets.
Segment Information
The Company determines its reporting units
in accordance with FASB ASC 280, “ Segment Reporting ” (“ASC 280”). The Company evaluates a reporting
unit by first identifying its operating segments under ASC 280. The Company then evaluates each operating segment to determine
if it includes one or more components that constitute a business. If there are components within an operating segment that meet
the definition of a business, the Company evaluates those components to determine if they must be aggregated into one or more reporting
units. If applicable, when determining if it is appropriate to aggregate different operating segments, the Company determines if
the segments are economically similar and, if so, the operating segments are aggregated. The Company has one operating segment
and reporting unit. The Company operates in one reportable business segment; the Company is in the business of exploring, developing,
mining and the production of its uranium and vanadium resource properties, including the utilization of the Company’s Kinetic
Separation technology in its mining processes. The Company is organized and operated as one business. Management reviews its business
as a single operating segment, using financial and other information rendered meaningful only by the fact that such information
is presented and reviewed in the aggregate.
Cash
The Company considers all highly-liquid
instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents. As of December 31,
2020 and 2019, the Company had no cash equivalents.
Marketable Securities
The Company classifies its marketable securities
as available-for-sale securities, which are carried at their fair value based on the quoted market prices of the securities with
unrealized gains and losses reported as accumulated comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity.
Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in net earnings in the period earned or incurred.
F- 9
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies, CONTINUED
Restricted Cash
Certain cash balances are restricted as
they relate to deposits with banks that have been assigned to state reclamation authorities in the United States to secure various
reclamation guarantees with respect to mineral properties in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. As these funds are not available for general
corporate purposes and secure the long term reclamation liability (see Note 4), they have been separately disclosed and classified
as long-term for the majority of the Company’s mines. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company has determined that the
Van 4 Mine is now considered to be in reclamation. The Company recognized the Van 4 Mine’s reclamation liability and its
restricted cash in full on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as current.
Revenue Recognition
The Company leases certain of its mineral properties for the exploration
and production of oil and gas reserves. The Company accounts for lease revenue in accordance with ASC 842 “Leases”. Lease
payments received in advance are deferred and recognized on a straight – line basis over the related lease term associated with
the prepayment. Royalty payments will be recognized as revenues when received.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of cash, restricted
cash, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and loan payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these
instruments. Marketable securities are adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date based on quoted prices which are considered
level 1 inputs. The Company’s operations and financing activities are conducted primarily in United States dollars and as
a result, the Company is not subject to significant exposure to market risks from changes in foreign currency rates. The Company
is exposed to credit risk through its cash and restricted cash, but mitigates this risk by keeping these deposits at major financial
institutions.
ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements
and Disclosures” provides the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes
the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices
in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level
3 measurements).
Fair value is defined as an exit price,
representing the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or payment to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants
would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair
value as follows:
Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets
for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 Quoted prices for similar assets
or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active,
or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 Significant unobservable inputs
that cannot be corroborated by market data.
F- 10
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies, continued
Fair Values of Financial Instruments (continued)
The fair value of the Company’s financial
instruments are as follows:
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets or
Liabilities
(Level 1)
Quoted
Prices for
Similar
Assets or Liabilities in
Active
Markets
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Marketable securities as of December 31, 2020
$
2,405
$
-
$
-
Marketable securities as of December 31, 2019
$
2,759
$
-
$
-
Mineral Properties
Acquisition costs of mineral properties
are capitalized as incurred while exploration and pre-extraction expenditures are expensed as incurred until such time the Company
exits the Exploration Stage by establishing proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through
the completion of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study. Expenditures relating to exploration activities
are expensed as incurred and expenditures relating to pre-extraction activities are expensed as incurred until such time proven
or probable reserves are established for that project, after which subsequent expenditures relating to development activities for
that particular project are capitalized as incurred.
Where proven and probable reserves have
been established, the project’s capitalized expenditures are depleted over proven and probable reserves upon commencement
of production using the units-of-production method. Where proven and probable reserves have not been established, such capitalized
expenditures are depleted over the estimated production life upon commencement of extraction using the straight-line method. The
Company has not established proven or probable reserves for any of its projects.
The carrying values of the mineral properties
are assessed for impairment by management.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews and evaluates its long-lived assets and kinetic separation
technology for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment
is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the assets.
