UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period 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: 000-55710

 

NioCorp Developments Ltd.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

British Columbia, Canada 98-1262185
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 7000 South Yosemite Street, Suite 115
Centennial, CO

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

80112

(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (855) 264-6267

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which
registered
Not ApplicableNot ApplicableNot Applicable

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No

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 FilerAccelerated Filer

Non-Accelerated Filer

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller Reporting Company

Emerging Growth Company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No

 

As of February 9, 2018,5, 2021, the registrant had 208,861,265241,081,316 Common Shares outstanding.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    
   Page
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
    
ITEM 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1
ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 15
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 2324
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 2324
    
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION 
    
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 2425
ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS 2425
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS 2425
ITEM 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES 2425
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 2425
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION 2425
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS 2526
    
SIGNATURES 2627

 

 

PART I—I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Contents

  Page
   
Condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 20172020 and June 30, 20172020 (unaudited) 2
   
Condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended December 21, 201731, 2020 and 20162019 (unaudited) 3
   
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended December 31, 20172020 and 20162019 (unaudited) 4
   
Condensed consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the three and six months ended December 31, 20172020 and the year ended June 30, 20172019 (unaudited) 5
   
Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited) 6 - 14


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share data) (unaudited)

     As of 
  Note  

December 31,

2017

  

June 30,

2017

 
ASSETS         
Current         
Cash    $80  $238 
Restricted cash 4      265 
Prepaid expenses and other     4   152 
Other current assets 5   422    
Total current assets     506   655 
Non-current           
Deposits     36   51 
Available for sale securities at fair value     17   23 
Equipment     2   5 
Mineral interests     10,617   10,617 
Total assets    $11,178  $11,351 
            
LIABILITIES           
Current           
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities    $2,772  $3,146 
Related party loans 8   1,355   1,175 
Convertible debt, current portion 6   667   2,161 
Derivative liability, convertible debt     82    
Total current liabilities     4,876   6,482 
Convertible debt, net of current portion 6   1,609   1,896 
Derivative liability, convertible debt 6      82 
Total liabilities     6,485   8,460 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY           

Common stock, unlimited shares authorized; shares outstanding: 208,861,265 and 198,776,337, respectively

 7   72,583   68,029 
Additional paid-in capital     11,599   10,320 
Accumulated deficit     (78,625)  (74,852)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (864)  (606)
Total equity     4,693   2,891 
Total liabilities and equity    $11,178  $11,351 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (unaudited)

     For the three months ended
December 31,
  For the six months ended
December 31,
 
  Note  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Operating expenses                   
Employee related costs    $751  $459  $1,399  $962 
Professional fees     118   279   393   612 
Exploration expenditures 9   303   2,397   1,016   4,367 
Other operating expenses     391   215   687   389 
Total operating expenses     1,563   3,350   3,495   6,330 
Change in financial instrument fair value 6   274   (39)  297   (335)
Foreign exchange loss (gain)     36   160   (201)  193 
Interest expense     91   71   175   140 
 (Loss) gain on available for sale securities     (4)  5   7   (6)
Loss before income taxes     1,960   3,547   3,773   6,322 
Income tax benefit               
Net loss    $1,960  $3,547  $3,773  $6,322 
                    
Other comprehensive loss:                   
Net loss    $1,960  $3,547  $3,773  $6,322 
Other comprehensive (gain) loss:                   
Reporting currency translation     (27)  (165)  258   (231)
Total comprehensive loss    $1,933  $3,382  $4,031  $6,091 
                    
Loss per common share, basic    $0.01  $0.02  $0.02  $0.03 
                    
Weighted average common shares outstanding     206,000,263   183,625,989   204,027,181   182,078,028 
     As of 
  Note  December 31, 2020  

June 30,

2020

 
ASSETS         
Current         
Cash     $133  $307 
Prepaid expenses and other      51   31 
Total current assets      184   338 
Non-current            
Deposits      35   35 
Investment in equity securities      9   7 
Right of use assets  10   221    
Mineral interests      10,617   10,617 
Total assets     $11,066  $10,997 
             
LIABILITIES            
Current            
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  4  $1,408  $3,065 
Related party loan  8   3,818   3,818 
Convertible debt  5   2,075   838 
Notes payable, current portion  6   212   258 
Operating lease liability  10   80    
Derivative liability, convertible debt  5   62   33 
Total current liabilities      7,655   8,012 
Non-current            
Notes payable, net of current portion  6   137   344 
Operating lease liability  10   153    
Total liabilities      7,945   8,356 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY            

Common stock, unlimited shares authorized; shares outstanding: 240,110,267 at December 31, 2020 and 235,925,684 at June 30, 2020

  7   86,839   84,476 
Additional paid-in capital      13,844   13,206 
Accumulated deficit      (96,820)  (94,686)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss      (742)  (355)
Total shareholder equity      3,121   2,641 
Total liabilities and equity     $11,066  $10,997 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data) (unaudited)

     For the three months ended
December 31,
  For the six months ended
December 31,
 
  Note  2020  2019  2020  2019 
Operating expenses                    
Employee related costs     $686  $345  $1,005  $699 
Professional fees      85   67   193   185 
Exploration expenditures  9   189   454   414   677 
Other operating expenses      253   135   664   332 
Total operating expenses      1,213   1,001   2,276   1,893 
Other income  6   (186)     (186)   
Loss on debt extinguishment  5   163      163    
Change in financial instrument fair value  5   62   81   28   88 
Foreign exchange gain      (302)  (79)  (403)  (36)
Interest expense      131   73   258   133 
Other (Gain) loss on equity securities            (2)  3 
Loss before income taxes      1,081   1,076   2,134   2,081 
Income tax benefit                
Net loss  3  $1,081  $1,076  $2,134  $2,081 
                     
Other comprehensive loss:                    
Net loss     $1,081  $1,076  $2,134  $2,081 
Other comprehensive loss (gain):                    
Reporting currency translation      257   231   387   43 
Total comprehensive loss     $1,338  $1,307  $2,521  $2,124 
                     
Loss per common share, basic and diluted     $0.00  $0.00  $0.01  $0.01 
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding      239,060,052   234,738,616   237,965,059   234,247,239 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements. 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) (unaudited)

 

 For the six months
ended December 31,
  For the six months ended
December 31,
 
 2017 2016  2020 2019 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
Total loss for the period $(3,773) $(6,322) $(2,134) $(2,081)
Non-cash elements included in net loss:                
Depreciation  3   4 
Change in financial instrument fair value  297   (335)  28   88 
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments  7   (6)
Unrealized (gain) loss on equity securities  (2)  3 
Accretion of convertible debt  75   54   3    
Noncash lease expense  11    
Loss on debt extinguishment  163    
Gain on debt forgiveness  (186)   
Foreign exchange (gain) loss  (197)  228   (319)  (30)
Share-based compensation  1,113   394   797   117 
  (2,475)  (5,983)  (1,639)  (1,903)
Change in working capital items:                
Receivables  7    
Prepaid expenses  144   68   (17)  63 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  (242)  842   (103)  460 
Net cash used in operating activities  (2,566)  (5,073)  (1,759)  (1,380)
                
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Deposits  15    
Net cash used in investing activities  15    
        
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock  1,545   1,675   1,636    
Share issue costs  (189)    
Issuance of convertible debt  1,000     
Loan repayments  (67)   
Related party debt drawdown  180          1,080 
Other current assets  (422)    
Net cash provided by financing activities  2,114   1,675   1,569   1,080 
Exchange rate effect on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  14   (20)
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash during period  (423)  (3,418)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period  503   4,412 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $80  $994 
Exchange rate effect on cash and cash equivalents  16   (1)
Change in cash and cash equivalents during period  (174)  (301)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  307   357 
Cash and cash equivalent, end of period $133  $56 
                
Supplemental cash flow information:                
Amounts paid for interest $32  $32  $37  $32 
Amounts paid for income taxes              
Non-cash financing transactions                
Lind conversions  3,030   983  $38  $933 
Debt to equity conversion  207    
Nordmin conversions  418    
Recognition of operating lease liabilities  231    
Loan amounts forgiven  186    
Accounts payable to convertible debt conversion  1,693    

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for Common Shares Outstanding)outstanding) (unaudited)

 

  

 

Common Shares Outstanding

  

 

 

Common Stock

  Additional Paid-in Capital  

 

 

 

Deficit

  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss  

 

 

 

Total

 
                   
Balance, June 30, 2016  180,467,990  $58,401  $8,630  $(60,222) $(615) $6,194 
                         
Exercise of warrants  3,447,137   1,675            1,675 
Exercise of options  150,000   70            70 
Fair value of broker warrants granted        20         20 
Fair value of Lind warrants granted        233         233 
Private placements - February 2017  7,364,789   3,927            3,927 
Debt conversions  7,346,421   4,103            4,103 
Share issuance costs     (181)           (181)
Fair value of stock options exercised     34   (34)         
Share-based payments        1,471         1,471 
Reporting currency presentation              9   9 
Loss for the year           (14,630)     (14,630)
Balance, June 30, 2017  198,776,337  $68,029  $10,320  $(74,852) $(606) $2,891 
Exercise of options  10,091   5            5 
Fair value of broker warrants granted        41         41 
Fair value of Lind warrants granted        127         127 
Private placements - July 2017  2,962,500   1,540            1,540 
Private placement – September 2017  415,747   207               207 
Debt conversions  6,696,590   3,030            3,030 
Share issuance costs     (230)           (230)
Fair value of stock options exercised     2   (2)         
Share-based payments        1,113         1,113 
Reporting currency presentation              (258)  (258)
Loss for the period           (3,773)     (3,773)
Balance, December 31, 2017  208,861,265  $72,583  $11,599  $(78,625) $(864) $4,693 

