UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
| [ ] | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
| [X] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 20182019
OR
| [ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
| [ ] | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from _______________ to _______________
Commission file number0-49869
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
15th Floor, 1040 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6E 4H1
(Address of principal executive offices)
Luqman Khan,Michael Lee, Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile No.: 604-684-8092
15th Floor, 1040 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6E 4H1
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class:Not applicable Name of each exchange on which registered:Not applicable
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common shares with no par value
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’sissuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:
168,786,227170,602,894 common shares as of March 31, 20182019
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
[ ] Yes [X] No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
[ ] Yes [X] No
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 registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
[X] 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).
[X] Yes [ ] No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):
Large accelerated filer [ ] | Accelerated filer [ ] |
| Non-accelerated filer | Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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 which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
| U.S.GAAP [ ] | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board [X] | Other [ ] |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 [ ] Item 18 [ ]
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
[ ] Yes [X] No
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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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GENERAL
In this Annual Report on Form 20-F, all references to “we”, “Amarc” or the “Company” refer to Amarc Resources Ltd.
The Company uses the Canadian Dollar as its reporting currency. All references in this document to “Dollars” or “$” are expressed in Canadian Dollars (“CAD”, “C$”), unless otherwise indicated. See alsoItem 3 – Key Information for more detailed currency and conversion information.
Except as noted, the information set forth in this Annual Report is as of July 26, 201810, 2019 and all information included in this document should only be considered correct as of such date.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Forward-looking Statements
This discussion and analysis includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All such statements, other than statements of historical fact that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and other related events or developments are forward-looking statements. Although Amarc Resources Ltd. (“Amarc”) believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by Amarc to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc’s projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc’s projects will continue to be positive and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc investors should review the Company’s annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) atwww.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available atwww.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Resources:
This discussion and analysis uses the terms “measured resources”, “indicated resources” and “inferred resources” which are recognized and required by Canadian regulators under National Instrument 43-101 (“43-101”). The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Exchange Act, effective February 25, 2019 (the “SEC Modernization Rules”). The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7, and adopt definitions of the terms and the categories of resources which are “substantially similar” to the corresponding terms under Canadian regulations in 43-101. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that we may report under 43-101 would be the same had we prepared the resources estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Amarc cautions investors not to assume that all or any part of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. In addition, “inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, or economic studies except for a Preliminary Economic Assessment as defined under 43-101. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or part of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Certain terms used herein are defined as follows:
| InducedPolarization (“IP”) Survey | A geophysical survey used to identify a feature that appears to be different from the typical or backgroundsurvey results when tested for levels of electro-conductivity; IP detects both chargeable, pyrite-bearing rock and non-conductive rock that has a high content of quartz. |
Mineral Reserve
| Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7 -Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations
(1) Proven (Measured) Reserves. Reserves for which: (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established.
(2) Probable (Indicated) Reserves. Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.
As a reporting issuer under the Securities Acts of British Columbia and Alberta, the Company is subject to National Instrument 43-101. Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7, as interpreted by Securities and Exchange Commission Staff, applies standards that are different from those prescribed by National Instrument 43-101 in order to classify mineralization as a reserve. Under the standards of the Securities and Exchange Commission, mineralization may not be classified as a “reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. Among other things, all necessary permits would be required to be in hand or issued imminently in order to classify mineralized material as reserves under Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, mineral reserve estimates established in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 may not qualify as “reserves” under SEC standards. The Company does not currently have any mineral deposits that have been classified as reserves. |
| MineralResource | National Instrument 43-101 adopts definitions of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. A “Mineral Resource” is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest (such as diamonds, base and precious metals, coal, and industrial minerals) in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, gradeor quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other geological characteristics of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling. Modifying Factors are considerations used to convert Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves and include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors. |
Mineral Resources are sub-divided into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than an Indicated Mineral Resource and an Indicated Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than a Measured Mineral Resource. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of Measured Mineral Resources, Indicated Mineral Resources, or Inferred Mineral Resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. It also cannot be assumed that any part of any reported Measured Mineral Resources, Indicated Mineral resources, or Inferred Mineral Resources is economically or legally mineable. Further, in accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources cannot form the basis of pre-feasibility or feasibility studies, or in Life of Mine plans and cash flow models of developed mines; and can only be used in economic studies as provided under National Instrument 43-101. |
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(1) An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes.
(2) An Indicated Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics can be estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. The nature, quality, quantity and distribution of data are such as to allow confident interpretation of the geological framework and to reasonably assume the continuity of mineralization.
(3) A Measured Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics can be estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately details and reliable exploration and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. The nature, quality, quantity and distribution of data are such that the tonnage and grade or quality of the mineralization can be estimated to within close limits and that variation from the estimate would not significantly affect potential economic viability of the deposit.
Industry Guide 7 –Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission does not define or recognize resources. In addition, disclosure of resources using “contained ounces” is permitted under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not qualify as a reserve as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
As used in this Form 20-F, “resources” are as defined in National Instrument 43-101. For the above reasons, information in the | |
| Mineral Symbols | As – arsenic; Au – gold; Ag – silver; Cu – copper; Fe – iron; Hg – mercury; Mo – molybdenum; Na – sodium; Ni – nickel; O – oxygen; Pd – palladium; Pt – platinum; Pb – lead; S – sulphur; Sb – antimony; Zn – zinc. |
| National Instrument 43-101 | National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure a reporting issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. |
| Net Smelter Return (NSR) Royalty | Monies received for concentrate delivered to a smelter net of metallurgical recovery losses, transportation costs, smelter treatment-refining charges and penalty charges. |
| Porphyry Deposit | Mineral deposit characterized by widespread disseminated or veinlet-hosted sulphide mineralization, characterized by large tonnage and moderate to low grade. |
| Vein | A tabular or sheet-like mineral deposit with identifiable walls, often filling a fracture or fissure. |
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CURRENCY AND MEASUREMENT
All currency amounts in this Annual Report are stated in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Approximate conversion of metric units into imperial equivalents is as follows:
| Metric Units | Multiply by | Imperial Units |
| hectares | 2.471 | = acres |
| meters | 3.281 | = feet |
| kilometers | 3281 | = feet |
| kilometers | 0.621 | = miles |
| grams | 0.032 | = ounces (troy) |
| tonnes | 1.102 | = tons (short) (2,000 lbs) |
| grams/tonne | 0.029 | = ounces (troy)/ton |
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Annual Report on Form 20-F includes or incorporates by reference certain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements appear in a number of places in this Form 20-F and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectation and that of our officers and directors. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “should”, “would”, “contemplate”, “possible”, “attempts”, “seeks” and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Any statements incorporated herein, other than statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on various factors and were derived utilizing numerous assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc’s projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc’s projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, the exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements or information 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 or information due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described above.
The Company’s forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date such statements are made. The Company will update forward-looking statements and information if and when, and to the extent, required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
The Company advises investors that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify, in their entirety, all forward-looking statements attributable to Amarc or persons acting on the Company’s behalf. The Company assumes no obligation to update the Company’s forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such statements. Investors should carefully review the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in this and other documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
STATUS AS AN EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY
The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in section 3(a) of the Exchange Act, and the Company will continue to qualify as an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of: (a) the last day of the fiscal year during which the Company has total annual gross revenues of US$1.07 billion (as such amount is indexed for inflation every 5 years by the SEC) or more; (b) the last day of the Company’sCompany's fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (c) the date on which the Company has, during the previous 3-year period, issued more than US$1 billion in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which the Company is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer”, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b–2. Therefore, the Company expects to continue to be an emerging growth company for the foreseeable future.
Generally, a registrant that registers any class of its securities under section 12 of the Exchange Act is required to include in the second and all subsequent annual reports filed by it under the Exchange Act, a management report on internal control over financial reporting and, subject to an exemption available to registrants that are neither an “accelerated filer” or a “larger accelerated filer” (as those terms are defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2), an auditor attestation report on management’smanagement's assessment of internal control over financial reporting. However, for so long as the Company continues to qualify as an emerging growth company, the Company will be exempt from the requirement to include an auditor attestation report in its annual reports filed under the Exchange Act, even if it were to qualify as an “accelerated filer” or a “larger accelerated filer”. In addition, auditors of an emerging growth company are exempt from the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’sauditor's report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and the financial statements of the registrant (auditor discussion and analysis).
The Company has irrevocably elected to comply with new or revised accounting standards even though it is an emerging growth company.
| ITEM 1 | IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS |
A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Not applicable.
| - 7 - |
B. ADVISERS
Not applicable.
C. AUDITORS
Not applicable.
| ITEM 2 | OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 3 | KEY INFORMATION |
A. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables summarize selected financial data for Amarc extracted from the Company’sCompany's audited financial statements for related fiscal years. The data should be read in conjunction with the Company’sCompany's audited financial statements included as an exhibit in this Annual Report.
The following table is derived from the financial statements of the Company which have been prepared in accordance with and using accounting policies in full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) effective for each of the Company’sCompany's fiscal year presented.
The following selected financial data is presented in thousands of Canadian Dollars.
Statements of Financial Position Data
| ($ 000’s) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment, net | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 3,625 | 1,112 | 1,096 | 1,755 | 5,306 | 799 | 3,625 | 1,112 | 1,096 | 1,755 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 2,379 | 1,521 | 1,438 | 1,279 | 105 | 1,342 | 2,379 | 1,521 | 1,438 | 1,279 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital surplus (deficit) | 1,836 | 419 | (312 | ) | 242 | 4,840 | (716 | ) | 1,836 | 419 | (312 | ) | 242 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share capital | 63,884 | 59,560 | 58,968 | 58,955 | 58,761 | 64,042 | 63,884 | 59,560 | 58,968 | 58,955 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reserves | 5,143 | 5,741 | 5,357 | 5,069 | 5,103 | 5,105 | 5,143 | 5,741 | 5,357 | 5,069 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (67,782 | ) | (65,709 | ) | (64,667 | ) | (63,548 | ) | (58,664 | ) | (69,690 | ) | (67,782 | ) | (65,709 | ) | (64,667 | ) | (63,548 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets (liabilities) | 1,246 | (409 | ) | (341 | ) | 476 | 5,201 | (543 | ) | 1,246 | (409 | ) | (341 | ) | 476 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity (deficiency) | 1,246 | (409 | ) | (341 | ) | 476 | 5,201 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shareholders' equity (deficiency) | (543 | ) | 1,246 | (409 | ) | (341 | ) | 476 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statements of Comprehensive Loss Data
| ($ 000’s, except per share amounts and number of shares) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest and other income | $ | (27 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (10 | ) | $ | (38 | ) | $ | (69 | ) | |||||
| General and administrative expenses | 1,053 | 733 | 1,289 | 1,478 | 1,306 | |||||||||||||||
| Exploration expenditures, net of METC* | 6,686 | 2,926 | 2,773 | 3,278 | 1,095 | |||||||||||||||
| Contributions pursuant to IKE Option Agreement | (3,245 | ) | (2,933 | ) | (3,067 | ) | – | – | ||||||||||||
| Contributions pursuant to JOY Option Agreement | (2,952 | ) | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based payments | – | – | – | – | 103 | |||||||||||||||
| Other | 556 | 325 | 134 | 166 | (280 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of mineral property | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Flow-through shares premium | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | 2,072 | 1,043 | 1,119 | 4,884 | 2,155 | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss (income) | (28 | ) | (8 | ) | 33 | 35 | (63 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | 2044 | $ | 1,035 | $ | 1,152 | $ | 4,919 | $ | 2,092 | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 156,826,422 | 141,435,020 | 141,406,301 | 139,357,212 | 138,644,883 | |||||||||||||||
| ($ 000’s, except per share amounts and number of shares) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest and other income | $ | (38 | ) | $ | (27 | ) | $ | (8 | ) | $ | (10 | ) | $ | (38 | ) | |||||
| General and administrative expenses | 914 | 1,053 | 733 | 1,289 | 1,478 | |||||||||||||||
| Exploration expenditures, net of METC* | 5,390 | 6,686 | 2,926 | 2,773 | 3,278 | |||||||||||||||
| Contributions pursuant to IKE Option Agreement | (1,645 | ) | (3,245 | ) | (2,933 | ) | (3,067 | ) | – | |||||||||||
| Contributions pursuant to JOY Option Agreement | (2,893 | ) | (2,952 | ) | – | – | – | |||||||||||||
| Share-based payments | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Other | 221 | 556 | 325 | 134 | 166 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of mineral property | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Flow-through shares premium | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | 1,949 | 2,072 | 1,043 | 1,119 | 4,884 | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss (income) | (2 | ) | (28 | ) | (8 | ) | 33 | 35 | ||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | 1,946 | $ | 2,044 | $ | 1,035 | $ | 1,152 | $ | 4,919 | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 169,504,538 | 156,826,422 | 141,435,020 | 141,406,301 | 139,357,212 | |||||||||||||||
| * | “METC” refers to Mineral Exploration Tax Credits, which are discussed inItem 5, under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates”. |
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Currency and Exchange Rates
As of the date of this Annual Report, the average rate of exchange of the Canadian Dollar was US$1.00 = Canadian $1.31. Exchange rates published by the Bank of Canada are available on its website,www.bankofcanada.ca, are nominal quotations — not buying or selling rates — and are intended for statistical or analytical purposes.
The following tables set out the exchange rates for the conversion of Canadian Dollars into U.S. Dollars.
| For year ended March 31 (Canadian Dollar per U.S. Dollar) | For year ended March 31 (Canadian Dollar per U.S. Dollar) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End of period | $ | 1.2894 | $ | 1.3322 | $ | 1.2971 | $ | 1.2683 | $ | 1.1053 | $ | 1.3363 | $ | 1.2894 | $ | 1.3322 | $ | 1.2971 | $ | 1.2683 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average for the period | $ | 1.2837 | $ | 1.3126 | $ | 1.3114 | $ | 1.1387 | $ | 1.0533 | $ | 1.3118 | $ | 1.2837 | $ | 1.3126 | $ | 1.3114 | $ | 1.1387 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| High for the period | $ | 1.3743 | $ | 1.3582 | $ | 1.4589 | $ | 1.2803 | $ | 1.1251 | $ | 1.3642 | $ | 1.3743 | $ | 1.3582 | $ | 1.4589 | $ | 1.2803 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Low for the period | $ | 1.2128 | $ | 1.2544 | $ | 1.1951 | $ | 1.0634 | $ | 1.0023 | $ | 1.2552 | $ | 1.2128 | $ | 1.2544 | $ | 1.1951 | $ | 1.0634 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Monthly High and Low Exchange Rate (Canadian Dollar per U.S. Dollar) | ||||||||
| High | Low | |||||||
| July 2018 (to the date of this Annual Report) | $ | 1.3255 | $ | 1.3065 | ||||
| June 2018 | $ | 1.3310 | $ | 1.2913 | ||||
| May 2018 | $ | 1.3020 | $ | 1.2775 | ||||
| April 2018 | $ | 1.2908 | $ | 1.2552 | ||||
| March 2018 | $ | 1.3088 | $ | 1.2830 | ||||
| February 2018 | $ | 1.2809 | $ | 1.2288 | ||||
| Monthly High and Low Exchange Rate (Canadian Dollar per U.S. Dollar) | ||||||||
| High | Low | |||||||
| July 2019 (to the date of this Annual Report) | $ | 1.3127 | $ | 1.3059 | ||||
| June 2019 | $ | 1.3470 | $ | 1.3081 | ||||
| May 2019 | $ | 1.3527 | $ | 1.3410 | ||||
| April 2019 | $ | 1.3493 | $ | 1.3316 | ||||
| March 2019 | $ | 1.3438 | $ | 1.3260 | ||||
| February 2019 | $ | 1.3298 | $ | 1.3095 | ||||
B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not applicable.
C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
D. RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Company’sCompany's common shares is highly speculative and subject to a number of risks. Only those persons who can bear the risk of the entire loss of their investment should participate. An investor should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information that the Company furnishes to, or files with, the Securities and Exchange Commission and with Canadian securities regulators before investing in the Company’sCompany's common shares. The risks described below are not the only ones faced by the Company. Additional risks that management is aware of or that the Company currently believes are immaterial may indeed become important factors that affect the Company’sCompany's business. If any of the following risks occur, or if others occur, the Company’sCompany's business, operating results and financial condition could be seriously harmed and the investor may lose all of his investment.
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The Company has limited working capital and will require additional capital to advance its projects.
The Company has limited working capital as at the current reporting date. Further exploration on, and development of, the Company’sCompany's projects will require additional resources and funding. The Company currently does not have sufficient funds to fully develop these projects.
There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining the required financing for these or other purposes, including for general working capital.
The Company has no earnings, has incurred net losses and negative cash flows since inception, and expects to incur losses for the foreseeable future.
The Company does not have any operational history of earnings and has incurred net losses and negative cash flow from its operations since incorporation. Although the Company hopes to eventually generate revenues, significant operating losses are to be anticipated for at least the next several years and possibly longer. To the extent that such expenses do not result in the creation of appropriate revenues, the Company’sCompany's business may be materially adversely affected. It is not possible to forecast how the business of the Company will develop, and there can be no assurance that the underlying assumed levels of expenses will prove to be accurate.
The advancement of mineral properties to production will require the commitment of substantial resources to conduct time-consuming exploration and development activities. The Company’sCompany's operating expenses and capital expenditures may increase in subsequent years as needed consultants, personnel and equipment associated with advancing exploration, development and commercial production of the Company’sCompany's projects and any other properties the Company may acquire are added. The amounts and timing of expenditures will depend on:
The Company has no history of mining operations, and does not expect to receive revenues from operations in the foreseeable future.
The Company has no history of mining operations, and there can be no assurance that the Company will generate any revenues or achieve profitability. The Company expects to incur losses unless and until such time as one or more of the Company’s existing projects, or any other properties the Company may acquire, enter into commercial production and generate sufficient revenues to fund its continuing operations, which cannot be assured. The Company does not expect to receive revenues from operations in the foreseeable future, if at all.
The Company has not demonstrated that any mineralized material on its properties constitutes reserves as defined in SEC Industry Guide 7.
The Company has no mineral producing properties, and the Company has not demonstrated that any mineralized material on its properties constitutes reserves under SEC Industry Guide 7. Although the mineralized material and mineralized deposit figures included in this annual report have been carefully prepared by the Company, or, in some instances have been prepared, reviewed or verified by independent mining experts, these amounts are estimates only and no assurance can be given that any particular level of recovery of minerals from mineralized material will in fact be realized or that an identified mineralized deposit will ever qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) reserve.
No assurance can be given that minerals will be discovered in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations or that funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis. Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors, some of which are:
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The exact effect of these factors cannot accurately be predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in the Company not receiving an adequate return on invested capital.
The Company is subject to certain risks that are inherent in exploration and mining activities beyond its control.
Resource exploration, development, and operations are highly speculative, characterized by a number of significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate, including, among other things, unprofitable efforts resulting not only from the failure to discover mineral deposits but from finding mineral deposits which, though present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from production. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. No deposit that has been shown to be economic has yet been found on the Company’sCompany's existing projects, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to acquire any additional properties or that any additional properties that are acquired will contain sufficient mineralization to warrant further development.
Unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, fires, power outages, labour disruptions, flooding, explosions, cave-ins, landslides, environmental hazards, the discharge of toxic chemicals and other hazards, and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour, are other risks involved in the conduct of exploration programs, and in the development and operation of mines. Such occurrences may delay development of the Company’s properties, delay production, increase production costs or result in liability.
Substantial expenditures are and will be required to establish mineral resources and mineral reserves.
Substantial expenditures are and will be required to establish mineral resources and mineral reserves through drilling, to develop metallurgical processes to extract the metal from mineral resources. No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to obtain sufficient financing to cover such expenditures when required, or that such financing can be obtained on terms that are acceptable to the Company.
The Company’s ability to obtain financing to fund its exploration activities and, if warranted, development of any of its properties, will be significantly affected by mineral prices.
The ability of the Company to obtain financing to fund its exploration activities and, if warranted, development of any of its properties, will be significantly affected by changes in the market price of the metals for which it explores. Mineral prices are subject to fluctuation. The effect of these factors cannot accurately be predicted. The mining industry in general is intensely competitive and there is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of mineral resource are discovered, a profitable market will exist for the sale of the same.
Factors beyond the control of the Company may affect the marketability of any copper, gold, silver or any other materials discovered. The prices of copper, gold, silver and other minerals are affected by numerous factors beyond the control of the Company, including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations (specifically, Canadian dollars relative to other currencies), interest rates and global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities and increased production due to improved mining and production methods. In addition, the world supplies of and demands for copper, gold, silver and other minerals can cause fluctuations in the price of such minerals.
Development of any of the Company’s properties, if warranted, will be subject to financing risks and potential delays.
Inability to obtain financing, technical considerations, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, and other factors could cause delays in developing any of the Company’s properties that may in the future be determined to contain a commercially mineable ore-body.
If it is determined that a commercially mineable ore-body exists and it can be economically exploited, the Company will require significant additional financing in order to fund the costs of developing the Company’s properties into commercial production, if warranted. The Company may have to seek additional funds through public and private share offerings, arrangements with collaborative parties, or debt financing. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its efforts to raise these required funds, or that it will be able to raise the funds on terms that do not result in high levels of dilution to shareholders.
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Before development and production can commence on any of its properties, the Company must obtain regulatory and environmental approvals. There is no assurance that such approvals will be obtained on a timely basis or at all. The cost of compliance with changes in governmental regulations has the potential to reduce the profitability of operations or preclude entirely the economic development of a property.
Mining is one of the most intensely regulated businesses in Canada. The period of time required to obtain environment assessments, consult with aboriginal peoples and other stakeholders as well as governments at the Canadian provincial and federal level can take 10 years or more. No assurance can be given that permitting of any mine on the Company’s properties will occur.
The Company will rely on third-party consultants and contractors – whose availability cannot be assured - to undertake its mineral exploration activities, as well as any future mine development and mining activities.
The Company will rely on consultants and others for exploration, development, construction and operating expertise. No assurance can be given that such consultants and other contractors will be available when required, or that they can be retained on terms that are acceptable to the Company.
The Company may enter into agreements with First Nations in relation to its current and future exploration activities, and any potential future production, which could impact any expected earnings.
Our properties are located within First Nations asserted traditional territories, and the exploration and development of these properties may affect, or be perceived to affect, asserted aboriginal rights and title, which has the potential to manifest permitting delays or opposition by First Nations communities.
The Company is working to establish positive relationships with First Nations. As part of this process the Company may enter into agreements, commensurate with the stage of activity, with First Nations in relation to current and future exploration and any potential future production. This could impact any expected earnings.
The Company is subject to intense competition.
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases, including financing, technical resources, personnel and property acquisition. It requires significant capital, technical resources, personnel and operational experience to effectively compete in the mining industry. Because of the high costs associated with exploration, the expertise required to analyze a project’sproject's potential and the capital required to develop a mine, larger companies with significant resources may have a competitive advantage over Amarc. Amarc faces strong competition from other mining companies, some with greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than those that Amarc possesses. As a result of this competition, Amarc may be unable to maintain or acquire financing, personnel, technical resources or attractive mining properties on terms Amarc considers acceptable or at all.
The Company is subject to certain risks that are not insurable.
Hazards such as unusual or unexpected geological formations and other conditions are involved in mineral exploration and development. Amarc may become subject to liability for pollution, cave-ins or hazards against which it cannot insure. The payment of such liabilities could result in increases in Amarc’sAmarc's operating expenses which could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on Amarc’sAmarc's financial position and its results of operations. Although Amarc maintains liability insurance in an amount which it considers adequate, the nature of these risks is such that the liabilities might exceed policy limits, the liabilities and hazards might not be insurable against, or Amarc might elect not to insure itself against such liabilities due to high premium costs or other reasons. In these events, Amarc could incur significant liabilities and costs that could materially increase Amarc’sAmarc's operating expenses.
The Company’s operations are and will be subject to environmental regulations which can significantly increase compliance costs and subject the Company to potential liability.
All of the Company’sCompany's operations are and will be subject to environmental regulations, which can make operations more expensive or potentially prohibit them altogether. Many of the regulations require the Company to obtain permits for its activities. The Company must update and review its permits from time to time, and is subject to environmental impact analyses and public review processes prior to approval of the additional activities.
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The Company may be subject to the risks and liabilities associated with potential pollution of the environment and the disposal of waste products that could occur as a result of its activities.
To the extent the Company is subject to environmental liabilities, the payment of such liabilities or the costs that it may incur to remedy environmental pollution would reduce funds otherwise available to it and could have a material adverse effect on the Company. If the Company is unable to fully remedy an environmental problem, it might be required to suspend operations or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remedy. The potential exposure may be significant and could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Changes in government regulations and the presence of unknown environmental hazards on the Company’s mineral properties may result in significant unanticipated delays, as well as significant compliance costs.
Changes to existing environmental legislation, regulations and actions could give rise to additional expense, capital expenditures, restrictions and delays in the activities of the Company, the extent of which cannot be predicted. Regulatory requirements and environmental standards are subject to constant evaluation and may be significantly increased. It is possible that future changes in applicable laws, regulations and permits or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could have a significant impact on some portion of the Company’sCompany's business, causing those activities to become economically unattractive at that time.
Trading in the Company’s common shares is subject to volatility.
There can be no assurance that an active trading market in the Company’sCompany's securities will be established or sustained. The market price for the Company’sCompany's securities is subject to wide fluctuations. Factors such as announcements of exploration results, as well as market conditions in the industry, may have a significant adverse impact on the market price of the securities of the Company. Shares of the Company are suitable only for those who can afford to lose their entire investment. The stock market has from time to time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.
Certain of the Company’sCompany's directors and officers may be subject to conflicts of interest.
Certain of the Company’sCompany's directors and officers may serve as directors or officers of other companies or companies providing services to the Company or they may have significant shareholdings in other companies. Situations may arise where these directors and/or officers of the Company may be in competition with the Company. Any conflicts of interest will be subject to and governed by the law applicable to directors’directors' and officers’officers' conflicts of interest. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Company’sCompany's directors, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against the approval of such participation or such terms. In accordance with applicable laws, the directors of the Company are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
The Company is unlikely to be in a position to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
There is no assurance that the Company will pay dividends on its shares in the foreseeable future. The Company will likely require all its funds to further the development of its business.
The Company is vulnerable to changes in the financial markets.
Market conditions and unexpected volatility or illiquidity in financial markets may adversely affect the prospects of the Company and the value of its shares.
The Company will be dependent on the continued services of its senior management team, and its ability to retain other key personnel.
The Company will be dependent on the continued services of its senior management team, and its ability to retain other key personnel. The loss of such key personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company. There can be no assurance that any of the Company’sCompany's employees will remain with the Company or that, in the future, the employees will not organize competitive businesses or accept employment with companies competitive with the Company.
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Furthermore, as part of the Company’sCompany's growth strategy, it must continue to hire highly qualified individuals. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract, assimilate or retain qualified personnel in the future, which would adversely affect its business.
Changes in government rules, regulations or agreements, or their application, may negatively affect the Company’s ownership rights, its access to or its ability to advance the exploration and development of its mineral properties.
The government currently has in place or may in the future implement laws, regulations, policies or agreements that may negatively affect the Company’s ownership rights with respect to its mineral properties or its access to the properties. These may restrain or block the Company’s ability to advance the exploration and development of its mineral properties or significantly increase the costs and timeframe to advance the properties.
If the Company raises additional funding through equity financings, then the Company’sCompany's current shareholders will suffer dilution.
The Company will require additional financing in order to complete full exploration of the Company’sCompany's mineral properties. Management anticipates that the Company will have to sell additional equity securities including, but not limited to, its common stock, share purchase warrants or some form of convertible security. The effect of additional issuances of equity securities will result in the dilution of existing shareholders’shareholders' percentage ownership interests.
The Company believes it is likely a “passive foreign investment company” which may have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. shareholders.
U.S. shareholders should be aware that the Company believes it was classified as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”), as defined in Section 1297 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, during one or more previous tax years, and may be a PFIC in the current tax year and possibly in subsequent tax years. If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during a U.S. shareholder’sshareholder's holding period, then such U.S. shareholder generally will be required to treat any gain realized upon a disposition of common shares, or any so-called “excess distribution” received on its common shares, as ordinary income, and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such gain or distributions, unless the shareholder makes a timely and effective “qualified electing fund” election or a “mark-to-market” election with respect to the common shares. A U.S. shareholder who makes a qualified electing fund election generally must report on a current basis its share of the Company’sCompany's net capital gain and ordinary earnings for any tax year in which the Company is a PFIC, whether or not the Company distributes any amounts to its shareholders. A U.S. shareholder who makes the mark-to-market election generally must include as ordinary income each year the excess of the fair market value of the common shares over the taxpayer’staxpayer's basis therein. This paragraph is qualified in its entirety by the discussion below under the heading “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” Each U.S. shareholder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the PFIC rules and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares.
The Company’sCompany's shareholders could face significant potential equity dilution as a result of grants under the Company’s stock option plan.
Amarc has a stock option plan which allows the management to issue options to its employees and non-employees based on the policies of the Company. If further shares, options, or warrants are issued, they will likely act as an upside damper on the trading range of the Company’sCompany's shares. As a consequence of the passage of time since the date of their original sale and issuance, none of the Company’sCompany's shares remain subject to any hold period restrictions in Canada or the United States. The unrestricted resale of outstanding shares from the exercise of dilutive securities may have a depressing effect on the market for the Company’sCompany's shares.
Penny stock classification could affect the marketability of the Company’sCompany's common stock and shareholders could find it difficult to sell their stock.
The penny stock rules in the United States require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’scustomer's account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’scustomer's confirmation.
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Further, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from such rules; the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’spurchaser's written agreement to the transaction. These additional broker-dealer practices and disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the Company’sCompany's common shares in the United States, and shareholders may find it more difficult to sell their shares.
The Company’sCompany's financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue on a going concern basis, but there can be no assurance that the Company will continue as a going concern.
The Company’s financial statements have been prepared on the basis that it will continue as a going concern. The Company has prioritized the allocation of available financial resources in order to meet key corporate and mineral development expenditure requirements in the near term. The costs required to complete exploration and development of the Company’sCompany's projects may be well in excess of this amount. Accordingly, unless additional funding is obtained, the going concern assumption may have to change. If Amarc is unable to obtain adequate additional financing, the Company will be required to curtail operations and exploration activities. Furthermore, failure to continue as a going concern would require that Amarc’sAmarc's assets and liabilities be restated on a liquidation basis which could differ significantly from the going concern basis.
The Company may from time to time be subject to litigation.
The Company may in future be subject to legal proceedings. If the Company is unable to resolve these matters favorably it may have a material adverse effect of the Company.
| ITEM 4 | INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY |
A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
Incorporation
Amarc Resources Ltd. was incorporated on February 2, 1993, pursuant to theCompany Act (British Columbia, Canada) (the “BCCA”), as “Patriot Resources Ltd.” and changed its name on January 26, 1994 to “Amarc Resources Ltd.” The BCCA was replaced by theBusiness Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCA”) in March 2004 and the Company is now governed by the BCA.
Amarc became a public company or “reporting issuer” in the Province of British Columbia on May 30, 1995. The common shares of Amarc were initially listed on the Vancouver Stock Exchange (“VSE”) on August 4, 1995, and continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX Venture”) under the symbol AHR. The TSX Venture was formerly known as the Canadian Venture Exchange, the successor stock exchange to the VSE.
Amarc commenced trading on the OTC Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) in the United States in June 2004 and on the OTCQB in August 2014 (at which time quotation of Amarc’s common shares on the OTCBB was discontinued), in each case under the symbol AXREF.
Offices
The head office of Amarc is located at 15th Floor, 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 4H1, telephone (604) 684-6365, facsimile (604) 684-8092. The Company’sCompany's registered office is in care of its attorneys, McMillan LLP, 1500 Royal Centre P.O. Box 11117, 1055 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 4N7, telephone (604) 689-9111, fax (604) 685-7084.
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Company Development
Amarc has been engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties since its incorporation. The Company is currently actively exploring a number of properties located in British Columbia, Canada. All of the Company’sCompany's mineral properties are at the exploration stage.
B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Amarc is in the business of exploring mineral properties. The Company’s exploration activities are primarily focused in British Columbia, Canada, where it has assembled a portfolio of projects through ground staking and option agreements. Exploration on these properties is aimed at ascertaining whether the properties host commercially viable mineral deposits.
British Columbia Mineral Tenure
On January 12, 2005, the Province of British Columbia adopted an on-line mineral tenure system that includes mineral tenure acquisition and tenure maintenance procedures, as well as a method of converting previous format claims (legacy claims) to new format claims (cell claims). All of the Company’s mineral tenures have been converted to cell claims resulting in new tenure numbers and marginally larger claim boundaries. The mineral claims are maintained through the completion of exploration activities referred to as “Assessment Work”. The financial requirements related to this exploration work are stated as $5 per hectare per year during the first two years following location of the mineral claim, $10 per hectare per year during the third and fourth years, $15 per hectare per year during the fifth and sixth years, and $20 per hectare per year for subsequent years. If the Assessment Work is not completed, the mineral claims may be maintained by a cash payment, but if this payment is not made before the forfeiture date, the tenure is relinquished. The required payment to maintain a mineral claim for one year is double the value of the Assessment Work for the particular year.
One other type of mineral tenure exists, called crown-granted mineral claims, on which the perimeter has been physically surveyed. Crown-granted mineral claims are maintained by paying taxes on an annual basis. Unlike mineral claims, the taxes can be paid late with penalties and interest. If the taxes remain unpaid after a specified period of time, the claims will revert to the Crown and will be subsequently made available for acquisition by normal procedures.
Environmental Matters
Environmental matters related to mineral exploration companies in British Columbia are administered by the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The Company files notice of its work programs with the Ministry, and a bond is determined that will set aside sufficient cash to reclaim the exploration sites to their pre-exploration land use. Typically, no bond is required for exploration activities such as surface geological and geochemical surveys. However, a bond is required for activities such as machine work including drilling and also for blasting. The required reclamation involves leaving the site in an environmentally stable condition and grooming the sites to prevent forest fire hazards.
Mineral Properties, Exploration Activities and Plans
Amarc is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced and successful management team focused on developing a new generation of porphyryBritish Columbia (“BC”) copper mines in British Columbia.mines. By combining strong projects and funding with successful management, Amarc has created a solid platform to commence the value creation life cycle of a mineral exploration company.creation.
Through its 2017 and 2018 work programs Amarc is substantially advancing its 100% owned IKE, DUKE and JOY porphyry copper deposit properties,districts located in southern, central and northern British Columbia, respectively, each withBC, respectively. Each of these copper districts have proximity to industrial infrastructure, power, rail and highways. Management believes that these projects representThe IKE, DUKE and JOY Projects have significant potential for the discovery of important scale, porphyry copper-gold and copper-molybdenum deposits.
LOCATION OF THE COMPANY’S IKE, JOY, AND DUKE PROJECTS
IKE Project
The 462 km2 IKE Project is located 33 km northwest of the historical mining community of Gold Bridge.Bridge near the heartland of BC’s producing porphyry copper mines. Work at the IKE deposit discovery has now delineated a copper-molybdenum-silver mineralized system, measuring at leastapproximately 3.5 km by 2 km, through combined induced polarization chargeability (“IP”) surveys, talus geochemical sampling and the earlier drilling of 2126 core holes within a portion of the mineralized system.
The IKE deposit discovery has important economic potential as indicated by the copper equivalent grades returned over long continuous drill intercepts, which compare favourably to the range of copper equivalent grades for reserves and resources at operating BC porphyry hascopper (± molybdenum ± gold ± silver) mines. In 2018 Amarc completed five very widely-spaced drill holes designed to continue to delineate the copper, molybdenum, silver grade distribution within the overall IKE mineralized system. The new drill results continue to indicate that IKE shares many geological earmarkssimilarities with some of the world’s important copper-molybdenum-silver minesdeposits, like MorenciSierrita and SierritaMorenci in Arizona and Valley in British Columbia.BC. In addition, at least five significant porphyry copper depositsdeposit targets have been established within 10 km of the IKE discovery that remain to be fully explored.
Amarc has entered into an earn-in agreementis planning further drilling with Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”) to efficiently advancethe goal of delineating the IKE Project. Under the terms of the agreement Hudbay can earn an initial 50% interest in the IKE Project by spending $40 million of expenditures before December 31, 2021. Amarc is the current operator. Hudbay has confirmed 2018 funding of $1.6 million, which is to be focused on wide-spaced drilling within the very extensive IKE mineralizedmineral system in order to start delineating its overall geometry and copper-molybdenum-silver grade distribution.
DUKE Projectestablishing a resource.
Amarc’s DUKE deposit and an adjacent 288704 km2 porphyry copper district is located 80 km northeast of Smithers, British Columbia,BC and 30 km north of former mines (Bell and Granisle) operated by Noranda Mines. DUKE has been intermittently explored by prior operators with surface geochemical and geophysical surveys, as well as 30 shallow diamond drill holes. Many of the historical holes drilled intersected significant lengths of porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineralization that remains open both laterally and to depth.