An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on discounted estimated future cash flows or upon an estimate of fair value that may
be received in an exchange transaction. Future cash flows are estimated based on estimated quantities of recoverable minerals, expected
uranium (“U3O8”) prices (considering current and historical prices, trends and related factors), production levels, operating
costs of production and capital and restoration and reclamation costs, based upon the projected remaining future uranium production from
each project. The Company’s long-lived assets (which include its mineral assets and Kinetic Separation intellectual property) were
acquired during the end of 2014 and in 2015 in arms-length transactions. As of December 31, 2020, the Company evaluated the total estimated
future cash flows on an undiscounted basis for its mineral properties, equipment, and Kinetic Separation intellectual property and determined
that no impairment was deemed to exist. Estimates and assumptions used to assess recoverability of the Company’s long-lived assets
and measure fair value of our uranium properties are subject to risk uncertainty. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could result
in the impairment of its long-lived assets. In estimating future cash flows, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are
identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset groups.
F- 11
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies, continued
Income Taxes
The Company utilizes an asset and liability
approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. The provision for income taxes is based upon income or loss after
adjustment for those permanent items that are not considered in the determination of taxable income. Deferred income taxes represent
the tax effects of differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at the
enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.
The Company evaluates the recoverability
of deferred tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all the deferred
tax assets will not be realized. Management makes judgments as to the interpretation of the tax laws that might be challenged upon
an audit and cause changes to previous estimates of tax liability. In management’s opinion, adequate provisions for income
taxes have been made. If actual taxable income by tax jurisdiction varies from estimates, additional allowances or reversals of
reserves may be necessary.
Tax benefits are recognized only for tax
positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured
as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement. A liability for “unrecognized
tax benefits” is recorded for any tax benefits claimed in the Company’s tax returns that do not meet these recognition
and measurement standards. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, no liability for unrecognized tax benefits was required
to be reported.
The Company’s policy for recording
interest and penalties associated with tax audits is to record such items as a component of general and administrative expense.
There were no amounts accrued for penalties and interest for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The Company does not expect
its uncertain tax position to change during the next twelve months. Management is currently unaware of any issues under review
that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviations from its position.
The Company has identified its federal
Canadian and United States tax returns and its state tax returns in Colorado and Utah as its “major” tax jurisdictions,
and such returns for the years 2016 through 2020 remain subject to examination.
Restoration and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations)
Various federal and state mining laws and
regulations require the Company to reclaim the surface areas and restore underground water quality for its mine projects to the
pre-existing mine area average quality after the completion of mining.
Future reclamation and remediation costs,
which include extraction equipment removal and environmental remediation, are accrued at the end of each period based on management’s
best estimate of the costs expected to be incurred for each project. Such estimates are determined by the Company’s engineering
studies which consider the costs of future surface and groundwater activities, current regulations, actual expenses incurred, and
technology and industry standards.
In accordance with ASC 410, Asset Retirement
and Environmental Obligations, the Company capitalizes the measured fair value of asset retirement obligations to mineral properties.
The asset retirement obligations are accreted to an undiscounted value until the time at which they are expected to be settled.
The accretion expense is charged to earnings and the actual retirement costs are recorded against the asset retirement obligations
when incurred. Any difference between the recorded asset retirement obligations and the actual retirement costs incurred will be
recorded as a gain or loss in the period of settlement.
At each reporting period, the Company reviews
the assumptions used to estimate the expected cash flows required to settle the asset retirement obligations, including changes
in estimated probabilities, amounts and timing of the settlement of the asset retirement obligations, as well as changes in the
legal obligation requirements at each of its mineral properties. Changes in any one or more of these assumptions may cause revision
of asset retirement obligations for the corresponding assets.
F- 12
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies, continued
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs represent costs
incurred in connection with the issuance of debt. Once the associated debt instrument is issued, these costs would be recorded
as a debt discount and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt instrument.
Upon the abandonment of a pending financing transaction, the related deferred financing costs would be charged to general and administrative
expense.
The Company may also issue warrants or
other equity instruments in connection with the issuance of debt instruments. The equity instruments are recorded at their relative
fair market value on the date of issuance which results in a debt discount which is amortized to interest expense using the effective
interest method.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company follows ASC 718, Compensation
- Stock Compensation, which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions, requiring such transactions to be accounted
for using the fair value method. Awards of shares for property or services are recorded at the more readily measurable of the fair
value of the stock and the fair value of the service. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the
grant date fair value of stock-based awards under ASC 718. The fair value is charged to earnings depending on the terms and conditions
of the award, and the nature of the relationship of the recipient of the award to the Company. The Company records the grant date
fair value in line with the period over which it was earned. For employees and consultants, this is typically considered to be
the vesting period of the award. The Company estimates the expected forfeitures and updates the valuation accordingly.
In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-08, Compensation –
Stock Compensation (Topic 718) and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which clarifies that an entity must measure and
classify share-based payment awards granted to a customer by applying the guidance in Topic 718. ASU 2019-08 is effective for annual reporting
periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. The Company adopted
ASU 2019-08, and has determined that there was no material impacts on its consolidated financial statements.