  For the six months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 
  Common Shares Outstanding  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in Capital  Deficit  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss  Total 
Balance, June 30, 2019  232,496,215  $82,939  $13,124  $(90,685) $(526) $4,852 
Debt conversions  2,343,383   933            933 
Share-based payments        117         117 
Reporting currency presentation              (43)  (43)
Loss for the period           (2,081)     (2,081)
Balance, December 31, 2019  234,839,598  $83,872  $13,241  $(92,766) $(569) $3,778 
                         
Balance, June 30, 2020  235,925,684  $84,476  $13,206  $(94,686) $(355) $2,641 
Exercise of options  438,617   244   (103)        141 
Exercise of warrants  2,777,422   1,614   (119)        1,495 
Fair value of warrants granted        63         63 
Debt conversions  968,544   506            506 
Share issuance costs     (1)           (1)
Share-based payments        797         797 
Reporting currency presentation              (387)  (387)
Loss for the period           (2,134)     (2,134)
Balance, December 31, 2020  240,110,267  $86,839  $13,844  $(96,820) $(742) $3,121 

 

  For the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 
  Common Shares Outstanding  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in Capital  Deficit  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss  Total 
Balance, September 30, 2019  234,293,107  $83,641  $13,050  $(91,690) $(338) $4,663 
Debt conversions  546,491   231            231 
Share-based payments        191         191 
Reporting currency presentation              (231)  (231)
Loss for the period           (1,076)     (1,076)
Balance, December 31, 2019  234,839,598  $83,872  $13,241  $(92,766) $(569) $3,778 
                         
Balance, September 30, 2020  238,667,620  $85,942  $13,462  $(95,739) $(485) $3,180 
Exercise of options  229,500   165   (55)        110 
Exercise of warrants  308,901   263   (119)        144 
Fair value of warrants granted        63         63 
Debt conversions  904,246   469            469 
Share issuance costs                  
Share-based payments        493         493 
Reporting currency presentation              (257)  (257)
Loss for the period           (1,081)     (1,081)
Balance, December 31, 2020  240,110,267  $86,839   13,844   (96,820) $(742) $3,121 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 20172020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unlessexcept per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)

 

1.DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) was incorporated on February 27, 1987, under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and currently operates in one reportable operating segment consisting of exploration and development of mineral deposits in North America, specifically, the Elk Creek Niobium/Scandium/Titanium property (the “Elk Creek Project”) located in southeastern Nebraska.

 

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis that contemplates the realization of assets and discharge of liabilities at their carrying values in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. These financial statements do not reflect any adjustments that may be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

The Company currently earns no operating revenues and will require additional capital in order to advance the Elk Creek Project.Project to construction and commercial operation. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is uncertain and is dependent upon obtaining sufficient financing, the generation of profits from mineral properties, obtaining additional financing, and maintaining continued support from its shareholders and creditors.

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION

 

a)Basis of Preparation and Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of the Company and its wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiaries with all significant intercompany transactions eliminated. The accounting policies followed in preparing these interim condensed consolidated financial statements are those used by the Company as set out in the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2017.2020.

 

In the opinion of Management,management, all adjustments considered necessary (including reclassifications and normal recurring adjustments) to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows at December 31, 2017,2020, and for all periods presented, have been included in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to appropriate SEC rules and regulations. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2017.2020. The interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year ending June 30, 2018,2021, or future operating periods.

 

b)Recent Accounting Standards

 

Issued and Adopted

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issuedOn July 1, 2020, NioCorp adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Improvements2018-13 - Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendmentsthe Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This update modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in this ASU require, among other things,Topic 820 and eliminates ‘at a minimum’ from the phrase ‘an entity shall disclose at a minimum’ to promote the appropriate exercise of discretion by entities when considering fair value disclosures and to clarify that all income tax effects of awards be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. The ASU also allows formateriality is an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, and it allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted this guidance during the quarter ended September 30, 2017.appropriate consideration. The adoption of this ASUstandard had no material impactsimpact on ourthe consolidated financial statement results or disclosures.statements.

 

Issued and Not Effective

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, management believes that the impact of recently issued standards did not or will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 20172020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unlessexcept per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company will apply the provisions of the update to potential future acquisitions occurring after the effective date.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The standard requires that a lessee recognize on the balance sheet assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than twelve months. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease have not significantly changed from the previous US GAAP. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within such fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, of implementing this guidance on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.

 

c)Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires Managementmanagement to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The Company regularly evaluates estimates and assumptions related to the deferred income tax asset valuations, convertible debt valuations, and share-based compensation. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience, and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the other sources. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially and adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are material differences between estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected.

 

d)Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to fiscal 2018 presentation and these reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations or net equity as previously disclosed.

3.GOING CONCERN ISSUES

 

The Company incurred a loss of $3,773$2,134 for the six months ended December 31, 2017 (20162020 (2019 - $6,322),$2,081) and had a working capital deficit and an accumulated deficit of $4,370$7,471 and $78,625,$96,820, respectively, as of December 31, 2017. These factors indicate2020. As an exploration stage entity, the existence of a material uncertainty that raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.Company has not yet commenced its mining operations and accordingly does not generate any revenue.

 

The Company’s ability to continue operations and fund its expenditures, which have historically averaged $700 to $850 per quarter, is dependent on Management’smanagement’s ability to secure additional financing. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had cash of $133, which is not sufficient cash to fund normal operations and meet debt obligations for the next twelve months without deferring payment on certain current liabilities and raising additional funds. Management is actively pursuing such additional sources of financing, and while it has been successful in doing so in the past, there can be no assurance it will be able to do so in the future. The Company has approximately $700 available on its non-revolving credit facility agreement with a related party (refer to Note 8), however, the Company did not have any further funding commitments or arrangements for additional financing as of December 31, 2020. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

These consolidated financial statements do not give effect to any adjustments required to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in other than the normal course of business and at amounts different from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

 

4.RESTRICTED CASH

Restricted cash represents amounts heldSince March 2020, several measures have been implemented in escrow to secure paymentthe United States, Canada, and the rest of work relatedthe world in response to the Company’s Elk Creek Feasibility Study. Underincreased impact from the termsnovel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. While the impact of the escrow agreement,COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be temporary, the balancecurrent circumstances are dynamic and the impact on business operations cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The continued spread of $265 was drawn against outstanding accounts payableCOVID-19 has resulted in business travel restrictions and other capital market disruptions, and this has had an impact on the following: the Company’s ability to obtain financing and advance development plans; and the Company’s results of operations, financial position, and cash flows during the quarter ended September 30, 2017.current fiscal year.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 20172020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unlessexcept per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)

 

5.4.OTHER CURRENT ASSETSACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

     As of 
  Note  December 31,
2020
  June 30,
2020
 
Accounts payable, trade     $661  $2,460 
Interest payable to related party  8   667   450 
Other accruals      80   155 
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities     $1,408  $3,065 

Other current assets include legal and other professional fees associated with obtaining project debt financing

On December 18, 2020, an accounts payable balance of $1,640 was exchanged for the Elk Creek Project. Amounts will be deferred until funding is completed, at which time the balance will become a direct deduction from the related debt liability.convertible note as discussed in Note 5.

 

6.5.CONVERTIBLE DEBT

 

  As of 
  December 31, 2017  June 30, 2017 
Convertible debt, current portion $667  $2,161 
Noncurrent:        
Convertible notes $  $592 
Convertible security  1,609   1,304 
  $1,609  $1,896 
  As of 
  December 31, 2020  June 30,
2020
 
  Nordmin convertible note $1,325  $ 
Convertible promissory notes  750   800 
  Convertible security     38 
 Total convertible debt $2,075  $838 

 

Nordmin Convertible Security FundingNote

Changes in the Lind Partners Asset Management IV, LLC (“Lind”) convertible security (the “Convertible Security”) balance are comprised of the following:

  Convertible Security 
Balance, June 30, 2017 $3,465 
Additional debt drawdown  1,000 
Conversions, at fair value  (3,030)
Change in fair market value  174 
Balance, December 31, 2017 $1,609 

 

On August 10, 2017, Lind provided notice toDecember 18, 2020, the Company issued a convertible note in the principal amount of its electionapproximately $1,872 (the “Nordmin Note”) and 500,000 warrants (the “Nordmin Warrants”) to advance an additional $1.0 million in funding (the “Initial Convertible Security Increase”) under the convertible security (the ‘Initial Convertible Security”Nordmin Engineering Ltd. (“Nordmin”) pursuant to its righta convertible note and warrant subscription agreement (the “Nordmin Agreement”) under which Nordmin agreed to subscribe for and purchase the Convertible Security Funding Agreement, dated December 14, 2015, betweenNordmin Note and Nordmin Warrants for a subscription price of approximately $1,804. This amount was set off against the Company and Lind (the “Lind Agreement”). As a result, upon payment of the additional $1,000 in fundingamount owed to Nordmin by Lind to the Company, the face value of the Initial Convertible Security was increased by $1,200 ($1,000 in additional funding plus implied interest), and the Company issued Warrants to Lind, as follows:NioCorp for past services.

             Black Scholes pricing model inputs
Funding Date Face Value1  Warrants Issued2  Issue Price3  Warrant Expiry Date Risk-free rate  Yield  Volatility  Expected Life
August 15, 2017 $300   260,483   C$0.73  August 15, 2020  1.23%  0%  49.6% 3 years
September 28, 2017  300   283,413   C$0.66  September 28, 2020  1.23%  0%  47.7% 3 years
October 31, 2017  300   308,901   C$0.62  October 31, 2020  1.59%  0%  47.0% 3 years
December 6, 2017  300   355,132   C$0.54  December 6, 2020  1.59%  0%  48.9% 3 years
Total $1,200   1,207,929                     

1Includes implied interest.
2The value of warrants issued totaled $127, which was expensed to Change in Financial Instrument Fair Value. .
3The price to convert one warrant into one Common Share.