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Seven of the eight holes drilled by Amarc late last year and in early 2018, successfully outlined porphyry copper-style mineralization over an area currently measuring approximately 400 m north-south by 600 m east-west, and open to expansion in all directions. The deposit lies below flat-lying glacial till, which varies from 4 m to 18 m thick in the holes drilled, with mineralization extending to the depth of drilling – over 360 m deep. A single hole was drilled one1 km north of the seven other Amarc holes at DUKE in order to test a geophysical IP anomaly that extends north and south from the DUKE deposit discovery area. This hole intersected substantial lengths of moderate to low grade copper and molybdenum mineralization, indicating the extensive nature of the DUKE porphyry copper system. The mineralized system as outlined by the IP anomaly associated with the DUKE discovery measures some 4 km north-south by 1 km east-west. Amarc is considering how best to undertake the drilling required to delineate the geometry and grade distribution of the DUKE discovery.
JOY ProjectIn addition to the DUKE deposit, Amarc has strategically secured certain mineral claims in the region to cover other important porphyry copper-gold deposit targets for field assessment and drill testing. Amarc completed a comprehensive evaluation of government regional datasets in order to delineate these high potential targets for follow up.
Amarc’s 464 km2 JOY mineral property lies 310 km north of Mackenzie in a region of British ColumbiaBC considered to have high potential for the discovery of important scale, porphyry gold-copper deposits. The JOY claims are located 20 km north of the Kemess District, host to the former Kemess South Mine and the government-approved Kemess underground project. Recently,In mid-2017, Centerra Gold Inc. purchased the Kemess District from AuRico Metals Inc. for $310 million.
Amarc considers the extensive JOY projectProject claim holdings to be significantly underexplored, and to represent the northern extension of the Kemess gold-copper district. Highly favourable geology, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys, along with drilling in 136 holes by past operators, has resulted in substantially narrowing the exploration focus. Amarc has identified a new 20 km long northeast trending structural corridor at JOY, the Finlay Magnetic Corridor, which hosts more than 10 compelling gold-copper porphyry deposit targets.
Amarc has also entered into an earn-in agreement with Hudbay to advance the JOY Project. Under the terms of this agreement Hudbay can earn an initial 50% interest in the JOY Project by spending $20 million of expenditures before December 31, 2021. Amarc is the current operator. The parties have agreed to include Amarc’s recently acquired PINE claims into the JOY Project. Hudbay has confirmed 2018 funding of $3.15 million of which $1.15 million will be paid to Amarc in 2018 towards its PINE acquisition costs.
Extensive field work is underway forairborne and ground surveys were completed in 2018 including- the first season of exploration activity at the expanded JOY Project (see Amarc news releases August 29, 2017 and December 27, 2017). Work included an airborne magnetics survey and systematic IP, geochemical and geological surveys over the more than 10 deposit-scale targets alreadypreviously identified within and adjacent to the Finlay Magnetic Corridor. Drilling is expected to follow, targeting sulphide systems delineated by the IP surveys for majorResults have confirmed a number of new, high potential porphyry gold-copper deposits.
Approach to Community Collaborationdeposit targets which now require drilling.
Amarc is committed to unlocking the emerging value of the IKE, DUKE and JOY copper districts and is working constructivelyto secure funding partners in order to: drill the current deposit discoveries at IKE and DUKE to establish the grade and geometry of the mineralization; and also drill new high potential targets at JOY with the goal of making a significant porphyry copper-gold deposit discovery. The team is also looking to opportunistically acquire new projects within stable jurisdictions.
Amarc works closely with local governments, Indigenous groups and other project stakeholders towardsin order to advance its mineral properties responsibly, and in a manner that contributes to sustainable community and economic development.
Amarc senior management and project teams seek early and meaningful engagement with local landowners, First Nations and other land interests to ensure its mineral exploration and development activities are well-coordinated and broadly supported, to address local priorities and concerns, and to optimize opportunities for collaboration and local benefit. In particular, the responsible development ofCompany seeks to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups within whose traditional territories its projects while contributing toare located - including through the sustainable developmentprovision of local communities. Workjobs, training programs, contract opportunities, capacity funding agreements and sponsorship of community events. All Amarc work programs are carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental performance and local benefits, including providing opportunities for employment, contracting and training for local people. The Company is working hard to support government’s consultation duties to assist with timely and fair decision making. Amarc is committed to meaningful and constructive engagement with First Nations communities and favours comprehensive and progressive agreements at the early discovery-stage of project development. The Company believes that the best outcome is always achieved in the atmosphere of openness, constructive discussions and mutual respect from all interested parties.social performance.
The IKE andProject (comprising the IKE, Granite, Juno, and Galore District Properties (collectively the IKE Project)Properties)
Amarc has a 100% interest in the IKE, Granite, Juno and Galore Properties which make up the IKE Project.
Management believes that theThe IKE deposit discovery, together with the surrounding district of additional prospective porphyry copper (±molybdenum±silver±gold) targets, that remain to be drill tested, have the potential to possess the grades and tonnages necessary to develop into an important new British ColumbiaBC mining camp. In addition to the main IKE mineral property, Amarc has secured extensive mineral claims in the region to cover theseother compelling deposit targets, as well as potential infrastructure sites.
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IKE Deposit
The IKE Project is located approximately 33 km northwest of the historical mining communities of Gold Bridge and Bralorne, in south-central British Columbia.BC. Core drilling of the IKE deposit is located above tree line within large and barren cirques. Although current access to the site is by helicopter, there is good infrastructure in the region. Mainline logging roads leading northwest from Gold Bridge extend to within 13 km of the southern extent of the IKE property. Power, railways and highways are all available in the area of Gold Bridge and the regional towns of Lillooet and Pemberton.
At IKE, limited historical drilling indicated the presence of a mineral system with characteristics that are favorable for the development of a viable porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver deposit. Three key historical drill holes (81-2, 11-1 and 11-2) spaced over 220 m apart intercepted long intervals of continuous, chalcopyrite and molybdenite mineralization with encouraging grades. These intersections include: 116 m of 0.46% copper equivalent (CuEQ) comprising 0.29% Cu and 0.043% Mo; 182 m of 0.41% CuEQ comprising 0.31% Cu, 0.022% Mo and 1.9 g/t Ag; and 64 m of 0.51% CuEQ, comprising 0.37% Cu, 0.024% Mo and 4.7 g/t Ag. All three of these historical holes ended in mineralization.
Amarc has made a significant new porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver discovery at IKE. All 2126 wide-spaced core holes drilled by Amarc at IKE (2014-9 holes; 2015-9 holes; 2016-3 holes and 2018 5 holes for a total of 12,36015,454 m) have intersected long intervals of chalcopyrite and molybdenite mineralization, with grades that compare favourably to the range of copper equivalent grades at operating BC porphyry copper mines in British Columbia.mines. Copper, molybdenum and silver mineralization has been intersected over an increasingly broad area measuring 1.2 km m east-west by 1.0 km north-south, and 875 m vertically. The drilling indicates the potential for extensive resource volumes which remain open to expansion in all lateral directions and to depth. Notably the drilling completed to date has tested only a portion of the over plus 79 km2IKE hydrothermal system. In 2018, Amarc completed a $1.6 million drill program comprising five very widely-spaced core holes designed to continue to delineate the copper, molybdenum, silver grade distribution within the overall mineralized system. The new drill results continue to indicate that IKE shares many geological similarities with some of the world’s important copper-molybdenum-silver deposits, like Sierrita and Morenci in Arizona and Valley in BC. The Company is currently planning for an expanded drill program in 2019 with the goal of further delineating the known mineralization at IKE.
Highlights from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 drill programs completed at IKE include:
SELECTED ASSAY INTERVALS 2014-2018 IKE Discovery Drill Holes | |||||
Hole ID | Int.1,2 (m) | CuEQ3 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) |
| 14001 | 247 | 0.42 | 0.28 | 0.030 | 2.0 |
| 14002 | 123 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.017 | 2.5 |
| 14003 | 92 | 0.41 | 0.31 | 0.020 | 2.1 |
| 14005 | 194 | 0.49 | 0.30 | 0.046 | 0.8 |
| 14006 | 308 | 0.40 | 0.26 | 0.032 | 1.8 |
| 14008 | 97 | 0.46 | 0.32 | 0.030 | 2.2 |
| 15010 | 124 | 0.45 | 0.34 | 0.022 | 3.2 |
| 15012 | 214 | 0.37 | 0.26 | 0.023 | 2.2 |
| 15013 | 592 | 0.44 | 0.30 | 0.032 | 2.1 |
| 15014 | 86 | 0.48 | 0.33 | 0.032 | 2.2 |
| 15018 | 111 | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.010 | 2.3 |
| 16020 | 148 | 0.54 | 0.39 | 0.030 | 2.9 |
| 16021 | 287 | 0.39 | 0.30 | 0.017 | 2.2 |
| 18022 | 138 | 0.40 | 0.28 | 0.024 | 2.1 |
| 18025 | 222 | 0.46 | 0.35 | 0.022 | 2.4 |
| 18026 | 147 | 0.44 | 0.26 | 0.042 | 1.9 |
Copper equivalent (CuEQ) Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100%. | |
| 4. | Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. |
Assay results from all of Amarc’sAmarc's 2014, 2015, 2016 and 20162017 drill holes are summarized in the table below. In addition, a drill plan, cross section, mapsManagement’s Discussion and further results are presentedAnalysis for the Six Months ended September 30, 2017 and the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2017 filed on www.sedar.com, and those for the 2018 drilling in the corporate presentation on Amarc’s website athttp://www.amarcresources.com.Company’s new release dated November 6, 2018.
Notably, IP geophysical work undertaken in 2017 showed the IKE mineralized system to be much larger than originally thought and is now known to extend for at least 3.5 km east-west by 23 km north-south, as outlined by IP surveys and talus fines geochemical sampling. Central to this large sulphide-mineralized system are the 2126 discovery core holes drilled by Amarc in 2014 through 2016 and as described above. Maps, cross sections and figures illustrating the newly expandedfull extent of the IKE mineralized system and its potential are presented in the corporate presentation on Amarc’sthe Amarc website athttp://www.amarcresources.com. www.amarcresources.com.
Hudbay, Amarc’s optionee at IKE, has confirmed 2018 funding of $1.6 million, which is to be focused on wide-spaced drilling within the very extensive IKE mineralized system in order to start delineating its overall geometry and copper-molybdenum-silver grade distribution. Permits from the provincial government for the 2018 field season are in hand.
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Like many major porphyry deposits, the IKE deposit formed in a very active, multi-stage hydrothermal system that was extensive and robust. Geological mapping and logging of diamond drill core at IKE indicate the deposit is hosted entirely by multi-phase intrusive rocks. Its overall geological setting is similar to that of many important porphyry belts along the Cordillera in North and South America.
At IKE, chalcopyrite and molybdenite mineralization occurs as fine to relatively coarse, mostly discrete grains, mainly as disseminations and less commonly in fractures and veins. Multi-element analyses have returned consistently and unusually low concentrations of metallurgically or environmentally deleterious elements. These characteristics, and the generally low concentrations of pyrite at IKE, suggest excellent potential to produce clean, good-grade copper and molybdenum concentrates by standard flotation processing.
IKE DISCOVERY TABLE OF 2014, 2015 and 2016 DRILL CORE ASSAY RESULTS4
Drill Hole ID
| Dip (°) | Azim (°) | EOH (m) | Incl. | From (m) | To (m) | Int.1,2 (m) | CuEQ3 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) |
| IK14001 | -45 | 0 | 742.2 | 55.0 | 213.7 | 158.7 | 0.37 | 0.27 | 0.020 | 2.5 | |
| 242.0 | 489.0 | 247.0 | 0.41 | 0.28 | 0.030 | 2.0 | |||||
| incl. | 242.0 | 275.0 | 33.0 | 0.43 | 0.35 | 0.011 | 4.1 | ||||
| incl. | 284.6 | 362.5 | 77.9 | 0.43 | 0.31 | 0.027 | 2.0 | ||||
| incl. | 372.9 | 395.2 | 22.3 | 0.43 | 0.25 | 0.045 | 1.7 | ||||
| incl. | 404.1 | 489.0 | 84.9 | 0.48 | 0.30 | 0.045 | 1.7 | ||||
| 528.0 | 634.6 | 106.6 | 0.28 | 0.23 | 0.009 | 1.9 | |||||
| IK14002 | -45 | 100 | 551.1 | 57.3 | 180.1 | 122.8 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.017 | 2.5 | |
| 206.0 | 494.6 | 288.6 | 0.39 | 0.24 | 0.038 | 1.6 | |||||
| incl. | 206.0 | 440.0 | 234.0 | 0.42 | 0.26 | 0.040 | 1.7 | ||||
| and | 206.0 | 364.0 | 158.0 | 0.44 | 0.26 | 0.046 | 1.7 | ||||
| and | 368.5 | 440.0 | 71.5 | 0.40 | 0.27 | 0.031 | 1.7 | ||||
| 521.7 | 551.1 | 29.4 | 0.42 | 0.15 | 0.076 | 0.6 | |||||
| IK14003 | -60 | 180 | 419.4 | 10.2 | 102.0 | 91.8 | 0.40 | 0.31 | 0.020 | 2.1 | |
| 282.0 | 365.0 | 83.0 | 0.19 | 0.08 | 0.029 | 0.7 | |||||
| IK14004 | -50 | 90 | 388.6 | 128.0 | 189.0 | 61.0 | 0.27 | 0.13 | 0.036 | 0.9 | |
| IK14005 | -60 | 0 | 772.7 | 32.0 | 80.0 | 48.0 | 0.27 | 0.23 | 0.007 | 1.4 | |
| 269.4 | 552.3 | 282.9 | 0.43 | 0.29 | 0.038 | 0.7 | |||||
| incl. | 269.4 | 463.2 | 193.8 | 0.47 | 0.30 | 0.046 | 0.8 | ||||
| 602.9 | 616.1 | 13.2 | 0.33 | 0.29 | 0.009 | 0.6 | |||||
| IK14006 | -45 | 90 | 681.8 | 9.0 | 75.0 | 66.0 | 0.25 | 0.21 | 0.008 | 1.3 | |
| 124.0 | 574.3 | 450.3 | 0.36 | 0.24 | 0.028 | 1.7 | |||||
| incl. | 124.0 | 432.2 | 308.2 | 0.39 | 0.26 | 0.032 | 1.8 | ||||
| and | 124.0 | 207.8 | 83.8 | 0.42 | 0.31 | 0.026 | 2.2 | ||||
| and | 216.4 | 258.0 | 41.6 | 0.42 | 0.30 | 0.024 | 2.8 | ||||
| and | 381.9 | 432.2 | 50.4 | 0.69 | 0.35 | 0.088 | 1.8 | ||||
| incl. | 441.9 | 490.0 | 48.1 | 0.44 | 0.27 | 0.044 | 1.8 | ||||
| 671.0 | 681.8 | 10.8 | 0.33 | 0.28 | 0.007 | 2.0 | |||||
| IK14007 | -60 | 90 | 688.5 | 7.9 | 24.9 | 17.0 | 0.30 | 0.22 | 0.020 | 1.1 | |
| 139.5 | 167.0 | 27.5 | 0.24 | 0.06 | 0.051 | 0.5 | |||||
| 223.0 | 274.0 | 51.0 | 0.22 | 0.05 | 0.048 | 0.5 | |||||
| 304.0 | 411.9 | 107.9 | 0.23 | 0.12 | 0.030 | 0.7 | |||||
| IK14008 | -45 | 90 | 788.8 | 135.4 | 168.0 | 32.6 | 0.30 | 0.24 | 0.009 | 2.0 | |
| 233.0 | 258.5 | 25.5 | 0.33 | 0.23 | 0.023 | 1.5 | |||||
| 278.1 | 567.0 | 288.9 | 0.36 | 0.27 | 0.022 | 1.6 | |||||
| incl. | 287.7 | 384.3 | 96.6 | 0.45 | 0.32 | 0.030 | 2.2 | ||||
| incl. | 418.7 | 462.8 | 44.0 | 0.38 | 0.31 | 0.015 | 1.8 | ||||
| incl. | 484.0 | 564.0 | 80.0 | 0.38 | 0.30 | 0.018 | 1.6 | ||||
| 605.0 | 648.0 | 43.0 | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.012 | 1.0 | |||||
| IK14009 | -45 | 270 | 376.1 | 10.5 | 200.0 | 189.5 | 0.23 | 0.16 | 0.018 | 1.1 | |
| incl. | 10.5 | 98.0 | 87.5 | 0.28 | 0.20 | 0.019 | 1.4 | ||||
| IK15010 | -45 | 88 | 615.0 | 207.0 | 417.0 | 210.0 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.018 | 2.9 | |
| incl. | 207.0 | 268.0 | 61.0 | 0.40 | 0.31 | 0.016 | 2.9 | ||||
| incl. | 293.0 | 417.0 | 124.0 | 0.45 | 0.34 | 0.022 | 3.2 | ||||
| and | 293.0 | 358.0 | 65.0 | 0.53 | 0.39 | 0.028 | 3.7 | ||||
| and | 378.0 | 417.0 | 39.0 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.016 | 2.9 | ||||
| 444.0 | 603.0 | 159.0 | 0.28 | 0.22 | 0.011 | 2.1 | |||||
| IK15011 | -45 | 88 | 486.3 | 20.1 | 60.0 | 40.0 | 0.42 | 0.31 | 0.023 | 2.5 | |
| IK15012 | -45 | 88 | 675.0 | 213.0 | 516.0 | 303.0 | 0.34 | 0.25 | 0.018 | 2.1 | |
| incl. | 213.0 | 286.0 | 73.0 | 0.33 | 0.28 | 0.008 | 2.2 | ||||
| incl. | 301.9 | 516.0 | 214.2 | 0.37 | 0.26 | 0.023 | 2.2 | ||||
| and | 301.9 | 371.3 | 69.4 | 0.45 | 0.32 | 0.028 | 3.0 | ||||
| and | 423.0 | 516.0 | 93.0 | 0.39 | 0.29 | 0.022 | 2.0 | ||||
| 549.5 | 558.0 | 8.5 | 0.47 | 0.35 | 0.026 | 3.0 | |||||
| IK15013 | -45 | 88 | 693.3 | 33.0 | 693.3 | 660.3 | 0.41 | 0.28 | 0.030 | 2.0 | |
| incl. | 75.0 | 666.5 | 591.5 | 0.44 | 0.30 | 0.032 | 2.1 | ||||
| and | 75.0 | 99.0 | 24.0 | 0.42 | 0.24 | 0.044 | 1.9 | ||||
| and | 129.0 | 300.5 | 171.5 | 0.44 | 0.32 | 0.025 | 2.2 | ||||
| and | 435.5 | 666.5 | 231.0 | 0.56 | 0.37 | 0.045 | 2.7 | ||||
| IK15014 | -45 | 88 | 480.9 | 249.7 | 335.2 | 85.5 | 0.47 | 0.33 | 0.032 | 2.2 | |
| IK15015 | -50 | 268 | 423.3 | 312.3 | 420.3 | 108.0 | 0.41 | 0.15 | 0.067 | 1.5 | |
| incl. | 312.3 | 378.3 | 66.0 | 0.51 | 0.19 | 0.085 | 1.9 | ||||
| IK15016 | -45 | 88 | 483.3 | 243.0 | 369.3 | 126.3 | 0.27 | 0.14 | 0.031 | 1.5 | |
| incl. | 285.0 | 360.3 | 75.3 | 0.29 | 0.17 | 0.029 | 1.7 |
Drill Hole ID
| Dip (°) | Azim (°) | EOH (m) | Incl. | From (m) | To (m) | Int.1,2 (m) | CuEQ3 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) |
| IK15017 | -45 | 88 | 441.3 | 15.0 | 75.0 | 60.0 | 0.29 | 0.26 | 0.005 | 1.6 | |
| 201.0 | 355.7 | 154.7 | 0.30 | 0.17 | 0.031 | 1.1 | |||||
| incl. | 240.0 | 355.7 | 115.7 | 0.33 | 0.18 | 0.039 | 1.2 | ||||
| IK15018 | -45 | 88 | 441.3 | 138.0 | 159.0 | 21.0 | 0.33 | 0.25 | 0.016 | 1.5 | |
| 201.0 | 312.4 | 111.4 | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.010 | 2.3 | |||||
| incl. | 216.0 | 288.3 | 72.3 | 0.43 | 0.35 | 0.013 | 2.5 | ||||
| and | 216.0 | 243.3 | 27.3 | 0.51 | 0.42 | 0.015 | 2.6 | ||||
| 471.3 | 730.5 | 259.2 | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.010 | 1.3 | |||||
| incl. | 471.3 | 540.3 | 69.0 | 0.33 | 0.25 | 0.017 | 1.8 | ||||
| and | 651.3 | 730.5 | 79.2 | 0.29 | 0.23 | 0.012 | 1.5 | ||||
| IK16019 | -45 | 85 | 477.0 | 201.9 | 222.0 | 20.1 | 0.27 | 0.16 | 0.022 | 1.9 | |
| IK16020 | -45 | 85 | 699.0 | 123.0 | 156.0 | 33.0 | 0.36 | 0.27 | 0.019 | 1.8 | |
| 314.5 | 462.0 | 147.5 | 0.53 | 0.39 | 0.030 | 2.9 | |||||
| 549.0 | 596.2 | 47.2 | 0.51 | 0.20 | 0.082 | 2.5 | |||||
| IK16021 | -45 | 80 | 747.0 | 81.0 | 126.0 | 45.0 | 0.26 | 0.24 | 0.003 | 1.2 | |
| 174.0 | 201.0 | 27.0 | 0.37 | 0.25 | 0.028 | 2.3 | |||||
| 219.8 | 288.0 | 68.3 | 0.32 | 0.22 | 0.019 | 2.5 | |||||
| 340.3 | 627.3 | 287.0 | 0.38 | 0.30 | 0.017 | 2.2 | |||||
| incl. | 340.3 | 432.0 | 91.7 | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.027 | 2.7 | ||||
| incl. | 479.1 | 555.0 | 75.9 | 0.48 | 0.39 | 0.018 | 2.3 |
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District Targets
IKE District Targets
Important-scaleAt least five significant porphyry copper (± gold ± molybdenum ± silver) deposit targets proximal tohave been established within 10 km of the IKE discovery were indicateddeposit by Amarc’s exploration infrom 2014 2015through 2017, and 2016, and also from data in reports from sporadic historical exploration in the region by previous operators.
During Results from Amarc’s district-wide, geophysical, geochemical, geological surveys and wide-spaced drilling on select targets are summarized in the 2016 field season, these targets were evaluated by geochemicalManagement’s Discussion and geophysical surveys withAnalysis for the goal of establishingNine Months Ended December 31, 2017 and prioritizing porphyry copper deposit targets for drilling. In addition, Amarc completed comprehensive regional geological mapping of the central 130 km2 of the IKE district in order to fully comprehend the overall mineral potential of the region.Year Ended March 31, 2018 filed on www.sedar.com.
The 2016 district surveys defined a number of significant porphyry copper deposit targets and, in addition, potential precious metal epithermal deposit targets. Age dating of porphyry mineralization discovered within the IKE district has confirmed at least four separate porphyry mineralizing events, which occurred over an exceptionally long period of 46 million years. These deposit targets are located along, to a few km inboard of, the contact of the northeastern margin of the Coastal Plutonic Complex (“CPC”) with older volcano-sedimentary rocks. In general, porphyry, porphyry-related and epithermal mineralization located closer to the CPC contact tends to be more gold-bearing whereas deposits such as IKE that lie inboard of the CPC contact are copper-molybdenum-silver dominated.
Results from Amarc’s 2016 district-wide, geophysical, geochemical and geological surveys are summarized in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2017 filed onwww.sedar.com.
In 2017 work in the IKE district focused on exploration on a select numberOne of the regional porphyry copper deposit targets located within 10 km of the IKE deposit and as delineated in the prior field seasons. Field programs included 20 km2 of detailed geological mapping, collection of 616 talus fines geochemical samples, completion of 82 line-km of IP surveys and exploration drilling of nine core holes totalling 2,796 m in three targets. At least five significant porphyry copper deposit targets have been established that require further exploration.
Mad Major
The Mad Major porphyry copper target, located 6 kilometres east of IKE, is associated with an approximately 10 km2 copper-molybdenum-tungsten geochemical anomaly, as compared to a similar style 6 km2anomalydrill tested in 2017 was at IKE. Within this target area, talus fines and rock chip geochemical sampling have collectively defined an anomaly characterized by high concentrations of copper and molybdenum, combined with anomalous concentrations of tungsten and extensive potassic alteration. Like the IKE deposit, copper mineralization is hosted by multiple intrusive phases. Notably, continuous talus fines samples collected over a length of 3.5 kilometres across the anomalous area returned copper concentrations in the range of 0.10% to 0.50%, and as high as 0.80%. Approximately 1 kilometre east of these talus fines, six reconnaissance composite chip samples, each collected over lengths of approximately 30 metres, returned copper results of 0.15% to 0.22%. The Mad Major porphyry copper-molybdenum target is ready for exploration drilling.
OMG
The OMG porphyry copper deposit target is located just to the north of Mad Major, and 5 kilometers northeast of IKE. This covered target is characterized by a 4 kilometre by 3 kilometre oval-shaped magnetic lowRowbottom - a unique feature that stands out and disrupts the regional magnetic trend. A 4 km2IP chargeability anomaly is coincident with the magnetic low and remains open to expansion. This intriguing magnetic low may well represent a felsic intrusion or hydrothermal alteration; both features are prospective for porphyry-style mineralization, especially given the coincident IP chargeability anomaly, indicating the presence of sulphide mineralization.
Reconnaissance geochemical samples collected over this IP chargeability anomaly have returned anomalous concentrations of copper, molybdenum and silver. There is no historical drilling reported in the OMG area and no rock outcrops have been noted. The geological setting, combined with the results of Amarc’s geophysical and geochemical surveys indicate an important-scale, covered porphyry copper deposit target that is ready for exploration drilling.
Eight, very wide-spaced wildcat exploration holes in the IKE district were also completed at the Mad Major and OMG targets, a 32 km2area which hosts pronounced anomalous copper, molybdenum and tungsten surface geochemical anomalies combined with extensive IP chargeability results. One hole (MM17005) in this extensive target returned copper and molybdenum values within an intrusive dyke-like body, as reported below. Further work is required to determine if a large, nearby, mineralized intrusive body could be the source of the well-mineralized dyke intersection.
MAD MAJOR/OMG 2017 Assay Results | |||||||||
Hole ID | Dip (0) | Azim (0) | From (m) | To (m) | Int.2,3,4 (m) | CuEQ1 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) |
| MM17005 | -45 | 250 | 81 | 90 | 9 | 0.78 | 0.57 | 0.046 | 3.0 |
Rowbottom
The Rowbottom porphyry deposit target is located 4.5 kilometres north-northwest of IKE and 2.5 kilometres south of the known Empress porphyry copper-gold deposit. An historical estimate, not categorized as prescribed by National Instrument 43-101, of about 10 million tonnes grading 0.61% Cu and 0.79 g/t Au was reported in 1991 for Empress. Sufficient work to classify the Empress estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserve has not been completed by a qualified person, and Amarc is not treating the historical estimate as current.
Eleven historical percussion holes have been drilled in the Rowbottom area and eight of these intercepted porphyry copper mineralization. All of these holes were shallow (generally ± 60 metres) with a number of holes terminating in mineralization. The best holes intersected 56 metres of 0.53% CuEQ5@ 0.41% Cu and 0.034% Mo, 55 metres of 0.35% CuEQ @ 0.25% Cu and 0.028% Mo, and 88 metres of 0.38% CuEQ @ 0.36% Cu and 0.006% Mo. Notably, although the historical drill samples were analysed only for copper and molybdenum, the presence of gold in Amarc’s surface samples indicates the potential for the Rowbottom porphyry system to be gold-bearing.
In 2016, an IP survey confirmed a chargeability anomaly measuring 1.3 kilometres by 1 kilometre outwards from the mineralized historical percussion holes. This anomaly is unconstrained to the west. The Rowbottom porphyry deposit target is ready for delineation drilling.
One hole was drilled at the Rowbottom porphyry copper depositpromising target located 4.5 km northwest of the IKE deposit. ThisRowbottom was tested with a single drill hole, which intersected significant intervals of porphyry copper-molybdenum mineralization hosting elevated silver and gold values, which are cut by a number of post mineral dykes. This hole was drilled into an IP anomaly measuring 1.3 km by 1.0 km that remains open for further surveying. Additional drilling is required both laterally and to depth in order to determine the geometry and grade distribution of the Rowbottom deposit. Assay results from hole RB17001 are tabulated below.
ROWBOTTOM 2017 Assay Results | ||||||||||
Hole ID | Dip (0) | Azim (0) | From (m) | To (m) | Int.2,3,4 (m) | CuEQ1 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
| RB17001 | -50 | 90 | 63 | 129 | 66 | 0.40 | 0.29 | 0.006 | 4.1 | 0.08 |
| 333 | 354 | 21 | 0.51 | 0.38 | 0.007 | 4.3 | 0.11 | |||
| 1 | Copper equivalent (CuEQ) calculations in both tables above use metal prices: Cu US$ | |
| 2 | Widths reported are drill widths, such that the true thicknesses are unknown. | |
| 3 | All assay intervals represent length weighted averages. | |
| 4 | Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. |
Quinn
Quinn is a newly emerging porphyry copper-gold-silver target located between Rowbottom and the Empress deposit, where regional mapping identified intermittently exposed copper mineralized felsic intrusions. Talus fines and rock chip samples over this target area have defined an extensive multi-element copper-gold-silver anomaly over an area of approximately 3 kilometres by 2 kilometres. Two reconnaissance composite chip samples collected from outcrop, each over lengths of about 50 metres, grade 0.28% Cu and 0.08 g/t Au and 0.32% Cu and 0.36 g/t Au. The Quinn target requires confirmation by surface IP surveys, followed by exploration drilling.
Buzzer
The Buzzer porphyry copper-gold target is located 6 kilometres north of IKE and 3.5 kilometres northwest of OMG. Historical drilling at Buzzer has returned some significant intervals of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum, including 65 metres of 0.60 CuEQ* @ 0.34% Cu, 0.18 g/t Au, 6.2 g/t Ag and 0.019% Mo, and 44 metres of 1.24% CuEQ @ 0.67% Cu, 0.50 g/t Au, 5.3 g/t Ag and 0.045% Mo. Although this mineralization appears closed off by historical drilling, IP surveys conducted by Amarc over a covered area 800 metres north of the known Buzzer mineralization has defined an open-ended 2.5 kilometre long by 600 metre wide IP chargeability anomaly which is now ready for drill testing.
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Mewtwo
At Mewtwo, an historical ASTER satellite survey outlined a prominent, north-northwest trending zone of kaolinite-illite alteration coincident with a rhyolite dyke swarm located west of the IKE deposit. Talus fines and rock chip samples have outlined a 5.5 kilometre long silver-lead-zinc±gold geochemical anomaly. Two selected rock grab samples in this area returned 173 g/t and 505 g/t Ag. This extensive silver (± gold) epithermal-style anomalous zone requires further exploration to determine its importance.
Amarc is working with governments, First Nations and stakeholders toward the responsible development of the IKE Project while protecting water and other natural resources in the project area and making contributions to the sustainability of local communities.
The Company is committed to progressive Health & Safety protocols to protect the well-being of its employees and contractors. It has a zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs.
The Company’s commitment to regulatory compliance and environmental responsibility informs every aspect of its exploration activities, from program planning and permitting, through to exploration program implementation and reclamation. The Company employs a range of progressive practices to ensure that any impacts associated with the exploration activities are minor, localized and temporary. These practices have included, for example, full helicopter-support of all field programs in order to avoid drill road-building and stream crossings, environmental monitoring systems, water quality sampling and the plugging of all drill holes. In addition, Amarc has voluntarily cleaned up historical exploration camps abandoned by previous operators in the IKE region, removing waste materials by helicopter.
Amarc manages an ongoing program of outreach to local communities, stakeholders and First Nations and advances an agenda that supports the delivery of shared prosperity. In addition to one-on-one and small group meetings, the Company’s efforts include the provision of jobs, training programs, contract opportunities, capacity funding and sponsorship of community events.
Engagement with local First Nations has contributed to the development of several capacity building programs consistent with Amarc’s Local Benefits Policy, including:
In addition, Aboriginal and local community members comprised about 40% of Amarc site team in 2016, while approximately 70% of contracts let were awarded to local and regional-based companies. The Company also sponsored community events such as the Cariboo Aboriginal Youth Hockey Championship, and assisted with enhancements to the Bralorne community baseball field.
Amarc favours establishing progressive agreements with local First Nations that provide for shared decision making through project planning committees and participation in the Board, ownership possibilities, and meaningful economic benefits in relation to development of the IKE property. Amarc desires to advance these comprehensive discussions at the earliest stages of project development based on a view that the best outcomes are achieved in a climate of respect and mutual understanding, constructive dialogue and common interest.
Amarc proactively supports government’s duty to consult First Nations, to contribute to meaningful engagement opportunities and facilitate timely, fair and defensible permitting. After providing draft applications to First Nations for a period of initial review and after a rigorous review process by the provincial government, the Company in 2017 timely received two five-year, area-based permits for exploration activities at the IKE Project prior to the field season. A 300-hole drill permit and deemed authorization for 250 line-kilometres of IP surveys, provide Amarc with regulatory certainty and operational flexibility at site. Amarc has mobilized crews to the field for the 2017 drilling season at IKE.
IKE District Property Agreements
The mineral claims comprising the Juno property were staked and are owned 100% by Amarc. The property acquisition agreements relating to the IKE, Galore and Granite properties, which together with the JUNO property comprise the IKE project, are outlined below.
The material terms of the former agreement with and the terms under which Thompson Creek Metals Inc. (“Thompson Creek”) relinquished its option to earn up to a 50% interest in the IKE Project, and the three mineral property acquisition agreements relating to the IKE and district properties are set out below. The remaining royalties held by the respective vendors referenced have been capped or can be purchased by Amarc (in the $2 million to $4 million range).
IKE Project Agreement with Thompson Creek
On September 3, 2015 Amarc announced it entered into an Earn In Agreementagreement (the "Agreement") with Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Centerra Gold Inc.) pursuant to which Thompson Creek was given the right tocould acquire, through a staged investment process within five years, a 30% ownership interest in mineral claims and crown grants covering the IKE copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry deposit and the surrounding district. Under the terms of the Agreement, Thompson Creek also hadreceived an option, after acquiring its 30% interest, to acquire an additional 20% interest in the IKE Project, subject to certain conditions, including the completion of a Feasibility Study.
| - 19 - |
Under the terms of the Agreement, Thompson Creek could earn an initial 30% interest in the IKE Project under a Stage 1 Option by funding $15 million of expenditures before December 31, 2019, of which $3 million for 2015 and $2 million for 2016 were funded. For each $5 million of project expenditures funded, Thompson Creek would incrementally earn a 10% ownership interest. As of July 14, 2016, Thompson Creek had funded $5 million in project expenditures and as such had earned a 10% ownership interest in the IKE, Granite and Juno properties and the right to earn a 10% interest in the Galore Property (see below). Stage 1 Option expenditures could be accelerated by Thompson Creek at its discretion. Amarc remained as operator during the Stage 1 earn-in period.
If Thompson Creek fully exercised the Stage 1 Option, Thompson Creek would have a one-time right under a Stage 2 Option to elect to earn an additional 20% ownership interest in the IKE Project (for a total 50% ownership interest). To fulfill its obligations under the Stage 2 Option, Thompson Creek had to commit to fund and complete a Feasibility Study for the IKE Project that could serve as the basis for a decision by an internationally recognized financial institution to finance the development of a mining project. This Feasibility Study had to be completed within a two-year period, which could be extended to three years under certain conditions. While completing the Feasibility Study work under the Stage 2 Option, Thompson Creek would also be required to meet all other expenditures necessary to maintain and advance the IKE Project.
Thompson Creek would become operator upon initiation of the Stage 2 Option period, and would remain operator so long as it holds a 50% interest. When Thompson Creek had concluded its’s earn-in period, the parties expected to form a joint venture to further develop the IKE Project provided that Thompson Creek earned a minimum 10% interest. Amarc would remain operator of the Project in the instance that Thompson Creek does not earn a 50% interest.
During both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Option periods, Amarc retained a ‘co-expenditure right’, whereby it could fund at its discretion additional expenditures on the IKE Project. Thompson Creek may elect to pay its 30% or 50% share of these additional expenditures upon completion of its Stage 1 Option and Stage 2 Option periods as the case may be, failing which its ownership interest would be reduced. Under the ‘co-expenditure right’ provision of the Agreement, the maximum amount that Amarc could recover from Thompson Creek on completion of the Stage 1 Option is capped at $6 million (i.e. 30% of $20 million). The maximum amount that Amarc could recover from Thompson Creek on completion of the Stage 2 Option is capped at $10 million (i.e. 50% of $20 million).