Warrant Modification Expense
In accordance with ASC 718, a modification of the terms or conditions
of an equity award shall be treated as an exchange of the original award for a new award. The incremental cost is measured as the excess
of the fair value of the modified award determined in accordance with ASC 718 over the fair value of the original award immediately before
its terms are modified, measured based on the share price and other pertinent factors. The resulting difference is recorded as a warrant
modification expense. See Note 8 for additional information.
Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by
dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is computed
using the weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the year. Potential
common shares consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants (using the treasury
stock method). The computation of diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 excludes potentially
dilutive securities. The computations of net loss per share for each year presented is the same for both basic and fully diluted.
Potentially dilutive securities outlined
in the table below have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because the effect of their inclusion
would have been anti-dilutive.
For the
Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Warrants to purchase common shares
8,533,582
8,602,913
Options to purchase common shares
2,808,000
2,208,000
Total potentially dilutive securities
11,341,582
10,810,913
Leases
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10 Leases (Topic 842), Codification
Improvements and ASU 2018-11 Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements, to provide additional guidance for the adoption of Topic 842.
ASU 2018-10 clarifies certain provisions and correct unintended applications of the guidance such as the application of implicit rate,
lessee reassessment of lease classification, and certain transition adjustments that should be recognized to earnings rather than to stockholders’
(deficit) equity. ASU 2018-11 provides an alternative transition method and practical expedient for separating contract components for
the adoption of Topic 842. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842) which requires an entity to recognize assets
and liabilities arising from a lease for both financing and operating leases with terms greater than 12 months. ASU 2018-11, ASU 2018-10,
and ASU 2016-02 (collectively, “the new lease standards”) are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018,
with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-10, and has determined that there was no impact to the consolidated financial
statements.
F- 13
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies, continued
Recent Accounting Standards
Management does not believe that any recently
issued, but not yet effective accounting standards, when adopted, will have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated
financial statements. The Company has adopted the recent accounting standards that are disclosed below.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments
– Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13
replaces the incurred loss model with an expected loss model, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model. The
CECL model is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables,
held-to-maturity debt securities, and reinsurance receivables. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures not accounted for
as insurance (such as loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments) and net investments
in leases recognized by a lessor. For public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer, the standard will be effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods in those fiscal years. For debt securities with other-than-temporary
impairment, the guidance will be applied prospectively. Existing purchased credit impaired (PCI) assets will be grandfathered and classified
as purchased credit deteriorated (PCD) assets at the date of adoption. The asset will be grossed up for the allowance for expected credit
losses for all PCD assets at the date of adoption and will continue to recognize the non-credit discount in interest income based on the
yield of such assets as of the adoption date. Subsequent changes in expected credit losses will be recorded through the allowance. For
all other assets within the scope of CECL, a cumulative-effect adjustment will be recognized in retained earnings as of the beginning
of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The standard became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2021.
The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, cash flows,
and financial statement disclosure.
In December 2019, FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic
740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. ASU 2019-12 eliminated certain exceptions and changed guidance on other matters. The
exceptions relate to the allocation of income taxes in separate company financial statements, tax accounting for equity method investments
and accounting for income taxes when the interim period year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated full year loss. Changes relate to the
accounting for franchise taxes that are income-based and non-income-based, determining if a step up in tax basis is part of a business
combination or if it is a separate transaction, when enacted tax law changes should be included in the annual effective tax rate computation,
and the allocation of taxes in separate company financial statements to a legal entity that is not subject to income tax. The new standard
is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted.
The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact but does not believe there will be an impact of the adoption of this standard
on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows and related disclosures.
In June 2020, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
in conjunction with FASB developed Technical Question and Answer (“TQA”) 3200.18, “Borrower Accounting for a Forgivable
Loan Received Under the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program”, which is intended to provide clarification on
how to account for loans received from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). TQA 3200.18 states that an entity may account
for PPP loans under ASC 470, “Debt” or, if the entity is expected to meet PPP eligibility criteria and the PPP loan is expected
to be forgiven, the entity may account for the loans under International Accounting Standards (“IAS”) 20, “Accounting
for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance”. The Company has accounted for PPP loan proceeds under ASC 470 as
allowed by TQA 3200.18.
F- 14
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, and Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPERTY
The Company’s mining properties acquired on August 18, 2014 that the Company retains as of December 31, 2020 include: San
Rafael Uranium Project located in Emery County, Utah; The Sunday Mine Complex located in western San Miguel County, Colorado; The
Van 4 Mine located in western Montrose County, Colorado; The Sage Mine project located in San Juan County, Utah, and San Miguel
County, Colorado. These mining properties include leased land in the states of Colorado and Utah. None of these mining properties
were operational at the date of acquisition.