 

The Initial Convertible SecurityNordmin Note will mature on December 18, 2021 and has no stated interest rate, an implied interest rate of 5% per annum and, subject to certain terms and conditions, is convertible into Common Sharesup to 4,500,000 common shares of the Company (Common(“Common Shares”) at a conversion price equal to 85%of 92% of the volume weightedfive-day volume-weighted average trading price (“Volume Weighted Average Price”) of the Common Shares (in Canadian dollars) on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) forat the five consecutive trading days immediately prior totime of conversion. The Nordmin Note contains restrictions on how much of the date on which Lindprincipal amount may be converted in any 30-day period. The Nordmin Note also provides the Company with the option to prepay, in whole or in part, any outstanding principal amount thereunder, upon three days’ notice of its intention to convert an amountNordmin. In addition, Nordmin is entitled to accelerate the maturity of the Initial Convertible Security from timeNordmin Note and require the Company to time. Duringprepay the six-month period ended December 31, 2017, $2,425outstanding principal amount upon the occurrence of an event of default and other designated events described in the Nordmin Note.

Subject to certain terms and conditions, each Nordmin Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share at a price of C$0.80 per share until December 18, 2022. The Nordmin Note and the Nordmin Warrants are, and the Common Shares underlying the Nordmin Warrants, will be, as applicable, subject to resale restrictions and are or will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

The Company accounted for this transaction as a debt extinguishment under Accounting Standards Codification 470, Debt. Accordingly, the Company wrote off the value of the Initial Convertible Securityexisting obligation, calculated the fair value of the Nordmin Note and recorded a loss of $163 on the difference in the consolidated statement of operations. This loss included $63 related to the fair value of the Nordmin Warrants at closing. The fair value of the Nordmin Warrants was converted into 6,696,590 Common Shares.estimated based on the Black Scholes pricing model using a risk-free interest rate of 0.32%, an expected dividend yield of 0%, a volatility of 43.16%, and an expected life of 2.0 years.

The Company initially recorded the Nordmin Note at a fair value of $1,740. The remaining initial fair value balance will be accreted up to net face value of the Nordmin Note over the remaining time until maturity using the effective interest method. In addition, transaction costs of $25 were expensed at closing.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 20172020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unlessexcept per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)

 

The Convertible Security contains financial and non-financial covenants customary for a facility of its size and nature, and includes a financial covenant defining an event of default as all present and future liabilitiesPursuant to the terms of the Nordmin Agreement, on December 18, 2020, the Company or anyissued 836,551 Common Shares to Nordmin upon an initial conversion of its subsidiaries, exclusive$450 in principal amount of related party loans, for an amount or amounts exceeding $2,000 and which have not been satisfiedthe Nordmin Note at a conversion price of C$0.684 per share.

Based on time or within 90 daysthe Company’s closing Common Share price of invoice, or have become prematurely payable as a result of its default or breach. The Company was in compliance with these covenantsC$0.81 as of December 31, 2017.2020, conversion of the remaining Nordmin Note balance would require the issuance of 2,428,888 Common Shares. For each C$0.01 change in the fair value of one Common Share, the total shares the Company would be obligated to issue would change by approximately 30,000 shares.

 

Convertible Promissory Notes

Changes in

Effective October 12, 2020, the maturity date for $750 of the Company’s outstanding convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Notes”) balance are comprisedwas extended for one year to October 14, 2021. All terms and conditions remained unchanged, except the amended agreement provides that the Company may repay all or any of the following:amount of outstanding principal and any accrued but unpaid interest, with 14 days’ advance written notice (the “Notice”), as follows:

 

  Convertible Notes 
Balance, June 30, 2017 $592 
Accreted interest, net of interest paid  75 
Balance, December 31, 2017 $667 
with respect to the outstanding principal and any accrued but unpaid interest, in cash, using the Bank of Canada daily US$-C$ exchange rate on the date of the Notice; or
with respect to the outstanding principal only, provided that the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares is C$0.97 or greater for a period of ten consecutive trading days prior to the date of the Notice, and subject to Toronto Stock Exchange approval, by converting all or any portion of the outstanding principal into Common Shares at a conversion rate of C$0.97 per Common Share, using the Bank of Canada daily US$-C$ exchange rate on the date of the Notice.

$50 of the Company’s convertible promissory notes was not extended under the agreement above and was converted into 67,695 Common Shares on October 14, 2020.

 

The changes in the derivative liability related to the conversion feature of the Convertible Notescompany’s convertible promissory notes are as follows:

 

  Derivative Liability 
Balance, June 30, 2017 $82 
Change in fair value of derivative liability  (—)
Balance, December 31, 2017 $82 
  Derivative Liability 
Balance, June 30, 2020 $33 
Change in fair value of derivative liability  29 
Balance, December 31, 2020 $62 

 

7.COMMON STOCK

a)Issuances

Convertible Security

On July 26, 2017,9, 2020, Lind Asset Management IV, LLC, the Company closed a brokered private placement (the “July 2017 Private Placement”) of units (the “Units”)holder of the Company. Underconvertible security, converted the July 2017 Private Placement, a totalremaining balance thereunder of 2,962,500 Units were issued at C$0.65 per Unit, for total gross proceeds to the Company of approximately C$1,926. Each Unit issued pursuant to the July 2017 Private Placement consists of one$38 into 64,298 Common Share and one warrant of the Company (“Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of C$0.79 until July 26, 2021.

The July 2017 Private Placement was brokered by Mackie Research Capital Corporation (the “Agent”). The Company paid the Agent an aggregate cash commission of approximately C$125, equal to six and a half per cent (6.5%) of the gross proceeds raised under the July 2017 Private Placement. The Company also issued to the Agent 192,562 broker warrants (the “Broker Warrants”), equal to six and a half per cent (6.5%) of the Units sold pursuant to the July 2017 Private Placement. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.79 until July 26, 2021. The fair value of the Broker Warrants of $41 was estimated based on the Black Scholes pricing model using a risk-free interest rate of 1.32%, an expected dividend yield of 0%, a volatility of 60.3%, and an expected life of four years. Total cash issue costs including agents’ commission, legal and other fees was $189.

Proceeds of the July 2017 Private Placement were used for general working capital purposes and to continue to advance the Company’s Elk Creek Project.

On September 5, 2017, the Company entered into a shares-for-debt agreement with Northcott Capital Limited (“Northcott”) whereby NioCorp issued 415,747 Common Shares to settle a debt of C$253,606 owed to Northcott for past and prospective services through December 2017. Northcott manages NioCorp’s current effort to assemble a debt financing package as part of the Company’s overall Elk Creek Project financing effort. The shares issued to Northcott were priced at C$0.61 per share, which represents a 10% premium over the five-day Volume Weighted Average Price of the Common Shares of C$0.5571 as of the date of the agreement.Shares.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2017

2020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unlessexcept per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)

6.NOTES PAYABLE

  As of 
  December 31, 2020  June 30, 
2020
 
Current Portion:        
Vendor note $202  $166 
SBA loan  10   92 
Total current portion $212  $258 
Noncurrent Portion:        
Vendor note $137  $240 
    SBA Loan     104 
Total noncurrent portion $137  $344 

SBA Loan

On April 17, 2020, the NioCorp’s subsidiary, Elk Creek Resources Corp., received a U.S. Small Business Administration Loan (the “SBA Loan”) from American National Bank, pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly referred to as the CARES Act, in the amount of $196. Under the terms of the SBA Loan, the Company may be eligible for full or partial loan forgiveness. The unforgiven portion of the SBA Loan is payable over two years at an annual interest rate of 1%, with a deferral of payments for the first six months. The Company used the proceeds for purposes consistent with the PPP.

On October 27, 2020, the Company applied for loan forgiveness of $186, comprising the initial SBA Loan balance less $10 representing an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance grant (the “EIDL advance”) received by the Company in April 2020. On November 18, 2020, the Company was notified that the $186 loan forgiveness request had been approved and recorded a corresponding gain in other income in the consolidated statement of operations.

On December 21, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”), which provided additional COVID-19 relief as well as government funding and other bills. The Act removes the previous requirement that PPP borrowers deduct the amount of any EIDL advance from their PPP forgiveness amount. The Small Business Administration is currently developing the guidance and procedures associated with this change in statute, and the Company expects to apply for this additional forgiveness once the process is completed.

 

b)7.COMMON STOCK
a)Stock Options

 

On November 9, 2017, the Company’s shareholders voted to approve a new Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Long-Term Incentive Plan”) and the granting of incentive securities thereunder until November 9, 2020. Under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) may, in its discretion from time to time, grant Options and share units (in the form of RSUs and PSUs) to directors, employees and certain other service providers (as defined in the Long-Term Incentive Plan) of the Company and affiliated entities selected by the Board.

   Number of Options  Weighted Average Exercise Price (C$) 
Balance, June 30, 2020   19,129,409  $0.62 
  Granted   3,700,000   0.78 
  Exercised   (438,617)  0.56 
  Cancelled/expired   (165,883)  0.47 
Balance, December 31, 2020   22,224,909  $0.65 

 


Subject to adjustment as described in the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance to participants under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with all other security -based compensation arrangements of the Company, including with respect to Options outstanding under the Company’s 2016 Incentive Stock Option Plan, may not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time, and the Common Shares reserved for issuance upon settlement of share units shall not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time. The Long-Term Incentive Plan limits the maximum number of Common Shares issued to insiders (as defined under TSX rules for this purpose) within any one-year period, or issuable to insiders at any time, in the aggregate, under all security -based compensation arrangements (including the Long-Term Incentive Plan) to 10% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Long-Term Incentive Plan also limits the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be reserved for issuance to any one participant under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, together with all other security -based compensation arrangements of the Company, to 5% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis). Under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, Options and share units granted to non-employee directors, together with all other equity awards, are limited to an annual equity award value of C$150 per non-employee director. The total value of Options issuable to a non-employee director in a one-year period is limited to C$100. Further, and subjectNioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the adjustment provisionsCondensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2020

(expressed in thousands of the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of Common Shares actually issuedU.S. dollars, except per share amounts or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of incentive stock options will not exceed 20,451,895 Common Shares.as otherwise stated) (unaudited)  

  

The Board has the exclusive power over the granting, amendment, administration or settlementCompany granted 3,700,000 options at an average fair value price of any award.