On January 11, 2017 Amarc announced that Thompson Creek, having been acquired by gold-focused Centerra Gold Inc., relinquished its option to earn up to a 50% interest in the IKE Project. Thompson Creek having acquired a 10% participating interest in the IKE Project by investing $6 million in exploration programs undertaken in 2015 and 2016, has elected to exchange its participating interest for a 1% Conversion Net Smelter Royalty from mine production; capped at a total of $5 million. As a result, Amarc has re-acquired a 100% interest in the IKE Project.
IKE Project Agreement with Hudbay
On July 6, 2017 Amarc announced it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Hudbay, pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to a 60% ownership in the IKE Project.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Hudbay can earn an initial 49% ownership interest in the IKE Project under a Stage 1 Farm-in Right by funding $25 million of expenditures before December 31, 2020, of which $3.3 million was committed for 2017 and $1.6 million is committed for 2018.
Provided its Stage 1 Farm-in Right is exercised, Hudbay can, pursuant to a Stage 2 Farm-in Right, elect to earn an additional 1% interest in the IKE Project (for a total 50% interest), by funding $15 million of additional expenditures (for a total of $40 million), also before December 31, 2020.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 Farm-in expenditures can be accelerated by Hudbay at its discretion. Amarc will be the operator during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 periods. A joint ventureJoint Venture (“JV”) will be formed when Hudbay has acquired a 49% interest in the IKE Project.
Provided that Hudbay has exercised its Stage 2 Farm-in Right and acquired a 50% interest in the IKE Project, it can then elect to go forward via one of two paths.
First, Hudbay can replace Amarc as operator of the joint ventureJV after it funds all project expenditures and completes a Feasibility Study for the IKE Project by December 31, 2025. Having gained operatorship, Hudbay can then choose to either go forward with Amarc in a 50/50 participating joint venture,JV, or can instead elect to continue with its Farm-in (the “Stage 3 Farm-in Right”) to acquire an additional 10% interest in the IKE Project (for a total 60% interest). To exercise its Stage 3 Farm-in Right, Hudbay must fund all project expenditures required to submit a British Columbia Environment Assessment (“EA”) application for the IKE Project and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application, with the application(s) being accepted for review by December 31, 2026. In addition, Hudbay must also continue to fund all project expenditures until the necessary EA Certificate(s) are received. Following receipt of the EA Certificate(s), all IKE Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the joint venture.JV.
| - 20 - |
As a second alternative path, Hudbay can elect, after exercising its Stage 2 Farm-in Right, to proceed directly to the Stage 3 Farm-in Right, so immediately becoming the operator, and acquire a further 10% interest (for a total 60% interest) by, as above, submitting and having accepted for review a British Columbia EA application and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application, by December 31, 2026. Again in this instance, Hudbay must also fund all project expenditures until receipt of the necessary EA Certificate(s). As with the first path, following receipt of the EA Certificate(s), all IKE Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the joint venture.JV.
Hudbay has the right to defer either of its 2019 or 2020 expenditures, for a one-year period, subject to certain conditions. If this deferral occurs, Amarc will have a “co-expenditure right”, whereby it can incur and fund approved additional expenditures on the IKE Project up to the amount of the deferred expenditures. Hudbay may elect to reimburse Amarc for these additional expenditures, thereby retaining its interest in the Project. Under either path, If Hudbay does not submit the EA application(s) by December 31, 2026, then Amarc will become operator again.
In January, 2018 the Company amended the Agreement with Hudbay to extend the Stage 1 Farm-in Right period by one year to December 31, 2021and to change the years that are subject to Hudbay’s expenditure deferral right to either of 2020 or 2021.
On January 19, 2019 Amarc announced that Hudbay had relinquished its option to earn up to a 60% interest in the IKE Project. Hudbay had not earned a participating interest in the IKE Project and did not retain any royalty.
IKE Property Agreement with the Optionors
Amarc holds a 100% interest in the IKE property. In December 2013, the Company entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement (the "IKE Agreement") with Oxford Resources Inc. (“Oxford”("Oxford"), whereby the Company acquired the right to earn an 80% ownership interest in the IKE property by making cash payments totaling $125,000, issuing 300,000 shares, and by incurring approximately $1.86 million in exploration expenditures on or before November 30, 2015.
In July 2014 the IKE Agreement was amended and Oxford assigned all of its interest in the IKE property, and the underlying option agreement with respect to the IKE property, to Amarc and converted its ownership interest in the IKE property to a 1% Net Smelter Return (“NSR”) royalty in consideration of a $40,000 cash payment. The 1% NSR royalty can be purchased at any time for $2 million (payable in cash or common shares of Amarc at the Company’s sole election). The maximum aggregate amount payable under the NSR is $2 million.
As a result of the foregoing, Amarc had the right to acquire a 100% ownership interest in the IKE property directly from two unrelated individuals (formerly the underlying owners and now the “Optionors”) by making a cash payment of $40,000 (completed), issuing 100,000 shares (completed), and by incurring approximately $1.86 million in exploration expenditures (completed) on or before November 30, 2015.
The Optionors retain a 2% NSR royalty. Amarc has the right to purchase half of the royalty (1%) for $2 million ($1 million of which is payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’sAmarc's discretion) at any time prior to commercial production. In addition, Amarc has the right to purchase the other half of the royalty (1%) for $2 million ($1 million of which is payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’sAmarc's discretion) prior to December 31, 2018. Minimum advance royalty payments of $25,000 (payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’sAmarc's discretion) to the Optionors annually commenced on December 31, 2015.
Amarc has agreed that upon completion of a positive feasibility study, Amarc will issue 500,000 common shares to the Optionors.
In May 2017, the Company amended the agreement with the Optionors whereby it has the right to purchase 1% of the above mentioned 2% NSR royalty originally purchasable for $2 million prior to December 31, 2018, where Amarc now has the right to purchase that 1% for $2 million ($1 million of which is payable in cash, and the balance in Amarc common shares, or any such combination of cash and shares, at Amarc’sAmarc's discretion) at any time on or before a commercial mine production decision has been made in respect of the IKE Property. In consideration of this amendment, beginning on December 31, 2017 the Company will make an additional Annual Advanced Royalty payment of $25,000 to the Optionors.
| - 21 - |
Granite Property Agreement
In August 2014, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Great Quest Fertilizers Ltd. ("Great Quest"), whereby the Company can purchase a 100% ownership interest in the Granite property on or before November 30, 2014 by making staged cash payments totalling $400,000 (completed).
Great Quest holds a 2% NSR royalty on the property which can be purchased for $2 million, on or before commercial production (payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’s discretion). In addition, there is an underlying 2.5% NSR royalty on certain mineral claims, which can be purchased at any time for $1.5 million less any amount of royalty already paid.
Galore Property Agreement
In July 2014, the Company entered into an option and joint venture agreement (the “Galore Option Agreement”) with Galore Resources Inc. (“Galore”("Galore"), whereby the Company acquired the right to earn an initial 51% ownership interest in the Galore property by incurring $3 million in exploration expenditures within five years ($1.5 million of which may be in recordable assessment credits not directly incurred on the property), and by making staged cash payments up to a maximum of $450,000 (50% of which may be payable in Amarc common shares). Amarc may thereafter acquire an additional 19% ownership interest, for a total 70% ownership interest, by incurring $2 million in exploration expenditures within two years. Upon exercise of the initial or additional option (collectively, the “Galore Option”), Galore and Amarc have agreed to form either a 51/49 or a 70/30 joint venture, as the case may be.
The Galore mineral tenure is comprised of five claim groups and is subject to five underlying option agreements, each of which provides the relevant underlying owner with a 1.5% NSR royalty (collectively, the “NSR Royalties”) each of which may be purchased for $250,000 on or before December 31, 2024, and a 10% net profits interest royalty (collectively, the “NPI Royalties”) each of which may be purchased at any time until December 31, 2024 for $400,000 less any amount of an NPI Royalty already paid.
In July 2016, the Company entered into a second option agreement (the “Second Option Agreement”) whereby the Company acquired the right, separate and apart from the Galore Option (the “Second Option”) to acquire 100% of Galore’s rights in and to the Galore property in consideration of the payment to Galore of $550,000 on a staged basis on or before January 16, 2018. Under the terms of the Second Option Agreement, upon exercise of the Second Option and the Company acquiring 100% of the Galore property, the Galore Option Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect.
In addition, in July 2016, the Company also reached an agreement with the underlying owners of the Galore property whereby the Company obtained the right to acquire all of the underlying owners’ residual interest in and to the Galore property, including the five NSR Royalties and the five NPI Royalties, in consideration of the payment of $100,000 ($80,000 completed) on a staged basis on or before January 16, 2018, subject to the Company exercising the Second Option.
During the Second Option exercise period, all cash payment and exploration expenditure requirements set out in the Galore Option Agreement shall cease to apply, including with respect to all cash payments payable to the underlying owners.
In January 2017 Amarc announced that it had exercised the Second Option and had acquired a 100% interest in the Galore property from Galore, clear of any royalties to Galore, by making a final payment of $280,000. This transaction marks the successful completion by Amarc of a series of property dealings to acquire 100% of mineral claims and crown grants making up the entire IKE Project, subject to the final payment of $20,000 (completed January 16, 2018) to the underlying owners as noted above.
The DUKE PropertyProject
Amarc has secured a 100% interest in the DUKE mineral property as well as extensive adjacent mineral claims over nearby second-orderhigh potential porphyry copper and gold district exploration targets. DUKE is located 80 km northeast of Smithers British Columbia,BC, within the well-known Babine porphyry-copper district, 30 km north of former mines (Bell and Granisle) operated by Noranda Minerals Inc. between 1966 and 1992, and producing a total of 1.1 billion pounds of copper, 634,000 ounces of gold and 3.5 million ounces of silver1. DUKE is also just 10 km northeast of the Morrison Deposit, a 225 million tonne copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry deposit with a completed Feasibility Study2.
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1MINFILE Number 093L 146 and 093M 001 MINFILE Production Detail Report, BC Geological Survey, Ministry of Energy and Mines, BC.
2Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. news release February 27, 2009.
| - 22 - |
The property is accessible from Smithers by road and an industrial-scale barge crossing of Babine Lake from the town of Granisle. A longer, all-road commute is available from Fort St. James, 150 km to the southeast. Power extends to the former Bell mine.
DUKE was intermittently explored between 1965 and 2010 with geochemical, IP and magnetometer surveys and 30 shallow diamond drill holes. Extensive glacial cover precludes geological surveys and hinders geochemical survey interpretation, but most of the holes drilled intersected significant lengths of porphyry-style mineralization that remains open both laterally and to depth. For example, DDH-14, intersected 87 m of 0.40% Cu, 0.021% Mo, 2.2 g/t Ag and 0.05 g/t Au from 29 m to the end of the hole. Another hole, DDH-02, located 430 m southeast of DDH-14 intersected 107 m of 0.30% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 1.2 g/t Ag, and 0.06 g/t Au from 30 m. Porphyry mineralization was encountered by drill holes over an area of 800 m by 400 m which is open laterally in several directions. The average vertical depth of all holes drilled in this mineralized area is 90 m, with the deepest being only 124 m. Eighty percent of the holes drilled in this mineralized area bottomed in porphyry copper mineralization. Additionally, an historical IP survey results indicate a significant area of prospective ground has yet to be drilled.
Seven of the eight drill holes completed by Amarc in November 2017 and in early 2018, successfully outlined porphyry copper-style mineralization over an area currently measuring approximately 400 m north-south by 600 m east-west, and open to expansion in all directions. The deposit lies below flat-lying glacial till, which varies from 4 m to 18 m thick in the holes drilled, with mineralization extending to the depth of drilling – over 360 m deep. Mineralization is mainly hosted by biotite-feldspar-porphyry intrusions into volcanic rocks. These rock types also host the Bell, Morrison and Granisle porphyry copper deposits in the region.
A single hole was drilled one1 km north of all other Amarc holes at DUKE in order to test the geophysical IP anomaly that extends north and south from the DUKE deposit discovery area. This hole intersected substantial lengths of moderate to low grade copper and molybdenum mineralization, indicating the extensive nature of the DUKE porphyry copper system. The IP anomaly associated with the DUKE discovery measures some 4 km north-south by 1 km east-west.
Assay results from the eight holes drilled by Amarc on the DUKE project are tabulated below. Drill-hole plans and cross sections are available on the Company’s website atwww.amarcresources.com. www.amarcresources.com. The results indicate that Amarc has discovered another important, near surface, porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver-gold deposit. Over the next few months, theThe Company will consideris considering how best to undertake the extensive further drilling required to delineate the geometry and grade distribution of this promising discovery.
The surrounding DUKE district covered by Amarc mineral claims, also hosts multiple additional porphyry copper exploration targets for future assessment.
DUKE PROJECT ASSAY RESULTS | ||||||||||||
| Drill Hole ID | Dip (o) | Azim (o) | EOH (m) | Incl. | Form (m) | To (m) | Int.2,3,4 (m) | CuEQ1 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
| DK17001 | 59 | 266 | 519 |
Incl.
Incl. Incl. | 40 40 210 268 317 458 458 509 | 130 73 243 278 347 519 479 519 | 90 33 33 10 30 61 21 10 | 0.35 0.41 0.35 0.31 0.35 0.36 0.41 0.57 | 0.24 0.30 0.21 0.20 0.20 0.23 0.35 0.11 | 0.016 0.013 0.026 0.018 0.030 0.001 0.001 0.001 | 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.1 2.8 3.3 3.0 | 0.06 0.08 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.16 0.04 0.68 |
| DK17002 | 45 | 270 | 527 |
Incl.
Incl. | 17 17 238 308 477 477 | 130 73 268 377 523 498 | 113 56 30 69 47 22 | 0.37 0.41 0.47 0.38 0.40 0.51 | 0.25 0.29 0.33 0.23 0.26 0.31 | 0.014 0.015 0.019 0.029 0.025 0.040 | 1.4 1.6 1.9 1.2 1.4 1.6 | 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.04 0.04 |
| DK18003 | 50 | 267 | 529 | 32 | 68 | 36 | 0.30 | 0.21 | 0.010 | 1.0 | 0.06 | |
| 142 | 164 | 22 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 0.018 | 1.5 | 0.06 | |||||
| 395 | 407 | 12 | 0.47 | 0.21 | 0.004 | 2.3 | 0.34 | |||||
| DK18004 | 50 | 90 | 502 | 88 | 181 | 93 | 0.30 | 0.22 | 0.012 | 1.0 | 0.04 | |
| Incl. | 94 | 106 | 12 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.012 | 1.5 | 0.04 | ||||
| DK18005 | 55 | 267 | 485 | 14 | 344 | 331 | 0.34 | 0.22 | 0.019 | 1.0 | 0.04 | |
| Incl. | 71 | 232 | 161 | 0.40 | 0.26 | 0.025 | 1.1 | 0.05 | ||||
| and | 107 | 232 | 125 | 0.44 | 0.29 | 0.029 | 1.2 | 0.05 | ||||
| and | 212 | 232 | 20 | 0.64 | 0.45 | 0.033 | 2.0 | 0.06 | ||||
| Incl. | 308 | 344 | 36 | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.020 | 1.3 | 0.07 | ||||
| DK18006 | 50 | 267 | 500 | 98 | 416 | 318 | 0.33 | 0.24 | 0.012 | 1.1 | 0.05 | |
| Incl. | 227 | 293 | 66 | 0.42 | 0.30 | 0.016 | 1.2 | 0.07 | ||||
| Incl. | 347 | 405 | 58 | 0.46 | 0.34 | 0.017 | 1.5 | 0.06 | ||||
| DK18007 | 55 | 267 | 560 | 373 | 544 | 171 | 0.33 | 0.24 | 0.010 | 1.0 | 0.06 | |
| Incl. | 373 | 394 | 21 | 0.42 | 0.34 | 0.010 | 1.3 | 0.05 | ||||
| Incl. | 406 | 424 | 18 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.011 | 1.2 | 0.08 | ||||
| Incl. | 466 | 544 | 78 | 0.38 | 0.28 | 0.012 | 1.2 | 0.08 | ||||
| DK18008 | 50 | 267 | 487 | 21 | 158 | 137 | 0.31 | 0.22 | 0.011 | 0.8 | 0.06 | |
| Incl. | 21 | 86 | 65 | 0.41 | 0.30 | 0.012 | 1.1 | 0.08 | ||||
| 447 | 464 | 17 | 0.38 | 0.28 | 0.010 | 1.4 | 0.07 | |||||
| 71-02 | 45 | 90 | 163 | 30 | 128 | 98 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.012 | 1.2 | 0.07 | |
| 71-10 | 45 | 90 | 170 | 18 | 165 | 147 | 0.40 | 0.27 | 0.017 | 1.8 | 0.07 | |
| Incl. | 62 | 165 | 102 | 0.47 | 0.31 | 0.021 | 2.1 | 0.09 | ||||
| 71-14 | 90 | 0 | 115 | 29 | 115 | 87 | 0.53 | 0.40 | 0.021 | 2.2 | 0.05 | |
| 71-19 | 90 | 0 | 90 | 47 | 80 | 34 | 0.43 | 0.27 | 0.026 | 2.0 | 0.05 | |
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DUKE PROJECT ASSAY RESULTS | ||||||||||||
| Drill Hole ID | Dip (o) | Azim (o) | EOH (m) | Incl. | Form (m) | To (m) | Int.2,3,4 (m) | CuEQ1 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
| DK17001 | 59 | 266 | 519 |
Incl.
Incl. Incl. | 40 40 210 268 317 458 458 509 | 130 73 243 278 347 519 479 519 | 90 33 33 10 30 61 21 10 | 0.35 0.41 0.35 0.31 0.35 0.36 0.41 0.57 | 0.24 0.30 0.21 0.20 0.20 0.23 0.35 0.11 | 0.016 0.013 0.026 0.018 0.030 0.001 0.001 0.001 | 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.1 2.8 3.3 3.0 | 0.06 0.08 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.16 0.04 0.68 |
| DK17002 | 45 | 270 | 527 |
Incl.
Incl. | 17 17 238 308 477 477 | 130 73 268 377 523 498 | 113 56 30 69 47 22 | 0.37 0.41 0.47 0.38 0.40 0.51 | 0.25 0.29 0.33 0.23 0.26 0.31 | 0.014 0.015 0.019 0.029 0.025 0.040 | 1.4 1.6 1.9 1.2 1.4 1.6 | 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.04 0.04 |
| DK18003 | 50 | 267 | 529 | 32 | 68 | 36 | 0.30 | 0.21 | 0.010 | 1.0 | 0.06 | |
| 142 | 164 | 22 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 0.018 | 1.5 | 0.06 | |||||
| 395 | 407 | 12 | 0.47 | 0.21 | 0.004 | 2.3 | 0.34 | |||||
| DK18004 | 50 | 90 | 502 | 88 | 181 | 93 | 0.30 | 0.22 | 0.012 | 1.0 | 0.04 | |
| Incl. | 94 | 106 | 12 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.012 | 1.5 | 0.04 | ||||
| DK18005 | 55 | 267 | 485 | 14 | 344 | 331 | 0.34 | 0.22 | 0.019 | 1.0 | 0.04 | |
| Incl. | 71 | 232 | 161 | 0.40 | 0.26 | 0.025 | 1.1 | 0.05 | ||||
| and | 107 | 232 | 125 | 0.44 | 0.29 | 0.029 | 1.2 | 0.05 | ||||
| and | 212 | 232 | 20 | 0.64 | 0.45 | 0.033 | 2.0 | 0.06 | ||||
| Incl. | 308 | 344 | 36 | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.020 | 1.3 | 0.07 | ||||
| DK18006 | 50 | 267 | 500 | 98 | 416 | 318 | 0.33 | 0.24 | 0.012 | 1.1 | 0.05 | |
| Incl. | 227 | 293 | 66 | 0.42 | 0.30 | 0.016 | 1.2 | 0.07 | ||||
| Incl. | 347 | 405 | 58 | 0.46 | 0.34 | 0.017 | 1.5 | 0.06 | ||||
| DK18007 | 55 | 267 | 560 | 373 | 544 | 171 | 0.33 | 0.24 | 0.010 | 1.0 | 0.06 | |
| Incl. | 373 | 394 | 21 | 0.42 | 0.34 | 0.010 | 1.3 | 0.05 | ||||
| Incl. | 406 | 424 | 18 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.011 | 1.2 | 0.08 | ||||
| Incl. | 466 | 544 | 78 | 0.38 | 0.28 | 0.012 | 1.2 | 0.08 | ||||
| DK18008 | 50 | 267 | 487 | 21 | 158 | 137 | 0.31 | 0.22 | 0.011 | 0.8 | 0.06 | |
| Incl. | 21 | 86 | 65 | 0.41 | 0.30 | 0.012 | 1.1 | 0.08 | ||||
| 447 | 464 | 17 | 0.38 | 0.28 | 0.010 | 1.4 | 0.07 | |||||
| 71-02 | 45 | 90 | 163 | 30 | 128 | 98 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.012 | 1.2 | 0.07 | |
| 71-10 | 45 | 90 | 170 | 18 | 165 | 147 | 0.40 | 0.27 | 0.017 | 1.8 | 0.07 | |
| Incl. | 62 | 165 | 102 | 0.47 | 0.31 | 0.021 | 2.1 | 0.09 | ||||
| 71-14 | 90 | 0 | 115 | 29 | 115 | 87 | 0.53 | 0.40 | 0.021 | 2.2 | 0.05 | |
| 71-19 | 90 | 0 | 90 | 47 | 80 | 34 | 0.43 | 0.27 | 0.026 | 2.0 | 0.05 | |
1 Copper equivalent (CuEQ) calculations use metal prices: Cu US$3.00/lb, Mo US$12.00/lb, Ag US$18.00/oz and Au US$1300/oz.
Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100%.
2 Widths reported are drill widths, such that the true thicknesses are unknown.
3 All assay intervals represent length weighted averages.
4 Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.
Duke PropertyDUKE Project Agreement
In November, 2016, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with a private company owned by director Robert A. Dickinson to purchase 100% of the DUKE property (16 mineral claims) at the vendor’s direct acquisition costs of $168,996.
There are no royalties associated with the DUKE property.
The JOY PropertyProject (comprising the JOY and PINE propertiesProperties and the Staked Claims)
The JOY Project comprises the JOY and PINE properties and also the Staked Claims which were acquired directly by Amarc. In 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the JOY property in the northern portion of the Project. In addition, Amarc concluded agreements with each of Gold Fields Toodoggone Exploration Corporation (“GFTEC”) and Cascadero Copper Corporation (“Cascadero”) in mid-2017 which provide that Amarc can purchase 100% of the PINE property. SubjectFurther to the dealsdeal with GFTEC and Cascadero being concluded Hudbay and Amarc agreed to include both the PINE property and the Staked Claims into the JOY Project.
| - 24 - |
The JOY Project is located 310 km north-northwest of Mackenzie in an area of moderate topography in the Kemess District of north-central British Columbia,BC, which historically has beenis one of British Columbia’sBC’s best areas for the discovery of precious metals-rich porphyry deposits. Seasonal roads cross the PINE property claims (southern part of the JOY Project), accessing the Pine deposit, and by road from the Brenda porphyry copper deposit, which come within approximately 0.5 km of the JOY Project. The JOY Project is also accessed by helicopter from staging, or from the Kemess mine site located 25 km due south. Power also extends to the Kemess mine site and its 300-person camp.
The Kemess District is well-known to Amarc’s technical team, as the Company draws on the technical expertise of Hunter Dickinson Inc., with which Amarc is associated, who is credited as the first companyteam to recognize its true porphyry potential – acquiring both the early-stage Kemess South and Kemess North prospects into their operated company, El Condor Resources, and developingwhich developed them into significant porphyry copper-gold deposits before that company was taken over. Northgate Minerals went on to produce 3 million ounces of gold and 780 million pounds of copper over a 12-year period to 20101 (Kemess(Kemess South). More recently in January 2018, Centerra Gold Inc. concluded the purchase of the Kemess Project from former owner Aurico Metals for $310 million thereby acquiring the Kemess Underground Project, the Kemess East Deposit and the former Kemess South Mine infrastructure2 – news that only added to the impetus of the growing mineral exploration and discovery interest in this prodigious region. The advanced stage Kemess Underground Project has received its Environmental Assessment approval and concluded an IBA, in addition to which positive results from a Preliminary Economic Assessment were announced for Kemess East in 2017. Further, exploration drilling at the Kemess East Deposit returned intercepts such as 628 m grading 0.53 g/t Au and 0.41% Cu.
Amarc considers the JOY Project to represent the northern extension to the prolific Kemess porphyry gold-copper district. Highly favorable geology, surface geochemical sampling, along with the drilling of 136 holeholes by past operators, has resulted in narrowing the exploration focus to a number of important-scale, gold-copper deposit targets. One prime target area, the PINE Deposit is the subject of historical resource estimates that are not categorized as prescribed by National Instrument 43-101.
The 2017 programs aton the JOY property included 50 km²km2 of geological mapping, collection of 638 surface geochemical samples, completion of 49 line-km of ground IP and 470 line-km of airborne geophysical surveys along with drilling of 1,527 m in three core holes focused on the JOY property. This drilling tested a coincident IP geophysical and geochemical target on the JOY property claims. The three exploration holes returned strongly anomalous results in gold and zinc over significant intervals, hosted mainly within highly altered quartz monzonite intrusive and volcanic rocks. These results are comparable to those from two historical holes drilled by a previous operator some 2 km to the east on the adjoining PINE property claims. Taken together these long intervals of highly altered and anomalous core may represent a classic rock alteration style typically found flanking porphyry copper-gold deposits.
As work progressed in 2017, Amarc recognized the high potential for major gold-copper deposit discoveries on the PINE property claims. Notably, over 10 incompletely tested or untested multiple magnetic, geochemical and IP compelling porphyry gold-copper deposit targets occur in, and with proximity to, a prominent, 20 km long, northeast trending structural belt located 1.5 km south of Amarc’s 2017 drilling. Amarc has identified this compelling target trend as the Finlay Magnetic Corridor, which also hosts the historical PinePINE and TREE porphyry gold-copper deposit (see Amarc’snew corporate presentation atwww.amarcresources.com) www.amarcresources.com). As such the Company successfully concluded option agreements with GFTEC and Cascadero to acquire the PINE property claims.
Hudbay, Amarc’s optionee at JOY, has confirmedExtensive airborne and ground surveys completed in 2018, funding of $3.15 million of which $1.15 million will be paid to Amarc towards its PINE property acquisition costs and $2 million is to advance the JOY Project. Amarc will be the Operator. Extensive field work is underway for 2018 including an airborne magnetics survey and systematic IP, geochemical and geological surveys over the more than 10 deposit-scale targets alreadywithin the newly acquired PINE property claims, included 1,356 line-km of airborne magnetic and 63 line-km of ground IP geophysics surveys, collection of 2,676 soil geochemical samples, 98 km2 of detailed geological mapping and the drilling of two core holes totalling 946 m. These exploration surveys have significantly advanced the project identifying five clusters of drill-ready targets, covering areas from 1.5 km2to more than 5 km2. These targets are defined by a combination of positive factors that include: IP chargeability highs indicating large sulphide mineralized systems; areas of notable gold and copper enrichment identified withinby shallow (generally less than 150 m) historical drill holes; coincident, high-contrast copper, gold, silver, ± molybdenum and adjacentzinc soil geochemical anomalies; and favorable geology and magnetic signatures. Each of these five targets has the potential to the Finlay Magnetic Corridor. Drilling is expected to follow, targeting sulphide systems delineated by the IP surveys for majorhost a significant porphyry gold-copper deposits. Permits from the provincial governmentdeposit. Multiple drill holes are required for the current 2018 exploration activities are in hand.initial testing of each target area.
One other potential target at JOY was partially tested at the end of the 2018 season by two, widely spaced drill holes. The first hole encountered classic porphyry-style alteration and sulphide mineralized rock units with geochemically anomalous gold concentrations throughout its 563 m length. This finding is compatible with the edge of a productive mineralized system. Further drilling is warranted, targeting the potential potassic core of this specific mineralized system. The second exploration hole returned no significant results.
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Notes:
1. 1MINFILE Number 094E 094, MINFILE Production Detail Report, BC Geological Survey, Ministry of Energy and Mines, BC .BC.
2. 2Centerra Gold Inc. news release January 8, 2018.
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Joy Property Agreement
JOY Project Agreements
The mineral claims comprising the Staked Claims were staked and are owned 100% by Amarc. The property acquisition agreements relating to the JOY Project, and also the JOY and PINE property claims are outlined below.
JOY Property Agreement
In November, 2016, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with a private company owned by director Robert A. Dickinson to purchase 100% of the JOY property claims (15 mineral claims) at the vendor’s direct acquisition costs of $335,299, which included required claim assessment work filings.
The property is subject to an underlying NSR royalty to a former owner from production which is capped at $3.5 million.
JOY Project Agreement with Hudbay
On August 22, 2017 Amarc announced it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Hudbay, pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to a 60% ownership in the JOY Project.
Under the terms of the Agreement Hudbay can earn an initial 49% interest in the JOY Project under a Stage 1 Farm-in Right by funding $15 million of expenditures before December 31, 2020, of which $1.9 million was committed for 2017 and $2 million is committed for 2018.
When its Stage 1 Farm-in Right is exercised, Hudbay can, pursuant to a Stage 2 Farm-in Right, earn an additional 1% ownership interest in the JOY Project (for a total 50% ownership interest) by funding $5 million of expenditures (for a total of $20 million) also before December 31, 2020.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 Farm-in expenditures can be accelerated by Hudbay at its discretion. Amarc will be the operator during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 periods. A joint ventureJoint Venture (“JV”) will be formed when Hudbay has acquired a 49% interest in the JOY Project.
Provided that Hudbay has exercised the Stage 2 Farm-in Right and acquired a 50% interest, it can then elect to go forward via one of two paths.
First, Hudbay can replace Amarc as operator of the joint ventureJV after it funds all project expenditures and completes a Feasibility Study for the JOY Project by December 31, 2025. Having gained operatorship, Hudbay can then choose to either go forward with Amarc in a 50/50 participating joint ventureJV or Hudbay can instead elect to continue with its Farm-in (the “Stage 3 Farm-in Right”) to acquire an additional 10% interest in the JOY Project (for a total 60% ownership interest). To exercise its Stage 3 Farm-in Right, Hudbay must fund all expenditures required to submit a British Columbia environmental assessment (“EA”) application for the JOY Project and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application, with the application(s) being accepted for review by December 31, 2026. In addition, Hudbay must also continue to fund all approved project expenditures until all necessary EA Certificates are received. Following receipt of the EA Certificate(s), all approved JOY Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the joint venture.JV.
As a second alternative path, after exercising its Stage 2 Farm-in Right Hudbay can elect to proceed directly to the Stage 3 Farm-in Right, so immediately becoming the operator, and acquire a further 10% interest (for a total 60% ownership interest) by, like above, submitting a British Columbia EA application and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application by December 31, 2026. Again, in this instance, Hudbay must also fund all project expenditures until receipt of the necessary EA Certificate(s). Following receipt of project approvals from government, all approved JOY Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the joint venture.JV.
Hudbay has a one-time right to defer either of its 2019 or 2020 expenditures in the Stage 1 or Stage 2 Farm-in periods, for a one-year period, subject to certain conditions. If this deferral occurs, Amarc will have a “co-expenditure right”, whereby it can incur and fund approved additional expenditures on the JOY Project up to the amount of the deferred expenditures. Hudbay may elect to reimburse Amarc for these additional expenditures, thereby retaining its interest in the Project. Under either alternative path, if Hudbay does not submit the EA application(s) by December 31, 2026, then Amarc will become operator again.
In January, 2018 the Company amended the Agreement with Hudbay to extend the Stage 1 Farm-in Right period by one year to December 31, 2021 and to change the years that are subject to Hudbay’s expenditure deferral right to either of 2020 or 2021. The partiespartners have also agreed to include Amarc’s recently acquired PINE claims and the Staked Claims into the JOY Project.
On January 19, 2019 Amarc announced that Hudbay had relinquished its option to earn up to a 60% interest in the JOY Project. Hudbay had not earned a participating interest in the JOY Project and did not retain any royalty.
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PINE Property Agreements
In August, 2017 Amarc announced that it had concluded option agreements with each of GFTEC and Cascadero which enable Amarc to purchase 100% of the 323 km2 PINE property claims.claims (the “Property”).
Agreement with Gold Fields Toodoggone Exploration Corporation (“GFTEC”)
Amarc’s wholly-owned subsidiary 1130346 B.C. Ltd. (“Amarc Subco”), has entered into an option agreement with GFTEC (the “GFTEC Agreement”"GFTEC Agreement") pursuant to which Amarc Subco obtained the option (the “GFTEC Option”“Option”) to acquire all of GFTEC’s 51% interest in the PINE property.Property.
Amarc Subco can exercise the GFTEC Option at any time within four years from the date of the GFTEC Agreement (the “Option Period”) by completing athe public listing of its sharesAmarc Subco on the TSX Venture Exchange and issuing to GFTEC such numbersecurities in the capital of unitsthat Company so that GFTEC will holdholds 15% of Amarc Subco’sthe shares and 15% of any warrants to purchase Amarc Subco shareson issue (on a fully diluted basis) following completion of the listing. GFTEC will havehas the right to maintain its 15% pro rata interest in Amarc Subco through participation in future fundraisings and other share issuances.
To maintain the right to exercise the GFTEC Option at any time over up to the four-year Option Period, Amarc must conduct in stages, up to a total of $2.75 million of exploration expenditures (completed) on the Project. But no expenditures are required after the GFTEC Option has beento acquire GFTEC’s 51% interest is exercised.
GFTEC will retain a 2.5% net profits interest royalty (“NPI”) on mineral claims comprising about 96% of the PINE Property which are subject to a net smelter return royalty payable to a former owner (“Underlying NSR”) and a 1% net smelter returns royalty (“NSR”) on the balance of the claims that are not subject to the Underlying NSR. The NPI can be reduced to 1.25% at any time through the payment to GFTEC of $2.5 million in cash or shares. The NSR can be reduced to 0.50% through the payment to GFTEC of $2.5 million in cash or shares.
If Amarc Subco does not exercise the GFTEC Option or terminates the GFTEC Agreement at any time during the four years Option Period, then Amarc Subco may be required to make a termination payment to GFTEC. The level of termination payment, if any, varies with the year of termination and the amount of any exploration expenditures completed; varying over the four-year option from a low of no payment to an absolute maximum of $1,375,000 in the event no exploration work was done by Amarc.
Agreement with Cascadero
Amarc has also entered into an option agreement (the “Cascadero Agreement”) with Cascadero pursuant to which Amarc was granted an option (the “Cascadero Option”) to acquire all of Cascadero’s 49% interest in the PINE Property. In order to exercise the Cascadero Option, Amarc is required to make staged cash payments to Cascadero in the aggregate amount of $1 million before October 31, 2018, and issue on a staged basis common shares in its capital to Cascadero having an aggregate value equal to $950,000 at a minimum per share value of 18 cents before October 31, 2018. In lieu of issuing any common shares, Amarc may elect to pay to Cascadero the value of the shares in cash.
Capped Royalty AgreementOn October 31, 2018 Amarc acquired a 100% interest in Cascadero’s 49% interest in the PINE property.
The PINE property is subject to a 3% Underlying NSR royalty payable to a former owner. Amarc has reached an agreement with the former owner to cap the 3% NSR at $5 million payable from production for consideration totaling $100,000 and 300,000 Amarc shares, payable in stages through to January 31, 2019 (the “Capped Royalty Agreement”).
TSX Venture Approvals Received
The GFTEC Agreement, Cascadero Agreement and Capped Royalty Agreement were subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval which has been received.
Other Properties
Amarc’s focus with respect to its Newton and Galileo projects is to work towards venturing them out to third parties to further advance exploration.
Galileo – Blackwater District Property
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Amarc owns a 100% interest in the Galileo property, which is located within the Blackwater district, approximately 75 km southwest of Vanderhoof, British Columbia,BC, and 176 km southwest of northern British Columbia’sBC's regional hub city of Prince George. The area is characterized by subdued topography and is well served by existing transportation and power infrastructure and a skilled workforce, which supports an active exploration and mining industry.
The Company has completed an approximately 5,120 line-km of helicopter-borne, magnetic and electromagnetic geophysical survey over certain properties in the Blackwater district, from which epithermal gold-silver and porphyry gold-copper-type targets were identified for ground evaluation. At Galileo the results of more than 230 line-km of IP ground geophysical surveys, combined with information from soil geochemical surveys and prospecting have identified four principle target areas with the potential to represent important sulphide systems for drill testing.
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The Galileo property is located approximately 35 kilometres from New Gold’sGold's Blackwater gold deposit (Proven and Probable Reserves of 344.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.74 g/t gold containing 8.2 million gold ounces, and 5.5 g/t silver containing 60.8 million silver ounces; New Gold news release December 12, 2013).
Amarc has undertaken consultation with local First Nations. All parties worked together in a diligent manner in order to develop a positive working relationship.
The Newton Property
Amarc made a drill discovery at its 100% owned Newton bulk-tonnage gold-silver project in late 2009 and subsequently conducted exploration and delineation drilling at the deposit until June 2012.