The Company’s mining properties acquired on September 16, 2015 that
the Company retains as of December 31, 2020 include Hansen, North Hansen, and Hansen Picnic Tree located in Fremont and Teller Counties,
Colorado. The Company no longer holds any interest in Hansen and Hansen Picnic Tree, see Note 12 for additional information. The Company
also acquired the Keota project located in Weld County, Colorado and the Ferris Haggerty project located in Carbon County Wyoming. These
mining assets include both owned and leased land in the states of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. All of the mining assets represent properties
which have previously been mined to different degrees for uranium.
As the Company has not formally established
proven or probable reserves on any of its properties, there is inherent uncertainty as to whether or not any mineralized material
can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mineral properties
and equipment and kinetic separation intellectual property are:
As of December 31,
2020
2019
Mineral properties and equipment
$ 11,735,522
$ 11,746,150
Kinetic separation intellectual property
$ 9,488,051
$ 9,488,051
Oil and Gas Lease and Easement
The Company entered into an oil and gas
lease that became effective with respect to minerals and mineral rights owned by the Company of approximately 160 surface acres
of the Company’s property in Colorado. As consideration for entering into the lease, the lessee has agreed to pay the Company
a royalty of 18.75% of the lessee’s revenue attributed to oil and gas produced, saved, and sold attributable to the net mineral
interest. The Company has also received cash payments from the lessee related to the easement that the Company is recognizing incrementally
over the eight year term of the easement.
On June 23, 2020, the same entity as discussed
above elected to extend the oil and gas lease easement for three additional years commencing on the date the lease would have previously
expired.
During the years ended December 31, 2020
and 2019 the Company recognized aggregate revenue of $54,620 and $44,620, respectively, under these oil and gas lease arrangements.
F- 15
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, and Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPERTY, CONTINUED
Reclamation Liabilities
The Company’s mines are subject to
certain asset retirement obligations, which the Company has recorded as reclamation liabilities. The reclamation liabilities of
the United States mines are subject to legal and regulatory requirements, and estimates of the costs of reclamation are reviewed
periodically by the applicable regulatory authorities. The reclamation liability represents the Company’s best estimate of
the present value of future reclamation costs in connection with the mineral properties. The Company determined the gross reclamation
liabilities of the mineral properties as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, to be approximately $906,811 and $897,662, respectively.
On March 2, 2020, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation,
terminating mining operations and ordering commencement of final reclamation. The Company has begun the reclamation of the Van
4 Mine. The reclamation cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property. The Company adjusted
the fair value of its reclamation obligation for the Van 4 Mine. The portion of the reclamation liability related to the Van 4
Mine, and its related restricted cash are included in current liabilities, and current assets, respectively, at a value of $75,057.
The Company expects to begin incurring the reclamation liability after 2054 for all mines that are not in reclamation and accordingly,
has discounted the gross liabilities over their remaining lives using a discount rate of 5.4% to net discounted aggregated values
as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 of $309,940 and $294,228, respectively. The gross reclamation liabilities as of December 31, 2020
and 2019 are secured by financial warranties in the amount of $906,811 and $897,662, respectively.
Reclamation liability activity for the years ended December
31, 2020 and 2019 consists of:
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Beginning balance
$ 294,228
$ 224,645
Accretion
15,712
69,583
Ending Balance
$ 309,940
$ 294,228
F- 16
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, and Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPERTY, CONTINUED
Van 4 Mine Permitting Status
A prior owner of the Company’s Van
4 Mine had been granted a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”)
which was set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary
Cessation. PRM subsequently participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing,
three non-profit organizations who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The
MLRB board members voted to grant a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties
filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017. The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the
Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff
organizations are seeking for the court to set aside the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to
PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On
May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby the additional five-year temporary cessation period was
granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed, whereby
the additional five-year temporary cessation period should not have been granted. Thereafter, the MLRB and the Colorado Attorney
General advised Western that it will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed.
The Judge has subsequently issued an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine
into reclamation. On January 22, 2020, the MLRB held a hearing and afterward on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating
the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, terminating mining operations and ordering commencement of final reclamation. The Company has five
years to complete the reclamation of the Van 4 Mine. The reclamation commenced in the spring of 2020 and is fully covered by the
reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property.
Sunday Mine Complex Permitting Status
On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a Notice of Hearing to Declare
Termination of Mining Operations related to the status of the mining permits issued by the state of Colorado for the Sunday Mine Complex.
At issue is the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate mine (Van 4) with very different facts
that are retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in meeting existing rules and regulations.