Stock$C0.25 per option, transactions are summarized as follows:based on Black-Scholes models with an average risk-free rate of 0.26%, average stock price volatility of 54.07%, and a three-year expected option life.

  Number of Options  Weighted Average Exercise Price (C$) 
Balance, June 30, 2017  16,605,000  $0.73 
Issued  3,925,000   0.47 
Exercised  (10,091)  0.62 
Cancelled/expired  (4,470,000)  0.75 
Balance, December 31, 2017  16,049,909  $0.66 

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options to purchase Common Shares (“Options”) outstanding at December 31, 2017:2020: 

 

Exercise price (C$)  Expiry date Number outstanding  Aggregate Intrinsic Value (C$000s)  Number exercisable  Aggregate Intrinsic Value (C$000s) 
$0.47  November 9, 2022  3,925,000  $1,060   3,925,000  $1,060 
$0.62  January 19, 2021  5,264,909   632   5,264,909   632 
$0.76  March 6, 2022  5,650,000      2,825,000    
$0.94  April 28, 2018  400,000      400,000    
$0.94  April 28, 2019  100,000      100,000    
$0.94  July 21, 2021  710,000      532,500    
 Balance December 31, 2017  16,049,909  $1,692   13,047,409  $1,692 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2017

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated) (unaudited)

Exercise Price (C$)  Expiry Date Number Outstanding  Aggregate Intrinsic Value  Number Exercisable  Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
$0.62  January 19, 2021  4,684,909  C$890   4,684,909  C$890 
$0.94  July 21, 2021  540,000      540,000    
$0.76  March 6, 2022  5,400,000   270   5,400,000   270 
$0.47  November 9, 2022  3,455,000   1,175   3,455,000   1,175 
$0.84  September 18, 2023  1,300,000      1,300,000    
$0.54  November 15, 2023  4,445,000   1,200   4,445,000   1,200 
$0.75  December 14, 2023  1,850,000   111   1,850,000   111 
$0.75  December 16, 2023  550,000   33   550,000   33 
       22,224,909  C$3,679   22,224,909  C$3,679 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing Common Share price of C$0.740.81 as of December 31, 2017,2020, that would have been received by the optionOption holders had all optionOption holders exercised their optionsOptions as of that date. The total number of in-the-money optionsOptions vested and exercisable as of December 31, 20172020, was 9,189,909. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the six months ended December 31, 2017 was nil.

17,239,909. As of December 31, 2017,2020, there was $247$0 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the 2016 Incentive Stock Option Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of approximately 0.7 years.plans.

 

c)b)Warrants

   Warrants  Weighted Average Exercise Price 
Balance June 30, 2020   12,376,451  C$0.74 
  Granted   500,000   0.80 
  Exercised   (2,777,422)  0.71 
  Expired   (388,535)  0.75 
Balance, December 31, 2020   9,710,494  C$0.75 

 

Warrant transactions are summarized as follows:

  Warrants  Weighted average exercise price (C$) 
Balance June 30, 2017  20,609,086  $0.79 
Granted  4,362,991   0. 75 
Balance, December 31, 2017  24,972,077  $ 0. 78 

As discussed above under Note 6, the Company granted 1,207,929 Warrants to Lind in connection with the funding of the Convertible Security Increase. As discussed above under Note 7a, the Company granted 2,962,500 Warrants and 192,562 Broker Warrants in conjunction with the July 2017 Private Placement.

At December 31, 2017,2020, the Company hashad outstanding exercisable Warrants, as follows:

 

Number  Exercise Price (C$)  Expiry Date
 355,132   0.54  December 6, 2020
 308,901   0.62  October 31, 2020
 283,413   0.66  September 28, 2020
 3,125,000   0.72  December 22, 2018
 260,483   0.73  August 15, 2020
 9,150,285   0.75  January 19, 2019
 3,155,062   0.79  July 26, 2021
 3,860,800   0.85  February 14, 2020
 3,043,024   0.85  February 21, 2020
 539,307   0.85  February 28, 2020
 890,670   0.90  March 31, 2020
 24,972,077       
Number  Exercise Price  Expiry Date
 1,546,882  C$0.72  January 30, 2021
 529,344  C$0.70  February 5, 2021
 541,435  C$0.69  February 7, 2021
 1,058,872  C$0.72  April 5, 2021
 833,330  C$0.72  April 29, 2021
 645,250  C$0.72  May 9, 2021
 1,035,319  C$0.77  July 9, 2021
 3,020,062  C$0.79  July 26, 2021
 500,000  C$0.80  December 18, 2022
 9,710,494       


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)  

 

8.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES

 

The Company has a loan with Mark Smith, President, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Executive Chairman of NioCorp (the “Original Smith Loan”), that bears an interest rate of 10%, is secured by the Company’s assets pursuant to a concurrently executed general security agreement (the “General Security Agreement”), and is subject to both a 2.5% establishment fee and 2.5% prepayment fee. TheAs of December 31, 2020, the principal amount outstanding under the Original Smith Loan is $1,000, and is due on June 17, 2018.


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2017

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated) (unaudited)was $1,000.

 

The Company also has a non-revolving credit facility agreement (the “Credit Facility”Agreement”) in the amountwith a limit of $2,000$3,500 with Mr. Smith. The Credit FacilityAgreement bears an interest rate of 10% and drawdowns from the Credit FacilityAgreement are subject to a 2.5% establishment fee. Amounts outstanding under the Credit FacilityAgreement are secured by all of the Company’s assets pursuant to the General Security Agreement. The Credit FacilityAgreement contains financial and non-financial covenants customary for a facility of its size and nature and is due on June 16, 2018. During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, Mr. Smith advanced an additional $180 to the Company under the Credit Facility.nature. As of December 31, 2017,2020, the principal amount outstanding under the Credit Facility is $355Agreement was $2,818.

On December 14, 2020, the maturity dates for the Original Smith Loan and accountsthe Credit Agreement were extended from December 15, 2020 to December 15, 2021.          

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities includedas of December 31, 2020, include accrued interest payableof $667 and loan establishmentorigination fees of $58 payable to Mr. Smith of $176.

On June 20, 2016,under the Company announced a joint development agreement (the “Development Agreement”) with IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (“IBC”) to investigateOriginal Smith Loan and develop applications for scandium-containing alloys for multiple downstream markets. In addition to his management duties at NioCorp, Mark Smith is also the Chairman of the IBC Board of Directors. Under the terms of the Development Agreement, each party bears its own costs incurred in development efforts. During the quarter ended December 31, 2017 the company supplied IBC with a small quantity of Scandium Trioxide which was used to manufacture several aluminum-scandium alloy ingots. The ingots, representing a range of scandium content, will undergo chemical analysis and other metallurgical testing to confirm the microstructure and performance of the alloys.Credit Agreement. 

 

9.Exploration Expenditures

 

 For the three months ended December 31, For the six months ended December 31,  For the Three Months Ended
December 31,
 For the Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
 2017 2016 2017 2016  2020 2019 2020 2019 
Technical studies and engineering $59  $1,551  $454  $1,988  $  $6  $  $23 
Field management and other  132   399   342   633   148   405   330   570 
Metallurgical development  89   419   172   1,691   41   43   84   84 
Geologists and field staff  23   28   48   55 
Total $303  $2,397  $1,016  $4,367  $189  $454  $414  $677 

 

10.INCOME TAXESLeases

 

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signedEffective August 1, 2020, the Company entered into lawa three-year corporate office lease extension and recognized the Tax Cutscorresponding right of use asset and Jobs Act (the “Act”), which took effect on January 1, 2018. Some notable provisions of the Act include a reduction of the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, 100% bonus depreciation for certain capital expenditures, and a change from a worldwide systemlease liability associated with deferral to a territorial tax system, which includes a one-time toll charge on certain undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries.this lease extension, along with two existing nominal leases. The Company does not expect any material impactshas applied a discount rate of this new legislation on its consolidated financial statements.16%.

These three operating leases have an average remaining life of 2.2 years as of December 31, 2020. The Company incurred lease costs of $44 and $53 for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The maturities of lease liabilities are as follows at December 31, 2020:

  Fiscal Year Lease Maturities 
2021 $56 
2022  110 
2023 and thereafter  116 
Total lease payments  282 
Less portion of payments representing interest  (49)
Present value of lease payments $233 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)  

 

11.Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company measures the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on US GAAP guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

 

The Company classifies financial assets and liabilities as held-for-trading, available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, loans and receivables, or other financial liabilities depending on their nature. Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognized at fair value on their initial recognition.

 

Financial assets and liabilities classified as held-for-trading are measured at fair value, with gains and losses recognized in net income. Financial assets classified as held-to-maturity, loans and receivables, and financial liabilities other than those classified as held-for-trading are measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest method of amortization. Financial assets classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses being recognized in income.

 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2017

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated) (unaudited)

Financial instruments including receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and related party loans are carried at amortized cost, which Managementmanagement believes approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

 

The following table presentstables present information about the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 20172020 and June 30, 2017,2020, respectively, and indicatesindicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair value. In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical instruments. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that are observable, such as quoted prices, interest rates, and yield curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the financial instrument and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the instrument:instrument.

 

 As of December 31, 2017  As of December 31, 2020 
 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3  Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 
Assets:                  
Cash and cash equivalents $80  $80  $  $  $133  $133  $  $ 
Available-for-sale securities  17   17       
Equity securities  9   9       
Total $97  $97  $  $  $142  $142  $  $ 
Liabilities:                                
Convertible debt $1,609  $  $  $1,609 
Derivative liability, convertible debt  82         82  $62  $  $  $62 
Total $1,691  $  $  $1,691  $62  $  $  $62 

 

 As of June 30, 2017  As of June 30, 2020 
 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3  Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 
Assets:                  
Cash and cash equivalents $238  $238  $  $  $307  $307  $  $ 
Restricted cash  265   265       
Available-for-sale securities  23   23       
Equity securities  7   7       
Total $526  $526  $  $  $314  $314  $  $ 
Liabilities:                                
Convertible debt $3,465  $  $  $3,465  $38  $  $  $38 
Derivative liability, convertible debt  82         82   33         33 
Total $3,547  $  $  $3,547  $71  $  $  $71 


NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2020

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share amounts or as otherwise stated) (unaudited)  

 

The Company measures the fair market value of the Level 3 components using the Black Scholes model and discounted cash flows, as appropriate. These models take into account Management’smanagement’s best estimate of the conversion price of the stock, an estimate of the expected time to conversion, an estimate of the stock’s volatility, and the risk-free rate of return expected for an instrument with a term equal to the duration of the convertible debt.