An initial mineral resource estimate announced in September 2012, based on 24,513 m of core drilling in 78 holes completed up to June 30, 2012, confirms that Newton is a significant bulk tonnage gold discovery that remains open to further expansion. At a 0.25 g/t gold cut-off, Inferred Mineral Resources comprise 111.5 million tonnes grading 0.44 g/t gold and 2.1 g/t silver, containing 1.6 million ounces of gold and 7.7 million ounces of silver.
Inferred Mineral Resources at various cut-off grades are summarized in the table below.
NEWTON GOLD PROJECT – INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES
| Cut-Off Grade | Size | Grade | Contained Metal | ||
| (g/t Au) | Tonnage (000 t) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Gold (000 oz) | Silver (000 oz) |
| 0.20 | 147,069 | 0.38 | 1.9 | 1,818 | 8,833 |
| 0.25 | 111,460 | 0.44 | 2.1 | 1,571 | 7,694 |
| 0.30 | 85,239 | 0.49 | 2.4 | 1,334 | 6,495 |
| 0.35 | 65,384 | 0.54 | 2.7 | 1,130 | 5,635 |
| 0.40 | 49,502 | 0.59 | 2.9 | 938 | 4,596 |
| 1. | CIM definitions were followed for this mineral resource estimate. An "Inferred Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. |
| 2. | Inferred Mineral Resources were estimated using a long-term gold price of US$1,750 per ounce, a long-term silver price of US$25 per ounce, and a US$/C$ 1.00 exchange rate. |
| 3. | Bulk density is 2.71 tonnes per cubic metre. |
| 4. | Numbers may not add due to rounding. |
| 5. | The Effective Date of the Mineral Resource is July 4, 2012; the Effective Date being defined as the date when Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. was in receipt of full data which informed the resource. |
The Newton Inferred Mineral Resources was prepared using geostatistical methods by technical staff at HDI and audited by geological and mining consultants at Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. under the direction of Reno Pressacco, P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person. Sample preparation and analysis of drill core samples from Newton were completed at the ISO 9001:2008 accredited and ISO-IEC 17025:2005 accredited Acme Analytical Laboratories (Vancouver) Ltd. A technical report providing further details of the estimate has been filed on www.sedar.com.
The current Newton depositresource extends over an area of approximately 800 m by 800 m and to a depth of 560 m, and is open to expansion to the northwest, west and to depth. It is located within the southeast segment of an extensive seven square kilometre sulphide system that is characterized by widespread gold enrichment indicating good potential for the development of substantial additional resources. This large, fertile mineral system extends well beyond the limits of the current resource and is largely concealed under shallow cover.
Newton exhibits key characteristics that typify significant hydrothermal gold deposits. The deposit lies within a large, gold-enriched epithermal system that formed approximately 72 million years ago contemporaneously with felsic volcanic and intrusive rocks, which were emplaced into a structurally-active graben environment. Gold, silver and associated base metal mineralization was precipitated with extensive zones of strong quartz-sericite alteration. The alteration types, metal associations and geological setting at Newton are nearly identical to those which characterize several major intrusion-related epithermal gold deposits in BC – including the important Blackwater-Davidson, and Snowfields deposits.
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Exploration and resource expansion potential are clearly indicated at Newton by the large scale of the hydrothermal system, the structurally- and magmatically-active nature of the geological setting at the time of mineralization, the intensity of the hydrothermal alteration and the strong, widespread metal anomalies that have been confirmed by widely-spaced wildcat drilling. In addition, the Newton deposit occupies only one portion of an extensive IP geophysics chargeability anomaly. It is important to note that, beyond the currently delineated Newton resource, anomalous concentrations of metals have been intersected in almost all exploration holes drilled on the property. Large portions of the system remain untested or have been tested only by widely-spaced reconnaissance drilling.
Amarc’sAmarc's Newton property is located some 100 km west of the City of Williams Lake, BC, in a region characterized by gently rolling hills and other characteristics favorable for project development. The district is well served by existing transportation and power infrastructure and a skilled workforce, which support a number of operating mines, as well as late-stage mineral development and exploration projects.
Amarc has undertaken significant consultation with local First Nations. All parties worked together in a diligent manner in order to develop a positive and respectful working relationship with respect to the Newton property.property
Newton Property Agreement
Amarc holds a 100% interest in the Newton Property. Newton Gold Corp. holds a 5% net profits interest royalty. In addition, the mineral claims defined in an underlying agreement are subject to a 2% NSR royalty, which royalty may be purchased by Amarc for $2 million at any time. Advance NSR royalty payments of $25,000 per annum commenced on January 1, 2011.
Corporate Update
Subsequent to March 31, 2018, Jeffrey Mason resigned as a director of the Company.
Location of Mineral Properties and Claim Information
All of the Company’s active properties are located in British Columbia. The nature of the Company’s interests in various mineral properties is described above. The locations of the currently active properties and details of mineral exploration claims and Crown Grants within British Columbia are shown on the map and claim table respectively below.
LOCATION OF THE COMPANY’S IKE, DUKE AND JOY PROJECTS
Mineral Claim and Crown Grant Information for Amarc’s BC Properties as of March 31, 2018
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C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Company has one subsidiary, 1130346 B.C. Ltd. (“Amarc Subco”), incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada. Amarc Subco is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated for the purpose of entering into an option agreement. As at March 31, 2018,2019, the Amarc Subco did not have any asset, liability, income, or expense.
D. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
None of the Company’s properties have any material tangible fixed assets located thereon.
| ITEM 4A | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 5 | OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS |
OVERVIEW
Amarc is a mineral exploration company with a portfolio of active exploration projects located in British Columbia, Canada. The Company’sCompany's business strategy is the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. None of the Company’sCompany's properties have any mineral reserves or have been proven to host mineralized material which can be said to be “ore” or feasibly economic at current metals prices. The Company incurs significant exploration expenditures as it carries out its business strategy. As Amarc is an exploration stage company, it does not have any revenues from its operations to offset its exploration expenditures. Accordingly, the Company’sCompany's ability to continue exploration of its properties will be contingent upon the availability of additional financing.
Amarc’sAmarc's financial statements are prepared on the basis that it will continue as a going concern. The Company has incurred losses since inception and the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern depends upon its ability to continue to raise adequate financing and to develop profitable operations. Amarc’sAmarc's financial statements do not reflect adjustments, which could be material, to the carrying values of assets and liabilities, which may be required should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the audited annual financial statements and the related notes accompanying this Annual Report. The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The Company includes selected financial data prepared in compliance with IFRS without reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company’sCompany's accounting policies are presented in note 2 of the accompanying audited annual financial statements.
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to select accounting policies and make estimates, judgments and assumptions. Such estimates, judgments and assumptions may have a significant impact on the financial statements. These include but are not limited to:
Actual amounts could differ from the estimates used and, accordingly, affect the results of operation.
Mineral Exploration Tax Credits (“METC”)
When the Company is entitled to receive METC and other government grants, this government assistance is recognized as a cost recovery within exploration expense when there is reasonable assurance of recovery.
Judgements are involved in determining which expenditures qualify for the METC, and there may be disagreement between the Company and taxation authorities on the applicability of specific items. To date there have been only minor, immaterial, disagreements.
Financial assets and financial liabilities
Financial assets and liabilities are recognized when the Company becomes party to the contracts that give rise to them. The Company determines the classification of its financial assets and liabilities at initial recognition and, where allowed and appropriate, re-evaluates such classification at each financial year end. The Company does not have any derivative financial instruments.
Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value. Transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issuance of financial assets and financial liabilities (other than financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss) are added to or deducted from the fair value of the financial assets or financial liabilities, as appropriate, on initial recognition. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition of financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are recognized immediately in profit or loss.
Marketable securities
The Company’sCompany's investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) financial assets. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at fair value and changes therein, other than impairment losses and foreign currency differences on AFS monetary items, are recognized in other comprehensive income or loss. When an investment is derecognized, the cumulative gain or loss in the investment revaluation reserve is transferred to profit or loss.
The fair value of AFS monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency is determined in that foreign currency and translated at the exchange rate prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Changes in the fair value of AFS equity investments are recognized directly in equity.
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A. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended March 31, 2019 (“2019”) Versus Year Ended March 31, 2018 (“2018”)
The Company recorded a net loss of $1,949,000 during 2019 compared to a net loss of $2,072,000 during 2018. The decrease in net loss was mainly due to a decrease in both exploration and evaluation expenses, net of METC, and general and administration expenses.
| ($ 000’s) | 2019 | 2018 | Discussion |
| Exploration and evaluation, net of METC | 5,390 | 6,686 | Exploration activity during the 2019 and 2018 period was focused on the IKE and JOY Projects’ drilling and related field programs. The exploration activity during the 2019 period was lower due to decreased exploration activity as discussed in this Annual Report. |
| Administration | 914 | 1,053 | Administration expenses decreased during the 2019 period due to decreased administration activities in support of the Company’s IKE and JOY Projects. |
| Interest expense on loans payable to director | 90 | 128 | Interest incurred on loans provided by a director. Interest expense decreased during the 2019 period due to partial repayment of the principal amounts on the loan outstanding. |
| Amortization of finance charges | 130 | 433 | The amount relates to a loan bonus through the issuance of share purchase warrants to a director. Relates to loan provided by the director in November 2014. |
| Loss on disposition of AFS financial assets | – | 1 | The Company routinely disposed of some of its marketable securities during 2018 and 2017. |
Year Ended March 31, 2018 (“2018”) Versus Year Ended March 31, 2017 (“2017”)
The Company recorded a net loss of $2,072,000 during 2018 compared to a net loss of $1,043,000 during 2017. The decreaseincrease in net loss was mainly due to a decreasean increase in both exploration and evaluation expenses, net of METC, and general and administration expenses.
| ($ 000’s) | 2018 | 2017 | Discussion | 2018 | 2017 | Discussion |
| Exploration and evaluation, net of METC | 6,686 | 2,926 | Exploration activity during the 2018 period was focused on the IKE and JOY Projects’ drilling and related field programs. The exploration activity during 2017 was focused primarily on the IKE Project’s drilling and related field programs. The exploration activity during the 2018 period was higher due to increased exploration activity as discussed in this Annual Report. | 6,686 | 2,926 | Exploration activity during the 2018 period was focused on the IKE and JOY Projects’ drilling and related field programs. The exploration activity during 2017 was focused primarily on the IKE Project’s drilling and related field programs. The exploration activity during the 2018 period was higher due to increased exploration activity as discussed in this Annual Report. |
| Administration | 1,053 | 732 | Administration expenses increased during the 2018 period due to increased administration activities in support of the Company’s IKE and JOY Projects. | 1,053 | 732 | Administration expenses increased during the 2018 period due to increased administration activities in support of the Company’s IKE and JOY Projects. |
| Interest expense on loans payable to director | 128 | 137 | Interest incurred on loans provided by a director. Interest expense decreased during the 2018 period due to partial repayment of the principal amounts on the loan outstanding during the period. | 128 | 137 | Interest incurred on loans provided by a director. Interest expense decreased during the 2018 period due to partial repayment of the principal amounts on the loan outstanding during the period. |
| Amortization of finance charges | 433 | 203 | The amount relates to loan bonus through the issuance of share purchase warrants to a director. Relates to loan provided by the director in November 2014 and September 2015. | 433 | 203 | The amount relates to loan bonus through the issuance of share purchase warrants to a director. Relates to loan provided by the director in November 2014 and September 2015. |
| Loss on disposition of AFS financial assets | 1 | 15 | The Company routinely disposed of some of its marketable securities during 2018 and 2017. | 1 | 15 | The Company routinely disposed of some of its marketable securities during 2018 and 2017. |
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Year Ended March 31, 2017 (“2017”) Versus Year Ended March 31, 2016 (“2016”)
The Company recorded a net loss of $1,043,000 during 2017 compared to a net loss of $1,119,000 during 2016. The decrease in net loss was mainly due to a decrease in both exploration and evaluation expenses, net of METC, and general and administration expenses.
| ($ 000’s) | 2017 | 2016 | Discussion |
| Exploration and evaluation, net of METC | 3,574 | 2,773 | Exploration activity during the 2017 and 2016 periods was focused primarily on the IKE Project’s drilling and related field programs. The exploration expenses in 2017 is higher due to increase in exploration activities as discussed in this Annual Report. |
| Administration | 732 | 1,289 | No significant change in administration activities during the 2017 period compared to the 2016 period. The lower expenses in 2017 is mainly due reduction in salaries relating to the corporate activities during the year. |
| Interest expense on loans payable to director | 137 | 83 | Interest incurred on loans provided by a director. |
| Amortization of finance charges | 203 | 57 | The amount relates to loan bonus through the issuance of share purchase warrants to a director. Relates to loan provided by the director in November 2014 and September 2015. |
| Gain on disposition of AFS financial assets | (15) | (8) | The Company routinely disposed of some of its marketable securities during 2017 and 2016. |
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Year Ended March 31, 2016 (“2016”) Versus Year Ended March 31, 2015 (“2015”)
The Company recorded a net loss of $1,119,000 during 2016 compared to a net loss of $4,884,000 during 2015. The decrease in net loss was mainly due to the allocation of expenses related to IKE project to Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.
| ($ 000’s) | 2016 | 2015 | Discussion |
| Exploration and evaluation, net of METC | 2,773 | 3,278 | Exploration activity during the 2016 and 2015 periods was focused primarily on the IKE Project’s drilling and related field programs. The exploration expenses in 2016 is lower as the Company has allocated expenses related IKE project to Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. |
| Administration | 1,289 | 1,478 | No significant change in administration activities during the 2016 period compared to the 2015 period. The lower expenses in 2016 is mainly due reduction in salaries relating to the corporate activities during the year. |
| Interest expense on loans payable to director | 83 | 16 | Interest incurred on loans provided by a director. |
| Amortization of finance charges | 57 | 188 | The amount relates to loan bonus through the issuance of share purchase warrants to a director. Relates to loan provided by the director in November 2014 and September 2015. |
| Gain on disposition of AFS financial assets | (8) | (38) | The Company routinely disposed of some of its marketable securities during 2016 and 2015. |
B. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Historically, the Company’sCompany's sole source of funding has been provided from the issuance of equity securities for cash, primarily through private placements to sophisticated investors and institutions, and from director loans. The Company’sCompany's access to financing is always uncertain. There can be no assurance of continued access to significant equity funding to finance the Company’sCompany's ongoing
At March 31, 2018,2019, the Company had a cash balance of $3,308,000approximately $283,000 and working capital deficiency of approximately $1,836,000.$716,000, which was primarily due to a director’s loan of $1,000,000 due in November 2019 that was reclassified as a current liability. The Company is in discussions with regards to an extension of the loan. The Company plans its cash spending based on availability of funds.
In September 2017, the Company announced a private placement financing, issuing 13,045,500 Common Shares at a price of $0.20 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $2,609,100, and incurred share issuance costs of $127,800 for net proceeds of $2,481,300.
Further advancement and development of the Company’s mineral property interests will require additional funding from a combination of the Company’s shareholders, existing or potential new optionees and joint venture parties, and debt financing. As the Company is currently in the exploration stage, it does not have any revenues from operations. Therefore, the Company relies on funding from its optionees for its continuing financial liquidity and the Company relies on the equity market and debt financing as sources of funding. The Company continues to focus on preserving its cash resources while maintaining its operational activities.
The Company does not have any material capital lease obligations, purchase obligations or any other long-term obligations.
Capital Resources
The Company has no lines of credit or other sources of financing which have been arranged or utilized.
The Company has no “Purchase Obligations” defined as any agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on the Company that specifies all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.
Requirement of Financing
Historically, Amarc’sAmarc's sole source of funding has been provided from the sale of equity securities for cash, primarily through private placements to sophisticated investors and institutions. Like all exploration stage companies, Amarc will need to raise additional financing to meet its business objectives.
The Company presently does not have any material commitments for capital expenditures and accordingly, can remain somewhatfairly flexible in directing its exploration activities to the availability of funds.
Financial Instruments
Amarc keeps its financial instruments primarily denominated in Canadian Dollars with a very small amount held in U.S. Dollars. The Company does not engage in any hedging operations with respect to currency or in-situ minerals. Funds which are excess to Amarc’sAmarc's current needs are invested in short-term near-cash investments.
Amarc does not have any material, legally enforceable obligations requiring it to make capital expenditures and accordingly, can remain relatively flexible in gearing its activities to the availability of funds.
C. RESEARCH EXPENDITURES
Amarc does not carry out any research or development activities. Please refer toItem 5.A andItem 5.B above for a discussion of the exploration expenditures that the Company has incurred in connection with the exploration of the Company’sCompany's mineral properties.
D. TREND INFORMATION
As a natural resource exploration company, Amarc’sAmarc's activities reflect the traditional cyclical nature of metal prices. Consequently, Amarc’sAmarc's business is primarily an “event-driven” business based on exploration results.
| - 33 - |
Average annual prices for copper, gold and silver are shown in the table below:
Average metal price (US$) | ||||
| Calendar year | Copper | Molybdenum | Gold | Silver |
| 2014 | 3.11/lb | 11.59/lb | 1,264/oz | 19.09/oz |
| 2015 | 2.50/lb | 6.73/lb | 1,160/oz | 15.69/oz |
| 2016 | 2.21/lb | 6.56/lb | 1,251/oz | 17.14/oz |
| 2017 | 2.88/lb | 7.26 /lb | 1,275/oz | 17.01/oz |
| 2018 | 2.96/lb | 11.94/lb | 1,269/oz | 15.71/oz |
| 2019 (to the date of this Annual Report) | ||||
E. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Amarc has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
F. TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table lists the contractual obligations of the Company as at March 31, 2018:
| Payment due by period | |||||
| Type of Contractual Obligation | Total | Less than 1 Year | 1 - 3 Years | 3 - 5 Years | More than 5 Years |
| Debt Obligations (gross amount) | $1,000,000 | $– | $1,000,000 | $– | $– |
| Capital (Finance) Lease Obligations | – | – | – | – | – |
| Operating Lease Obligations (Office Lease) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Purchase Obligations | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other Long-term Liabilities Reflected on the Company's Balance Sheet under IFRS | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | $1,000,000 | $– | $1,000,000 | $– | $– |
| Payment due by period | |||||
| Type of Contractual Obligation | Total | Less than 1 Year | 1 - 3 Years | 3 - 5 Years | More than 5 Years |
| Debt Obligations (gross amount) | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 | $ – | $ – | $ – |
| Capital (Finance) Lease Obligations | – | – | – | – | – |
| Operating Lease Obligations (Office Lease) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Purchase Obligations | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other Long-term Liabilities Reflected on the Company's Balance Sheet under IFRS | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 | $ – | $ – | $ – |
The Company has no capital (finance) lease obligations, no operating lease obligations, no purchase obligations, or other long-term liabilities.
G. SAFE HARBOR
The safe harbor provided in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act applies to forward-looking information provided pursuant toItem 5.EandItem 5.F above.
| - 34 - |
| ITEM 6 | DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES |
A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
| Name | Year born | Position | Director or Officer Since |
| T. Barry Coughlan | 1945 | Director | February 2009 |
| Scott D. Cousens | 1964 | Director | September 1995 |
| Robert A. Dickinson | 1948 | Chairman of the Board and Director | April 1993 |
| Diane Nicolson(2) | 1965 | President, CEO and Director | January 2008 |
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
| Trevor Thomas | 1967 | Secretary | February 2008 |
| (1) | To the best of the | |
| (2) | In | |
| (3) | In January 2019, Michael Lee was appointed as CFO of the Company. |
The following is biographical information on each of the persons listed above:
Rene Carrier – Director
Mr. Carrier has been the President of Euro-American Capital Corporation, a private investment company, since May 1991. He served as Vice-President of Pacific International Securities Inc. where he worked for ten years until 1991. He served as Lead Director of International Royalty Corp. (“IRC”) from 2003 to 2010. IRC was a global mineral royalty company engaged in the acquisition and creation of natural resource royalties which was acquired by Royal Gold Inc. in 2010. He also served as an independent director of Chartwell Technology Inc. from July 1991 to April 2007.
Mr. Carrier is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
| |||
Barry Coughlan – Director
Mr. Coughlan is a self-employed businessman and financier, and senior executive with extensive international experience in capital markets who has been involved in the financing of publicly traded companies for over 30 years. During this period Mr. Coughlan has been involved in the financing of over 30 private companies, which subsequently listed on both international and North American financial markets. His principal occupation is President and Director of TBC Ventures Ltd., a private investment company.
Mr. Coughlan is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or a director of the following public companies:
| Company | Positions Held | From | To |
| Amarc Resources Ltd. | Director | February 2009 | Present |
| Northcliff Resources Ltd. | Director | June 2011 | Present |
| Rathdowney Resources Ltd. | Director | March 2011 | Present |
| Taseko Mines Limited | Director | February 2001 | June 2015 |
| Quadro Resources Ltd. | President and Director | June 1986 | Present |
| Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. | Director | December 2014 | Present |
| Vatic Ventures Corporation | Director | January 2011 | Present |
Scott Cousens – Director
Scott Cousens provides management, technical and financial services to a number of publicly traded companies. Mr. Cousens’Cousens' focus since 1991 has been the development of relationships within the international investment community. Substantial financings and subsequent corporate success has established strong ties with North American, European and Asian investors.
| - 35 - |
Mr. Cousens is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
| Company | Positions Held | From | To |
| Amarc Resources Ltd. | Director | September 1995 | Present |
| Heatherdale Resources Ltd. | Chairman and Director | November 2009 | June 2017 |
| Northcliff Resources Ltd. | Director | May 2012 | Present |
| Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Director | June 1996 | February 2016 |
| Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. | Chairman and Director | November 2012 | June 2017 |
| Rathdowney Resources Ltd. | Director | June 2011 | September 2016 |
| Taseko Mines Limited | Director | October 1992 | July 2014 |
Robert Dickinson, B.Sc., M.Sc. – Chairman of the Board and Director
Robert Dickinson is an economic geologist who serves as a member of management of several mineral exploration companies, primarily those for whom Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. provides services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Hons. Geology) and a Master of Science degree (Business Administration - Finance) from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Dickinson has been active in mineral exploration for over 45 years and was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2012. He is a director of Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. He is also President and Director of United Mineral Services Ltd., a private resource company. He also serves as a Director of the BC Mining Museum and a Trustee of the BC Mineral Resources Education Program.
Mr. Dickinson is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
Company | Positions Held | From | To |
| Amarc Resources Ltd. | Director | April 1993 | Present |
| Chairman | April 2004 | Present | |
| Heatherdale Resources Ltd. | Director | November 2009 | Present |
| Northcliff Resources Ltd. | Director | June 2011 | Present |
| Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Director | June 1994 | Present |
| Chairman | April 2004 | Present | |
| Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. | Director | December 2011 | Present |
| Taseko Mines Limited | Director | January 1991 | Present |
Ronald Thiessen, CA – Chief Executive Officer and Director
Ronald Thiessen is a Chartered Accountant with professional experience in finance, taxation, mergers, acquisitions and re-organizations. Since 1986, Mr. Thiessen has been involved in the acquisition and financing of mining and mineral exploration companies. Mr. Thiessen is a director of Hunter Dickinson Services Inc., a company providing management and administrative services to several publicly-traded companies and focuses on directing corporate development and financing activities.
Mr. Thiessen is, or was within the past five years, an officer and/or director of the following public companies:
| |||
Diane Nicolson, PhD – President and Director
Diane Nicolson has a B.Sc. degree in geology from the University of London, a PhD in economic geology from the University of Wales and 20 years international experience in the exploration and mining industry. She has worked for both major and junior mining companies, including Rio Tinto, Minera Antamina, Noranda and Cambior. Over the past 10 years, she has been involved primarily with business development and new project assessment and acquisitions, with a particular focus on Latin America where she was based for 13 years.
Dr. Nicolson joined Hunter Dickinson in 2007 as a member of the global business development team and is responsible for management, strategic planning and new project development for Amarc Resources Ltd.
| - 36 - |
Dr. Nicolson is, or was within the past five years, an officer of the following public companies:
| Company | Positions Held | From | To |
| Amarc Resources Ltd. | Director | June 2017 | Present |
| President | November 2014 | Present | |
| Chief Executive Officer | February 2019 | Present | |
| Executive Vice President | September 2012 | November 2014 | |
| Mirasol Resources Ltd. | Director | March 2019 | Present |
Luqman KhanMichael Lee – Chief Financial Officer
Luqman KhanMichael Lee is Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA CGA),CA) with more than 2015 years of professional experience in accountancy, financegovernance, risk management and business management. For the past decade, he has served in various controllershipregulatory compliance. He previously held positions with publicly tradedprofessional services firms Ernst & Young and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu providing advisory services to companies associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc., including Amarc.in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
| Company | Positions Held | From | To |
| Amarc Resources Ltd. | Chief Financial Officer | January 2019 | Present |
| Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. | Chief Financial Officer | February 2013 | Present |
Trevor Thomas, LLB – Secretary
Trevor Thomas has practiced in the areas of corporate commercial, corporate finance, securities and mining law since 1995, both in private practice environment as well as in-house positions and is currently in-house legal counsel for Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. Prior to joining Hunter Dickinson Services Inc., he served as in-house legal counsel with Placer Dome Inc.
Mr. Thomas is, or was within the past five years, an officer of the following public companies:
| Company | Positions Held | From | To |
| Amarc Resources Ltd. | Secretary | February 2008 | Present |
| Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. | Secretary | February 2008 | Present |
| Curis Resources Ltd. | Secretary | June 2013 | November 2014 |
| Heatherdale Resources Ltd. | Secretary | June 2013 | Present |
| Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. | Director | September 2016 | Present |
| Northcliff Resources Ltd. | Secretary | June 2011 | Present |
| Quadro Resources Ltd. | Director | July 2017 | Present |
| Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. | Secretary | June 2013 | Present |
| Rathdowney Resources Ltd. | Secretary | March 2011 | Present |
| Taseko Mines Limited | Secretary | July 2008 | Present |
| - 37 - |
B. COMPENSATION
During the Company’sCompany's financial year ended March 31, 2018,2019, the aggregate cash compensation paid or payable by the Company to its directors and senior officers was $218,000.$232,000.
Diane Nicolson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ronald W. Thiessen, Former Chief Executive Officer, Luqman Khan,Michael Lee, Chief Financial Officer, Paul Mann,and Luqman Khan, Former Chief Financial Officer and Diane Nicolson, President are each a Named Executive Officer (“NEO”) of the Company for the purposes of the following disclosure.
The compensation paid to the NEOs during the Company’sCompany's most recently completed financial year of March 31, 20182019 is as set out below and expressed in Canadian Dollars:
| Name and principal position | Year | Salary ($) | Share-based awards ($) | Option-based awards ($) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) | Pension value ($) | All other compen-sation ($) | Total Compen-sation | |
| Annual incentive plans | Long-term incentive plans | ||||||||
Ronald Thiessen Chief Executive Officer (1) | 2018 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| 2017 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| 2016 | $49,905 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $49,905 | |
Diane Nicolson President | 2018 | $200,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $200,000 |
| 2017 | $156,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $156,000 | |
| 2016 | $179,809 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $179,809 | |
Luqman Khan Chief Financial Officer (1) (2) | 2018 | $18,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $18,000 |
| 2017 | $23,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $23,000 | |
Paul Mann Former Chief Financial Officer (1) (2) | 2016 | $26,362 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $26,362 |
| Name and principal position | Year | Salary ($) | Share-based awards ($) | Option-based awards ($) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) | Pension value ($) | All other compen-sation ($) | Total Compen-sation | |
| Annual incentive plans | Long-term incentive plans | ||||||||
| Diane Nicolson President and Chief Executive Officer, Director (2) | 2019 | $213,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $213,000 |
| 2018 | $200,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $200,000 | |
| 2017 | $156,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $156,000 | |
Ronald Thiessen Chief Executive Officer (1) (2) | 2019 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| 2018 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
| 2017 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | |
Michael Lee Chief Financial Officer (1) (3) | 2019 | $3,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $3,000 |
| Luqman Khan Chief Financial Officer (1) (3) | 2019 | $16,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $16,000 |
| 2018 | $18,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $18,000 | |
| 2017 | $23,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | $23,000 | |
| Notes: |
| (1) | Mr. Thiessen, Mr. |
| (2) | |
| (3) | Mr Khan was replaced as CFO in |
Pension Plan Benefits
The Company has no pension or deferred compensation plans for its directors, officers or employees.
Termination and Change of Control Benefits
There are no compensatory plan(s) or arrangement(s), with respect to the Named Executive Officer resulting from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment of the officer’sofficer's employment or from a change of the Named Executive Officer’sOfficer's responsibilities following a change in control.
Director Compensation
The compensation provided to the directors, excluding a director who is already set out in disclosure for a NEO for the Company’sCompany's most recently completed financial year of March 31, 20182019 is as set out below:
| Name | Fees earned ($) | Share-based awards ($) | Option-based awards ($) | Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) | Pension value ($) | All other compensation ($) | Total ($) |
| Rene G. Carrier (2) | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Barry Coughlan | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Scott Cousens | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Robert Dickinson (1) | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Jeffrey Mason (3) | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Notes: | ||
| (1) | Pursuant to the Corporate Services Agreement with Hunter Dickinson Services Inc., compensation for |
| (2) | Mr. Carrier resigned as a director of the Company in November 2018. | |
| (3) | Mr. Mason resigned as a director of the Company in April 2018. |
| - 38 - |
C. BOARD PRACTICES
All of the Company’sCompany's directors were elected at the annual general meeting of shareholders held on November 22, 2017.2018. All directors have a term of office expiring at the next annual general meeting of the Company’sCompany's shareholders. All officers have a term of office lasting until their removal or replacement by the board of directors (the “Board”).
There were no arrangements, standard or otherwise, pursuant to which directors were compensated by Amarc or its subsidiaries for their services in their capacity as directors, or for committee participation, involvement in special assignments or for services as consultants or experts during the most recently completed financial year.
General
The Board believes that good corporate governance improves corporate performance and benefits all shareholders. The Canadian Securities Administrators (the “CSA”) have adopted National Policy 58-201 Corporate Governance Guidelines, which provides non-prescriptive guidelines on corporate governance practices for reporting issuers such as the Company. In addition, the CSA have implemented National Instrument NI 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices, which prescribes certain disclosure by the Company of its corporate governance practices. This section sets out the Company’sCompany's approach to corporate governance and addresses the Company’sCompany's compliance with NI 58-101.
1. Board of Directors
Directors are considered to be independent if they have no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is a relationship which could, in the view of the Company’sCompany's board of directors, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a director’sdirector's independent judgment.
The Board facilitates its independent supervision over management in a number of ways including: by holding regular meetings without the presence of management; by retaining independent consultants; and by reviewing corporate developments with larger shareholders, analysts and potential industry joint venture parties, where it deems necessary.
Messrs. Coughlan and CarrierCousens are independent. Messrs. Cousens,Mr. Dickinson and Thiessen, and Ms. Nicolson are not independent. The Company is taking steps to ensure that the duties generally performed by independent directors are being performed by the current directors. The Board members have extensive experience as directors of public companies and are sensitive to the related corporate governance and financial reporting obligations associated with such positions. Thus, the Board members are well versed in the obligations of directors and the expectations of independence from management.
2. Other Directorships
The section entitledItem 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees in this Annual Report gives details of other reporting issuers of which each director is a director or officer.
3. Orientation and Continuing Education
The Company has traditionally retained experienced mining people as directors and hence the orientation needed is minimized. When new directors are appointed, they are acquainted with the Company’sCompany's mineral project and the expectations of directors. Board meetings generally include presentations by the Company’sCompany's senior management and project staff in order to give the directors full insight into the Company’sCompany's operations.
4. Ethical Business Conduct
The Board has adopted an ethics policy which is available on the Company’sCompany's website,www.amarcresources.com. The Board also understands that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’sCompany's governing corporate legislation and the common law and the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on an individual director’sdirector's participation in decisions of the Board in which the director has an interest have been sufficient to ensure that the Board operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
| - 39 - |
5. Nomination of Directors
The Board considers its size each year when it considers the number of directors required, taking into account the number required to carry out the Board’sBoard's duties effectively and to maintain a diversity of views and experience.
The Board does not have a nominating committee, and these functions are currently performed by the Board as a whole. However, if there is a change in the number of directors required by the Company, this policy will be reviewed.
6. Compensation
The Board determines the compensation for independent directors and executives.
7. Other Board Committees
The Board has no compensation or other committees, other than the audit committee.
8. Assessments
The Board monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communication between the Board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and its audit committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee’sCommittee's Charter
The audit committee has adopted a charter that sets out its mandate and responsibilities. A copy of the audit committee charter is available at the Company’sCompany's website,www.amarcresources.com.
Composition of the Audit Committee
As of the date of this document, the members of the audit committee were Rene CarrierScott Cousens, Diane Nicolson and Barry Coughlan. All members are financially literateliterate. Messrs. Cousens and allCoughlan are independent.
Relevant Education and Experience
As a result of their education and experience, each member of the audit committee has familiarity with, an understanding of, or experience in:
| • | reviewing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company's financial statements, and |
| an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. |
Audit Committee Oversight
The audit committee has not made any recommendations to the Board to nominate or compensate any external auditor that was not adopted by the Board.
The Company’sCompany's auditor De Visser Gray LLP has not provided any material non-audit services during the most recently completed fiscal year.
| - 40 - |
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Company has procedures for the review and pre-approval of any services performed by its auditors. The procedures require that all proposed engagements of its auditors for audit and non-audit services be submitted to the audit committee for approval prior to the beginning of any such services. The audit committee considers such requests, and, if acceptable to a majority of the audit committee members, pre-approves such audit and non-audit services by a resolution authorizing management to engage the Company’sCompany's auditors for such audit and non-audit services, with set maximum dollar amounts for each itemized service. During such deliberations, the audit committee assesses, among other factors, whether the services requested would be considered “prohibited services” as contemplated by the regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and whether the services requested and the fees related to such services could impair the independence of the auditors.
Exemptions From Certain Canadian Audit Committee Requirements
Pursuant to section 6.1 of National Instrument 52-110 –Audit Committees (“NI 52-110”), as adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators (including the British Columbia and Alberta Securities Commissions which have jurisdiction over the Company, the “CSA”), the Company is exempt from the requirements of Parts 3 and 5 of NI 52-110 for the current year, by virtue of the Company being a “venture issuer” (as defined in NI 52-110).
Part 3 of NI 52-110 prescribes certain requirements for the composition of audit committees of non-exempt companies that are reporting issuers under Canadian provincial securities legislation. Part 3 of NI 52-110 requires, among other things that an audit committee be comprised of at three directors, each of whom, is, subject to certain exceptions, independent and financially literate in accordance with the standards set forth in NI 52-110.
Part 5 of NI 52-110 requires an annual information form that is filed by a non-exempt reporting issuer under National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations, as adopted the CSA, to include certain disclosure about the issuer’sissuer's audit committee, including, among other things: the text of the audit committee’scommittee's charter; the name of each audit committee member and whether or not the member is independent and financially literate; whether a recommendation of the audit committee to nominate or compensate an external auditor was not adopted by the issuer’sissuer's board of directors, and the reasons for the board’sboard's decision; a description of any policies and procedures adopted by the audit committee for the engagement of non-audit services; and disclosure of the fees billed by the issuer’sissuer's external auditor in each of the last two fiscal years for audit, tax and other services.
D. EMPLOYEES
At March 31, 2018,2019, Amarc had the following employees:
| March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | March 31, 2016 | March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | |
| Full-time salaried | – | – | – | – | ||
| Hourly | 4 | 2 | – | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Amarc’sAmarc's administrative and exploration functions are primarily administered through Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (SeeItem 7 - Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions).
E. SHARE OWNERSHIP
Security Holdings of Directors and Senior Management
As at March 31, 2018,2019, the directors and officers of Amarc, and their respective affiliates, directly and indirectly, own or control as a group an aggregate of 30,441,92528,939,541 common shares (18.04%(16.96%), or 35,441,925 (21.00%33,939,541 (19.89%) on a diluted basis.
| - 41 - |
As at March 31, 2018,2019, the Company’sCompany's directors and senior management beneficially own the following number of the Company’sCompany's common shares and share purchase options:
| Name of Insider | Securities Beneficially Owned or Controlled(1) | As a % of the outstanding common shares |
| Barry Coughlan(3) | 86,000 common shares | 0.05% |
| Scott D. Cousens(3) | 148,300 common shares | 0.09% |
| Robert A. Dickinson(2) |
5,000,000 share purchase warrants | |
| 718,000 common shares | ||
| Michael Lee | Nil common shares | 0.00% |
| Trevor Thomas | 130,000 common shares | 0.08% |
| Total |
5,000,000 purchase warrants |
| Notes: | ||
| (1) | The information as to the number of Common Shares beneficially owned or controlled is not within the knowledge of management of the Company and has been furnished by the respective nominees as filed on SEDI. Each nominee has held the same or a similar principal occupation with the organization indicated or a predecessor thereof for the last five years. | |
| (2) | Certain of these common shares are beneficially owned through private companies controlled by Mr. Dickinson, and a Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP) owned by Mr. Dickinson. | |
| (3) | Member of the audit committee. |
Share Option Plan
As of the date of this document, there were nil options outstanding pursuant to the Company’sCompany's share option plan (the “Plan”), described below, and an aggregate of 16,878,62217,060,289 common shares remained available for issuance pursuant to the Plan, described below.