The hearing was scheduled to be held during several monthly MLRB Board meetings, but this matter has been delayed several times. The permit
hearing was held during the MLRB Board monthly meeting on July 22, 2020. At issue was the status of the five existing permits which comprise
the Sunday Mine Complex. Due to COVID restrictions, the hearing took place utilizing a virtual-only format. The Company prevailed in a
3 to 1 decision which acknowledged that the work completed at the Sunday Mines under DRMS oversight was timely and sufficient for Western
to maintain these permits. In a subsequent July 30, 2020 letter, the DRMS notified the Company that the status of the five permits (Sunday,
West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz) had been changed to Active status effective June 10, 2019, the original date on which the
change of the status was approved. On August 23, 2020, the Company initiated a request for temporary cessation status for the Sunday Mine
Complex as the mines had not be restarted within a 180-day window due to the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly,
a permit hearing was scheduled for October 21, 2020 to determine temporary cessation status. In a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved temporary
cessation status for each of the five Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9,
2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the July 22, 2020 permit hearing. On November 10, 2020, the MLRB issued
a board order which finalized the findings of the October 21, 2020 permit hearing. On November 6, 2020, the MLRB signed an order placing
the five Sunday Mine Complex mine permits into Temporary Cessation. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups filed a
complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July 22, 2020 decision by requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit.
On December 15, 2020, the same coalition of environmental groups amended their complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of
the October 21, 2020 decision requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. The Company has joined with the MLRB in defense of their
July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 decisions. According to the judicial review timetable, an opening brief and answer brief will be filed
with the Denver District Court during second quarter 2021.
F- 17
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE 5 - Accounts
Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities consisted of:
As of December 31,
2020
2019
Trade accounts payable
$ 347,017
$ 404,015
Accrued liabilities
141,777
195,322
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$ 488,794
$ 599,337
Note 6 – Loan
Payable
Paycheck Protection Program Loan
On May 6, 2020, the Company obtained the PPP Loan of $73,116. The loan
had a fixed interest rate of 1%, required the Company to make seventeen (17) monthly payments, after a seven months deferral period, and
had a maturity date of May 6, 2022. The entirety of the loan principal was eligible for forgiveness to the extent that the proceeds are
utilized toward permissible expenditures within the initial period. On December 2, 2020, the Company received notice from the U.S. Small
Business Association that the entire PPP Loan balance and accrued interest was forgiven in full on such date. The Company recorded the
loan forgiveness as other income in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and other comprehensive loss.
NOTE 7 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Supply Contract
In December 2015, the Company signed a uranium concentrates supply agreement
with a major U.S. utility company for delivery commencing in 2018 and continuing for a five year period through 2022. As the Company does
not possess saleable uranium, a partial assignment agreement was put in place whereby the assignee accepted the Company’s right
to the Year 1 delivery of 125,000 pounds of natural uranium concentrates. The Year 1 delivery was made during 2018 and the assignee was
paid the full consideration under the agreement. The Company did not recognize any gain or loss on this transaction. In Year 2, a partial
assignment agreement was put in place whereby the assignee accepted the Company’s right to the Year 2 delivery of 125,000 pounds
of natural uranium concentrates. The Year 2 delivery was made during 2019 and the assignee was paid the full consideration under the agreement.
The Company did not recognize any gain or loss on this transaction. The Company and the U.S. utility customer mutually agreed to cancel
the Year 3 delivery, rather than pursue a partial assignment; there was no delivery during 2020. See Note 15 for additional information
related to the Year 4 delivery.
Legal proceedings
On June 13, 2019, Black Range was sued
over the original Weld County Colorado deed language. The lawsuit was filed in the Weld County District Court. This deed was negotiated
prior to the Company acquiring Black Range in September 2015 by prior management and a bank representing the estate of the property
owner. The plaintiff, the estate’s beneficiaries, assert that it was the intent that they would receive a production override
royalty for oil and gas production from the property, however this language was not included in the deed. Western’s attorney
has filed a response with the court contesting this allegation. This only involves royalties on oil and gas production on this
undeveloped property, thus there is no current economic impact. Court procedure mandates that the parties participate in a mediation
process before bringing the matter before the court. During the scheduling of the mediation process, the parties agreed to a settlement.
Western executed the Settlement Agreement on December 31, 2019 and the four plaintiffs executed in counterparts on various days
in January 2020. The plaintiff was given a non-participating royalty interest of 1/8 th for all hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon
substances that are produced and sold from the Weld County property. As the settlement only impacts future economics, the Company
will not recognize any gain or loss from this transaction.
F- 18
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE 8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS
Authorized Capital
The holders of the Company’s common shares are entitled to one
vote per share. Holders of common shares are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board of Directors
out of legally available funds. Upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, holders of common shares are entitled
to share ratably in all assets of the Company that are legally available for distribution. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, an unlimited
number of common shares were authorized for issuance.
Private Placement
On April 16, 2019, the Company completed
a private placement of 3,914,632 units at a price of CAD $0.98 (USD $0.73) per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $3,836,340 (USD $2,856,356).