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of the Company’s convertible debt components classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:

 

Balance, June 30, 2017 $3,547 
 Additional debt drawdown  1,000 
 Conversions to equity  (3,030)
  Realized and unrealized gains  174 
Balance, December 31, 2017 $1,691 

NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2017

(expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated) (unaudited)
Balance, June 30, 2020 $71 
Additions to convertible debt   
Conversions to equity  (38)
Realized and unrealized losses  29 
Balance, December 31, 2020 $62 

   

12. Subsequent events

Pursuant to notice provided by Lind toAs discussed in Note 5, the CompanyNordmin Note was initially recorded at fair value, which represents a nonrecurring fair value measurement using a Level 3 input.  The significant unobservable valuation inputs for the Nordmin Note includes an expected return of its election to advance an additional $2,500 in funding under the Initial Convertible Security and the Lind Agreement (the “Second Tranche Increase”), Lind funded the full $2,500 Second Tranche Increase as of February 7, 2018. Upon payment of the full $2,500 in funding by Lind to the Company, the face amount of the Initial Convertible Security was increased by $3,000 ($2,500 in additional funding and $500 in implied interest amount)7%. In connection with the funding, the Company issued Common Share purchase warrants (the ‘Second Tranche Warrants”) to Lind as follows:

Funding Date Face Value1Warrants IssuedIssue Price2Warrant Expiry Date
January 30, 2018$1,8001,546,882C$0.72January 30, 2021
February 5, 2018 600529,344C$0.70February 5, 2021
February 7, 2018 600541,435C$0.69February 7, 2021

1Includes implied interest.
2The price to convert one warrant into one Common Share.

In addition, the terms of the Lind Agreement, as amended, provide for additional funding of up to $2,000 as part of the second tranche, subject to certain conditions, for total gross proceeds to the Company of up to $4,500.

In January 2018, Mark Smith advanced an additional $125 in funding under the existing Credit Facility with the Company. This funding is subject to the same terms and conditions as the prior drawdowns under the Credit Facility and will be used for general corporate purposes.

 


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements as of, and for the three and six months ended December 31, 20172020, and the related notes thereto, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”). This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements and information as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. See “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below.

All currency amounts are stated in thousands of U.S. dollars unless noted otherwise.

As used in this report, unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “we,” “our,” the “Company,” “NioCorp,” and “us” refer to NioCorp Developments Ltd. and its subsidiaries, collectively.

 

Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking statements concern our anticipated results and developments in the operations of the Company in future periods, planned exploration activities, the adequacy of the Company’s financial resources, and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “potential,” “possible,” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results “will,” “may,” “could,” or “should” (or the negative and grammatical variations of any of these terms) occur or be achieved. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect,” “is expected,” “anticipates” or “does not anticipate,” “plans,” “estimates,” or “intends,” or stating that certain actions, events, or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to the following:

 

risks related to our ability to operate as a going concern;
risks related to our requirement of significant additional capital;
risks related to our limited operating history;
risks related to changes in economic valuations of the Elk Creek Project, such as net present value calculations, changes or disruptions in the securities markets;
risks related to our history of losses;
risks related to cost increases for our exploration and, if warranted, development projects;
risks related to feasibility study results;
risks related to mineral exploration and production activities;
risks related to our lack of mineral production from our properties;
risks related to the results of our metallurgical testing;
risks related to the price volatility of commodities;
risks related to estimates of mineral resources and reserves;
risks related to changes in mineral resource and reserve estimates;

risks related to differences in United StatesU.S. and Canadian reserve and resource reporting;
risks related to our exploration activities being unsuccessful;
risks related to our ability to obtain permits and licenses for production;


risks related to government and environmental regulations that may increase our costs of doing business or restrict our operations;
risks related to proposed legislation that may significantly affect the mining industry;
risks related to land reclamation requirements;
risks related to competition in the mining industry;
risks related to the difficulties of handling the disposal of minemanaging and treating water at our Elk Creek Project;
risks related to equipment and supply shortages;
risks related to current and future joint ventures and partnerships;
risks related to our ability to attract qualified management;
risks related to the ability to enforce judgment against certain of our Directors;
risks related to currency fluctuations;
risks related to claims on the title to our properties;
risks related to surface access on our properties;
risks related to potential future litigation;
risks related to our lack of insurance covering all our operations;
risks related to the need for resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change;
risks related to a disruption in, or failure of, our information technology (“IT”) systems, including those related to cybersecurity;
risks related to covenants contained in agreements with our secured creditors that may affect our assets;
risks related to the extent to which our level of indebtedness may impair our ability to obtain additional financing;
risks related to our status as a “passive foreign investment company” under the United StatesU.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
risks related to theour Common Shares, including price volatility, lack of dividend payments, dilution and penny stock rules; and
risks related to our debt.status as an “emerging growth company” and the impact of related reduced reporting requirements on our ability to attract investors; and
Risks related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business plans, financial condition and liquidity.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including without limitation those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017,2020, as well as other factors described elsewhere in this report and the Company’s other reports filed with the SEC.Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

The Company’s forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based on the beliefs, expectations, and opinions of Managementmanagement as of the date of this report. The Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or Management’smanagement’s beliefs, expectations, or opinions should change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not attribute undue certainty to, or place undue reliance on, forward-looking statements.

 

National Instrument 43-101 Compliance

 

Scott Honan, M.Sc., SME-RM, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the Elk Creek Project disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and has approved the disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q related thereto. Mr. Honan is not independent of the Company, as he is the Vice President, Business Development. For additionalChief Operating Officer. Additional information on the updated Feasibility Study for the Elk Creek Project including information relating to exploration, data verification, the mineral resource estimates and the mineral reserve estimates, see the Revised(the “2019 Feasibility Study”) is available in our NI 43-101 Technical Report, (the “Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study”), dated December 15, 2017,issued May 29, 2019, which is available under NioCorp’s profile on the Canadian Securities Administrators website at www.sedar.com (“SEDAR”).and on our website at www.niocorp.com/wp-content/uploads/180001_FINAL_43-101_FS_NioCorp_AS_FILED.pdf.   

 


Company Overview

 

NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project, located in southeast Nebraska. The Elk Creek Project is an advanced Niobium (Nb)(“Nb”)/Scandium (Sc)(“Sc”)/Titanium (Ti)(“Ti”) exploration project. Niobium is used to produce various superalloys that are extensively used in high performance aircraft and jet turbines. It also is used in High-Strength, Low-Alloy (“HSLA”) steel, a stronger steel used in automotive,automobiles, bridges, structural systems, buildings, pipelines, and other applications that generally increases strength and/or reduces the weight, of those applications, which can result in environmental benefits, including reduced fuel consumption and material usage and fewer air emissions. Scandium can be combined with aluminum to make super-high-performancehigh-performance alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium also is a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells, an environmentally preferred technology for high-reliability, distributed electricity generation. Titanium is a component of various superalloys and other applications that are used for aerospace applications, weapons systems, protective armor, medical implants and many others. It also is used in pigments for paper, paint, and plastics.

 

Our primary business strategy is to advance our Elk Creek Project to commercial production. We are focused on obtaining additional funds to carry out our near-term planned work programs associated with securing the project financing necessary to complete mine development, construction, commissioning, and constructionoperation of the Elk Creek Project. With the recent filing of the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study (see “Elk Creek Project Update,” below), we are currently working to obtain the financing necessary to advance the Elk Creek Project to construction and operations, as well as conducting permitting and other related activities at and for the Elk Creek Project.

 

Emerging Growth Company Status

 

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 101 of the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) as we do not have more than $1.07 billion in annual gross revenue and did not have such amount as of June 30, 2017,2020, this being the last day of our most recently completed fiscal year.

 

We may lose our status as an emerging growth company on the last day of our fiscal year during which (i) our annual gross revenue exceeds $1.07 billion or (ii) we issue more than $1.07 billion in non-convertible debt in a three-year period. We will lose our status as an emerging growth company if at any time we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Exchange Act. We will lose our status as an emerging growth company on the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of our first sale of Common Shares pursuant to an effective registration statement.

 

As an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, we have elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act. The election is irrevocable.

 

As an emerging growth company, we are exempt from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 14A(a) and (b) of the Exchange Act. Such sections are described below:

 

Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires a public company’s auditor to attest to, and report on, Management’smanagement’s assessment of its internal controls.
Sections 14A(a) and (b) of the Exchange Act, implemented by Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) Act,, require companies to hold shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation and golden parachute compensation.

 

As long as we qualify as an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 14A (a) and (b) of the Exchange Act.

 

COVID-19

In December 2019, COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to other countries, including the United States. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. Several countries, including the United States, continue to take steps to restrict travel, temporarily close businesses and issue quarantine orders, and it remains unclear how long currently enacted measures will remain in place. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company continues to curtail corporate travel and project site visitations. Additionally, the Company is following, and will continue to follow, social distancing, health and safety protocol, business-related social gathering restrictions, and other similar guidelines promulgated by both Colorado and Nebraska governmental officials.


On April 17, 2020, NioCorp’s subsidiary, Elk Creek Resources Corp., received a U.S. Small Business Administration Loan (the “SBA Loan”) from American National Bank, pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, commonly referred to as the CARES Act, in the amount of $196. Under the terms of the SBA Loan, the Company may be eligible for full or partial loan forgiveness. The unforgiven portion of the SBA Loan is payable over two years at an annual interest rate of 1%, with a deferral of payments for the first six months. The Company used the proceeds for purposes consistent with the PPP.