Share Incentive Plan
In order to provide incentive to directors, officers, employees, management and others who provide services to the Company to act in the best interests of the Company, the Company has adopted a Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is required to comply with the policies of the TSX Venture.
In order to increase the Company’sCompany's flexibility and to bring the Company’sCompany's share option incentive program in line with the current regulatory regime, the Board approved a new rolling share option plan (the “New Plan”) on August 13, 2010 to replace the plan previously approved and confirmed by the shareholders on September 21, 2004 and September 29, 2009, respectively. The New Plan was approved by shareholders at the Company’sCompany's annual general meeting (the “Meeting”) held on September 15, 2010. Under TSXV rules the Plan must be approved by the Company’s shareholders annually.
Subject to certain restrictions described below, the Plan is based on the maximum number of eligible shares equaling a rolling percentage of up to 10% of the Company’sCompany's outstanding common shares, calculated from time to time. Pursuant to the Plan, if outstanding options are exercised, or expire, or the number of issued and outstanding common shares of the Company increases, the number of options available to grant under the Plan increases proportionately. At the date of approval of the New Plan, all outstanding options were rolled into and deemed to be granted under the New Plan.
The exercise price of each option is set by the board of directors at the time of grant based on the market price on the date preceding the date of grant. Options can have a maximum term of ten years and typically terminate ninety days following the termination of the optionee’soptionee's employment or engagement, except in the case of retirement or death. Vesting of options is at the discretion of the board of directors at the time the options are granted.
Eligible Optionees
Under the policies of the TSX Venture, to be eligible for the issuance of a stock option under the Plan an optionee must either be a director, officer or employee of the Company or its affiliates, or a consultant or an employee of a company providing management or other services to the Company, or its subsidiaries, at the time the option is granted.
Options may be granted only to an individual or to a company that is wholly-owned by individuals eligible for an option grant. If the option is granted to a non-individual, the company must provide the TSX Venture with an undertaking that it will not permit any transfer of its securities, nor issue further securities, to any other individual or entity as long as the incentive stock option remains in effect without the consent of the TSX Venture.
| - 42 - |
Insider Limitations
The aggregate number of Common Shares reserved for issuance under options granted to Insiders must not exceed ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares (in the event that the New Plan is amended to reserve for issuance more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares) unless the Company has obtained Disinterested Shareholder Approval (as defined below) to do so;
The number of optioned shares issued to Insiders in any twelve (12) month period must not exceed ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares (in the event that the New Plan is amended to reserve for issuance more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares) unless the Company has obtained Disinterested Shareholder Approval to do so;
The exercise price of an option previously granted to an Insider must not be reduced, unless the Company has obtained Disinterested Shareholder Approval to do so.
Other Limitations
The Company must not grant an option to a director, employee, consultant, or consultant company (the “Service Provider”) in any twelve (12) month period that exceeds five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares, unless the Company has obtained approval by a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders of the Company eligible to vote at a shareholders’shareholders' meeting, excluding votes attaching to shares beneficially owned by Insiders and their Associates (defined below) (“Disinterested Shareholder Approval”);
The aggregate number of options granted to a Service Provider conducting Investor Relations Activities in any twelve (12) month period must not exceed two percent (2%) of the outstanding shares calculated at the date of the grant, without the prior consent of the TSX Venture;
The Company must not grant an option to a Consultant in any twelve (12) month period that exceeds two percent (2%) of the outstanding shares calculated at the date of the grant of the option; and
The issuance to any one Optionee within a twelve (12) month period of a number of Common Shares must not exceed five percent (5%) of outstanding Common Shares unless the Company has obtained Disinterested Shareholder Approval to do so.
Disinterested Shareholder Approval
“Disinterested Shareholder Approval” means the approval by a majority of the votes cast by all shareholders of the Company at the Meeting excluding votes attached to listed shares beneficially owned by insiders of the Company to whom the options have been granted under the existing plan and associates of those insiders.
| ITEM 7 | MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
Major Shareholders
To the best of Amarc’sAmarc's knowledge, other than as noted below, no person, corporation or other entity beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or controls more than 5% of the common shares of Amarc, the only class of securities with voting rights.
| Shareholder | Securities Beneficially Owned or Controlled | As a % of the outstanding common shares | Securities Beneficially Owned or Controlled | As a % of the outstanding common shares |
| Sun Valley Gold Master Fund Ltd | 14,615,384 | 8.66% | 14,615,384 | 8.57% |
| Robert A. Dickinson | 22,971,733 | 13.61% | 27,857,241 | 16.33% |
For these purposes, “beneficial ownership” means the sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting or to dispose or direct the disposition of any security.
As of the date of this document, Amarc had authorized unlimited common shares without par value, of which 168,786,227170,602,894 were issued and outstanding. Amarc’sAmarc's authorized share structure also includes a class of preferred shares without par value and without a maximum number. The preferred shares may be issued in series on such terms as determined by the Company’sCompany's directors in accordance with the class rights and restrictions. No series of preferred shares has been designated by the board of directors, and no preferred shares are outstanding.
| - 43 - |
All of the common shares have the same voting rights.
Geographic Breakdown of Shareholders
As of the date of this Annual Report, Amarc’sAmarc's register of shareholders indicates that Amarc’sAmarc's common shares are held as follows:
| Location | Number of registered shareholders of record | Number of shares | Percentage of total shares |
| Canada | 32 | 154,292,459 | 91.41% |
| United States | 7 | 12,955,306 | 7.68% |
| Other | 1 | 1,538,462 | 0.91% |
| TOTALS | 38 | 168,786,227 | 100.00% |
| Location | Number of registered shareholders of record | Number of shares | Percentage of total shares |
| Canada | 32 | 156,109,126 | 91.50% |
| United States | 7 | 12,955,306 | 7.59% |
| Other | 1 | 1,538,462 | 0.90% |
| TOTALS | 40 | 170,602,894 | 100.00% |
Shares registered in intermediaries were assumed to be held by residents of the same country in which the clearing house was located.
Amarc’sAmarc's securities are recorded on the books of its transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., located at 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, Canada (604) 661-9400 in registered form. However, the majority of such shares are registered in the name of intermediaries such as brokerage houses and clearing houses (on behalf of their respective brokerage clients). Amarc does not have knowledge or access to the identities of the beneficial owners of such shares registered through intermediaries.
Control
Amarc is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation, by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person, severally or jointly, other than as noted above under Major Shareholders. There are no arrangements known to Amarc which, at a subsequent date, may result in a change in control of Amarc.
Insider Reports Under the Securities Acts of British Columbia and Alberta
Since the Company is a reporting issuer under the Securities Acts of British Columbia and Alberta, certain “insiders” of the Company (including its directors, certain executive officers, and persons who directly or indirectly beneficially own, control or direct more than 10% of its common shares) are generally required to file insider reports of changes in their ownership of Amarc’sAmarc's common shares five days following the trade under National Instrument 55-104 – Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions, as adopted by the CSA. Copies of such reports are available for public inspection at the offices of the British Columbia Securities Commission, 9th Floor, 701 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1L2, (604) 899-6500 or at the British Columbia Securities Commission web site,www.bcsc.bc.ca. In British Columbia, all insider reports must be filed electronically five days following the date of the trade atwww.sedi.ca. The public is able to access these reports atwww.sedi.ca.
B. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Except as disclosed below, or otherwise disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, Amarc has not, since April 1, 2012, and does not at this time propose to:
(1) enter into any transactions which are material to Amarc or a related party or any transactions unusual in their nature or conditions involving goods, services or tangible or intangible assets to which Amarc or any of its former subsidiaries was a party;
(2) make any loans or guarantees for the benefit of any of the following persons:
(a) enterprises directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling or controlled by or under common control with Amarc;
(b) associates of Amarc (unconsolidated enterprises in which Amarc has significant influence or which has significant influence over Amarc) including shareholders beneficially owning 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Amarc;
| - 44 - |
(c) individuals owning, directly or indirectly, shares of Amarc that gives them significant influence over Amarc and close members of such individuals families;
(d) key management personnel (persons having authority in responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of Amarc including directors and senior management and close members of such directors and senior management); or
(e) enterprises in which a substantial voting interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by any person described in (c) or (d) or over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence.
Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (“HDSI”)
Hunter Dickinson Inc. (“HDI”) and its wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (“HDSI”) are private companies established by a group of mining professionals engaged in advancing mineral propertiesprofessionals. HDSI provides contract services for a number of publicly-listedmineral exploration and development companies, and also to companies that are outside of the mining and mineral development space. Amarc is one of the publicly-listed companies for which is the Company.HDSI provides a variety of contract services.
The Company has 2 directorsone director in common with HDSI, namely:namely Robert Dickinson and Ronald Thiessen.Dickinson. Also, the Company’s president, chief financial officer,President, Chief Executive Officer and corporate secretaryDirector, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary are employees of HDSI and work for the Company under an employee secondment arrangement between the Company and HDSI.
HDSI provides technical, geological, corporate communications, regulatory compliance, and administrative and management services to the Company, on an as-needed and as-requested basis from the Company.
HDSI also incurs third party costs on behalf of the Company. Such third party costs include, for example, directors and officers insurance, travel, conferences, and technology services.
As a result of this relationship, the Company has ready access to a range of diverse and specialized expertise on a regular basis, without having to engage or hire full-time experts. The Company benefits from the economies of scale created by HDSI which itself serves several clients. The Company is also able to eliminate many of its fixed costs, including rent, technology, and other infrastructure which would otherwise be incurred for maintaining its corporate offices.
The Company procures services from HDSI pursuant to an agreement dated July 2, 2010. Services from HDSI are provided on a non-exclusive basis as required and as requested by the Company. The Company is not obligated to acquire any minimum amount of services from HDSI. The fees for services from HDSI are determined based on a charge-out rate for each employee performing the service and for the time spent by the employee. Such charge-out rates are agreed and set annually in advance. These time charges consist substantially of salaries, office rent, utilities, office supplies and administration, warehouse space, and insurance.
Third party costs are billed at cost, without markup.
There are no ongoing contractual or other commitments resulting from the Company’sCompany's transactions with HDSI, other than the payment for services already rendered and billed. The agreement may be terminated upon 60 days’days' notice by either the Company or HDSI.
The disclosure for the transactions with HDSI has been included in note 10 of the accompanying financial statements of the Company.
Director’s Loan
In November 2014, the Company announced that it has entered into a $1 million unsecured Loan Agreement (the “Loan”), with a non-arm’snon-arm's length director and officer of the Company (the “Lender”) at an interest rate of prime plus 2% per annum and with a maturity date of November 2015. In connection with the Loan, Amarc issued to the Lender a loan bonus of 2,500,000 previously unissued common shares in its capital with a fair value of $187,500. The Company and the Lender hashave agreed to two extension terms for the Loan to May 2016 for 7% fixed interest rate and to November 2016 for 9% fixed interest rate, respectively.
In December 2016, the Loan was extended for an additional three years on customary terms and conditions, and the principal sum was increased to $1,500,000 by way of an additional advance of $500,000.
In September 2017, $500,000 of the Loan was repaid to the Lender, leaving a balance outstanding of $1,000,000.
In September 2015, the Company announced that it has entered into an additional $500,000 unsecured Loan Agreement with the Lender at a rate of 7% per annum and with a maturity date of September 2017. Amarc issued a loan bonus in the form of 5,555,555 warrants, each entitling the holder to acquire one common share of Amarc for 2 years at a price of $0.09 per share. In September 2017, this loan was fully repaid.
| - 45 - |
Refer to note 8 of the accompanying financial statements of Amarc for additional monetary disclosures about the abovementioned loans.
C. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not applicable.
| ITEM 8 | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
A. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 18 of this Form 20-F contains Amarc’sAmarc's audited annual financial statements as at and for the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 2016.2017. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB.
Legal Proceedings
Amarc is not involved in any legal, arbitration or governmental proceedings and, to Amarc’sAmarc's knowledge, no material legal, arbitration or governmental proceedings involving Amarc are pending or contemplated against Amarc.
Dividend Policy
The Company has not paid any dividends on its outstanding common shares since its incorporation and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. All funds of Amarc are being retained for exploration of its projects.
B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
There have been no significant changes to Amarc’s affairs as disclosed in the accompanying financial statements, except as disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
| ITEM 9 | THE OFFER AND LISTING |
A. OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
Trading Markets
Amarc’sAmarc's common shares have been listed in Canada on the TSX Venture (and its predecessors) since August 1995, under the symbol AHR.
The Company’sCompany's common shares were traded in the U.S. on the OTCBB from June 2004 until August 2014, and have been traded on the OTCQB since August 2014, in each case under the symbol AXREF.
The following tables set forth for the periods indicated the price history of the Company’sCompany's common shares on the TSX Venture and on the OTCQB.
| TSX Venture Exchange | OTCBB/OTCQB | |||
| Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | High (Cdn$) | Low (Cdn$) | High (US$) | Low (US$) |
| 2018 | 0.26 | 0.12 | 0.21 | 0.09 |
| 2017 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.04 |
| 2016 | 0.17 | 0.04 | 0.14 | 0.02 |
| 2015 | 0.18 | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| 2014 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.08 | 0.02 |
| 2013 | 0.44 | 0.07 | 0.43 | 0.07 |
| TSX Venture Exchange | OTCQB | |||
| Fiscal Quarter | High (Cdn$) | Low (Cdn$) | High (US$) | Low (US$) |
| Q4 2018 | 0.17 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Q3 2018 | 0.20 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Q2 2018 | 0.26 | 0.17 | 0.21 | 0.13 |
| Q1 2018 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Q4 2017 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.06 |
| Q3 2017 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Q2 2017 | 0.13 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.06 |
| Q1 2017 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Q4 2016 | 0.08 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.02 |
| Q3 2016 | 0.11 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Q2 2016 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Q1 2016 | 0.17 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| Q4 2015 | 0.18 | 0.07 | 0.13 | 0.06 |
| Q3 2015 | 0.13 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 0.06 |
| Q2 2015 | 0.13 | 0.06 | 0.10 | 0.05 |
| Q1 2015 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| - 46 - |
| TSX Venture Exchange | OTCQB | |||
| Month | High (Cdn$) | Low (Cdn$) | High (US$) | Low (US$) |
| July 2018 (to July 26, 2018) | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| June 2018 | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| May 2018 | 0.13 | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.07 |
| April 2018 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| March 2018 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| February 2018 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.09 |
| January 2018 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| TSX Venture Exchange | OTCBB/OTCQB | |||
| Fiscal Year Ended March 31, | High (Cdn$) | Low (Cdn$) | High (US$) | Low (US$) |
| 2019 | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.11 | 0.03 |
| 2018 | 0.26 | 0.12 | 0.21 | 0.09 |
| 2017 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.04 |
| 2016 | 0.17 | 0.04 | 0.14 | 0.02 |
| 2015 | 0.18 | 0.06 | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| 2014 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.08 | 0.02 |
| TSX Venture Exchange | OTCQB | |||
| Fiscal Quarter | High (Cdn$) | Low (Cdn$) | High (US$) | Low (US$) |
| Q4 2019 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Q3 2019 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Q2 2019 | 0.10 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Q1 2019 | 0.14 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.07 |
| Q4 2018 | 0.17 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Q3 2018 | 0.20 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Q2 2018 | 0.26 | 0.17 | 0.21 | 0.13 |
| Q1 2018 | 0.21 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Q4 2017 | 0.16 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.06 |
| Q3 2017 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Q2 2017 | 0.13 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.06 |
| Q1 2017 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Q4 2016 | 0.08 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.02 |
| Q3 2016 | 0.11 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Q2 2016 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.06 |
| Q1 2016 | 0.17 | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| TSX Venture Exchange | OTCQB | |||
| Month | High (Cdn$) | Low (Cdn$) | High (US$) | Low (US$) |
| July 2019 (to the date of this Annual Report) | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| June 2019 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| May 2019 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| April 2019 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| March 2019 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| February 2019 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| January 2019 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.03 |
B. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Not applicable.
C. MARKETS
The shares of Amarc traded in Canada on the TSX Venture (formerly the Canadian Venture Exchange and successor to the Vancouver Stock Exchange) since August 1995 under the trading symbol AHR. Amarc’sAmarc's shares were traded on the OTCBB from June 2004 until August 2014, and have been traded on the OTCQB since August 2014, in each case under the symbol AXREF.
D. SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
Not applicable.
| - 47 - |
E. DILUTION
Not applicable.
F. EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
Not applicable.
| ITEM 10 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
A. SHARE CAPITAL
Not applicable.
B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Amarc’sAmarc's original corporate constituting documents comprised of the Memorandum and Articles of Association were registered with the British Columbia Registrar of Companies under Corporation No. 436691. A copy of the Company’sCompany's original Articles of Association was filed as an exhibit with Amarc’sAmarc's initial registration statement on Form 20-F.
In March 2004, the Company Act (British Columbia) (the “BCCA”) was replaced by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCA”). All companies incorporated under the BCCA were required to complete a transition application to the BCA by March 29, 2006. The directors of the Company authorized the Company to file a transition application with the Registrar of Companies and to comply with the BCA.
The Company subsequently filed a Notice of Articles with the Registrar of Companies on October 2, 2004. The Notice of Articles and the Articles constitute the constating documents of the Company, and have superseded the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Articles of a company, among other things, set out rules for the conduct of its business and affairs; they are no longer required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies, but are required to be kept as part of the company’scompany's corporate records.
On October 22, 2004, the Company filed a Notice of Alteration with the Registrar of Companies to remove the former limitation on its authorized share capital of 100,000,000 common shares without par value. As a result, the Company’sCompany's authorized share capital now consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value. The Registrar of Companies issued a Notice of Articles dated October 22, 2004 to reflect this change.
Under the BCA, every “pre-existing company’company' remained subject to certain “Pre-existing Company Provisions” contained in the BCCA unless such provisions were removed with the approval of the shareholders. In order to take full advantage of the flexibility offered by the BCA, the shareholders adopted a special resolution on October 12, 2005 authorizing the removal of the Pre-existing Company Provisions and the adoption by the Company of a new form of Articles that incorporates provisions permitted under the BCA. On January 31, 2006, the Company filed a Notice of Alteration with the Registrar of Companies to remove the Pre-Existing Company Provisions, and the Registrar of Companies issued a Notice of Articles to reflect this change.
As discussed in more detail below, on August 17, 2007, the Company filed a Notice of Alteration with the Registrar of Companies to create a new class of Preferred Shares, and the Registrar of Companies issued a Notice of Articles to reflect this change.
Effective September 19, 2013 the Company’s Articles were amended to include advance notice provisions relating to the nomination and the election of directors of the Company.
Set out below is a discussion of the principal changes effected by the adoption of the new Articles by the Company under the BCA, which took effect on January 31, 2006.
Borrowing Powers
Under the original Articles of Association, the Company could borrow money, issue bonds, debentures and other debt obligations and mortgage, charge, or give security on the undertaking, or on the whole or any part of the property and assets, of the Company (both present and future). Under the BCA, companies are also permitted, without restriction (other than general corporate governance principles), to guarantee repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person. This change reflected the modernization of corporate legislation to effectively respond to increasingly complex financial transactions that companies may enter into in the course of their business. As a result, the Company’sCompany's Articles now provide that the Company may guarantee the repayment of money by any other person or the performance of any obligation of any other person.
| - 48 - |
Share Certificates
Under the original Articles of Association, a shareholder was entitled to a share certificate representing the number of shares of the Company held. Under the BCA, a shareholder is entitled to a share certificate representing the number of shares of the Company held or a written acknowledgement of the shareholder’sshareholder's right to obtain such a share certificate. As a result, the Articles now provide for this additional right. The addition of the ability to issue a written acknowledgement is very useful for public companies such as the Company, since it permits flexibility in corporate and securities transmissions.
On September 15, 2010, the shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Articles that enabled the Company to use uncertificated electronic shares and to use an electronic record keeping system.
Indemnity Provisions
Under the BCCA, the Company could only indemnify directors where it obtained prior court approval, except in certain limited circumstances. The original Articles of Association provided for the Company to indemnify directors, subject to the provisions of the BCCA. Under the BCA, the Company is permitted (and is, in some circumstances, required) to indemnify a past or present director or officer of the Company or an associated corporation without obtaining prior court approval in respect of an “eligible proceeding”. An “eligible proceeding” includes any legal proceeding relating to the activities of the individual as a director or officer of the Company. However, under the BCA, the Company is prohibited from paying an indemnity if:
| (a) | the party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company; |
| (b) | the proceeding was not a civil proceeding and the party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful; and |
| (c) | the proceeding is brought against the party by the Company or an associated corporation. |
As a result, the Articles require the Company to indemnify directors, officers and other persons, subject to the limits imposed under the BCA.
Alternate Directors
The original Articles of Association permitted a director to appoint another director as his alternate. The Company’sCompany's Articles now permit a director to appoint anyone as his alternate, as long as that person is qualified to act as a director.
Amendment of Articles and Notice of Articles
The Articles provide that the general authority required to amend all provisions of the Company’sCompany's Articles and the Notice of Articles, other than as set out in the BCA as specifically requiring a special resolution, can be effected as an ordinary or by directors’directors' resolution. The Company’sCompany's Articles provide that the Company may amend provisions of the Articles and Notice of Articles relating to certain aspects of its Shares and authorized share structure by ordinary resolution. A share consolidation or a share split and name change of the Company can only be done by a resolution of the directors. The default provision under the BCA is a special resolution where the Articles are silent as to the type of resolution required.
The Articles also provide that the attachment, variation and deletion of special rights and restrictions to any class of shares may be authorized by ordinary resolution. If the amendment prejudices or interferes with the rights or special rights attached to any class of issued shares, by the provisions of the BCA, the consent of the holders of that class of shares by a “special separate resolution” is required.
All special resolutions of the Company must be adopted by a majority of two-thirds of votes cast; the Company’sCompany's original Article of Association required special resolutions to be adopted by a majority of three-quarters of the votes cast.
Shareholders’
| - 49 - |
Shareholders' Meetings
In addition to reflecting the present notice and other provisions of the BCA relating to shareholders’shareholders' meetings, the Articles provide that shareholders’shareholders' meetings may be held at such place as is determined by the directors.
The Articles permit the giving of notice to shareholders, directors and officers by fax or e-mail in addition to regular mail or personal delivery.
Officers
Under the original Articles of Association, the Company was required to have at least a President and Secretary as officers, and separate individuals were required to hold those positions. In addition, the Chairman and President were required to be directors. However, under the BCA, those requirements no longer exist, and as a result, the Articles do not provide for such restrictions.
Disclosure of Interest of Directors
The Articles refer to the provisions of the BCA relating to the disclosure of interest by directors, which superseded more the cumbersome and outdated provisions contained under the BCCA.
Creation of Preferred Shares
Under the original Articles of Association, the creation of a new class of shares required the approval of the shareholders of the Company by a special resolution adopted by a majority of three-quarters of votes cast. In contrast, the Articles now provide that the creation of a new class of shares requires the approval of the shareholders of the Company by an ordinary resolution.
On September 26, 2006, the shareholders adopted an ordinary resolution authorizing the creation of a new class of Preferred Shares without par value and without a maximum authorized number, issuable in series, on such terms as may be determined by the Company’sCompany's directors for each such series. On August 17, 2007, the Company filed a Notice of Alteration with the Registrar of Companies to create the new class of Preferred Shares, and the Registrar of Companies issued a Notice of Articles to reflect this change.
As a result, the authorized share structure of the Company now includes, in addition to a class of common shares without par value and without a maximum number, a class of Preferred Shares without par value and without a maximum number. The Preferred Shares may be issued in series on such terms as determined by the Company’sCompany's directors in accordance with the class rights and restrictions.
The special rights and restrictions attaching to the Preferred Shares are set forth in Article 26 of the Articles, and effectively provide the directors with wide latitude to create a series of Preferred Shares which may be convertible into Common Shares, and have attached to them rights that rank ahead of Common Shares in respect of entitlement to assets and dividends.
C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS
Amarc’sAmarc's only material contract as of the date of this Annual Report is:
Corporate Services Agreement between Amarc and Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. dated July 2, 2010. SeeSee Item 7.B and Exhibit 4.1.
Other agreements are in the normal course of business.
D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS
Amarc is incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. There is no law or governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of Common Shares, other than withholding tax requirements. Any such remittances to United States residents are generally subject to withholding tax, however no such remittances are likely in the foreseeable future. See “Taxation”, below.
There is no limitation imposed by Canadian law or by the charter or other constituent documents of the Company on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote Common Shares of the Company. However, the Investment Canada Act (Canada) (the “Investment Act”) has rules regarding certain acquisitions of shares by non-Canadians, along with other requirements under that legislation.
| - 50 - |
The following discussion summarizes the principal features of the Investment Act for a non-Canadian who proposes to acquire Common Shares of the Company. The discussion is general only; it is not a substitute for independent legal advice from an investor’sinvestor's own adviser; and, except where expressly noted, it does not anticipate statutory or regulatory amendments.
The Investment Act is a federal statute of broad application regulating the establishment and acquisition of Canadian businesses by non-Canadians, including individuals, governments or agencies thereof, corporations, partnerships, trusts and joint ventures. Investments by non-Canadians to acquire control over existing Canadian businesses or to establish new ones are either reviewable or notifiable under the Investment Act. If an investment by a non-Canadian to acquire control over an existing Canadian business is reviewable under the Investment Act, the Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of the investment unless, after review, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (the “Minister”) (or the Minister of Canadian Heritage for investments in a Canadian business engaged in any of the activities of a “cultural business”), is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada.
A non-Canadian would acquire control of the Company for the purposes of the Investment Act through the acquisition of Common Shares if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the Common Shares of the Company.
Further, the acquisition of less than a majority but one-third or more of the Common Shares of the Company would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of the Company unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, the Company was not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of Common Shares.
To determine whether an investment is reviewable under the Investment Act it is necessary to consider certain matters, including whether the investor is a state-owned enterprise; whether the investor is a “WTO investor” (i.e., controlled by persons who are citizens of countries that are members of the World Trade Organization (“WTO”)), and, if so, whether the WTO investor is party to certain free trade agreements; the enterprise value of the assets of the Canadian business being acquired; and whether the Canadian business being acquired is a cultural business.
An acquisition of control of a Canadian business by a non-Canadian that falls below the thresholds for review under the Investment Act does not require the filing of an application for review. However, even where an investment falls below the thresholds, it must still be notified by way of a short form to the Investment Review Division of the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (or the Department of Canadian Heritage for cultural cases). Notifications may be submitted by the investor any time before or up to 30 days after implementation of the investment.
In 2009, amendments were enacted to the Investment Act concerning investments that may be considered injurious to national security. If the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that an investment by a non-Canadian “could be injurious to national security,” the Minister may send the non-Canadian a notice indicating that an order for review of the investment may be made. The review of an investment on the grounds of national security may occur whether or not an investment is otherwise subject to review on the basis of net benefit to Canada or otherwise subject to notification under the Investment Canada Act.
Certain transactions, except those to which the national security provisions of the Investment Act may apply, relating to Common Shares of the Company are exempt from the Investment Act, including
(a) acquisition of Common Shares of the Company by a person in the ordinary course of that person’sperson's business as a trader or dealer in securities,
(b) acquisition of control of the Company in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for a purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act, if the investment is subject to approval under certain other legislation, and
(c) acquisition of control of the Company by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of the Company, through the ownership of Common Shares, remained unchanged.
E. TAXATION
Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Information for United States Residents
The following summarizes the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the holding and disposition of common shares of the Company by a holder (a) who, for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) the (“Tax Act”) and at all relevant times, is not resident in Canada or deemed to be resident in Canada, deals at arm’sarm's length and is not affiliated with the Company, holds the common shares as capital property and does not use or hold the common shares in the course of carrying on, or otherwise in connection with, a business in Canada, and (b) who, for the purposes of the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (the “Treaty”) and at all relevant times, is a resident of the United States, has never been a resident of Canada, has not held or used (and does not hold or use) common shares in connection with a permanent establishment or fixed base in Canada, and who qualifies for the full benefits of the Treaty. The Canada Revenue Agency has introduced special forms to be used in order to substantiate eligibility for Treaty benefits, and affected holders should consult with their own advisers with respect to these forms and all relevant compliance matters.
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Holders who meet all such criteria in clauses (a) and (b) above are referred to herein as a “U.S. Holder” or “U.S. Holders”, and this summary only addresses such U.S. Holders. The summary does not deal with special situations, such as particular circumstances of traders or dealers, limited liability companies, tax-exempt entities, insurers, financial institutions (including those to which the mark-to-market provisions of the Tax Act apply), entities considered fiscally transparent under applicable law, or otherwise.
This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act and the regulations thereunder, all proposed amendments to the Tax Act and regulations publicly announced by the Minister of Finance (Canada) to the date hereof, the current provisions of the Treaty and our understanding of the current administrative practices of the Canada Revenue Agency. It has been assumed that all currently proposed amendments to the Tax Act and regulations will be enacted as proposed and that there will be no other relevant change in any governing law, the Treaty or administrative policy, although no assurance can be given in these respects. This summary does not take into account provincial, U.S. or other foreign income tax considerations, which may differ significantly from those discussed herein.
This summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian income tax consequences. It is not intended as legal or tax advice to any particular U.S. Holder and should not be so construed. The tax consequences to a U.S. Holder will depend on that U.S. Holder’sHolder's particular circumstances. Accordingly, all U.S. Holders or prospective U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences applicable to them having regard to their own particular circumstances. The discussion below is qualified accordingly.
Dividend
Dividends paid or deemed to be paid or credited by the Company to a U.S. Holder are subject to Canadian withholding tax. Under the Treaty, the rate of withholding tax on dividends paid to a U.S. Holder is generally limited to 15% of the gross dividend (or 5% in the case of a U.S. Holder that is a corporate shareholder owning at least 10% of the Company’sCompany's voting shares), provided the U.S. Holder can establish entitlement to the benefits of the Treaty.
Disposition
A U.S. Holder is generally not subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of a capital gain realized on the disposition of a common share in the open market, unless the share is “taxable Canadian property” to the holder thereof and the U.S. Holder is not entitled to relief under the Treaty.
Provided that the Company’sCompany's common shares are listed on a “designated stock exchange” for purposes of the Tax Act (which currently includes the TSX Venture) at the time of disposition, a common share will generally not constitute taxable Canadian property to a U.S. Holder unless, at any time during the 60 month period ending at the time of disposition, (i) the U.S. Holder, persons with whom the U.S. Holder did not deal at arm’sarm's length for purposes of the Tax Act, partnerships in which the U.S. Holder or such persons holds a membership interest directly or indirectly, (or the U.S. Holder together with any such foregoing persons) or partnerships, owned 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of the Company AND (ii) more than 50% of the fair market value of the share was derived directly or indirectly from certain types of assets, including real or immoveable property situated in Canada, Canadian resource properties or timber resource properties, and options, interests or rights in respect of any of the foregoing. Common shares may also be deemed to be taxable Canadian property under the Tax Act in certain specific circumstances. A U.S. Holder holding Common shares as taxable Canadian property should consult with the U.S. Holder’sHolder's own tax advisers in advance of any disposition of Common shares or deemed disposition under the Tax Act in order to determine whether any relief from tax under the Tax Act may be available by virtue of the Treaty, and any related compliance procedures.
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below) arising from the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common shares.
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This summary is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations that may apply to a U.S. Holder as a result of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock. In addition, this summary does not take into account the individual facts and circumstances of any particular U.S. Holder that may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder, including specific tax consequences to a U.S. Holder under an applicable tax treaty. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income tax advice with respect to any particular U.S. Holder. In addition, this summary does not address the U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. Medicare contribution, U.S. state and local, or non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common stock. Except as specifically set forth below, this summary does not discuss applicable tax reporting requirements.Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding all U.S. federal, U.S. state and local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock.
No opinion from U.S. legal counsel or ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been requested, or will be obtained, regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common shares. This summary is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS is not precluded from taking a position that is different from, or contrary to, any position taken in this summary. In addition, because the authorities upon whom this summary is based are subject to various interpretations, the IRS and the U.S. courts could disagree with one or more of the positions taken in this summary.
Scope of this Summary
Authorities
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations (whether final, temporary, or proposed), published rulings of the IRS, published administrative positions of the IRS, the Convention Between Canada and the United States of America with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed September 26, 1980, as amended (the “Canada-U.S. Tax Convention”), and U.S. court decisions that are applicable and, in each case, as in effect and available, as of the date hereof. Any of the authorities on which this summary is based could be changed in a material and adverse manner at any time, and any such change could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis, which could affect the U.S. federal income tax considerations described in this summary. This summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis.
U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of common shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.; |
| · | a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| · | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| · | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the U.S. and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
Non-U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, a “non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of common shares that is not a U.S. Holder. This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. Holders arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares. Accordingly, a non-U.S. Holder should consult its own tax adviser regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and foreign tax consequences (including the potential application of and operation of any income tax treaties) relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares.
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U.S. Holders Subject to Special U.S. Federal Income Tax Rules Not Addressed
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common shares by U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, or other tax-deferred accounts; (b) financial institutions, underwriters, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, or regulated investment companies; (c) broker-dealers, dealers, or traders in securities or currencies that elect to apply a “mark-to-market” accounting method; (d) U.S. Holders that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar; (e) U.S. Holders that own our common shares as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, conversion transaction, constructive sale, or other arrangement involving more than one position; (f) U.S. Holders that acquire our common shares in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services; (g) U.S. Holders that hold our common shares other than as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes); (h) are required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to Common Shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; and (i) U.S. Holders that own directly, indirectly, or by attribution, 10% or more, by voting power, of the outstanding stock of the Company. This summary also does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. Holders who are: (a) U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.; (b) persons that have been, are, or will be a resident or deemed to be a resident in Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada); (c) persons that use or hold, will use or hold, or that are or will be deemed to use or hold our common shares in connection with carrying on a business in Canada; (d) persons whose common shares in our Company constitutes “taxable Canadian property” under the Income Tax Act (Canada); or (e) persons that have a permanent establishment in Canada for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention. U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including U.S. Holders described immediately above, should consult their own tax advisors regarding all U.S. federal, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences (including the potential application and operation of any income tax treaties) relating to the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common shares.
If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership (or other “pass-through” entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such partnership and the partners (or other owners) of such partnership of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common shares generally will depend on the activities of the partnership and the status of such partners (or other owners). This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations for any such partner or partnership (or other “pass-through” entity or its owners). Owners of entities and arrangements that are classified as partnerships (or other “pass-through” entities) for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common shares.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If the Company were to constitute a “passive foreign investment company” under the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (a “PFIC”, as defined below) for any year during a U.S. Holder’sHolder's holding period, then certain potentially adverse rules will affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder resulting from the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares. The Company believes that it was classified as a PFIC during the tax year ended March 31, 2018, and may be a PFIC in future tax years. The determination of whether any corporation was, or will be, a PFIC for a tax year depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. In addition, whether any corporation will be a PFIC for any tax year depends on the assets and income of such corporation over the course of each such tax year and, as a result, cannot be predicted with certainty as of the date of this document. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any determination made by the Company (or any subsidiary of the Company) concerning its PFIC status. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the PFIC status of the Company and any subsidiary of the Company.
In addition, in any year in which the Company is classified as a PFIC, such holder would be required to file an annual report with the IRS containing such information as Treasury Regulations and/or other IRS guidance may require. In addition to penalties, a failure to satisfy such reporting requirements may result in an extension of the time period during which the IRS can assess a tax. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing such information returns under these rules, including the requirement to file an IRS Form 8621.
PFIC Status of the Company
The Company generally will be a PFIC if, for a tax year, (a) 75% or more of the gross income of the Company is passive income (the “income test”) or (b) 50% or more of the value of the Company’sCompany's assets either produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, based on the quarterly average of the fair market value of such assets (the “asset test”). “Gross income” generally includes all sales revenues less the cost of goods sold, plus income from investments and from incidental or outside operations or sources, and “passive income” generally includes, for example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from commodities transactions.
Active business gains arising from the sale of commodities generally are excluded from passive income if substantially all of a foreign corporation’scorporation's commodities are stock in trade or inventory, depreciable property used in a trade or business, or supplies regularly used or consumed in a trade or business and certain other requirements are satisfied.
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For purposes of the PFIC income test and asset test described above, if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the total value of the outstanding shares of another corporation, the Company will be treated as if it (a) held a proportionate share of the assets of such other corporation and (b) received directly a proportionate share of the income of such other corporation. In addition, for purposes of the PFIC income test and asset test described above, and assuming certain other requirements are met, “passive income” does not include certain interest, dividends, rents, or royalties that are received or accrued by the Company from certain “related persons” (as defined in Section 954(d)(3) of the Code), to the extent such items are properly allocable to the income of such related person that is not passive income.