Each unit consisted of one common share and a warrant to purchase one-half of one common share. Each warrant is exercisable at
a price of CAD $1.70 and expires three years from the date of issuance.
On June 17, 2019, the Company completed
a private placement of 192,278 units at a price of CAD $0.98 (USD $0.73) per unit for gross proceeds of CAD $188,432 (USD $140,555).
Each unit consisted of one common share and a warrant to purchase one-half of one common share. Each warrant is exercisable at
a price of CAD $1.70 and expires three years from the date of issuance.
Incentive Stock Option Plan
The Company maintains an Incentive Stock
Option Plan (the “Plan”) that permits the granting of stock options as incentive compensation. Shareholders of the
Company approved the Plan on June 30, 2008 and amendments to the Plan on June 20, 2013, and the Board of Directors approved additional
changes to the Plan on September 12, 2015.
The purpose of the Plan is to attract,
retain and motivate directors, management, staff and consultants by providing them with the opportunity, through stock options,
to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and benefit from its growth.
The Plan provides that the aggregate number
of common shares for which stock options may be granted will not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the
time stock options are granted. As of December 31, 2020, a total of 30,083,747 common shares were outstanding, and at that date
the maximum number of stock options eligible for issue under the Plan was 3,008,375.
On January 6, 2020, the Company granted
options under the Plan for the purchase of an aggregate of 600,000 common shares to five individuals consisting of directors, officers,
and consultants of the Company. The options have a five year term, an exercise price of CAD $1.03 (US $0.81 as of December 31,
2020) and vest equally in thirds commencing initially on the date of grant and thereafter on January 31, 2020, and September 30,
2020.
F- 19
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE 8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS, CONTINUED
Stock Options
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
(USD)
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (years)
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
(USD)
Intrinsic
Value
(USD)
Outstanding - January 1, 2020
2,208,000
$ 1.56
3.01
$ 0.41
Granted
600,000
$ 0.76
4.52
$ 0.76
Expired, forfeited, or cancelled
-
$ -
-
$ -
Outstanding – December 31, 2020
2,808,000
$ 1.42
2.43
$ 0.37
$ 33,782
Exercisable – December 31, 2020
2,808,000
$ 1.42
2.43
$ 0.37
$ 33,782
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
(USD)
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (years)
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
(USD)
Intrinsic
Value
(USD)
Outstanding - January 1, 2019
2,416,664
$ 1.67
3.73
$ 0.48
Expired, forfeited, or cancelled
(208,664 )
$ 3.80
3.01
$ -
Outstanding – December 31, 2019
2,208,000
$ 1.56
3.01
$ 0.41
$ -
Exercisable – December 31, 2019
2,208,000
$ 1.56
3.01
$ 0.41
$ -
The Company’s stock based compensation
expense related to stock options for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $204,808 and $180,269, respectively. As of
December 31, 2020, the Company had $0 in unamortized stock option expense.
The Company utilized the Black-Scholes
option pricing model to determine the fair value of these stock options, using the assumptions as outlined below.
January 6,
2020
Stock Price
CAD $ 1.03
Exercise Price
CAD $ 1.03
Number of Options Granted
600,000
Dividend Yield
0 %
Expected Volatility
90.5 %
Weighted Average Risk-Free Interest Rate
1.61 %
Expected life (in years)
2.6
F- 20
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE 8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS, CONTINUED
Warrants
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
(USD)
Weighted
Average
Contractual Life
(years)
Intrinsic
Value
(USD)
Outstanding - January 1, 2019
6,798,401
$ 1.49
Issued
2,059,825
$ 1.70
Expired
(255,313 )
$ 1.26
Outstanding – December 31, 2019
8,602,913
$ 1.31
1.03
$ -
Exercisable – December 31, 2019
8,602,913
$ 1.51
1.58
$ -
Outstanding - January 1, 2020
8,602,913
$ 1.51
Issued
-
-
Expired
(69,331 )
0.86
Outstanding – December 31, 2020
8,533,582
$ 1.54
0.82
$ -
Exercisable – December 31, 2020
8,533,582
$ 1.54
0.82
$ -
Warrant Extension
On April 20, 2020, the Company announced
the extension by nine months of the common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) issued to investors in non-brokered
private placements that closed on May 4, June 30, and August 9, 2018 (the “2018 Private Placements”) and the amendment
of the trigger price in the acceleration clause of each Warrant. A total of 2,671,116 Warrants were amended. The warrant modification
expense amounted to $639,012.
The Company performed a Black-Scholes valuation
on the warrants both pre-modification and post-modification, using the assumptions below.