On October 27, 2020, the Company applied for loan forgiveness of $186, comprising the initial SBA Loan balance less $10 representing an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance grant (the “EIDL advance”) received by the Company in April 2020. On November 18, 2020, the Company was notified that the $186 loan forgiveness request had been approved.

On December 21, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”), which provided additional COVID-19 relief legislation as well as government funding and other bills. The Act removes the previous requirement that PPP borrowers deduct the amount of any EIDL advance from their PPP forgiveness amount. The Small Business Administration is currently developing the guidance and procedures associated with this change in statute, and the Company will apply for this additional forgiveness once the process is completed.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create uncertainty with regards to overall project funding timelines and has heightened the risk that we may be unable to secure sufficient additional capital, including but not limited to equity and debt offerings, to fund future expenditures or to maintain our liquidity. It is also possible that the COVID-19 pandemic could further adversely affect our business plans, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity in the future. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is fluid and continues to evolve, and therefore, we cannot currently predict the extent to which our business plans, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity will ultimately be impacted.

 

Recent Corporate Events

 

Long-term financing efforts continued duringOn December 14, 2020, the quarter ended December 31, 2017, with principal activities focused on outreachCompany announced the appointment of Fernanda Fenga to its Board of Directors. A former senior executive at the world’s largest producer of niobium, Companhia Brasileira Metalúrgica e Mineração (“CBMM”), Ms. Fenga currently serves as a senior advisor to mining companies in Brazil and discussions with several potential sources of project funding, as well as completingin the technical due diligence review (the “technical review”)U.S.  Previously, she was Legal and Compliance Director at Somos Educação, Brazil’s largest basic education company and one of the Company’s recently released Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study by RPM Global USA, Inc. on behalf of a potential debt financing syndicate. The technical review is projected to be completedlargest education groups in the quarter ending March 31, 2018. world. In addition, Ms. Fenga worked for more than nine years at CBMM, where she served as Corporate Superintendent.  In that position, she managed the company’s legal, compliance, investor relations, public affairs, and corporate risk management departments.  She also played an integral role in some of CBMM’s largest commercial transactions, two of which were valued at more than U.S.$1.9 billion each.

On December 18, 2020, the Company issued a convertible note in the principal amount of approximately $1,872 (the “Nordmin Note”) and 500,000 warrants (the “Nordmin Warrants”) to Nordmin Engineering Ltd. (“Nordmin”) pursuant to a convertible note and warrant subscription agreement (the “Nordmin Agreement”) under which Nordmin agreed to subscribe for and purchase the Nordmin Note and Nordmin Warrants for a subscription price of approximately $1,804, which amount was set off against the amount owing to Nordmin by NioCorp for past services.

The technical reviewNordmin Note will providemature on December 18, 2021 with an independent analysisimplied interest rate of 5% per annum and, opinionsubject to certain terms and conditions, is convertible into up to 4,500,000 common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”) at a conversion price of 92% of the five-day volume-weighted average price Common Shares on the technical contentToronto Stock Exchange at the time of conversion. The Nordmin Note contains restrictions on how much of the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study,principal amount may be converted in any 30-day period. The Nordmin Note also provides the Company with the option to prepay, in whole or in part, any outstanding principal amount thereunder, upon three days’ notice to Nordmin. In addition, Nordmin is entitled to accelerate the maturity of the Nordmin Note and require the Company to prepay the outstanding principal amount upon the occurrence of an event of default and other designated events described in the Nordmin Note.


Subject to certain terms and conditions, each Nordmin Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share at a price of C$0.80 per share until December 18, 2022. The Nordmin Note and the Nordmin Warrants are, and the Common Shares underlying the Nordmin Warrants, will be, providedsubject to financial institutions expected to form debt and/resale restrictions and are or equity syndicates that will help financebe, as applicable, “restricted securities” within the Elk Creek Project.

Upon completionmeaning of Rule 144 under the technical review, the following steps remain in our financing plan:United States Securities Act of 1933.

Completion of due diligence on the Elk Creek Project’s financial model;
Completion of technical and environmental due diligence;
Completion of additional independent market reviews for Sc and Nb;
Completion of legal due diligence;
Additional “road show” style presentations to potential debt and equity investors;
Negotiation and execution of specific debt and equity financing assistance, along with necessary regulatory approvals for such financings.

 

Pursuant to notice provided by Lind to the Company of its election to advance an additional $2,500 in funding under the Initial Convertible Security and the Lind Agreement (the “Second Tranche Increase”), Lind funded the full $2,500 Second Tranche Increase as of February 7, 2018. In connection with the funding, the Company issued Common Share purchase warrants (the ‘Second Tranche Warrants”) to Lind, as follows:

Funding Date Face Value1Warrants IssuedIssue Price2Warrant Expiry Date
January 30, 2018$1,8001,546,882C$0.72January 30, 2021
February 5, 2018 600529,344C$0.70February 5, 2021
February 7, 2018600541,435C$0.69February 7, 2021

1        Includes implied interest.

2        The price to convert one warrant into one Common Share.

In addition, the terms of the LindNordmin Agreement, as amended, provide for additional fundingon December 18, 2020, the Company issued 836,551 Common Shares to Nordmin upon an initial conversion of up to $2,000 as part$450 in principal amount of the second tranche, subject to certain conditions, for total gross proceeds to the CompanyNordmin Note at a conversion price of up to $4,500.C$0.684 per share.

 

Elk Creek Project Update

 

On June 30, 2017, weSeptember 29, 2020, the Company announced the results ofthat advances by its technical team have uncovered a potential alternative process for extracting niobium from the Elk Creek Project. If further proven to be technologically and economically feasible at scale for the Elk Creek Project, and if incorporated by NioCorp into the Elk Creek Project’s design and construction, the new approach could result in lower up-front capital and operating costs for the Elk Creek Project.

A series of metallurgical tests completed for NioCorp by L3 Process Development (“L3”) of West Jordan, Utah, has established carbonation as a potential alternative metallurgical process for the extraction of niobium from ore that NioCorp expects to mine from the Elk Creek Project site, subject to receipt of necessary funding. Carbonation is a relatively clean, environmentally friendly, and sustainable hydrometallurgical process that can potentially be employed to use and recycle carbon dioxide to extract niobium and other elements from ore in a manner similar to extractions with acids such as hydrochloric or sulphuric acid.

The carbonation test work to date has demonstrated the ability at a small scale to extract niobium from the same Elk Creek ore sample used for metallurgical testing for the Company’s 2019 Feasibility Study without co-extraction of titanium. L3 and the related technical report was completedCompany intend to conduct additional carbonation testing on a larger scale to optimize carbonation operating conditions, confirm reaction kinetics, evaluate total potential extraction for niobium and filed in Canada on SEDAR on August 10, 2017 (the “August 2017 Feasibility Study”). In connectionother elements and complete additional mass balances, as funds become available. NioCorp has partnered with L3 and a review by the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”), on December 15, 2017, the Company filed the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study. The Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study, which is availableCanadian testing facility to apply for download on SEDAR andCanadian government funding to complete additional development work on the Company’s website at www.niocorp.com, contains no changes to any previously reported numbers or forecasted economic returnscarbonation process.

The development of the Elk Creek Project from those contained in the August 2017 Feasibility Study.

At the OSC’s request, the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study provides (1)will require significant additional information in Section 19.1.3 on the growth forecast for global scandium markets provided by an independent scandium market expert (OnG Commodities LLCcapital above what NioCorp has raised to date, and Dr. Andrew Matheson) and relied upon by the Company in its August 2017 Feasibility Study; (2) an analysis in Section 22.4 showing Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return sensitivities ofanticipates that any significant work on the Elk Creek Project at +/- 30% of the August 2017 Feasibility Study’s assumed product pricing, capital expenditures,pursuant to agreements that may be reached with key contractors will be contingent on obtaining sufficient project financing, if and operating costs (vs. +/- 20% originally presented in the August 2017 Feasibility Study); (3) disclosure in Section 3 of the reliance on OnG Commodities LLC and Dr. Matheson; (4) the removal in Section 24 of certain disclosure regarding the Company’s relationship with Dr. Matheson; and (5) inclusion in Section 25 of certain risk factors.when available.

 

The Elk Creek Project is planned as an underground mining operation using a long-hole stoping mining method and paste backfill, operating with a processing rate of 2,760 tonnes per day. Expected total production over the 32-year mine life includes 143,824 tonnes of payable niobium, 3,237 tonnes of scandium trioxide (Sc2O3), and 359,128 tonnes of titanium dioxide (TiO2). Estimated up-front direct capital costs are $705 million, in addition to indirect costs of $189 million, pre-production capital costs of $85 million, an overall contingency of $109 million, and pre-production net revenue credit of $79 million.Other Activities

 


WeOur long-term financing efforts continued to advance Elk Creek Project-related work during the quarter. Primary activities included:

quarter ended December 31, 2020. However, as noted above under “COVID-19,” the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and continues to impact processes related to the Company’s efforts to obtain project financing. As funds become available through the Company’s fundraising efforts, we expect to undertake the following activities:

Completed the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study written report and subsequent filing on SEDAR, as noted above, as well as completionContinuation of the underlying detailed technical report volumes, which are not public documentsCompany’s efforts to secure federal, state and are not filed on SEDAR;local permits;
Completed the preliminary air monitoring activities, positioning us to complete the developmentNegotiation and completion of an air construction permit with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, which we expect to file in calendar 2018;
Completed step three of the nine-step Army Corps of Engineers Section 408 permitting process, with fieldwork completed in October 2017 and a subsequent submission of design information in calendar 2018;
Initiated the competitive process to identify and select engineering, procurement and construction firms for both surface and underground;agreements;
Executed a natural gas supply agreement with Rockies Express Pipeline LLC in November 2017, and continued discussions with drilling companies, energy providers and other related businesses requiredCompletion of the final detailed engineering for initiationthe underground portion of water management and construction activities at the Elk Creek Project;
Initiation and completion of the final detailed engineering for surface project facilities;
Construction of natural gas and electrical infrastructure under existing agreements to serve the Elk Creek Project site;
Completion of water supply agreements and related infrastructure to deliver fresh water to the project site;


Initiation of revised mine groundwater investigation and control activities; and
Completed a successful test productionInitiation of aluminum-scandium ingots. These ingots form the basis for the potential commercialization of new aluminum-scandium alloys and were produced by IBC Advanced Alloys, Inc., through our previously disclosed joint development agreement.long-lead equipment procurement activities.