Under certain attribution rules, if the Company is a PFIC, U.S. Holders will generally be deemed to own their proportionate share of the Company’sCompany's direct or indirect equity interest in any company that is also a PFIC (a ‘‘Subsidiary PFIC’’''Subsidiary PFIC''), and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their proportionate share of (a) any “excess distributions,” as described below, on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC and (b) a disposition or deemed disposition of the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC by the Company or another Subsidiary PFIC, both as if such U.S. Holders directly held the shares of such Subsidiary PFIC. In addition, U.S. Holders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any indirect gain realized on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC on the sale or disposition of common shares. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should be aware that they could be subject to tax even if no distributions are received and no redemptions or other dispositions of common shares are made.
Tax Consequences if the Company is a PFIC
If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during which a U.S. Holder owns our common shares, special rules may increase such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability with respect to the ownership and disposition of such common shares. If the Company meets the income test or the asset test for any tax year during which a U.S. Holder owns our common shares, the Company will be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder for that tax year and for all subsequent tax years, regardless of whether the Company meets the income test or the asset test for such subsequent tax years, unless the U.S. Holder elects to recognize any unrealized gain in such common shares or makes a timely and effective QEF Election or, if applicable, Mark-to-Market Election.
Under the default PFIC rules:
| any gain realized on the sale or other disposition (including dispositions and certain other events that would not otherwise be treated as taxable events) of our common shares (including an indirect disposition of the stock of any Subsidiary PFIC) and any “excess distribution” (defined as a distribution to the extent it, together with all other distributions received in the relevant tax year, exceeds 125% of the average annual distribution received during the preceding three years) received on our common shares or with respect to the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC will be allocated rateably to each day of such U.S. Holder’s holding period for our common shares; |
| · | the amount allocated to the current tax year and any year prior to the first year in which the Company was a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income in the current year; |
| · | the amount allocated to each of the other tax years (the “Prior PFIC Years”) will be subject to tax at the highest ordinary income tax rate in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year; |
| · | an interest charge will be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each Prior PFIC Year, which interest charge is not deductible by non-corporate U.S. Holders; and |
| · | any loss realized on the disposition of our common shares generally will not be recognized. |
A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective “mark-to-market” election under Section 1296 of the Code (a “Mark-to-Market Election”) or a timely and effective election to treat the Company and each Subsidiary PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF”) under Section 1295 of the Code (a “QEF Election”) may generally mitigate or avoid the PFIC consequences described above with respect to our common shares.
If a U.S. Holder makes a timely and effective QEF Election, the U.S. Holder must include currently in gross income each year its pro rata share of the Company’s ordinary income and net capital gains, regardless of whether such income and gains are actually distributed. Thus, a U.S. Holder could have a tax liability with respect to such ordinary income or gains without a corresponding receipt of cash from the Company. If the Company is a QEF with respect to a U.S. Holder, the U.S. Holder’s basis in our common shares will be increased to reflect the amount of the taxed but undistributed income. Distributions of income that had previously been taxed will result in a corresponding reduction of basis in our common shares and will not be taxed again as a distribution to a U.S. Holder. Taxable gains on the disposition of our common shares by a U.S. Holder that has made a timely and effective QEF Election are generally capital gains. A U.S. Holder must make a QEF Election for the Company and each Subsidiary PFIC if it wishes to have this treatment. To make a QEF Election, a U.S. Holder will need to have an annual information statement from the Company setting forth the ordinary income and net capital gains for the year.U.S. Holders should be aware that there can be no assurance that the Company will satisfy the recordkeeping requirements that apply to a QEF or that the Company will supply U.S. Holders with information such U.S. Holders require to report under the QEF rules in the event that the Company is a PFIC for any tax year.
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In general, a U.S. Holder must make a QEF Election on or before the due date for filing its income tax return for the first year to which the QEF Election applies. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder will be permitted to make retroactive elections in particular circumstances, including if it had a reasonable belief that the Company was not a PFIC and filed a protective election. If a U.S. Holder owns PFIC stock indirectly through another PFIC, separate QEF Elections must be made for the PFIC in which the U.S. Holder is a direct shareholder and the Subsidiary PFIC for the QEF rules to apply to both PFICs. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the availability and desirability of, and procedure for, making a timely and effective QEF Election for the Company and any Subsidiary PFIC.
A Mark-to-Market Election may be made with respect to stock in a PFIC if such stock is “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange or other market” (within the meaning of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations). A class of stock that is traded on one or more qualified exchanges or other markets is considered to be “regularly traded” for any calendar year during which such class of stock is traded in other than de minimus quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. If our common shares are considered to be “regularly traded” within this meaning, then a U.S. Holder generally will be eligible to make a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to our common shares but not with respect to a Subsidiary PFIC.
A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective Mark-to-Market Election with respect to our common stock generally will be required to recognize as ordinary income in each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such stock as of the close of such taxable year over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such stock as of the close of such taxable year. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares generally will be increased by the amount of ordinary income recognized with respect to such stock. If the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares as of the close of a tax year exceeds the fair market value of such stock as of the close of such taxable year, the U.S. Holder generally will recognize an ordinary loss, but only to the extent of net mark-to-market income recognized with respect to such stock for all prior taxable years. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares generally will be decreased by the amount of ordinary loss recognized with respect to such stock. Any gain recognized upon a disposition of our common shares generally will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized upon a disposition generally will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net mark-to-market income recognized for all prior taxable years. Any loss recognized in excess thereof will be taxed as a capital loss. Capital losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the availability and desirability of, and procedure for, making a timely and effective Mark-to-Market Election with respect to our common shares.
Foreign Tax Credit
A U.S. Holder that pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian income tax in connection with the ownership or disposition of our common shares may be entitled, at the election of such U.S. Holder, to receive either a deduction or a credit for such Canadian income tax paid. Generally, a credit will reduce a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas a deduction will reduce a U.S. Holder’s income subject to U.S. federal income tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all creditable foreign taxes paid (whether directly or through withholding) by a U.S. Holder during a year.
Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability that such U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” taxable income bears to such U.S. Holder’s worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, a U.S. Holder’s various items of income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.” Generally, dividends paid by a non-U.S. corporation should be treated as foreign source for this purpose, and gains recognized on the sale of securities of a non-U.S. corporation by a U.S. Holder should be treated as U.S. source for this purpose, except as otherwise provided in an applicable income tax treaty, and if an election is properly made under the Code. However, the amount of a distribution with respect to our common shares that is treated as a “dividend” may be lower for U.S. federal income tax purposes than it is for Canadian federal income tax purposes, resulting in a reduced foreign tax credit allowance to a U.S. Holder. In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific categories of income. The foreign tax credit rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisor regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
Special rules apply to the amount of foreign tax credit that a U.S. Holder may claim on a distribution, including a constructive distribution, from a PFIC. Subject to such special rules, non-U.S. taxes paid with respect to any distribution in respect of stock in a PFIC are generally eligible for the foreign tax credit.The rules relating to distributions by a PFIC and their eligibility for the foreign tax credit are complicated, and a U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding their application to the U.S. Holder.
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Receipt of Foreign Currency
The amount of any distribution or proceeds paid in Canadian dollars to a U.S. Holder in connection with the ownership, sale or other taxable disposition of our common shares, will be included in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as translated into U.S. dollars calculated by reference to the exchange rate prevailing on the date of actual or constructive receipt of the payment, regardless of whether the Canadian dollars are converted into U.S. dollars at that time. If the Canadian dollars received are not converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a basis in the Canadian dollars equal to their U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any U.S. Holder who receives payment in Canadian dollars and engages in a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the Canadian dollars may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss, and generally will be U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. Different rules apply to U.S. Holders who use the accrual method of tax accounting. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving, owning, and disposing of Canadian dollars.
Information Reporting; Backup Withholding
Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain categories of U.S. Holders must file information returns with respect to their investment in, or involvement in, a non-U.S. corporation. For example, U.S. return disclosure obligations (and related penalties) are imposed on individuals who are U.S. Holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets in excess of certain threshold amounts. The definition of “specified foreign financial assets” includes not only financial accounts maintained in non-U.S. financial institutions, but also, if held for investment and not in an account maintained by certain financial institutions, any stock or security issued by a non-U.S. person, any financial instrument or contract that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person and any interest in a non-U.S. entity. A U.S. Holder may be subject to these reporting requirements unless such U.S. Holder’s shares of our common shares are held in an account at certain financial institutions. Penalties for failure to file certain of these information returns are substantial. U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing information returns on IRS Form 8938 for specified foreign financial assets, filing obligations relating to the PFIC rules including possible reporting on IRS Form 8621, and any other applicable reporting requirements.
Payments made within the U.S. or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman of (a) distributions on our common shares, and (b) proceeds arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of our common shares generally will be subject to information reporting. In addition, backup withholding, currently at a rate of 24%, may apply to such payments if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish such U.S. Holder’s correct U.S. taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) (generally on Form W-9), (b) furnishes an incorrect U.S. TIN, (c) is notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly report items subject to backup withholding, or (d) fails to certify, under penalty of perjury, that such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S. TIN and that the IRS has not notified such U.S. Holder that it is subject to backup withholding. Certain exempt persons generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding rules are allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S. Holder furnishes required information to the IRS in a timely manner. The information reporting and backup withholding rules may apply even if, under the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention, payments are exempt from dividend withholding tax or otherwise eligible for a reduced withholding rate.
The discussion of reporting requirements set forth above is not intended to constitute an exhaustive description of all reporting requirements that may apply to a U.S. Holder. A failure to satisfy certain reporting requirements may result in an extension of the time period during which the IRS can assess a tax, and, under certain circumstances, such an extension may apply to assessments of amounts unrelated to any unsatisfied reporting requirement. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the information reporting and backup withholding rules.
THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL U.S. TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP OR DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON SHARES. U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
Not applicable.
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G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
Not applicable.
H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
Exhibits attached to this Form 20-F are also available for viewing on EDGAR, or at the offices of Amarc, Suite 1500 – 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4H1 or on request of Amarc at 604-684-6365, attention: Corporate Secretary. Copies of Amarc’sAmarc's financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents required under the British Columbia Securities Act are available for viewing on the internet atwww.sedar.com. www.sedar.com.
I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
| ITEM 11 | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
A. TRANSACTION RISK AND CURRENCY RISK MANAGEMENT
Amarc’sAmarc's operations do not employ financial instruments or derivatives which are market sensitive and Amarc does not have financial market risks that it deems to be material.
B. EXCHANGE RATE SENSITIVITY
Amarc’sAmarc's administrative operations are in Canada. The Company typically holds most of its funds in Canadian Dollars and typically acquires foreign currency on an as-needed basis and, hence, it is not significantly affected by exchange rate risk. The Company does, however, from time to time, invest in U.S. Dollars denominated short-term investments. The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk on such investments. However, such U.S. Dollars denominated investments have been minor and the foreign exchange risk has been immaterial.
The Company currently does not engage in foreign currency hedging.
C. INTEREST RATE RISK AND EQUITY PRICE RISK
Amarc’sAmarc's liabilities consist of routine accounts payable, balance due to a related party, and a short-term and long term loan payable to a director of the Company. The loans bear fixed interest rates. Based on these factors, interest rate change risk for the Company is nominal. For more details on the loan, refer to Note 8 of the accompanying audited annual financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2018.2019.
Some of the Company’sCompany's marketable securities are subject to equity price risk as they relate to shares held in publicly-traded companies. Given the small value of the Company’sCompany's marketable securities, equity price risk for the Company is nominal.
D. COMMODITY PRICE RISK
While the value of Amarc’sAmarc's resource properties can always be said to relate to the price of copper and gold metals and the outlook for same, Amarc does not have any operating mines and hence does not have any hedging or other commodity-based operational risks respecting its business activities.
| ITEM 12 | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES |
Not applicable.
| - 58 - |
| ITEM 13 | DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 14 | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 15 | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
At the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F, an evaluation was carried out with the participation of the Company’sCompany's management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the Company’sCompany's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a – 15(e) and 15d –15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the President and CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F, the Company’sCompany's disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that: (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms, and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in the Company’sCompany's reports filed under the Exchange Act was accumulated and communicated to the Company’sCompany's management, including the President and CEO and the CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
MANAGEMENT’SMANAGEMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Company’sCompany's management, including the President and CEO and CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
With the participation of the President and CEO and CFO, management conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018, based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. Based on this evaluation, management concluded in its report that the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2018.2019.
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’sCompany's registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’sManagement's report was not subject to attestation by the Company’sCompany's registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules that permit the Company to provide only management’smanagement's report in this Annual Report.
| - 59 - |
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
During the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 20-F, no changes occurred in the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting.
LIMITATIONS OF CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’sCompany's management, including its President and CEO and CFO, does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.
Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
| ITEM 16 | [RESERVED] |
| ITEM 16A | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
The members of the audit committee are Rene CarrierScott Cousens, Barry Coughlan and Barry Coughlan.Diane Nicolson. The board of directors has determined that Mr. CarrierCoughlan qualifies as a “financial expert” under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, based on his education and experience. Mr. CarrierCoughlan is independent, as the term is defined in section 803 of the NYSE American Company Guide.
Each audit committee member is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements.
| ITEM 16B | CODE OF ETHICS |
The Company’sCompany's board of directors has adopted a Code of Ethics governing directors, officers, employees and contractors. The Code of Ethics sets forth written standards that are designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
| (a) | honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| (b) | full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, securities regulators and in other public communications made by the Company; |
| (c) | compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; |
| (d) | the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and |
| (e) | accountability for adherence to the Code of Ethics. |
The board of directors monitors compliance with the Code of Ethics by ensuring that all Company personnel have read and understood the Code of Ethics, and by charging management with bringing to the attention of the board of directors any issues that arise with respect to the Code of Ethics.
The Company’sCompany's Code of Ethics was filed as Exhibit 11.1 of the Company’sCompany's Form 20-F filed on October 7, 2008. The Company’sCompany's Code of Ethics can be viewed at the Company’sCompany's website (www.amarcresources.com). The Company will also provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any person without charge, upon request. Requests can be sent by mail to: 15th floor, 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4H1 or on request of the Company at 604-684-6365, attention: Investor Relations Department.
| - 60 - |
During the most recently completed fiscal year, the Company has neither: (a) amended its Code of Ethics; nor (b) granted any waiver (including any implicit waiver) form any provision of its Code of Ethics.
| ITEM 16C | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
The following table discloses the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the Company’sCompany's audit firm, De Visser Gray LLP for various services.
| Services: | Year ended March 31, 2018 | Year ended March 31, 2017 | Year ended March 31, 2019 | Year ended March 31, 2018 | ||
| Audit Fees | Includes fees necessary to perform the annual audit and quarterly reviews of the Company’s financial statements. Audit Fees include fees for review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the financial statements. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents, reviews of securities filings and statutory audits. | $17,000 (estimated) | $17,000 | Includes fees necessary to perform the annual audit and quarterly reviews of the Company's financial statements. Audit Fees include fees for review of tax provisions and for accounting consultations on matters reflected in the financial statements. Audit Fees also include audit or other attest services required by legislation or regulation, such as comfort letters, consents, reviews of securities filings and statutory audits. | $20,000 (estimated) | $19,900 |
| Audit-related Fees | Includes services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation. | Nil | Includes services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation. | Nil | ||
| Tax Fees | Includes fees for all tax services other than those included in “Audit Fees” and “Audit-related Fees”. This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities. | Nil | Includes fees for all tax services other than those included in “Audit Fees” and “Audit-related Fees”. This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities. | Nil | ||
| All Other Fees | Includes all other non-audit services. | Nil | Includes all other non-audit services. | Nil | ||
| Total | $17,000 | $20,000 | $19,900 | |||
From time to time, management of the Company recommends to and requests approval from the audit committee for non-audit services to be provided by the Company’sCompany's auditors. The audit committee routinely considers such requests at committee meetings, and if acceptable to a majority of the audit committee members, pre-approves such non-audit services by a resolution authorizing management to engage the Company’sCompany's auditors for such non-audit services, with set maximum dollar amounts for each itemized service. During such deliberations, the audit committee assesses, among other factors, whether the services requested would be considered “prohibited services” as contemplated by the SEC, and whether the services requested and the fees related to such services could impair the independence of the auditors. No material non-audit services were provided by the Company’sCompany's auditors during the years presented in the above table.
| ITEM 16D |
| EXEMPTIONS FROM LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 16E | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
In the year ended March 31, 2018,2019, the Company did not purchase any of its issued and outstanding Common Shares pursuant to any repurchase program or otherwise.
| - 61 - |
| ITEM 16F | CHANGE IN |
None.
| ITEM 16G | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 16H | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 17 | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Not applicable. See Item 18 – Financial Statements
| ITEM 18 | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
The following are incorporated herein:
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Amarc Resources Ltd.,
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Amarc Resources Ltd., (‘ (“the Company’Company”), which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at March 31, 2019 and 2018 and 2017 and the consolidated statements of loss, comprehensive loss, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended March 31, 2018,2019, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information (collectively referred to as the ‘financial statements’“financial statements”).
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Amarc Resources Ltd.the Company as at March 31, 20182019 and 20172018 and its financial performance and its cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended March 31, 2018,2019, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern
Without modifying our opinion, we draw attention to Note 1 in the financial statements which indicates that there are material uncertainties that cast significant doubt about the going concern assumption. The Company has no current source of revenue, has incurred significant losses sincefrom inception and is also dependent upon its ability to secure new sources of financing to fund ongoing operations.financing. These conditions, along with other matters as set forth in Note 1, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that casts significant doubt about the Company’sCompany's ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of theseThese financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued byare the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enableresponsibility of the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whetherdueto fraud or error.
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on thesethe Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordanceare a public accounting firm registered with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (‘PCAOB’(“PCAOB”). and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In the completionThe Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit procedures,audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Those standards also require that we comply with ethical requirements. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent of the Company in accordance with U.S. Federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. Further, we are required to be independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in Canada and to fulfill our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
An audit includesOur audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures includeincluded examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on our judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal control relevant to the Company’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An auditOur audits also includesincluded evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policiesprinciples used and the reasonableness of the accountingsignificant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriatetoour audits provide a reasonable basis for our audit opinion.
CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, Canada
July 26, 201810, 2019
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1995.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
| March 31, | March 31, | March 31, | March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Note | 2018 | 2017 | Note | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash | 3 | $ | 3,308,469 | $ | 930,890 | 3 | $ | 282,996 | $ | 3,308,469 | ||||||||||||||
| Amounts receivable and other assets | 5 | 85,574 | 38,891 | 5 | 307,595 | 85,574 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | 57,461 | 29,468 | 35,067 | 57,461 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3,451,504 | 999,249 | 625,658 | 3,451,504 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted cash | 4 | 173,143 | 112,815 | 4 | 173,143 | 173,143 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 173,143 | 112,815 | 173,143 | 173,143 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,624,647 | $ | 1,112,064 | $ | 798,801 | $ | 3,624,647 | ||||||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' (DEFICIENCY) EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 7 | $ | 364,099 | $ | 14,841 | 7 | $ | 35,965 | $ | 364,099 | ||||||||||||||
| Advanced contributions received | 6 | 1,102,714 | – | 6 | 189,021 | 1,102,714 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balances due to a related parties | 10(b) | 148,877 | 175,337 | 10 | 222,933 | 148,877 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Director’s loan | 8 | – | 390,243 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Director's loan | 8 | 893,800 | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1,615,690 | 580,421 | 1,341,719 | 1,615,690 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Director’s loans | 8 | 763,544 | 940,257 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Director's loan | 8 | – | 763,544 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 763,544 | 940,257 | – | 763,544 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 2,379,234 | 1,520,678 | 1,341,719 | 2,379,234 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity (deficiency) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shareholders' (deficiency) equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share capital | 9 | 63,884,056 | 59,559,910 | 9 | 64,041,556 | 63,884,056 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reserves | 5,143,022 | 5,740,875 | 9 | 5,105,082 | 5,143,022 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (67,781,665 | ) | (65,709,399 | ) | (69,689,556 | ) | (67,781,665 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1,245,413 | (408,614 | ) | (542,918 | ) | 1,245,413 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficiency | $ | 3,624,647 | $ | 1,112,064 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' deficiency | $ | 798,801 | $ | 3,624,647 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nature of operations and going concern (note 1)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| /s/ Robert A. Dickinson | /s/ | |
| Robert A. Dickinson | ||
| Director | Director |
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Loss
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, except for weighted average number of common shares outstanding)
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
| Note | (note 2(b)) | (note 2(b)) | (note 2(b)) | |||||||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Exploration and evaluation | 10 & 12 | $ | 5,390,102 | $ | 7,381,916 | $ | 3,574,342 | |||||||||
| Assays and analysis | 354,492 | 224,233 | 123,199 | |||||||||||||
| Drilling | 800,682 | 1,199,928 | 263,705 | |||||||||||||
| Equipment rental | 103,425 | 73,629 | 24,003 | |||||||||||||
| Geological | 1,295,699 | 1,508,855 | 817,983 | |||||||||||||
| Helicopter and fuel | 934,727 | 1,519,029 | 568,658 | |||||||||||||
| Property costs and assessments | 652,926 | 1,553,601 | 1,142,426 | |||||||||||||
| Site activities | 963,826 | 905,971 | 367,000 | |||||||||||||
| Socioeconomic | 192,517 | 310,389 | 237,781 | |||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 91,808 | 86,281 | 29,587 | |||||||||||||
| Administration | 10 & 12 | 913,897 | 1,053,006 | 732,528 | ||||||||||||
| Legal, accounting and audit | 33,106 | 190,132 | 34,720 | |||||||||||||
| Office and administration | 12(b) | 656,569 | 658,686 | 594,734 | ||||||||||||
| Shareholder communication | 155,126 | 122,045 | 49,244 | |||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 32,891 | 36,170 | 14,316 | |||||||||||||
| Trust and regulatory | 36,205 | 45,973 | 39,514 | |||||||||||||
| Cost recoveries | (4,538,604 | ) | (6,892,331 | ) | (3,581,109 | ) | ||||||||||
| Pursuant to IKE agreements | 6(a) | (1,645,196 | ) | (3,244,596 | ) | (2,932,597 | ) | |||||||||
| Pursuant to JOY agreement | 6(b) | (2,893,408 | ) | (2,952,141 | ) | – | ||||||||||
| Mineral exploration tax credits | – | (695,594 | ) | (648,512 | ) | |||||||||||
| 1,765,395 | 1,542,591 | 725,761 | ||||||||||||||
| Other items | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (38,016 | ) | (26,705 | ) | (8,323 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest expense – director's loans | 8 | 90,000 | 128,096 | 136,959 | ||||||||||||
| Transaction cost – director's loans | 8 | 130,256 | 433,044 | 203,057 | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | 933 | (4,093 | ) | – | ||||||||||||
| Gain on disposition of marketable securities | – | (667 | ) | (14,806 | ) | |||||||||||
| Loss | $ | 1,948,568 | $ | 2,072,266 | $ | 1,042,648 | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 169,504,538 | 156,826,422 | 141,435,020 | |||||||||||||
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||
| Note | (note 2(b)) | (note 2(b)) | ||||||||||||||
| Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Exploration and evaluation | 10 & 12 | $ | 7,381,916 | $ | 3,574,342 | $ | 2,808,395 | |||||||||
| Assays and analysis | 224,233 | 123,199 | 119,460 | |||||||||||||
| Drilling | 1,199,928 | 263,705 | 746,312 | |||||||||||||
| Equipment rental | 73,629 | 24,003 | 18,806 | |||||||||||||
| Geological | 1,508,855 | 817,983 | 440,156 | |||||||||||||
| Helicopter and fuel | 1,519,029 | 568,658 | 773,841 | |||||||||||||
| Property costs and assessments | 1,553,601 | 1,142,426 | 153,692 | |||||||||||||
| Site activities | 905,971 | 367,000 | 202,373 | |||||||||||||
| Socioeconomic | 310,389 | 237,781 | 328,716 | |||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 86,281 | 29,587 | 25,039 | |||||||||||||
| Administration | 10 & 12 | 1,053,006 | 732,528 | 1,288,920 | ||||||||||||
| Legal, accounting and audit | 190,132 | 34,720 | 83,745 | |||||||||||||
| Office and administration | 12(b) | 658,686 | 594,734 | 1,112,622 | ||||||||||||
| Shareholder communication | 122,045 | 49,244 | 50,355 | |||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 36,170 | 14,316 | 10,229 | |||||||||||||
| Trust and regulatory | 45,973 | 39,514 | 31,969 | |||||||||||||
| Cost recoveries | (6,892,331 | ) | (3,581,109 | ) | (3,102,061 | ) | ||||||||||
| Pursuant to IKE agreements | 6(b) | (3,244,596 | ) | (2,932,597 | ) | (3,067,403 | ) | |||||||||
| Pursuant to JOY agreement | (2,952,141 | ) | – | – | ||||||||||||
| Mineral exploration tax credits | (695,594 | ) | (648,512 | ) | (34,658 | ) | ||||||||||
| 1,542,591 | 725,761 | 995,254 | ||||||||||||||
| Other items | ||||||||||||||||
| Finance income | (26,705 | ) | (8,323 | ) | (10,341 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest expense – director’s loans | 8 | 128,096 | 136,959 | 82,614 | ||||||||||||
| Transaction cost – director’s loans | 8 | 433,044 | 203,057 | 56,992 | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange (gain) loss | (4,093 | ) | – | 2,183 | ||||||||||||
| Gain on disposition of marketable securities | (667 | ) | (14,806 | ) | (7,923 | ) | ||||||||||
| Loss | $ | 2,072,266 | $ | 1,042,648 | $ | 1,118,779 | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 156,826,422 | 141,435,020 | 141,406,301 | |||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| Note | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
| Loss | $ | 1,948,568 | $ | 2,072,266 | $ | 1,042,648 | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (income) loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Revaluation of marketable securities | 2(e) | – | (28,949 | ) | (22,870 | ) | ||||||||||
| Reallocation of the fair value of marketable securities upon disposition | 2(e) | – | 956 | 14,806 | ||||||||||||
| Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Revaluation of marketable securities | 2(e) | (2,737 | ) | – | – | |||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive (income) loss | (2,737 | ) | (27,993 | ) | (8,064 | ) | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | 1,945,831 | $ | 2,044,273 | $ | 1,034,584 | ||||||||||
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| Note | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
| Loss | $ | 2,072,266 | $ | 1,042,648 | $ | 1,118,779 | ||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (income) loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Revaluation of marketable securities | 2(e)(ii) | (28,949 | ) | (22,870 | ) | 25,415 | ||||||||||
| Reallocation of the fair value of marketable securities upon disposition | 2(e)(ii) | 956 | 14,806 | 8,023 | ||||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive (income) loss | (27,993 | ) | (8,064 | ) | 33,438 | |||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | 2,044,273 | $ | 1,034,584 | $ | 1,152,217 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in (Deficiency) Equity (Deficiency)
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, except for share information)
| Share capital | Reserves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note | Number of shares | Amount | Share-based payments reserve | Investment revaluation reserve | Share warrants reserve | Deficit | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at April 1, 2016 | 141,424,061 | $ | 58,967,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 21,402 | $ | 3,133,363 | $ | (64,666,751 | ) | $ | (341,436 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | – | – | – | – | – | (1,042,648 | ) | (1,042,648 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the year | – | – | – | 8,064 | – | – | 8,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | – | – | – | 8,064 | – | (1,042,648 | ) | (1,034,584 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share purchase warrants | 9(c)(i) | – | – | – | – | 607,406 | – | 607,406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of share purchase warrants | 9(c)(ii) | 4,000,000 | 592,000 | – | – | (232,000 | ) | – | 360,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2017 | 145,424,061 | $ | 59,559,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 29,466 | $ | 3,508,769 | $ | (65,709,399 | ) | $ | (408,614 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at April 1, 2017 | 145,424,061 | $ | 59,559,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 29,466 | $ | 3,508,769 | $ | (65,709,399 | ) | $ | (408,614 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | – | – | – | – | – | (2,072,266 | ) | (2,072,266 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the year | – | – | – | 27,993 | – | – | 27,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | – | – | – | 27,993 | – | (2,072,266 | ) | (2,044,273 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to a private placement, net of issuance costs | 9(c) | 13,045,500 | 2,481,300 | – | – | – | – | 2,481,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to property agreements | 9(b) | 3,761,111 | 677,000 | – | – | – | – | 677,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of share purchase warrants | 9(c) | 6,555,555 | 540,000 | – | – | – | – | 540,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reallocation of share warrant reserve to share capital for exercised warrants | 9(c) | – | 625,846 | – | – | (625,846 | ) | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2018 | 168,786,227 | $ | 63,884,056 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 57,459 | $ | 2,882,923 | $ | (67,781,665 | ) | $ | 1,245,413 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at April 1, 2018 | 168,786,227 | $ | 63,884,056 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 57,459 | $ | 2,882,923 | $ | (67,781,665 | ) | $ | 1,245,413 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | – | – | – | – | – | (1,948,568 | ) | (1,948,568 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the year | – | – | – | 2,737 | – | – | 2,737 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | – | – | – | 2,737 | – | (1,948,568 | ) | (1,945,831 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment of gain on disposition of marketable securities | – | – | – | (40,677 | ) | – | 40,677 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to property agreements | 9(b) | 1,816,667 | 157,500 | – | – | – | – | 157,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2019 | 170,602,894 | $ | 64,041,556 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 19,519 | $ | 2,882,923 | $ | (69,689,556 | ) | $ | (542,918 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Share capital | Reserves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note | Number of shares | Amount | Share-based payments reserve | Investment revaluation reserve | Share warrants reserve | Deficit | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at April 1, 2015 | 141,324,061 | $ | 58,955,410 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 54,840 | $ | 2,811,220 | $ | (63,547,972 | ) | $ | 476,138 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | – | – | – | – | – | (1,118,779 | ) | (1,118,779 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the year | – | – | – | (33,438 | ) | – | – | (33,438 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | – | – | – | (33,438 | ) | – | (1,118,779 | ) | (1,152,217 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to a property option agreement | 6 | 100,000 | 12,500 | – | – | – | – | 12,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share purchase warrants | 9(c) | – | – | – | – | 322,143 | – | 322,143 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2016 | 141,424,061 | $ | 58,967,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 21,402 | $ | 3,133,363 | $ | (64,666,751 | ) | $ | (341,436 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at April 1, 2016 | 141,424,061 | $ | 58,967,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 21,402 | $ | 3,133,363 | $ | (64,666,751 | ) | $ | (341,436 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | – | – | – | – | – | (1,042,648 | ) | (1,042,648 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the year | – | – | – | 8,064 | – | – | 8,064 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | – | – | – | 8,064 | – | (1,042,648 | ) | (1,034,584 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share purchase warrants | 9(c) | – | – | – | – | 607,406 | – | 607,406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise of share purchase warrants | 4,000,000 | 592,000 | – | – | (232,000 | ) | – | 360,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2017 | 145,424,061 | $ | 59,559,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 29,466 | $ | 3,508,769 | $ | (65,709,399 | ) | $ | (408,614 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at April 1, 2017 | 145,424,061 | $ | 59,559,910 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 29,466 | $ | 3,508,769 | $ | (65,709,399 | ) | $ | (408,614 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss for the year | – | – | – | – | – | (2,072,266 | ) | (2,072,266 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss for the year | – | – | – | 27,993 | – | – | 27,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | – | – | – | 27,993 | – | (2,072,266 | ) | (2,044,273 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to a private placement, net of issuance costs | 9(c) | 13,045,500 | 2,481,300 | – | – | – | – | 2,481,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to a property option agreement | 3,761,111 | 677,000 | – | – | – | �� | – | 677,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of share purchase warrants | 6,555,555 | 540,000 | – | – | – | – | 540,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reallocation of share warrant reserve to share capital for exercised warrants | – | 625,846 | – | – | (625,846 | ) | – | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2018 | 168,786,227 | $ | 63,884,056 | $ | 2,202,640 | $ | 57,459 | $ | 2,882,923 | $ | (67,781,665 | ) | $ | 1,245,413 | ||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars)
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| Note | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
| (note 2(b)) | (note 2(b)) | (note 2(b)) | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss | $ | (1,948,568 | ) | $ | (2,072,266 | ) | $ | (1,042,648 | ) | |||||||
| Adjustments for: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (38,016 | ) | (26,705 | ) | (8,323 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest expense – director's loans | 90,000 | 128,096 | 136,959 | |||||||||||||
| Transaction cost – director's loans | 130,256 | 433,044 | 203,057 | |||||||||||||
| Non-cash property payments | 157,500 | 677,000 | – | |||||||||||||
| Gain on disposition of marketable securities | – | (667 | ) | (14,806 | ) | |||||||||||
| Changes in working capital items: | ||||||||||||||||
| Amounts receivable and other assets | (222,021 | ) | (46,683 | ) | 78,515 | |||||||||||
| Restricted cash | – | (60,328 | ) | 92,213 | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (328,134 | ) | 349,258 | (7,515 | ) | |||||||||||
| Balances due to related parties | 74,056 | (26,460 | ) | (5,139 | ) | |||||||||||
| Advanced contributions (incurred) received – net | (913,693 | ) | 1,102,714 | – | ||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | (2,998,620 | ) | 457,003 | (567,687 | ) | |||||||||||
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest received | 38,016 | 26,705 | 8,323 | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposition of marketable securities | 25,131 | 667 | 19,805 | |||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | 63,147 | 27,372 | 28,128 | |||||||||||||
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to a private placement | 9(b) | – | 2,481,300 | – | ||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of share purchase warrants | 9(b) | – | 540,000 | 360,000 | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from director's loans | 8 | – | – | 600,000 | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of loans payable to director | 8 | – | (1,000,000 | ) | (100,000 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest paid on director's loans | 8 | (90,000 | ) | (128,096 | ) | (136,959 | ) | |||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (90,000 | ) | 1,893,204 | 723,041 | ||||||||||||
| �� | ||||||||||||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash | (3,025,473 | ) | 2,377,579 | 183,482 | ||||||||||||
| Cash, beginning balance | 3,308,469 | 930,890 | 747,408 | |||||||||||||
| Cash, ending balance | $ | 282,996 | $ | 3,308,469 | $ | 930,890 | ||||||||||
| Supplementary cash flow information: | – | |||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share purchase warrants pursuant to a loan agreement | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 607,406 | ||||||||||
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| Note | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
| (note 2(b)) | (note 2(b)) | |||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss | $ | (2,072,266 | ) | $ | (1,042,648 | ) | $ | (1,118,779 | ) | |||||||
| Adjustments for: | ||||||||||||||||
| Finance income | (26,705 | ) | (8,323 | ) | (10,341 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest expense – director’s loans | 128,096 | 136,959 | 82,614 | |||||||||||||
| Transaction cost – director’s loans | 433,044 | 203,057 | 56,992 | |||||||||||||
| Common shares issued, included in exploration expenses | 677,000 | – | 12,500 | |||||||||||||
| Gain on disposition of marketable securities | (667 | ) | (14,806 | ) | (7,923 | ) | ||||||||||
| Changes in working capital items: | ||||||||||||||||
| Amounts receivable and other assets | (46,683 | ) | 78,515 | 854,483 | ||||||||||||
| Restricted cash | (60,328 | ) | 92,213 | 29,170 | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 349,258 | (7,515 | ) | (43,942 | ) | |||||||||||
| Balances due to related parties | (26,460 | ) | (5,139 | ) | (32,166 | ) | ||||||||||
| Advanced contributions received | 1,102,714 | – | – | |||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in) operating activities | 457,003 | (567,687 | ) | (177,392 | ) | |||||||||||
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest received | 26,705 | 8,323 | 10,341 | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds from disposition of marketable securities | 667 | 19,805 | 7,923 | |||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by investing activities | 27,372 | 28,128 | 18,264 | |||||||||||||
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to a private placement | 2,481,300 | – | – | |||||||||||||
| Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to exercise of share purchase warrants | 540,000 | 360,000 | – | |||||||||||||
| Proceed from director’s loans | 8 | – | 600,000 | 500,000 | ||||||||||||
| Repayment of loans payable to director | 8 | (1,000,000 | ) | (100,000 | ) | – | ||||||||||
| Interest paid on director’s loans | 8 | (128,096 | ) | (136,959 | ) | (82,614 | ) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 1,893,204 | 723,041 | 417,386 | |||||||||||||
| Net increase in cash | 2,377,579 | 183,482 | 258,258 | |||||||||||||
| Cash, beginning balance | 930,890 | 747,408 | 489,150 | |||||||||||||
| Cash, ending balance | $ | 3,308,469 | $ | 930,890 | $ | 747,408 | ||||||||||
| Supplementary cash flow information: | – | – | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of share purchase warrants pursuant to a loan agreement | $ | – | $ | 607,406 | $ | 322,143 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| 1. |
Amarc Resources Ltd. (the(“Amarc” or the “Company” or “Amarc”) is a company incorporated under the laws of the provinceProvince of British Columbia and its(“BC”). Its principal business activity is the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties. Its principalThe Company’s mineral property interests are located in British Columbia (“BC”).BC. The address of the Company’s corporate office is 15th Floor, 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 4H1.