May
2018
– Prior to
Modification
May
2018
– Post
Modification
July
2018
– Prior to
Modification
July
2018
– Post
Modification
August
2018
– Prior to
Modification
August
2018
– Post
Modification
Stock Price
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
Exercise Price
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
Number
of Warrants Modified
454,811
454,811
1,262,763
1,262,763
953,544
953,544
Dividend
Yield
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
Expected
Volatility
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
Weighted Average
Risk-Free Interest Rate
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
Expected
life (in years)
0.04
0.79
0.27
1.02
0.30
1.05
Each Warrant initially entitled the holder
to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $1.15 CAD at any time prior to May 4, July 30, and August
9, 2020, respectively. Each of these dates has been extended by nine months from their respective expiration dates such that the
Warrants will now expire on February 4, April 30, and May 9, 2021, respectively. Additionally, each Warrant originally contained
an acceleration clause that allowed the Company to accelerate the expiration date of the Warrant if the closing price of the Company’s
common shares was equal to or greater than $2.50 CAD for a period of five consecutive trading days. The Company amended this clause
by lowering the trigger price from $2.50 CAD to $1.83 CAD.
F- 21
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
9 - Mining Expenditures
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Permits
$ 112,730
$ 145,128
Maintenance
-
-
Mining Costs
275,331
318,960
Royalties
5,121
2,029
$ 393,182
$ 466,117
NOTE
10 - Related Party Transactions AND BALANCES
The Company has transacted with related
parties pursuant to service arrangements in the ordinary course of business, as follows:
Prior to the acquisition of Black Range,
Mr. George Glasier, the Company’s CEO, who is also a director (“Seller”), transferred his interest in a former
joint venture with Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black Range issued 25 million shares
of Black Range common stock to Seller and committed to pay AUD $500,000 (USD $392,086 as of December 31, 2020) to Seller within
60 days of the first commercial application of the kinetic separation technology. Western assumed this contingent payment obligation
in connection with the acquisition of Black Range. At the date of the acquisition of Black Range, this contingent obligation was
determined to be probable. Since the deferred contingent consideration obligation is probable and the amount is estimable, the
Company recorded the deferred contingent consideration as an assumed liability in the amount of $392,086 and $351,099 as of December
31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Note
11 – Income Taxes
The tax effects of temporary differences
that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:
As of December 31,
2020
2019
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryovers
$
5,228,266
$
4,634,775
Marketable securities
15,650
15,562
Accrued expenses
78,600
43,659
Deferred tax assets, gross
5,322,516
4,693,996
Less: valuation allowance
(2,997,084
)
(2,427,666
)
Deferred tax assets, net
2,325,432
2,266,330
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment
(5,034,319
)
(4,975,217
)
Deferred tax liabilities, net
$
(2,708,887
)
$
(2,708,887
)
The change in the Company’s valuation allowance is as
follows:
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
Beginning of year
$ 2,427,665
$ 1,962,122
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance
569,419
465,543
End of year
$ 2,997,084
$ 2,427,665
F- 22
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
11 – Income Taxes, CONTINUED
A reconciliation of the provision for income
taxes with the amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal income tax rate to income from operations before the provision
for income taxes is as follows:
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2020
2019
U.S. federal statutory rate
(21.0 )%
(21.0 )%
State and foreign taxes
(3.8 )%
(3.8 )%
Permanent differences
Non-deductible expenses
2.0 %
2.3 %
Valuation allowance
22.8 %
22.5 %
Effective income tax rate
0 %
0 %
The Company has net operating loss carryovers of approximately $21,081,717
for federal and state income tax purposes and net operating loss carryovers of $11,458,182 for Canadian provincial tax purposes which
begin to expire in 2026. The ultimate realization of the net operating loss is dependent upon future taxable income, if any, of the Company.
Based on losses from inception, the Company
determined that as of December 31, 2020 it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize benefits from the deferred
tax assets. The Company will not record income tax benefits in the consolidated financial statements until it is determined that
it is more likely than not that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred income tax assets.
As a result of the analysis, the Company determined that a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets was required of
$2,997,084 and $2,427,666 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”)
Section 382 imposes limitations on the use of net operating loss carryovers when the share ownership of one or more 5% shareholders
(shareholders owning 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding capital stock) has increased on a cumulative basis over a period
of three years by more than 50 percentage points. Management cannot control the ownership changes occurring. Accordingly, there
is a risk of an ownership change beyond the control of the Company that could trigger a limitation of the use of the loss carryover.
The Company has analyzed the issuances of common shares during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and does not believe
such change of control occurred. If such ownership change under IRC section 382 had occurred, such change would substantially limit
the Company’s ability in the future to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards.