 

Financial and Operating Results

 

The Company continues to expense all expenditures when incurred, except for equipment, which is capitalized. The Company has no revenues from mining operations. Operating expenses incurred related primarily to performing exploration activities, as well as the activities necessary to support corporate and shareholder duties and are detailed in the following table.

       
  For the three
months ended
December 31,
  For the six
months ended
December 31,
 
  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Operating expenses:                
Employee-related costs $751  $459  $1,399  $962 
Professional fees  118   279   393   612 
Exploration expenditures  303   2,397   1,016   4,367 
Other operating expenses  391   215   687   389 
Total operating expenses  1,563   3,350   3,495   6,330 
                 
Change in financial instrument fair value  274   (39)  297   (335)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss  36   160   (201)  193 
Interest expense  91   71   175   140 
Gain (loss) on available for sale securities  (4)  5   7   (6)
Income tax expense            
Net Loss $1,960  $3,547  $3,773  $6,322 

  For the Three Months Ended
December 31,
  For the Six Months Ended
December 31,
 
  2020  2019  2020  2019 
Operating expenses            
Employee-related costs $686  $345  $1,005  $699 
Professional fees  85   67   193   185 
Exploration expenditures  189   454   414   677 
Other operating expenses  253   135   664   332 
Total operating expenses  1,213   1,001   2,276   1,893 
Other income  (186)     (186)   
Loss on extinguishment  163      163    
Change in financial instrument fair value  62   81   28   88 
Foreign exchange gain  (302)  (79)  (403)  (36)
Interest expense  131   73   258   133 
(Gain) loss on equity securities        (2)  3 
Income tax expense            
Net Loss $1,081  $1,076  $2,134  $2,081 

 

Six months ended December 31, 20172020 compared to six months ended December 31, 20162019

 

Significant items affecting operating expenses are noted below:

 

Employee relatedEmployee-related costsincreased in 2020 as compared to 2019, primarily due to increased share-based compensation costs, reflectingwhich reflect the timing of option issuances2020 Option grants, which were fully vested and expensed on the corresponding vesting periods, as well as the number of options granted and associated fair value calculations.


Professional feesinclude legal and accounting services. Overall, these fees decreased, reflecting the timing of registration statements filed with the SEC and ongoing compliance efforts.grant date.

 

Exploration expendituresdecreased $3.4 million, reflectingin 2020 as compared to 2019, primarily due to the timingcosts incurred in 2019 related to advancing work to obtain an air construction permit from the State of expenditures at the Elk Creek Project as discussed above under “Elk Creek Project Update.” 2017Nebraska. 2020 expenditures primarily related to the final wrap-up and issuance of the August 2017 Feasibility Study and the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study and ongoing permitting andpersonnel costs, as general project advancement activities, while 2016 costs were primarily directed towards engineering and metallurgical bench and pilot plant test work in support of our continuing feasibility study work.activities.

 

Other operating expensesinclude investor relations, general office expenditures, equity offering and proxy expenditures, board-related expenditures and other miscellaneous costs. These costs increased in 2020 as compared to 2019 primarily due to 2020 Option grants, which were fully vested and expensed on the timing of option issuances and the corresponding vesting periods, as well as the number of options granted and associated fair value calculations for Board members.grant date. These costs were partially offset by a decrease in finance-related contract costs.

 

Other significant items impacting the change in the Company’s net loss are noted below:

 

Other income for 2020 represents the forgiveness of the Company’s SBA Loan as discussed in Note 6 to the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Loss on extinguishment for 2020 represents the loss incurred in connection with the conversion of the Nordmin accounts payable balance to a one-year convertible debt instrument, as discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


Change in financial instrument fair valuerepresents non-cash changes in the market value of the Convertible Security,convertible securities, which isare carried at fair value, as well as changes in the market value of the derivative liability component of the Convertible Notes,Company’s outstanding convertible promissory notes. Higher costs in 2019, as compared to 2020, reflect the recognition of accrued interest and theinitial fair market valuevaluations of Warrants issued under the Convertible Security. The 2017 loss includes the value of Warrants issued toadditional advances from Lind Asset Management IV, LLC (“Lind”) in connection with the Convertible Security Increase, while the 2016 gain primarily represents the impact of declining Common Share prices and trading volumes on the underlying valuation of the Convertible Security.that period.

 

Foreign exchange (gain) lossgain is primarily due to changes in the United StatesU.S. dollar (“USD”) against the Canadian dollar (“C$”), and reflects the timing of foreign currency transactions, primarily U.S. dollar-based related party loans, and subsequent changes in exchange rates. The impactrates, and the increase in 2017 primarily relatesgain during 2020 as compared to changing foreign currency rates as applied2019 is due to a decline in the U.S. dollar relative to the USD-denominated convertible debt instrumentsCanadian dollar in 2020.

Interest expense increased in 2020 as compared to 2019 primarily due to the timing of increases in principal amounts outstanding under the non-revolving credit facility agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Mark Smith, President, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and related party debt, which are recorded on the Canadian parent company books in C$.Executive Chairman of NioCorp.

 

Three months ended December 31, 20172020 compared to three months ended December 31, 20162019

 

Overall, the increase in net loss for the quarterthree months ended December 31, 20172020, as compared to the same period in 20162019, is primarily the result of primarily the same factors underlying the six-month changes as discussed above, with respect to employee-related costs, professional fees, exploration expenditures, change in financial instrument fair value, and foreign exchange (gain) loss.above.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We have no revenue generating operations from which we can internally generate funds. To date, our ongoing operations have been financed by the sale of our equity securities by way of private placements, convertible securities issuances, and the exercise of incentive stock options and share purchase warrants. Wewarrants, and related party loans. While the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty with respect to overall project funding timelines, we believe that we will be able to secure additional private placement financings in the future, although we cannot predict the timing, size, or pricing of any such financings. In addition, we maycould raise funds through the sale of interests in our mineral properties, although current market conditions and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have substantially reduced the number of potential buyers/acquirers of any such interest(s).interests.  

 

As of December 31, 2017,2020, the Company had cash of $0.1 million and a working capital deficit of $4.4$7.5 million, compared to cash of $0.2$0.3 million and working capital deficit of $5.8$7.7 million on June 30, 2017. This change in working capital is the result of cash inflows from financing initiatives and the continued conversion of the Convertible Security. These positive impacts to the2020. The working capital deficit were partially offset by year-to-date operating expendituresdecreased due to the timing of warrant redemptions to support current operations and the transfer of our convertible notes obligation from long terma continued effort to current liabilities. As noted above under “Recent Corporate Events”, as of February 7, 2018, Lind had invested the full $2.5 million Second Tranche Increase. Subject to certain conditions, Lind may provide additional funding for up to $2 million as part of the Second Tranche funding.reduce outstanding accounts payable balances.

 


We expect that the Company will operate at a loss for the foreseeable future. The Company’s current planned operational needs are approximately $3.1$6.0 million until June 30, 2018, net of the recent investment by Lind and assuming the Company’s exercise of its right to call an additional $1.0 million under the Lind Agreement.2021. In addition to outstanding accounts payable and short-term liabilities, our average monthly expenditures are approximately $379$265 per month where approximately $289$230 is for administrative purposes, includingcorporate overhead and estimated costs related to securing financing necessary for advancement of the Elk Creek Project. Approximately $89$35 per month is planned for expenditures relating to the advancement of Elk Creek Project.Project by NioCorp’s wholly owned subsidiary, Elk Creek Resources Corp. The Company’s ability to continue operations and fund our current work plan is dependent on Management’smanagement’s ability to secure additional financing.

 

The Company anticipates that it may need to raise $5.0 to 6.0$7.0 million - $8.5 million to continue planned operations for the next twelve months focused on financing, permitting, option-to-purchase agreement exercises and detailed engineering efforts related to the Elk Creek Resources Project. Management is actively pursuing such additional sources of debt and equity financing, and while it has been successful in doing so in the past, there can be no assurance it will be able to do so in the future.

 

Elk Creek Propertyproperty lease commitments are $34$35 until June 30, 2018.2021. To maintain its currently held properties and fund its currently anticipated general and administrative costs and planned exploration and development activities at the Elk Creek Project for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018,2021, the Company will likely require additional financing during the current fiscal year. Should such financing not be available in that time-frame,timeframe, we will be required to reduce our activities and will not be able to carry out all our presently planned activities at the Elk Creek Project.

 


Other than the Lind Second Tranche funding arrangements, discussed above under “Recent Corporate Events”, weWe currently have no further funding commitments or arrangements for additional financing at this time (other than the potential exercise of optionsOptions and Warrants) and there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all. There is significant uncertainty that we will be able to secure any additional financing in the current equity or debt markets. The quantity of funds to be raised and the terms of any proposed equity or debt financing that may be undertaken will be negotiated by Managementmanagement as opportunities to raise funds arise. Management intends to pursue funding sources of both debt and equity financing, including but not limited to the issuance of equity securities in the form of Common Shares, Warrants, subscription receipts, or any combination thereof in Unitsunits of the Company pursuant to private placements to accredited investors or pursuant to equity lines of credit or public offerings in the form of underwritten/brokered offerings, at-the-market offerings, registered direct offerings, or other forms of equity financing and public or private issuances of debt securities including secured and unsecured convertible debt instruments or secured debt project financing. Management does not currently know the terms pursuant to which such financings may be completed in the future, but any such financings will be negotiated at arms’-length.arm’s-length. Future financings involving the issuance of equity securities or derivatives thereof will likely be completed at a discount to the then-current market price of the Company’s securities and will likely be dilutive to current shareholders.