The Company is in the process of exploring its mineral property interests and has not yet determined whether its mineral property interests contain economically recoverable mineral reserves. The Company’s continuing operations are entirely dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable mineral reserves, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to continue the exploration and development of its mineral property interests and to obtain the permits necessary to mine, and onthe future profitable production from its mineral property interest or proceeds from the disposition of its mineral property interests.
These consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended March 31, 2019 (the “Financial Statements”) have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. As at March 31, 2018,2019, the Company had cash of $3,308,469,$282,996, a working capital surplus,deficit, and a shareholders’ deficiency.
In July 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement with Hudbay Minerals Inc. (note 6). During the year ended March 31, 2018, the Company received $3.5 million under the IKE Option Agreement (note 6(a)) and $2.9 million under the JOY Option Agreement (note 6(b)).
The Company will need to seek additional financing to meet its exploration and development objectives. The Company has a reasonable expectation that additional funds will be available when necessary to meet ongoing exploration and development costs. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to be able to obtain additional financial resources or will achieve profitability or positive cash flows. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate additional financing, the Company will be required to re-evaluate its planned expenditures until additional fundsfunding can be raised through financing activities. These factors indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that raisescasts significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
These Financial Statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that mightmay be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| 2. |
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these Financial Statements are described below. These policies have been consistently applied for all years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (a) | Statement of compliance |
These Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”), effective for the Company’s reporting year ended March 31, 2018.2019.
The Board of Directors of the Company authorized these Financial Statements for issuance on July 26, 2018 for issuance.
10, 2019.
| (b) | Basis of presentation and consolidation |
These Financial Statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for certain financial instruments classified as available-for-salefair value through other comprehensive income, which are statedreported at fair value. In addition, these Financial Statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting, except for cash flow information.
These Financial Statements include the financial statements of the Company and its onlywholly-owned subsidiary, named 1130346 B.C. Ltd. (the “Subco”), incorporated under the laws of BC. The Subco is Amarc’s wholly-owned subsidiary and was incorporated for the purposes of entering into an option agreement (note 6(b)) and as of. As at March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Subco did not have any asset, liability,assets, liabilities, income or expense.expenses. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in full on consolidation.
Certain comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.
| (c) | Significant accounting estimates and |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments,judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The impact of such estimates is pervasive throughout the financial statements, and may require accounting adjustments based on future occurrences. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. These estimates are based on historical experience, current and future economic conditions and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Changes in the subjective inputs and assumptions can materially affect fair value estimates. The following estimates and judgements have been used in these Financial Statements:
| assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; | ||
| the determination of categories of financial assets and financial liabilities; and, | ||
| the carrying value and recoverability of the Company’s marketable securities. |
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (d) | Foreign currency |
The functional and presentational currency of the Company is the Canadian Dollar.Dollar (“CAD”).
Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of the Company are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of transactions. At each financial position reporting date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not re-translated. Gains and losses arising on translation are included in profit or loss for the year.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (e) | Financial |
Financial assets and liabilities are recognized when the Company becomes party to the contracts that give rise to them. The Company determines the classification of its financial assets and liabilities at initial recognition, and, where allowed and appropriate, re-evaluates such classification at each financial year end. The Company does not have any derivative financial instruments.
On April 1, 2018, the Company adopted IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”), which replaces IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (“IAS 39”) in its entirety. IFRS 9 provides a revised model for the recognition and measurement of financial instruments, and a single, forward-looking ‘expected loss’ impairment model. The Company has applied the changes in accounting policy retrospectively, however, in accordance with the transitional provisions in IFRS 9, comparative information has not been restated. The adoption of IFRS 9 has not had a significant effect on the Company’s accounting policies related to financial liabilities. The impact of IFRS 9 on the classification and measurement of financial assets is set out below.
IFRS 9 largely retains the existing requirements of IAS 39 for the classification and measurement of financial liabilities areliabilities.
IFRS 9 eliminates the previous IAS 39 categories for financial assets of held to maturity, loans and receivables, and available-for-sale. Under IFRS 9, on initial recognition, a financial asset is classified as measured at: amortized cost; fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVTOCI”) (debt/equity investment); or, fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”). The classification of financial assets under IFRS 9 is generally based on the business model in which a financial asset is managed and its contractual cash flow characteristics.
A financial asset (unless it is a trade receivable without a significant financing component that is initially measured at the transaction price) is initially measured at fair value. Transactionvalue plus, for an item not measured at FVTPL, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issuance of financial assets and financial liabilities (other than financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss) are added to or deducted from the fair value of the financial assets or financial liabilities, as appropriate, upon initial recognition. Transaction costsits acquisition. The directly attributable transaction costs of a financial asset classified at FVTPL are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the acquisition of financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are recognized immediatelyConsolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in profit or loss.Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
Non-derivative financialFinancial assets measured at amortized cost
The Company’s non-derivativeA financial assets comprise ofasset is measured at amortized cost if it meets both the following:following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:
| · | its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. |
Loans and receivables areThese financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Such assets are initially recognized at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, loans and receivables aresubsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less anymethod. The amortized cost is reduced by impairment losses.
Loans Interest income, foreign exchange gains and receivables compriselosses, and impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on the derecognition of cash, amounts receivable and other assets, and restricted cash.the financial asset is recognized in profit or loss.
Cash
Cash in the statement of financial position is comprised of cash and highly liquid investments held at major financial institutions, having maturity dates of three months or less from the date of purchase, which are readily convertible into known amounts of cash. The Company’s cash are invested in business and savings accounts which are available on demand by the Company for its programs and as such, are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
The Company’s investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale financial assets. Subsequent to initial recognition, they are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
A debt investment is measured at FVTOCI if it meets bot the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:
| · | it is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets; and, | |
| · | its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. |
On the initial recognition of an equity instrument that is not held for trading, the Company may irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes therein, other than impairment losses and foreign currency differences on AFS monetary items, are recognizedin the investment’s fair value in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). This election is made on an investment-by-investment basis.
Debt investments measured at FVTOCI are subsequently measured at fair value. Interest income calculated using the effective interest method, foreign exchange gains and losses, and impairment are recognized in profit or loss. When an investment is derecognized, the cumulative gainOther net gains and losses are measured in OCI. On de-recognition, gains and losses accumulated in OCI are reclassified to profit or loss.
Equity investments measured at FVTOCI are subsequently measured at fair value. Dividends are recognized as income in profit or loss unless the dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment. Other net gains and losses are recognized in the investment revaluation reserve is transferredOCI and are never reclassified to profit or loss.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
The
Financial assets measured at fair value of AFS monetary assets denominated in a foreign currency is determined in that foreign currency and translated at the exchange rate prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Changes in the fair value of AFS equity investments are recognized directly in equity.
Marketable securities are classified as AFS financial assets.
Non-derivative financial liabilitiesthrough profit or loss
The Company classifies its non-derivativeAll financial liabilities into the following category:
Such financial liabilities are recognized initially at fair value net of any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, these financial liabilities areassets not classified as measured at amortized cost usingor measured at FVTOCI, as described above, are measured at FVTPL; this includes all derivative financial assets. On initial recognition, the effective interest method.
Financial liabilitiesCompany may irrevocably designate a financial asset that otherwise meets the requirements to be measured at amortized cost comprise of accounts payable and accrued liabilities, balance due to a related party, and loan payable to director.or measured at FVTOCI as FVTPL if doing so eliminates, or significantly reduces, an accounting mismatch that would otherwise arise.
ImpairmentThese financial assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Net gains and losses, including any interest or dividend income, are recognized in profit or loss.
On the date of initial application, April 1, 2018, the financial assetsinstruments of the Company are detailed as follows, with any reclassification noted:
| Measurement basis | Carrying amount | |||||||||||||||
| Original (IAS 39) | New (IFRS 9) | Original (IAS 39) | New (IFRS 9) | Difference Gain / (loss) | ||||||||||||
| Current financial assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | $ | 3,308,469 | $ | 3,308,469 | $ | – | ||||||||
| Amounts receivable | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | 85,574 | 85,574 | – | |||||||||||
| Marketable securities | Available-for-sale | FVTOCI1 | 57,461 | 57,461 | – | |||||||||||
| Non-current financial assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Restricted cash | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | $ | 173,143 | $ | 173,143 | $ | – | ||||||||
| Current financial liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | $ | 364,099 | $ | 364,099 | $ | – | ||||||||
| Advanced contributions received | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | 1,102,714 | 1,102,714 | – | |||||||||||
| Balance due to a related party | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | 148,877 | 148,877 | – | |||||||||||
| Non-current financial liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Directors’ loan | Amortized cost | Amortized cost | $ | 763,544 | $ | 763,544 | $ | – | ||||||||
| $ | – | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Upon initial adoption of IFRS 9 on April 1, 2018, the Company has designated its marketable securities as measured at FVTOCI. |
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (f) | Revenue |
On April 1, 2018, the Company adopted IFRS 15,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”). IFRS 15 supersedes IAS 11,Construction Contracts; IAS 18,Revenue; IFRIC 13,Customer Loyalty Programs; IFRIC 15,Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate; IFRIC 18,Transfer of Assets from Customers; and, SIC 31,Revenue – Barter Transactions Involving Advertising Services.
When an AFS financial asset is considered to be impaired, cumulative gains or losses previously recognized in other comprehensive income or loss are reclassified to profit or loss inIFRS 15 establishes a single, five-step model framework for determining the period. Financial assets are assessed for indicatorsnature, amount, timing and certainty of impairment at the end of each reporting period. Financial assets are impaired when there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated futurerevenue and cash flows of the investment have been impacted. For shares classified as AFS,arising from a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is considered to be objective evidence of impairment.contract with a customer.
For all otherThe adoption of IFRS 15, applied retrospectively, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial assets objective evidence of impairment could include:statements.
With the exception of AFS equity instruments, if, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss to the extent that the carrying amount of the investment at the date the impairment is reversed does not exceed what the amortized cost would have been had the impairment not been recognized. In respect of AFS equity securities, impairment losses previously recognized through profit or loss are not reversed through profit or loss. Any increase in fair value of AFS equity securities subsequent to an impairment loss is recognized directly in equity.
| Exploration and evaluation expenditures |
Exploration and evaluation costs are costs incurred to discover mineral resources, and to assess the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the mineral resources found.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
Exploration and evaluation expenditures include:
| costs associated with the | ||
| · | costs associated with the acquisition of exploration and evaluation assets, including mineral properties; and, | |
| costs associated with exploration and evaluation | ||
Exploration and evaluation expenditurescosts are generally expensed as incurred until the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource has been determined and a positive decision to proceed to development has been made, are generally expensed as incurred.made. However, if management concludes that future economic benefits are more likely than not to be realized, the costs of property, plant and equipment for use in the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources are capitalized.
Costs incurred before the Company has obtained the legal rights to explore an area are expensed. Costs incurred after the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource has been determined and a positive decision to proceed to development has been made are considered development costs and are capitalized.
Costs applicable to established mineral property interests where no further work is planned by the Company may, for presentation purposes only, be carried at nominal amounts.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| Equipment |
Equipment is carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.
The cost of equipment consists of the purchase price, any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and the condition necessary for its intended use, and an initial estimate of the costs of dismantling and removing the itemasset and restoring the site on which it is located.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to expense the cost of the equipment, less its estimated residual value, using the declining balance method at various rates ranging from 20% to 30% per annum.
An item of equipment is derecognized upon disposal or when no material future economic benefits are expected to arise from the continued use of the asset. Any gain or loss arising on disposal of the asset, determined as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset, is recognized in profit or loss.
Where an item of equipment consists of major components with different useful lives, the components are accounted for as separate items of equipment. Expenditures incurred to replace a component of an item of equipment that is accountedaccount for separately, including major inspection and overhaul expenditures, are capitalized.
Residual values and estimated useful lives are reviewed at least annually.
As at March 31, 2018,2019, all equipment had been fully depreciated. The Company did not purchase any equipment during the year ended March 31, 2018.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
2019.
| Share capital |
Common shares of the Company are classified as equity. Transaction costs directly attributable to the issuance of common shares and share purchase options are recognized as a deduction from equity, net of any tax effects.
When the Company issues common shares for consideration other than cash, the transaction is measured at fair value based on the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares on the date of issuance.
| Loss per share |
Loss per share is computed by dividing the losses attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted loss per share is determined by adjusting the losses attributable to common shareholders and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the effects of all dilutive potential common shares, such as options granted to employees. The dilutive effect of options assumes that the proceeds to be received on the exercise of share purchase options are applied to repurchase common shares at the average market price for the reporting period. Share purchase options are included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share only to the extent that the market price of the common shares exceeds the exercise price of the share purchase options.
The effect of anti–dilutiveanti-dilutive factors is not considered when computingcomputed diluted loss per share.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
The share purchase option plan allows Company employees and consultants of the Company to acquire shares of the Company. The fair value of share purchase options granted is recognized as an employee or consultant expense with a corresponding increase in share-based paymentsthe share based payment reserve in equity. An individual is classified as an employee when the individual is an employee for legal orand tax purposes (direct employee) or provides services similar to those performed by a direct employee.
For employees, fair value is measured at the grant date and each tranche is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period during which the share purchase options vest. The fair value of the share purchase options granted is measured using the Black–ScholesBlack-Scholes option pricing model taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the share purchase options were granted. At the end of each financial reporting period, the amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share purchase options that are expected to vest.
Share–Share based payment transactions with non-employees are measured at the fair value of the goods orand services received. However, if the fair value cannot be estimated reliably, the share-basedshare based payment transaction is measured at the fair value of the equity instrumentsinstrument granted at the date the entity obtains the goods or the counterparty renders the service.
| Income taxes |
Income tax on the profit or loss for the years presented comprises of current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which case it is recognized in equity.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
Current tax expense is the expected tax payable on taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at year end, adjusted for amendments to tax payable with regards to previous years.
Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.
The following temporary differences are not provided for:
| goodwill not deductible for tax purposes; | ||
| the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit; and, | ||
| differences relating to investments in subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. |
The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the financial position reporting date applicable to the period of expected realization or settlement.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
A deferred tax asset is recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized.
Additional income taxes that arise from the distribution of dividends are recognized at the same time as the liability to pay the related dividend.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities, and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority, and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.
| Restoration, rehabilitation and environmental obligations |
An obligation to incur restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs arises when environmental disturbance is caused by the exploration or development of a mineral property interest. Such costs arising from the decommissioning of plant and other site preparation work, discounted to their net present value, are provided for and capitalized at the start of each project to the carrying amount of the asset, along with a corresponding liability at the time the obligation to incur such costs arises. The timing of the actual rehabilitation expenditure is dependent on a number of factors such as the life and nature of the project or asset, the conditions imposed by the relevant permits, and, when applicable, the jurisdiction in which the project or asset is located.
Discount rates using a pre–taxpre-tax rate that reflects the time value of money are used to calculate the net present value, where applicable. These costs are charged against profit or loss over the economic life of the related asset, through amortization using either the unit–of–productionunit-of-production method or the straight-line method. The corresponding liability is progressively increased as the effect of discounting unwinds, creating an expense recognized in profit or loss.
The operations of the Company have been, and may in the future be, affected from time to time in varying degrees by changes in environmental regulations, including those for site restoration costs. Both the likelihood of new regulations and their overall effect upon the Company are not predictable.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
The Company has no material restoration, rehabilitation and environmental obligations as at March 31, 2018.2019.
| Operating segments |
The Company is operating inoperates as a single reportable segment – segment—the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. All assets are held in Canada.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| Government assistance |
When the Company is entitled to receive METCthe BC Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (“BCMETC”) and other government grants, this government assistance is recognized as a cost recovery when there is reasonable assurance of recovery.
| Accounting standards, interpretations and amendments to existing standards |
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018:2019:
| IFRS | ||
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019:
| IFRIC 23,Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments |
The Company has not early adopted these new standards or amendments to existing standards and does not expect the impact of these standards to be material on the Company’s financial statements to be material.statements.
| 3. |
The Company’s cash is invested in business and savings accounts, which are available on demand by the Company.
| 4. |
Restricted cash represents amounts held in support of exploration permits. The amounts are refundable subject to the consent of regulatory authorities upon the completion of any required reclamation work on the related projects.
| 5. | Amounts receivable and other assets |
| March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | |||||||
| Sales tax refundable | $ | 7,304 | $ | 43,019 | ||||
| Contributions receivable (note 6(a) and 6(b)) | 300,291 | – | ||||||
| Prepaid insurance | – | 42,555 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 307,595 | $ | 85,574 | ||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | |||||||
| Sales tax refundable | $ | 43,019 | $ | 38,891 | ||||
| Prepaid insurance | 42,555 | – | ||||||
| Total | $ | 85,574 | $ | 38,891 |
| 6. |
Below is a summary of the Company’s major exploration projects on the basis of where the Company is currently incurring the majority of its exploration work.
| (a) | IKE Project |
The IKE Project is located in south-central BC. In July 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement (the “IKE Agreement”) with Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay”), pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to a 60% ownership interest in the IKE Project.
The Company initially records the amountamounts of contributions received or receivable from Hudbay pursuant to the IKE Property Farm-In Agreement as a a liability (advance(Advanced contributions received) in the StatementConsolidated Statements of Financial Position, and subsequently reallocatesrecognizes amounts toas cost recoveries in the StatementConsolidated Statements of Loss as itthe Company incurs expenditures against such contributions.
Relinquished Option Agreementrelated expenditures.
During the year ended March 31, 2017,2019, the Company recorded a gross amount of cost recovery of $2,932,597 representing contributions received$1,645,196 (2018 – $3,244,596) offsetting the expenditures incurred pursuant to a definitive agreement with Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (“Thompson Creek”) dated February 2016, whereby the latter had an option to acquire, through a staged investment process within five years, a 30% ownership interest in the mineral claims and crown grants covering the IKE Project.Agreement.
In January 2017, Thompson Creek (having been taken over by Centerra Gold Inc.)2019, the Company announced that Hudbay had relinquished its option to earn an interest in the IKE Project. Pursuant to the IKE Agreement, Hudbay has advanced to the Company $92,240 for estimated post-termination obligations outstanding at March 31, 2019. The amount has been recorded within the current balance of Advanced contributions received on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and elected to exchange its 10% participating interest forwill subsequently be recognized as a 1% Conversion Net Smelter Royalty from mine production, capped at a totalcost recovery on the Consolidated Statements of $5 million.Loss as the Company incurs related expenditures. As a result of the termination, the Company maintainedmaintains a 100% interest in the IKE Project.
Certain claims within the IKE Project carry an NSR royalty obligation of 1%, subject to a $2 million cap and with the Company able to purchase the royalty at any time by payment of the same amount. These claims carry an additional NSR of 2%, subject to the Company retaining the right to purchase up to the entire royalty amount by the payment of up to $4 million. The Company has also agreed to make annual advance royalty payments of $25,000 to the holders of the 2% NSR royalty interest and, upon completion of a positive feasibility study, to issue to these same parties 500,000 common shares.
Other claims within the project are subject to a 2% NSR royalty which can be purchased for $2 million and in addition there is an underlying 2.5% NSR royalty on certain mineral claims, which can be purchased at any time for $1.5 million less any amount of royalty already paid.
The entire project is subject to a 1% NSR royalty capped at a total of $5 million.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (b) | JOY Project |
The JOY Project, located in north-central BC, comprises the JOY and PINE properties, and certain adjacent claims (the “Staked Claims”) acquired directly by Amarc.the Company. In November 2016, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with a private company wholly-owned by one of its directors (note 10(c)) to purchase 100% of the JOY property for the reimbursement of the vendor’s direct acquisition costs of $335,299. The property is subject to an underlying NSR royalty held by a former owner which is capped at $3.5 million.
In August 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement (the “JOY Agreement”) with Hudbay pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to 60% ownership in the JOY Project.
The Company initially records the amounts of contributions received or receivable from Hudbay pursuant to the JOY Agreement as a liability (Advanced contributions received) in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, and subsequently reallocates amounts to cost recoveries in the Consolidated Statements of Loss as the Company incurs related expenditures.
During the year ended March 31, 2019, the Company recorded a gross amount of cost recovery of $2,893,408 (2018 – $2,952,141) offsetting the expenditures incurred pursuant to the JOY Agreement.
In January 2019, the Company announced that Hudbay had relinquished its option to earn an interest in the JOY Project. Pursuant to the JOY Agreement, Hudbay has advanced to the Company $96,781 for estimated post-termination obligations outstanding at March 31, 2019. The amount has been recorded within the March 31, 2019 balance of advanced contributions received on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and will subsequently be recognized as a cost recovery on the Consolidated Statements of Loss as the Company incurs the related expenditures. As a result of the termination, the Company maintains a 100% interest in the JOY Project.
In addition, Amarcthe Company concluded agreements with each of Gold Fields Toodoggone Exploration Corporation (“GFTEC”) and Cascadero Copper Corporation (“Cascadero”) in mid-2017 pursuant to which Amarcthe Company can purchase 100% of the PINE property. Subsequently, Hudbay and Amarc agreed to incorporate both
During the year ended March 31, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of a 49% interest in the PINE property by making cash payments of $300,000 (2018 – $700,000) and issuing 300,000 common shares (2018 – 650,000 common shares) to Cascadero. The Company maintains the option to acquire GFTEC’s 51% interest by agreeing to incur up to $2.75 million in exploration expenditures on the project prior to August 2021 (100% incurred to date). GFTEC will retain a 2.5% net profits interest royalty (“NPI”) on mineral claims comprising approximately 96% of the property which are subject to a net smelter return royalty payable to a former owner (“Underlying NSR”), and a 1% net smelter returns royalty (“NSR”) on the balance of the claims that are not subject to the Underlying NSR. The NPI can be reduced to 1.25% at any time through the payment to GFTEC of $2.5 million in cash or shares. The NSR can be reduced to 0.50% through the payment to GFTEC of an additional $2.5 million in cash or shares. If the Company does not exercise the option or terminates the GFTEC Agreement at any time during the four-year option period, then it may be required to make a termination payment to GFTEC. The level of termination payment, if any, varies with the year of termination and the Staked Claims intoamount of any exploration expenditures completed, from a low of no payment to an absolute maximum of $1,375,000 in the JOY Project.event that no exploration work is done by the Company.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
The PINE property is subject to a 3% underlying NSR royalty payable to a former owner. The Company has reached an agreement with the former owner to cap the 3% NSR at $5 million payable from production for consideration totaling $100,000 and 300,000 common shares payable in stages through to January 31, 2019. In August 2017,the current year, the Company announced that it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement with Hudbay, pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to a 60% ownership in the JOY Project. The Company initially records the amountmade cash payments of contributions received or receivable from Hudbay pursuant to the JOY Property Farm-In Agreement as a liability (advance contributions received) liability in the Statement of Financial Position,$50,000 (2018 – $50,000) and subsequently reallocates amounts to cost recoveries in the Statement of Loss as it incurs expenditures against such contributions.issued 50,000 common shares (2018 – 50,000 common shares).
| (c) | DUKE Project |
The DUKE Project is located in central BC. In November 2016, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with a private company wholly ownedwholly-owned by one of its directors (note 10(c)) to purchase a 100% interest in the DUKE property for the reimbursement of the vendor’s direct acquisition costs of $168,996. The DUKE property is located in central BC.
| 7. |
| March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 364,099 | $ | 14,841 | $ | 35,965 | $ | 364,099 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 364,099 | $ | 14,841 | $ | 35,965 | $ | 364,099 | ||||||||
| 8. |
| Unsecured loans payable to a director | March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | ||||||
| Opening balance | $ | 1,330,500 | $ | 1,234,849 | ||||
| Net amounts (repaid) advanced | (1,000,000 | ) | 500,000 | |||||
| Transaction costs | – | (607,406 | ) | |||||
| Amortisation of transaction costs | 433,044 | 203,057 | ||||||
| Closing balance | $ | 763,544 | $ | 1,330,500 | ||||
| March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | |||||||
| Opening balance | $ | 763,544 | $ | 1,330,500 | ||||
| Repayments | – | (1,000,000 | ) | |||||
| Amortization of transaction costs | 130,256 | 433,044 | ||||||
| Closing balance | $ | 893,800 | $ | 763,544 | ||||
| March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | |||||||
| Current portion | – | 390,243 | ||||||
| Non-current portion | 763,544 | 940,257 | ||||||
| Total | 763,544 | 1,330,500 | ||||||
| March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | |||||||
| Current portion | $ | 893,800 | $ | – | ||||
| Non-current portion | – | 763,544 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 893,800 | $ | 763,544 | ||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| Transaction costs | Year ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Interest on director’s loan | $ | 128,096 | $ | 136,959 | $ | 82,614 | ||||||
| Amortization of transaction costs | 433,044 | 203,057 | 56,992 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 561,140 | $ | 340,016 | $ | 139,606 | ||||||
| Finance expenses | For the year ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||
| Interest on director’s loan | $ | 90,000 | $ | 128,096 | $ | 136,959 | ||||||
| Amortization of transaction costs | 130,256 | 433,044 | 203,057 | |||||||||
| $ | 220,256 | $ | 561,140 | $ | 340,016 | |||||||
As at March 31, 2018,2019, one unsecured loan owing to a director (the “Lender”) of the Company (the “Lender”), advanced to the Company in November 2016 (note 8(a)), was outstanding with thea principal sum $1,000,000 (the “2016-Loan Agreement”);of $1,000,000.
Advances have been measured as financial liabilities at their (cash) transaction values, with the unamortized balance of directly applicable costs, comprised of the fair values of the bonus warrants granted, representing a partially offsetting asset balance. Such costs are being expensed pro-rata over the term of the debt, with the effect on the balance sheet presentation being that the aggregate debt is accreted towards its face value.
The key terms of the underlying agreements for each loan outstanding during the period are summarized below:
2015-Loan Agreement
| (a) | 2016 loan agreement |
In September 2015,November 2016, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “2015-Loan Agreement”“2016 Loan”) with its Director and Chairman, Robert Dickinson (the “Lender”) pursuant to which the Lender, advanced to the Company a principal sum of $500,000 with a two-year term and at an interest rate of 7% per annum. Pursuant to the 2015-Loan Agreement, the Company issued 5,555,555 common share purchase warrants (note 9(c)) to the Lender with an expiry term of two years and exercise price of $0.09.
This advance was fully repaid in September 2017.
2016-Loan Agreement
In November 2016, the Company and the Lender entered into another loan agreement (the “2016-Loan Agreement”), superseding a previous loan agreement for a $1,000,000 advance, pursuant to which the original duematurity date of November 26, 2016 was extended for three years on customary conditions. The principal sum was subsequently increased to $1,500,000 by way of an additional advance of $500,000 to fund mineral property acquisitions (note 6(b) and (c)6(c)). The 2016-Loan Agreement2016 Loan is subject to a fixedan interest atrate of 9% per annum.
Pursuant to the 2016-Loan Agreement,2016 Loan, the Company issued to the Lender a loan bonus comprising of 10,000,000 common share purchase warrants (note 9(c)) with a three-yearan expiry term of three years and an exercise price of $0.08 per share.share (note 9(c)(i)).
During the year ended March 31, 2018, $500,000 of this loanthe 2016 Loan was repaid to the Lender, leaving a balance outstanding as at March 31, 2018 of $1,000,000.
| (b) | 2015 loan agreement |
These advances have been measured as financial liabilities at their (cash) transaction values,
In September 2015, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “2015 Loan”) with the unamortized balanceLender pursuant to which the Lender advanced to the Company a principal sum of directly applicable costs, comprised of the fair values of the bonus warrants granted, representing$500,000 with a partially-offsetting asset balance. Such costs are being expensed pro-rata over thematurity term of two-year and at an interest rate of 7% per annum.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the debt,Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
Pursuant to the 2015 Loan, the Company issued to the Lender a loan bonus comprising of 5,555,555 common share purchase warrants with the effect on the balance sheet presentation being that the aggregate debt is accreted towards its face value.an expiry term of two years and an exercise price of $0.09 per share (note 9(c)(ii))
The 2015 Loan was fully repaid in September 2017.
| 9. |
| (a) | Authorized and outstanding share capital |
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value (“Common Shares”) without par value and an unlimited number of preferred shares. All issued Common Shares are fully paid. No preferred shares have been issued.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
As at March 31, 2018,2019, there were 168,786,227170,602,894 Common Shares issued and outstanding (March 31, 2017: 145,424,061)2018 – 168,786,227).
| (b) |
During the year ended March 31, 2019, the Company issued 1,816,667 Common Shares pursuant to property agreements (note 6(b)).
During the year ended March 31, 2018, the Company issued 3,761,111 Common Shares pursuant to property agreements (note 6(b)).
In September 2017, the Company announced a private placement financing, issuing 13,045,500 Common Shares at a price of $0.20 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $2,609,100 and incurred share issuance costs of $127,800 for net proceeds of $2,481,300.
During the year ended March 31, 2018,In September 2017, the Company issued 3,761,1116,555,555 Common Shares pursuant to a property option agreementthe exercise of share purchase warrants (note 6(b)9(c)).
| (c) |
The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s share purchase options:
| Share purchase options (exercise price –$0.32) | Year ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Outstanding – beginning of year | – | 3,051,300 | 3,051,300 | |||||||||
| Forfeited | – | – | – | |||||||||
| Expired | – | (3,051,300 | ) | – | ||||||||
| Outstanding and Exercisable – end of year | – | – | 3,051,300 | |||||||||
| Share purchase warrants |
The following common share purchase warrants were outstanding at March 31, 20182019 and March 31, 2017:2018:
| Continuity – Number of warrants | ||||||||||||||||
| Exercise price | March 31, 2017 | Exercised | March 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||
| Issued pursuant to: | ||||||||||||||||
| the 2015-Loan Agreement(i) (note 8) | $0.09 | 1,555,555 | (1,555,555 | ) | – | |||||||||||
| the 2016-Loan Agreement(ii) (note 8) | $0.08 | 10,000,000 | (5,000,000 | ) | 5,000,000 | |||||||||||
| Total | 11,555,555 | (6,555,555 | ) | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||||
| Exercise price | March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | ||||||||||
| Issued pursuant to the 2016 Loan(i) | $ | 0.08 | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | ||||||||
| Total | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | ||||||||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (i) | 2016 loan warrants |
In November 2016, 10,000,000 share purchase warrants were issued pursuant to the 2016 Loan (note 8(a)). The fair value of these warrants at issue was determined to be $607,406 at $0.06 per warrant using the Black-Scholes model and based on the following assumptions: risk-free rate of 0.79%; expected volatility of 135%; underlying market price of $0.08; expiry term of 3 years; and, dividend yield of nil.
In September 2017, 5,000,000 of these warrants were exercised leaving 5,000,000 of these warrants outstanding.
| Balances due to related parties | March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | ||||||
| Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (note 10(b)) | $ | 148,877 | $ | 157,282 | ||||
| United Mineral Services Ltd. (note 10(c)) | – | 18,055 | ||||||
| $ | 148,877 | $ | 175,337 | |||||
In September 2015, 5,555,555 share purchase warrants were issued pursuant to the 2015 Loan (note 8(b)). The fair value of these warrants at issue was determined to be $322,143 at $0.06 per warrant using the Black-Scholes model and based on the following assumptions: risk-free rate of 0.51%; expected volatility of 130%; underlying market price of $0.09; expiry term of 2 years; and, dividend yield of nil.
In 2017, these warrants were exercised.
| 10. | Related party transactions |
| Balances due to related parties | March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | ||||||
| Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. | $ | 214,179 | $ | 148,877 | ||||
| United Mineral Services Ltd. | 8,754 | – | ||||||
| Total | $ | 222,933 | $ | 148,877 | ||||
| (a) | Transactions with key management personnel |
Key management personnel (“KMP”) are those persons that have the authority and responsibility for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the Company, directly and indirectly, and by definition include all the directors of the Company.
Transactions with key management personnel were as follows:
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Directors fees paid directly by the Company | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 35,000 | ||||||
| Directors fees paid to HDSI | – | – | 187,000 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 222,000 | ||||||
Note 8 includes the details of a director’s loans.loan. Note 66(b) and 6(c) includes the details of the acquisition of mineral property interests from a private entity wholly-owned by one of the directors of the Company.
During the year ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s directors.President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary provided services to the Company under a service agreement with Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (note 10(b)). There were no other transactions with KMP during the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (b) |
Hunter Dickinson Inc. (“HDI”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (“HDSI”) are private companies established by a group of mining professionals engaged in advancing mineral propertiesprofessionals. HDSI provides contract services for a number of publicly-listedmineral exploration and development companies, and also to companies that are outside of the mining and mineral development space. Amarc is one of the publicly-listed companies for which is the Company.HDSI provides a variety of contract services.
The Company has 2 directorsone director in common with HDSI, namely:namely Robert Dickinson and Ronald Thiessen. Also,Dickinson. In addition, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary are employees of HDSI and work for the Company under an employee secondment arrangement between the Company and HDSI.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
HDSI provides technical, geological, corporate communications, regulatory compliance, and administrative and management services at fair market value to the Company, on an as-needed and as-requested basis from the Company. As a result of this relationship, the Company has ready access to a range of diverse and specialized expertise on a regular basis, without having to engage or hire full-time experts. Services from HDSI are provided on a non-exclusive basis. The Company is not obligated to acquire any minimum amount of services from HDSI. The value of services received from HDSI is determined based on a charge-out rate for each employee performing the service and for the time spent by the employee. Such charge-out rates are agreed and set annually in advance.
HDSI also incurs third-party costs on behalf of the Company; suchCompany. Such third-party costs are reimbursed by the Company to HDSI at cost without any markup and suchmarkup. Such costs include, for example, directors and officers insurance, travel, conferences, and communication services.
The following is a summary of transactions with related entitiesHDSI that occurred during the reporting period:
| Transactions with HDSI | Year ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Services received from HDSI and as requested by the Company | $ | 1,419,000 | $ | 1,042,000 | $ | 1,389,000 | ||||||
| Directors fees paid to HDSI(note 10(a)) | – | – | 187,000 | |||||||||
| Information technology-infrastructure and support services | 60,000 | 60,000 | 111,000 | |||||||||
| Reimbursement , at cost, of third party expenses incurred by HDSI on behalf of the Company | $ | 139,000 | $ | 35,000 | $ | 73,000 | ||||||
| $ | 1,618,000 | $ | 1,137,000 | $ | 1,760,000 | |||||||
| Transactions with HDSI | For the years ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (rounded to the nearest thousand CAD) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Services received from HDSI and as requested by the Company | $ | 1,620,000 | $ | 1,419,000 | $ | 1,042,000 | ||||||
| Information technology – infrastructure and support services | 60,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | |||||||||
| Reimbursement, at cost, of third-party expenses incurred by HDSI on behalf of the Company | 63,000 | 139,000 | 35,000 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,743,000 | $ | 1,618,000 | $ | 1,137,000 | ||||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (c) |
United Mineral Services Ltd. (“UMS”) is a privately heldprivate company wholly-owned by one of the directors of the Company. UMS is engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral property interests.
During the year ended March 31, 2017, the Company acquired from UMS a 100% interest in two mineral property interests, namely JOY (note 6(b)) and DUKE (note 6(c)), for aggregate acquisition costs of $504,295 (note 6(a)). Subsequent to the acquisition of the properties, UMS has incurred third-party costs on behalf of the Company, for example, mineral property claims paid on behalf of the Company. These third-party costs are reimbursed by the Company at a 5% markup.$504,295.
The following is a summary of the transactions with UMS that occurred during the reporting period:
| Transactions with UMS | Year ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Acquisition of mineral property interests | $ | – | $ | 504,000 | $ | – | ||||||
| Reimbursement of third-party expenses incurred on behalf of the Company | 27,000 | 18,000 | – | |||||||||
| $ | 27,000 | $ | 522,000 | $ | – | |||||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| Transactions with UMS | For the years ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| (rounded to the nearest thousand CAD) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Acquisition of mineral property interests | $ | – | $ | – | $ | 504,000 | ||||||
| Services received from UMS and as requested by the Company | 36,000 | 18,000 | – | |||||||||
| Reimbursement of third-party expenses incurred by UMS on behalf of the Company | 19,000 | 9,000 | 18,000 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 55,000 | $ | 27,000 | $ | 522,000 | ||||||
| 11. | |
| (a) | Provision for current tax |
No provision has been made for current income taxes as the Company has no taxable income.
| (b) | Provision for deferred tax |
As future taxable profits of the Company are uncertain, no deferred tax asset has been recognized. As at
At March 31, 2018,2019, the Company had unused non-capital loss carry forwards of approximately $12.0$8.8 million (March 31, 2017 - $15.32018 – $12.0 million; March 31, 2016 - $14.42017 – $15.3 million).