Note
12 – Option and exploration agreement
Hansen and Picnic Tree Loss of Property
On September 16, 2015, in connection with
the Company’s acquisition of Black Range, the Company assumed an option and exploration agreement (the “Option and
Exploration Agreement”) with STB Minerals, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“STB”). The Option and
Exploration Agreement gives the Company the right to purchase 51% of the mineral rights of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic
Tree deposits (for which the Company already holds 49% of the rights). If the Company were to exercise its option under the Option
and Exploration Agreement, it would require the Company to (a) make a cash payment of $2,500,000 immediately upon exercise; (b)
issue common shares to STB amounting to a value of $3,750,000 immediately upon exercise; and (c) issue common shares to STB amounting
to a value of $3,750,000 on the date that is 180 days following exercise. The Option and Exploration Agreement was scheduled to
expire by its terms (as extended) on July 28, 2019 if not exercised.
Prior to July 28, 2019, the Company decided
not to exercise the option to purchase the remaining 51% of the mineral rights of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree
deposits, and thus the option has expired unexercised.
F- 23
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
NOTE 13 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Fair Values
The Company’s financial instruments
consist of cash, restricted cash, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The fair values of these financial instruments
approximate their carrying values due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Company’s financial instruments
also incorporated marketable securities that are adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date based on quoted prices which
are considered level 1 inputs. The reclamation deposits, which are reflected in restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets,
are deposits mainly invested in certificates of deposit at major financial institutions and their fair values were estimated to
approximate their carrying values. There were no transfers of financial instruments between Levels 1, 2, and 3 during the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Foreign Currency Risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that
changes in the rates of exchange on foreign currencies will impact the financial position or cash flows of the Company. The Company’s
reporting currency is the United States Dollar. The functional currency for Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. standalone entity
is the Canadian dollar. The Company is exposed to foreign currency risks in relation to certain activity that is to be settled
in Canadian funds. Management monitors its foreign currency exposure regularly to minimize the risk of an adverse impact on
its cash flows.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentration of credit risk is the risk
of loss in the event that certain counterparties are unable to fulfil their obligations to the Company. The Company limits its
exposure to credit loss on its cash and restricted cash by placing its cash with high credit quality financial institutions.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company’s
consolidated cash flows from operations will not be sufficient for the Company to continue operating and discharge is liabilities.
The Company is exposed to liquidity risk as its continued operation is dependent upon its ability to obtain financing, either in
the form of debt or equity, or achieving profitable operations in order to satisfy its liabilities as they come due. As of December
31, 2020, the Company had a working capital of $162,375 and cash on hand of $565,250.
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that fluctuations
in the market prices of minerals will impact the Company’s future cash flows. The Company is exposed to market risk on the
price of uranium and vanadium, which will determine its ability to build and achieve profitable operations, the amount of exploration
and development work that the Company will be able to perform, and the number of financing opportunities that will be available.
Management believes that it would be premature at this point to enter into any hedging or forward contracts to mitigate its exposure
to specific market price risks.
F- 24
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated in USD)
Note
14 – COVID-19
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, was reported
to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, the COVID-19 coronavirus has spread to multiple countries, including the United States.
As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread in the United States, the Company may experience disruptions that could severely impact
the Company. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which the COVID-19 coronavirus
may impact the Company’s business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence,
such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions and social distancing in the
United States and other countries, business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States
to contain and treat the disease. To date, COVID-19 has primarily caused Western delays in reporting, regulatory, and operations. Most
notably, the Company initiated a request for temporary cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex as the mines had not been restarted
within the 180-day window due to the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Van 4 Mine reclamation process was also
delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company is monitoring COVID-19’s potential impact on the Company’s operations.
Note
15 – Subsequent events
On February 16, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private
placement (the “Private Placement”) of 3,250,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of CAD $0.80 per Unit. The aggregate
gross proceeds raised in this Private Placement amount to CAD $2,600,000.
Each Unit consists of one common share of Western (a “Share”)
plus one common share purchase warrant of Western (a “Warrant”). Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one Share at
a price of CAD $1.20 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of the Private Placement. A total of 3,250,000 Shares
and 3,250,000 Warrants were issued in the Private Placement.
On March 1, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private placement
(the “Private Placement”) of 3,125,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of CAD $0.80 per Unit. The aggregate gross
proceeds raised in this Private Placement amount to CAD $2,500,000.
Each Unit consists of one common share of Western (a “Share”)
plus one common share purchase warrant of Western (a “Warrant”). Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one Share at
a price of CAD $1.20 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of the Private Placement. A total of 3,125,000 Shares
and 3,125,000 Warrants were issued in the Private Placement.
On March 8, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a third party
to complete the 2021 (Year 4) uranium concentrate delivery, with reference to Note 7. The Company agreed to pay $78,000 in April 2021
to the assignee for the assignee making the delivery in May 2021. The Company did not recognize any gain or loss on this transaction.
F- 25
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.