 

The audit opinion and notes that accompany our financial statements for the year ended June 30, 20172020 disclose a “going concern” qualification and disclosuresthat substantial doubt exists as to our ability to continue in business. The financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared under the assumption that we will continue as a going concern. We are an exploration stage company and we have incurred losses since our inception. We do not have sufficient cash to fund normal operations and meet debt obligations for the next 12twelve months without deferring payment on certain current liabilities and raising additional funds. The continued spread of COVID-19 has resulted in business travel restrictions and capital market disruptions, and this has had an adverse impact on our ability to obtain financing, development plans, results of operations, financial position, and cash flows during the current fiscal year. We believe that the going concern conditionuncertainty cannot be removedalleviated with confidence until the Company has entered into a business climate where funding of its planned ongoing operating activities is secured.

 

We have no exposure to any asset-backed commercial paper. Other than cash held by our subsidiaries for their immediate operating needs in Colorado and Nebraska, all of our cash reserves are on deposit with major United States and Canadian chartered banks. We do not believe that the credit, liquidity, or market risks with respect thereto have increased as a result of the current market conditions. However, in order to achieve greater security for the preservation of our capital, we have, of necessity, been required to accept lower rates of interest, which has also lowered our potential interest income.

 


Operating Activities

 

During the six months ended December 31, 2017,2020, the Company’s operating activities consumed $2.6$1.8 million of cash (2016: $5.1(2019: $1.4 million). The cash used in operating activities for 2017the six months ended December 31, 2020 reflects the Company’s funding of losses of $3.8$2.1 million, partially offset by share-based compensation charges, and other non-cash transactions. Overall, 2017 operational outflows declined from 2016 due to the timing of the work efforts on the August 2017 Feasibility Studytransactions and the Revised Elk Creek Feasibility Study, offset by changesa $0.1 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Overall, operational outflows during the six months ended December 31, 2020 increased from the corresponding period of 2019 due to the continued focus on paying down our outstanding accounts payable. Going forward, the Company’s working capital requirements are expected to increase substantially in connection with the development of the Elk Creek Project.

 

Financing Activities

 

Financing inflows were $2.1$1.6 million during the six months ended December 31, 20172020, as compared to $1.7$1.1 million during the corresponding period in 2016,2019, primarily reflecting the timing of convertiblewarrant and option exercises and related party debt instrument and private placement issuancesdrawdowns initiated during the comparative periods, as well as financing provided by NioCorp’s President, CEO and Executive Chairman, Mark Smith.periods.

 


Cash Flow Considerations

 

As noted above under “COVID-19,” the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty with respect to overall project funding timelines. The Company has historically relied upon debt and equity financings and, to a lesser degree, debt financings, to satisfy its capital requirements and will continue to depend heavily upon equity capital to finance its activities. The Company may pursue additional debt and/or equity financing in the medium term if it is able to procure such financing on terms more favorable than available equity financing;term; however, there can be no assurance the Company will be able to obtain any required financing in the future on acceptable terms.

 

The Company has limited financial resources compared to its proposed expenditures, no source of operating income, and no assurance that additional funding will be available to it for current or future projects, although the Company has been successful in the past in financing its activities through the sale of equity securities.

 

The ability of the Company to arrange additional financing in the future will depend, in part, on the prevailing capital market conditions, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the timing and availability of funding, and its success in developing the Elk Creek Project. Any quoted market for the Common Shares may be subject to market trends generally, notwithstanding any potential success of the Company in creating revenue, cash flows, or earnings, and any depression of the trading price of the Common Shares could impact its ability to obtain equity financing on acceptable terms.

 

Historically, the Company has used net proceeds from issuances of Common Shares to provide sufficient funds to meet its near-term exploration and development plans and other contractual obligations when due. However, further development and construction of the Elk Creek Project will require substantial additional capital resources. This includes near-term funding and, ultimately, funding for Elk Creek Project construction and other costs. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above for the Company’s discussion of arrangements related to possible future financing(s).financings.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Other than as described below, thereThere have been no material changes to our contractual obligations discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the heading “Tabular Disclosure of Contractual“Contractual Obligations” as of June 30, 2017,2020, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. During2020, other than (i) the six-month period ended December 31, 2017, debt obligations decreased $3.0 million due to conversionssigning of the three-year corporate office lease extension; (ii) the conversion of the remaining balance under the convertible security held by Lind of $38 into 64,298 Common Shares on July 9, 2020; (iii) the conversion of $50 of the Company’s convertible promissory notes into 67,695 Common Shares on the maturity date, October 14, 2020; (iv) the forgiveness of $186 of the SBA Loan on November 18, 2020; and (v) the set-off of accounts payable relating to past services provided by Nordmin with the issuance of the Nordmin Note in the principal amount of $1,872 on December 18, 2020. Effective October 14, 2020, the maturity date for the remaining $750 of the Company’s convertible promissory notes was extended for one year to October 14, 2021 and effective December 14, 2020, the maturity dates for the loan from Mark Smith and the Credit Agreement partially offset by the $1.2 million Convertible Security Increase. There were no other substantial changesextended to contractual obligations.December 15, 2021.

 

Off BalanceOff-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has no off balanceoff-balance sheet arrangements.

22 

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies” as of June 30, 2017,2020, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.2020.

 

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The Company has been a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) as defined under Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, in recent years and expects to continue to be a PFIC in the future. Current and prospective United States shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of PFIC classification and the U.S. federal tax treatment of PFICs. Additional information on this matter is included in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017,2020, under the heading “Risks Related to the Common Shares.”


  

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Interest rate risk

 

The Company’s exposure to changes in market interest rates, relates primarily to the Company’s earned interest income on cash deposits and short-term investments. The Company maintains a balance between the liquidity of cash assets and the interest rate return thereon. The carrying amount of financial assets, net of any provisions for losses, represents the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk.

 

Foreign currency exchange risk

 

The company incurs expenditures in both USDU.S. dollars and C$.Canadian dollars. Canadian dollar expenditures are primarily related to metallurgical-related exploration expenses, as well as certain Common Share-related costs and corporate professional services. As a result, currency exchange fluctuations may impact the costs of our operating activities. To reduce this risk, we maintain sufficient cash balances in C$Canadian dollars to fund expected near-term expenditures.

 

Commodity price risk

 

The Company is exposed to commodity price risk related to the elements associated with the Elk Creek Project. A significant decrease in the global demand for these elements may have a material adverse effect on our business. The Elk Creek Project is not in production, and the Company does not currently hold any commodity derivative positions.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

At the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2017,2020, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of our Management,management, including the CEO and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that: (i) information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our Management,management, including ourthe CEO and the CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 


Our Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all error and all fraud. The effectiveness of our or any system of disclosure controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance that the objectives of the system will be met and is subject to certain limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing and evaluating controls and procedures and the assumptions used in identifying the likelihood of future events.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 20172020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controlscontrol over financial reporting.

 


PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We know of no material, active, or pending legal proceedings against the Company, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers, or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial shareholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no changes to the risk factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.2020.    

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

On October 14, 2020, the Company issued 67,695 Common Shares upon conversion of $50 of the Company’s convertible promissory notes. The Common Shares were issued pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.

On December 18, 2020, the Company issued 836,551 Common Shares to Nordmin upon conversion of $450 in Principal amount of the Nordmin Note at a conversion price of C$0.684 per share. The Nordmin Note, the Nordmin Warrants and such Common Shares were issued, among other exemptions, pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof based upon representations and warranties of Nordmin in connection therewith.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act, issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose specified information about mine health and safety in their periodic reports. These reporting requirements are based on the safety and health requirements applicable to mines under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”) which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”). During the three-month period ended December 31, 2017,2020, the Company and its subsidiaries and their properties or operations were not subject to regulation by MSHA under the Mine Act and thus no disclosure is required under Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
No.
 Title
   
3.1(1) Notice of Articles dated April 5, 2016
3.2(1) Articles, as amended, effective as of January 27, 2015
10.14.1(2) Amendment #7 to Lind Agreement, dated August 28, 2017, between the Company and Lind Asset Management IV, LLCForm of Nordmin Note
10.24.2(2) Amendment #8 to Lind Agreement, dated January 23, 2018, between the Company and Lind Asset Management IV, LLCForm of Nordmin Warrant Certificate
10.3(2)10.1(3) NioCorp Developments Ltd. Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended
31.110.2(4) Amending Agreement to Original Smith Loan, dated December 14, 2020, between the Company and Mark Smith
10.3(4)Amending Agreement to Credit Agreement, dated December 14, 2020, between the Company and Mark Smith
10.4(2)Subscription Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2020, between the Company and Nordmin Engineering Ltd.
31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS (3)101.INS(5) XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH(3)101.SCH(5) XBRL Taxonomy Extension- Schema
101.CAL(3)101.CAL(5) XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Calculations
101.DEF(3)101.DEF(5) XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Definitions
101.LAB(3)101.LAB(5) XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Labels
101.PRE(3)101.PRE(5) XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Presentations

 

(1)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 377-01354) submitted to the SEC on July 26, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-55710)filed with the SEC on December 18, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 20176, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)(4)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)Submitted Electronically Herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20172020 and June 30, 2017,2020, (ii) the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three and Six Months ended December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, (iii) the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Endedended December 31, 20172020 and 2016,2019, (iv) the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Three and Six Months Endedended December 31, 20172020 and the Year ended June 30, 20172019 and (v) the Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

   


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

NIOCORP DEVELOPMENTS LTD.

(Registrant)

 

By:     /s/ Mark A. Smith 
 Mark A. Smith 
 President, Chief Executive Officer and
Executive Chairman
 
 (Principal Executive Officer) 
   
Date: February 9, 20185, 2021 
   
By:/s/ Neal Shah 
 Neal Shah 
 Chief Financial Officer 
 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 
   
Date: February 9, 20185, 2021