As atAt March 31, 2018,31. 2019, the Company had resource tax pools of approximately $26.9$30.6 million (March 31, 2017 - $23.82018 – $26.9 million; March 31, 2016 - $24.62017 – $23.8 million) available in Canada, which may be carried forward and utilized to offset future taxes related to certain resource income.
| Reconciliation of effective tax rate | March 31, 2018 | March 31, 2017 | March 31, 2016 | |||||||||
| Loss for the year | $ | (2,072,266 | ) | $ | (1,042,648 | ) | $ | (1,118,779 | ) | |||
| Total income tax expense | – | – | – | |||||||||
| Loss excluding income tax | $ | (2,072,266 | ) | $ | (1,042,648 | ) | $ | (1,118,779 | ) | |||
| Income tax recovery using the Company’s tax rate | (544,000 | ) | (271,000 | ) | (291,000 | ) | ||||||
| Non–deductible expenses and other | 561,000 | 341,000 | 3,000 | |||||||||
| Change in deferred tax rates | (394,000 | ) | – | – | ||||||||
| Temporary difference booked to reserve | 4,000 | 1,000 | (4,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets not recognized | 373,000 | (71,000 | ) | 292,000 | ||||||||
| $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | |||||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| (c) | Reconciliation of effective tax rate |
| March 31, 2019 | March 31, 2018 | |||||||
| Loss for the year | $ | (1,948,568 | ) | $ | (2,072,266 | ) | ||
| Total income tax expense | – | – | ||||||
| Loss excluding income tax | (1,948,568 | ) | (2,072,266 | ) | ||||
| Income tax recovery using the Company’s tax rate | (526,000 | ) | (544,000 | ) | ||||
| Non-deductible expenses and other | 404,000 | 561,000 | ||||||
| Change in deferred tax rates | – | (394,000 | ) | |||||
| Temporary difference booked to reserve | (3,000 | ) | 4,000 | |||||
| Deferred income tax assets not recognized | 125,000 | 373,000 | ||||||
| $ | – | $ | – | |||||
The Company’s statutory tax rate was 26.25% (201727% (2018 – 26%26.25%; 20162017 – 26%) and its effective tax rate is nil (2017(2018 – nil; 20162017 – nil).
| (d) | Deductible temporary differences |
As at
At March 31, 2018,2019, the Company had the following deductible temporary differences for which no deferred tax asset was recognized:
| Expiry | Tax losses (capital) | Tax losses (non-capital) | Resource pools | Other | Tax losses (capital) | Tax losses (non-capital) | Resources pools | Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Within one year | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | $ | – | ||||||||||||||||
| One to five years | – | – | – | 84,000 | – | – | – | 63,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| After five years | – | 12,026,000 | – | 1,011,000 | – | 8,833,000 | – | 1,011,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No expiry date | 1,357,000 | – | 26,921,000 | 77,000 | 1,356,000 | – | 30,599,000 | 77,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,357,000 | $ | 12,026,000 | $ | 26,921,000 | $ | 1,172,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,356,000 | $ | 8,833,000 | $ | 30,599,000 | $ | 1,151,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 2017 and 20162017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
| 12. | |
| (a) |
The employees’ salaries and benefits included in exploration and evaluation expenses and administration expenses are as follows:
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employees’ salaries and benefits | For the years ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (rounded to the nearest thousand CAD) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and benefits included in the following: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exploration and evaluation expenses | $ | 1,094,000 | $ | 676,000 | $ | 748,000 | $ | 1,268,000 | $ | 1,094,000 | $ | 676,000 | ||||||||||||
| General and administration expenses(i) | 629,000 | 478,000 | 882,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Administration expense1 | 571,000 | 629,000 | 478,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,723,000 | $ | 1,154,000 | $ | 1,630,000 | $ | 1,839,000 | $ | 1,723,000 | $ | 1,154,000 | ||||||||||||
| This amount includes salaries and benefits included in office and administration expenses (note 12(b)) as well as other salaries and benefits expenses classified as |
| (b) | Office and administration expenses |
Office and administration expenses include the following:
| Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office and administration expenses | For the years ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (rounded to the nearest thousand CAD) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Salaries and benefits | $ | 470,530 | $ | 445,219 | $ | 845,695 | $ | 501,000 | $ | 470,000 | $ | 445,000 | ||||||||||||
| Insurance | 74,000 | 111,000 | 79,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Data processing and retention | 61,235 | 61,083 | 111,743 | 60,000 | 61,000 | 61,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other office expenses | 126,921 | 88,432 | 155,184 | 22,000 | 17,000 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 658,686 | $ | 594,734 | $ | 1,112,622 | $ | 657,000 | $ | 659,000 | $ | 595,000 | ||||||||||||
| 13. |
| (a) | Capital management objectives |
The Company’s primary objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders, and to have sufficient liquidity available to fund ongoing expenditures and suitable business opportunities as they arise.
The Company considers the components of shareholders’ equity as well as its cash as capital. The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may issue equity, sell assets, or return capital to shareholders as well as issue or repay debt.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
The Company’s investment policy is to invest its cash in highly liquid, short–term interest–bearingshort-term, interest-bearing investments having maturity dates of three months or less from the date of acquisition, and thatwhich are readily convertible tointo known amounts of cash.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
NotesThe Company is not subject to the Consolidated Financial Statementsany imposed equity requirements.
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
There were no changes to the Company’s approach to capital management during the year ended March 31, 2018.
The Company is not subject to any externally imposed equity requirements.2019.
| (b) | Carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments |
The Company’s marketable securities are carried at fair value based on quoted prices in active markets.
As at March 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the carrying values of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities approximate their fair values.
| (c) | Financial instrument risk exposure and risk management |
The Company is exposed in varying degrees to a variety of financial instrument relatedinstrument-related risks. The Board of Directors approves and monitors the risk management processes, inclusive of documented treasury policies, counterparty limits, and controlling and reporting structures. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is provided as follows:
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of potential loss to the Company if a counterparty to a financial instrument failsfairs to meet its contractual obligations. The Company’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its liquid financial assets, including cash, and amounts receivable and other assets. The carrying valuevalues of these financial assets represent the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk.
The Company limits the exposure to credit risk by only investing its cash within high-credit quality financial institutions in business and savings accounts, which are available on demand by the Company for its programs.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or other financial assets. The Company ensures that there is sufficient cash in order to meet its short-term business requirements after taking into account the Company’s holdings of cash.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
The Company has sufficient cash to meet its commitments associated with its financial liabilities in the near term, other than the amounts payable to related parties.
Interest rate risk
The Company is subject to interest rate risk with respect to its investments in cash. The Company’s policy is to invest cash at variable rates of interest and cash reserves are to be maintained in cash in order to maintain liquidity, while achieving a satisfactory return for shareholders. Fluctuations in interest rates when cash maturematures impact interest income earned.
As at March 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk was nominal.
Amarc Resources Ltd.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
Price risk
Equity price risk is defined as the potential adverse impact on the Company’s earnings due to movements in individual equity prices or general movements in the level of the stock market. The Company is subject to price risk in respect of its investments in marketable securities.
As at March 31, 20182019 and 2017,2018, the Company’s exposure to price risk was not significant in relation to these Financial Statements.
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
| 1.1 | Date |
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements (the “Financial Statements”) of Amarc Resources Ltd. (“Amarc”, or the “Company”) for the year ended March 31, 2019, which are publicly available on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com. All monetary amounts herein are expressed in Canadian Dollars (“CAD”) unless otherwise stated.
The Company reports in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee (together known as “IFRS”). The following disclosure and associated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with IFRS.
This MD&A is prepared as of July 10, 2019.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Forward-looking Statements
This discussion and analysis includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All such statements, other than statements of historical fact that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and other related events or developments are forward-looking statements. Although Amarc Resources Ltd. (“Amarc”) believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by Amarc to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc’s projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc’s projects will continue to be positive and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc investors should review the Company’s annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available atwww.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Resources:
This discussion and analysis uses the terms “measured resources”, “indicated resources” and “inferred resources” which are recognized and required by Canadian regulators under National Instrument 43-101 (“43-101”). The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Exchange Act, effective February 25, 2019 (the “SEC Modernization Rules”). The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7, and adopt definitions of the terms and the categories of resources which are “substantially similar” to the corresponding terms under Canadian regulations in 43-101. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that we may report under 43-101 would be the same had we prepared the resources estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Amarc cautions investors not to assume that all or any part of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. In addition, “inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, or economic studies except for a Preliminary Economic Assessment as defined under 43-101. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or part of an inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
| 1.2 | Overview |
Amarc is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced and successful management team focused on developing a new generation of British Columbia (“BC”) copper mines. By combining strong projects and funding with successful management, Amarc has created a solid platform to commence value creation.
Through its 2017 and 2018 work programs Amarc is substantially advancing its 100% owned IKE, DUKE and JOY porphyry copper deposit districts located in southern, central and northern BC, respectively. Each of these copper districts have proximity to industrial infrastructure, power, rail and highways. The IKE, DUKE and JOY Projects have significant potential for the discovery of important scale, porphyry copper-gold and copper-molybdenum deposits.
LOCATION OF THE COMPANY’S IKE, DUKE AND JOY PROJECTS
The 462 km2 IKE Project is located 33 km northwest of the historical mining community of Gold Bridge near the heartland of BC’s producing porphyry copper mines. Work at the IKE deposit discovery has delineated a copper-molybdenum-silver mineralized system, measuring approximately 3.5 km by 2 km, through combined induced polarization chargeability (“IP”) surveys, talus geochemical sampling and the drilling of 26 core holes within a portion of the mineralized system.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
The IKE deposit discovery has important economic potential as indicated by the copper equivalent grades returned over long continuous drill intercepts, which compare favourably to the range of copper equivalent grades for reserves and resources at operating BC porphyry copper (± molybdenum ± gold ± silver) mines. In 2018 Amarc completed five very widely-spaced drill holes designed to continue to delineate the copper, molybdenum, silver grade distribution within the overall IKE mineralized system. The new drill results continue to indicate that IKE shares many geological similarities with some of the world’s important copper-molybdenum-silver deposits, like Sierrita and Morenci in Arizona and Valley in BC. In addition, at least five significant porphyry copper deposit targets have been established within 10 km of the IKE discovery that remain to be fully explored. Amarc is planning further drilling with the goal of delineating the IKE mineral system and establishing a resource.
Amarc’s DUKE deposit and an adjacent 704 km2 porphyry copper district is located 80 km northeast of Smithers, BC and 30 km north of former mines (Bell and Granisle) operated by Noranda Mines. DUKE has been intermittently explored by prior operators with surface geochemical and geophysical surveys, as well as 30 shallow diamond drill holes. Many of the historical holes drilled intersected significant lengths of porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineralization that remains open both laterally and to depth.
Seven of the eight holes drilled by Amarc late last year and in early 2018, successfully outlined porphyry copper-style mineralization over an area currently measuring approximately 400 m north-south by 600 m east-west, and open to expansion in all directions. The deposit lies below flat-lying glacial till, which varies from 4 m to 18 m thick in the holes drilled, with mineralization extending to the depth of drilling – over 360 m deep. A single hole was drilled 1 km north of the seven other Amarc holes at DUKE in order to test a geophysical IP anomaly that extends north and south from the DUKE deposit discovery area. This hole intersected substantial lengths of moderate to low grade copper and molybdenum mineralization, indicating the extensive nature of the DUKE porphyry copper system. The mineralized system as outlined by the IP anomaly associated with the DUKE discovery measures some 4 km north-south by 1 km east-west. Amarc is considering how best to undertake the drilling required to delineate the geometry and grade distribution of the DUKE discovery.
In addition to the DUKE deposit, Amarc has strategically secured certain mineral claims in the region to cover other important porphyry copper-gold deposit targets for field assessment and drill testing. Amarc completed a comprehensive evaluation of government regional datasets in order to delineate these high potential targets for follow up.
Amarc’s 464 km2 JOY mineral property lies 310 km north of Mackenzie in a region of BC considered to have high potential for the discovery of important scale, porphyry gold-copper deposits. The JOY claims are located 20 km north of the Kemess District, host to the former Kemess South Mine and the government-approved Kemess underground project. In mid-2017, Centerra Gold Inc. purchased the Kemess District from AuRico Metals Inc. for $310 million.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Amarc considers the extensive JOY Project claim holdings to be significantly underexplored, and to represent the northern extension of the Kemess gold-copper district. Highly favourable geology, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys, along with drilling in 136 holes by past operators, has resulted in substantially narrowing the exploration focus.
Extensive airborne and ground surveys were completed in 2018 - the first season of exploration activity at the expanded JOY Project (see Amarc news releases August 29, 2017 and December 27, 2017). Works included an airborne magnetics survey and systematic IP, geochemical and geological surveys over the more than 10 deposit-scale targets previously identified within and adjacent to the Finlay Magnetic Corridor. Results have confirmed a number of new, high potential porphyry gold-copper deposit targets which now require drilling.
Amarc is committed to unlocking the emerging value of the IKE, DUKE and JOY copper districts and is working to secure funding partners in order to: drill the current deposit discoveries at IKE and DUKE to establish the grade and geometry of the mineralization; and also drill new high potential targets at JOY with the goal of making a significant porphyry copper-gold deposit discovery. The team is also looking to opportunistically acquire new projects within stable jurisdictions.
Amarc works closely with local governments, Indigenous groups and other project stakeholders in order to advance its mineral properties responsibly, and in a manner that contributes to sustainable community and economic development.
Amarc senior management and project teams seek early and meaningful engagement with local landowners, First Nations and other land interests to ensure its mineral exploration and development activities are well-coordinated and broadly supported, to address local priorities and concerns, and to optimize opportunities for collaboration and local benefit. In particular, the Company seeks to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups within whose traditional territories its projects are located - including through the provision of jobs, training programs, contract opportunities, capacity funding agreements and sponsorship of community events. All Amarc work programs are carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental and social performance.
The IKE Project (comprising the IKE, Granite, Juno and Galore Properties)
Amarc has a 100% interest in the IKE, Granite, Juno and Galore Properties which make up the IKE Project.
The IKE deposit discovery, together with the surrounding district of additional prospective porphyry copper (±molybdenum±silver±gold) targets, have the potential to possess the grades and tonnages necessary to develop into an important new BC mining camp. In addition to the main IKE mineral property, Amarc has secured extensive mineral claims in the region to cover other compelling deposit targets, as well as potential infrastructure sites.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
IKE Deposit
The IKE Project is located approximately 33 km northwest of the historical mining communities of Gold Bridge and Bralorne, in south-central BC. Core drilling of the IKE deposit is located above tree line within large and barren cirques. Although current access to the site is by helicopter, there is good infrastructure in the region. Mainline logging roads leading northwest from Gold Bridge extend to within 13 km of the southern extent of the IKE property. Power, railways and highways are all available in the area of Gold Bridge and the regional towns of Lillooet and Pemberton.
Amarc has made a significant new porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver discovery at IKE. All 26 wide-spaced core holes drilled by Amarc at IKE (2014-9 holes; 2015-9 holes; 2016-3 holes and 2018 5 holes for a total of 15,454 m) have intersected long intervals of chalcopyrite and molybdenite mineralization, with grades that compare favourably to the range of copper equivalent grades at operating BC porphyry copper mines. Copper, molybdenum and silver mineralization has been intersected over an increasingly broad area measuring 1.2 km m east-west by 1.0 km north-south, and 875 m vertically. The drilling indicates the potential for extensive resource volumes which remain open to expansion in all lateral directions and to depth. Notably the drilling completed to date has tested only a portion of the over plus 9 km2 IKE hydrothermal system. In 2018, Amarc completed a $1.6 million drill program comprising five very widely-spaced core holes designed to continue to delineate the copper, molybdenum, silver grade distribution within the overall mineralized system. The new drill results continue to indicate that IKE shares many geological similarities with some of the world’s important copper-molybdenum-silver deposits, like Sierrita and Morenci in Arizona and Valley in BC. The Company is currently planning for an expanded drill program in 2019 with the goal of further delineating the known mineralization at IKE.
Highlights from the drill programs completed at IKE include:
SELECTED ASSAY INTERVALS 2014-2018 IKE Discovery Drill Holes | |||||
Hole ID | Int.1,2 (m) | CuEQ3 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) |
| 14001 | 247 | 0.42 | 0.28 | 0.030 | 2.0 |
| 14002 | 123 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.017 | 2.5 |
| 14003 | 92 | 0.41 | 0.31 | 0.020 | 2.1 |
| 14005 | 194 | 0.49 | 0.30 | 0.046 | 0.8 |
| 14006 | 308 | 0.40 | 0.26 | 0.032 | 1.8 |
| 14008 | 97 | 0.46 | 0.32 | 0.030 | 2.2 |
| 15010 | 124 | 0.45 | 0.34 | 0.022 | 3.2 |
| 15012 | 214 | 0.37 | 0.26 | 0.023 | 2.2 |
| 15013 | 592 | 0.44 | 0.30 | 0.032 | 2.1 |
| 15014 | 86 | 0.48 | 0.33 | 0.032 | 2.2 |
| 15018 | 111 | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.010 | 2.3 |
| 16020 | 148 | 0.54 | 0.39 | 0.030 | 2.9 |
| 16021 | 287 | 0.39 | 0.30 | 0.017 | 2.2 |
| 18022 | 138 | 0.40 | 0.28 | 0.024 | 2.1 |
| 18025 | 222 | 0.46 | 0.35 | 0.022 | 2.4 |
| 18026 | 147 | 0.44 | 0.26 | 0.042 | 1.9 |
| 1. | Widths reported are drill widths, such that true thicknesses are unknown. | |
| 2. | All assay intervals represent length weighted averages. | |
| 3. | Copper equivalent (CuEQ) calculated using: Cu US$3.00/lb, Mo US$12.00/lb and Ag US$18.00/oz. Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100%. | |
| 4. | Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. |
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Assay results from all of Amarc’s 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 drill holes are summarized in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the Six Months ended September 30, 2017 and the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2017 filed onwww.sedar.com, and those for the 2018 drilling in the Company’s new release dated November 6, 2018.
Notably, IP geophysical work undertaken in 2017 showed the IKE mineralized system to be much larger than originally thought and is now known to extend for at least 3.5 km east-west by 3 km north-south, as outlined by IP surveys and talus fines geochemical sampling. Central to this large sulphide-mineralized system are the 26 discovery core holes drilled by Amarc and as described above. Maps, cross sections and figures illustrating the full extent of the IKE mineralized system and its potential are presented in the corporate presentation on the Amarc website atwww.amarcresources.com.
Like many major porphyry deposits, the IKE deposit formed in a very active, multi-stage hydrothermal system that was extensive and robust. Geological mapping and logging of diamond drill core at IKE indicate the deposit is hosted entirely by multi-phase intrusive rocks. Its overall geological setting is similar to that of many important porphyry belts along the Cordillera in North and South America.
At IKE, chalcopyrite and molybdenite mineralization occurs as fine to relatively coarse, mostly discrete grains, mainly as disseminations and less commonly in fractures and veins. Multi-element analyses have returned consistently and unusually low concentrations of metallurgically or environmentally deleterious elements. These characteristics, and the generally low concentrations of pyrite at IKE, suggest excellent potential to produce clean, good-grade copper and molybdenum concentrates by standard flotation processing.
IKE District Targets
At least five significant porphyry copper (± gold ± molybdenum ± silver) deposit targets have been established within 10 km of the IKE deposit by Amarc’s exploration from2014 through 2017, and also from data in reports from sporadic historical exploration in the region by previous operators. Results from Amarc’s district-wide, geophysical, geochemical, geological surveys and wide-spaced drilling on select targets are summarized in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the Nine Months Ended December 31, 2017 and for the Year Ended March 31, 2018 filed onwww.sedar.com.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
The district surveys defined a number of significant porphyry copper deposit targets and, in addition, potential precious metal epithermal deposit targets. Age dating of porphyry mineralization discovered within the IKE district has confirmed at least four separate porphyry mineralizing events, which occurred over an exceptionally long period of 46 million years. These deposit targets are located along, to a few km inboard of, the contact of the northeastern margin of the Coastal Plutonic Complex with older volcano-sedimentary rocks. In general, porphyry, porphyry-related and epithermal mineralization located closer to the CPC contact tends to be more gold-bearing whereas deposits such as IKE that lie inboard of the CPC contact are copper-molybdenum-silver dominated.
One of the significant porphyry copper deposit targets drill tested in 2017 was at Rowbottom - a promising target located 4.5 km northwest of the IKE deposit. Rowbottom was tested with a single drill hole, which intersected significant intervals of porphyry copper-molybdenum mineralization hosting elevated silver and gold values, which are cut by a number of post mineral dykes. This hole was drilled into an IP anomaly measuring 1.3 km by 1.0 km that remains open for further surveying. Additional drilling is required both laterally and to depth in order to determine the geometry and grade distribution of the Rowbottom deposit. Assay results from hole RB17001 are tabulated below.
ROWBOTTOM 2017 Assay Results | ||||||||||
Hole ID | Dip (0) | Azim (0) | From (m) | To (m) | Int.2,3,4 (m) | CuEQ1 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
| RB17001 | -50 | 90 | 63 | 129 | 66 | 0.40 | 0.29 | 0.006 | 4.1 | 0.08 |
| 333 | 354 | 21 | 0.51 | 0.38 | 0.007 | 4.3 | 0.11 | |||
| 1 | Copper equivalent (CuEQ) calculations in both tables above use metal prices: Cu US$3.00/lb, Mo US$12/lb, Ag US$18/oz and Au US$1,300/oz (when reported). Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100%. Note that Au is included in the CuEQ calculations in respect to Rowbottom and DUKE but not for the IKE deposit or Mad Major. |
| 2 | Widths reported are drill widths, such that the true thicknesses are unknown. |
| 3 | All assay intervals represent length weighted averages. |
| 4 | Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. |
IKE Project Agreements
The mineral claims comprising the Juno property were staked and are owned 100% by Amarc. The property acquisition agreements relating to the IKE, Galore and Granite properties, which together with the JUNO property comprise the IKE project, are outlined below.
The material terms of the former agreement with and the terms under which Thompson Creek Metals Inc. (“Thompson Creek”) relinquished its option to earn up to a 50% interest in the IKE Project, and the three mineral property acquisition agreements relating to the IKE and district properties are set out below. The remaining royalties held by the respective vendors referenced have been capped or can be purchased by Amarc (in the $2 million to $4 million range).
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
IKE Project Agreement with Thompson Creek
On September 3, 2015 Amarc announced it entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with Thompson Creek (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Centerra Gold Inc.) pursuant to which Thompson Creek could acquire, through a staged investment process within five years, a 30% ownership interest in mineral claims and crown grants covering the IKE copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry deposit and the surrounding district. Under the terms of the Agreement, Thompson Creek also received an option, after acquiring its 30% interest, to acquire an additional 20% interest in the IKE Project, subject to certain conditions, including the completion of a Feasibility Study.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Thompson Creek could earn an initial 30% interest in the IKE Project under a Stage 1 Option by funding $15 million of expenditures before December 31, 2019, of which $3 million for 2015 and $2 million for 2016 were funded. For each $5 million of project expenditures funded, Thompson Creek would incrementally earn a 10% ownership interest. As of July 14, 2016, Thompson Creek had funded $5 million in project expenditures and as such had earned a 10% ownership interest in the IKE, Granite and Juno properties and the right to earn a 10% interest in the Galore Property (see below). Stage 1 Option expenditures could be accelerated by Thompson Creek at its discretion. Amarc remained as operator during the Stage 1 earn-in period.
If Thompson Creek fully exercised the Stage 1 Option, Thompson Creek would have a one-time right under a Stage 2 Option to elect to earn an additional 20% ownership interest in the IKE Project (for a total 50% ownership interest). To fulfill its obligations under the Stage 2 Option, Thompson Creek had to commit to fund and complete a Feasibility Study for the IKE Project that could serve as the basis for a decision by an internationally recognized financial institution to finance the development of a mining project. This Feasibility Study had to be completed within a two-year period, which could be extended to three years under certain conditions. While completing the Feasibility Study work under the Stage 2 Option, Thompson Creek would also be required to meet all other expenditures necessary to maintain and advance the IKE Project.
Thompson Creek would become operator upon initiation of the Stage 2 Option period, and would remain operator so long as it holds a 50% interest. When Thompson Creek had concluded its’s earn-in period, the parties expected to form a joint venture to further develop the IKE Project provided that Thompson Creek earned a minimum 10% interest. Amarc would remain operator of the Project in the instance that Thompson Creek does not earn a 50% interest.
During both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Option periods, Amarc retained a ‘co-expenditure right’, whereby it could fund at its discretion additional expenditures on the IKE Project. Thompson Creek may elect to pay its 30% or 50% share of these additional expenditures upon completion of its Stage 1 Option and Stage 2 Option periods as the case may be, failing which its ownership interest would be reduced. Under the ‘co-expenditure right’ provision of the Agreement, the maximum amount that Amarc could recover from Thompson Creek on completion of the Stage 1 Option is capped at $6 million (i.e. 30% of $20 million). The maximum amount that Amarc could recover from Thompson Creek on completion of the Stage 2 Option is capped at $10 million (i.e. 50% of $20 million).
On January 11, 2017 Amarc announced that Thompson Creek, having been acquired by gold-focused Centerra Gold Inc., relinquished its option to earn up to a 50% interest in the IKE Project. Thompson Creek having acquired a 10% participating interest in the IKE Project by investing $6 million in exploration programs undertaken in 2015 and 2016, has elected to exchange its participating interest for a 1% Conversion Net Smelter Royalty from mine production; capped at a total of $5 million. As a result, Amarc re-acquired 100% interest in the IKE Project.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
IKE Project Agreement with Hudbay
On July 6, 2017 Amarc announced it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Hudbay, pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to a 60% ownership in the IKE Project.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Hudbay can earn an initial 49% ownership interest in the IKE Project under a Stage 1 Farm-in Right by funding $25 million of expenditures before December 31, 2020, of which $3.3 million was committed for 2017 and $1.6 million is committed for 2018.
Provided its Stage 1 Farm-in Right is exercised, Hudbay can, pursuant to a Stage 2 Farm-in Right, elect to earn an additional 1% interest in the IKE Project (for a total 50% interest), by funding $15 million of additional expenditures (for a total of $40 million), also before December 31, 2020.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 Farm-in expenditures can be accelerated by Hudbay at its discretion. Amarc will be the operator during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 periods. A Joint Venture (“JV”) will be formed when Hudbay has acquired a 49% interest in the IKE Project.
Provided that Hudbay has exercised its Stage 2 Farm-in Right and acquired a 50% interest in the IKE Project, it can then elect to go forward via one of two paths.
First, Hudbay can replace Amarc as operator of the JV after it funds all project expenditures and completes a Feasibility Study for the IKE Project by December 31, 2025. Having gained operatorship, Hudbay can then choose to either go forward with Amarc in a 50/50 participating JV, or can instead elect to continue with its Farm-in (the “Stage 3 Farm-in Right”) to acquire an additional 10% interest in the IKE Project (for a total 60% interest). To exercise its Stage 3 Farm-in Right, Hudbay must fund all project expenditures required to submit a British Columbia Environment Assessment (“EA”) application for the IKE Project and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application, with the application(s) being accepted for review by December 31, 2026. In addition, Hudbay must also continue to fund all project expenditures until the necessary EA Certificate(s) are received. Following receipt of the EA Certificate(s), all IKE Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the JV.
As a second alternative path, Hudbay can elect, after exercising its Stage 2 Farm-in Right, to proceed directly to the Stage 3 Farm-in Right, so immediately becoming the operator, and acquire a further 10% interest (for a total 60% interest) by, as above, submitting and having accepted for review a British Columbia EA application and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application, by December 31, 2026. Again in this instance, Hudbay must also fund all project expenditures until receipt of the necessary EA Certificate(s). As with the first path, following receipt of the EA Certificate(s), all IKE Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the JV.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Hudbay has the right to defer either of its 2019 or 2020 expenditures, for a one-year period, subject to certain conditions. If this deferral occurs, Amarc will have a “co-expenditure right”, whereby it can incur and fund approved additional expenditures on the IKE Project up to the amount of the deferred expenditures. Hudbay may elect to reimburse Amarc for these additional expenditures, thereby retaining its interest in the Project. Under either path, If Hudbay does not submit the EA application(s) by December 31, 2026, then Amarc will become operator again.
In January, 2018 the Company amended the Agreement with Hudbay to extend the Stage 1 Farm-in Right period by one year to December 31, 2021.
On January 19, 2019 Amarc announced that Hudbay had relinquished its option to earn up to a 60% interest in the IKE Project. Hudbay had not earned a participating interest in the IKE Project and did not retain any royalty.
IKE Property Agreement with the Optionors
Amarc holds a 100% interest in the IKE property. In December 2013, the Company entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement (the “IKE Agreement”) with Oxford Resources Inc. (“Oxford”), whereby the Company acquired the right to earn an 80% ownership interest in the IKE property by making cash payments totaling $125,000, issuing 300,000 shares, and by incurring approximately $1.86 million in exploration expenditures on or before November 30, 2015.
In July 2014 the IKE Agreement was amended and Oxford assigned all of its interest in the IKE property, and the underlying option agreement with respect to the IKE property, to Amarc and converted its ownership interest in the IKE property to a 1% Net Smelter Return (“NSR”) royalty in consideration of a $40,000 cash payment. The 1% NSR royalty can be purchased at any time for $2 million (payable in cash or common shares of Amarc at the Company’s sole election). The maximum aggregate amount payable under the NSR is $2 million.
As a result of the foregoing, Amarc had the right to acquire a 100% ownership interest in the IKE property directly from two unrelated individuals (formerly the underlying owners and now the “Optionors”) by making a cash payment of $40,000 (completed), issuing 100,000 shares (completed), and by incurring approximately $1.86 million in exploration expenditures (completed) on or before November 30, 2015.
The Optionors retain a 2% NSR royalty. Amarc has the right to purchase half of the royalty (1%) for $2 million ($1 million of which is payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’s discretion) at any time prior to commercial production. In addition, Amarc has the right to purchase the other half of the royalty (1%) for $2 million ($1 million of which is payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’s discretion) prior to December 31, 2018. Minimum advance royalty payments of $25,000 (payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’s discretion) to the Optionors annually commenced on December 31, 2015.
Amarc has agreed that upon completion of a positive feasibility study, Amarc will issue 500,000 common shares to the Optionors.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
In May 2017, the Company amended the agreement with the Optionors whereby it has the right to purchase 1% of the above mentioned 2% NSR royalty originally purchasable for $2 million prior to December 31, 2018, where Amarc now has the right to purchase that 1% for $2 million ($1 million of which is payable in cash, and the balance in Amarc common shares, or any such combination of cash and shares, at Amarc’s discretion) at any time on or before a commercial mine production decision has been made in respect of the IKE Property. In consideration of this amendment, beginning on December 31, 2017 the Company will make an additional Annual Advanced Royalty payment of $25,000 to the Optionors.
Granite Property Agreement
In August 2014, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Great Quest Fertilizers Ltd. (“Great Quest”), whereby the Company can purchase a 100% ownership interest in the Granite property on or before November 30, 2014 by making staged cash payments totalling $400,000 (completed).
Great Quest holds a 2% NSR royalty on the property which can be purchased for $2 million, on or before commercial production (payable in cash, Amarc common shares, or any such combination, at Amarc’s discretion). In addition, there is an underlying 2.5% NSR royalty on certain mineral claims, which can be purchased at any time for $1.5 million less any amount of royalty already paid.
Galore Property Agreement
In July 2014, the Company entered into an option and joint venture agreement (the “Galore Option Agreement”) with Galore Resources Inc. (“Galore”), whereby the Company acquired the right to earn an initial 51% ownership interest in the Galore property by incurring $3 million in exploration expenditures within five years ($1.5 million of which may be in recordable assessment credits not directly incurred on the property), and by making staged cash payments up to a maximum of $450,000 (50% of which may be payable in Amarc common shares). Amarc may thereafter acquire an additional 19% ownership interest, for a total 70% ownership interest, by incurring $2 million in exploration expenditures within two years. Upon exercise of the initial or additional option (collectively, the “Galore Option”), Galore and Amarc have agreed to form either a 51/49 or a 70/30 joint venture, as the case may be.
The Galore mineral tenure is comprised of five claim groups and is subject to five underlying option agreements, each of which provides the relevant underlying owner with a 1.5% NSR royalty (collectively, the “NSR Royalties”) each of which may be purchased for $250,000 on or before December 31, 2024, and a 10% net profits interest royalty (collectively, the “NPI Royalties”) each of which may be purchased at any time until December 31, 2024 for $400,000 less any amount of an NPI Royalty already paid.
In July 2016, the Company entered into a second option agreement (the “Second Option Agreement”) whereby the Company acquired the right, separate and apart from the Galore Option (the “Second Option”) to acquire 100% of Galore’s rights in and to the Galore property in consideration of the payment to Galore of $550,000 on a staged basis on or before January 16, 2018. Under the terms of the Second Option Agreement, upon exercise of the Second Option and the Company acquiring 100% of the Galore property, the Galore Option Agreement will terminate and be of no further force and effect.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
In addition, in July 2016, the Company also reached an agreement with the underlying owners of the Galore property whereby the Company obtained the right to acquire all of the underlying owners’ residual interest in and to the Galore property, including the five NSR Royalties and the five NPI Royalties, in consideration of the payment of $100,000 ($80,000 completed) on a staged basis on or before January 16, 2018, subject to the Company exercising the Second Option.
During the Second Option exercise period, all cash payment and exploration expenditure requirements set out in the Galore Option Agreement shall cease to apply, including with respect to all cash payments payable to the underlying owners.
In January 2017 Amarc announced that it had exercised the Second Option and had acquired a 100% interest in the Galore property from Galore, clear of any royalties to Galore, by making a final payment of $280,000. This transaction marks the successful completion by Amarc of a series of property dealings to acquire 100% of mineral claims and crown grants making up the entire IKE Project, subject to the final payment of $20,000 (completed January 16, 2018) to the underlying owners as noted above.
The DUKE Project
Amarc has secured a 100% interest in the DUKE mineral property as well as extensive adjacent mineral claims over high potential porphyry copper and gold district exploration targets. DUKE is located 80 km northeast of Smithers BC, within the well-known Babine porphyry-copper district, 30 km north of former mines (Bell and Granisle) operated by Noranda Minerals Inc. between 1966 and 1992, and producing a total of 1.1 billion pounds of copper, 634,000 ounces of gold and 3.5 million ounces of silver1. DUKE is also just 10 km northeast of the Morrison Deposit, a 225 million tonne copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry deposit with a completed Feasibility Study2.
The property is accessible from Smithers by road and an industrial-scale barge crossing of Babine Lake from the town of Granisle. A longer, all-road commute is available from Fort St. James, 150 km to the southeast. Power extends to the former Bell mine.
DUKE was intermittently explored between 1965 and 2010 with geochemical, IP and magnetometer surveys and 30 shallow diamond drill holes. Extensive glacial cover precludes geological surveys and hinders geochemical survey interpretation, but most of the holes drilled intersected significant lengths of porphyry-style mineralization that remains open both laterally and to depth. For example, DDH-14, intersected 87 m of 0.40% Cu, 0.021% Mo, 2.2 g/t Ag and 0.05 g/t Au from 29 m to the end of the hole. Another hole, DDH-02, located 430 m southeast of DDH-14 intersected 107 m of 0.30% Cu, 0.011% Mo, 1.2 g/t Ag, and 0.06 g/t Au from 30 m. Porphyry mineralization was encountered by drill holes over an area of 800 m by 400 m which is open laterally in several directions. The average vertical depth of all holes drilled in this mineralized area is 90 m, with the deepest being only 124 m. Eighty percent of the holes drilled in this mineralized area bottomed in porphyry copper mineralization. Additionally, an historical IP survey results indicate a significant area of prospective ground has yet to be drilled.
1MINFILE Number 093L 146 and 093M 001 MINFILE Production Detail Report, BC Geological Survey, Ministry of Energy and Mines, BC.
2Pacific Booker Minerals Inc. news release February 27, 2009.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Seven of the eight drill holes completed by Amarc in November 2017 and in early 2018, successfully outlined porphyry copper-style mineralization over an area currently measuring approximately 400 m north-south by 600 m east-west, and open to expansion in all directions. The deposit lies below flat-lying glacial till, which varies from 4 m to 18 m thick in the holes drilled, with mineralization extending to the depth of drilling – over 360 m deep. Mineralization is mainly hosted by biotite-feldspar-porphyry intrusions into volcanic rocks. These rock types also host the Bell, Morrison and Granisle porphyry copper deposits in the region.
A single hole was drilled 1 km north of all other Amarc holes at DUKE in order to test the geophysical IP anomaly that extends north and south from the DUKE deposit discovery area. This hole intersected substantial lengths of moderate to low grade copper and molybdenum mineralization, indicating the extensive nature of the DUKE porphyry copper system. The IP anomaly associated with the DUKE discovery measures some 4 km north-south by 1 km east-west.
Assay results from the eight holes drilled by Amarc on the DUKE project are tabulated below. Drill-hole plans and cross sections are available on the Company’s website atwww.amarcresources.com. The results indicate that Amarc has discovered another important, near surface, porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver-gold deposit. The Company is considering how best to undertake the extensive further drilling required to delineate the geometry and grade distribution of this promising discovery.
The surrounding DUKE district covered by Amarc mineral claims, also hosts multiple additional porphyry copper exploration targets for future assessment.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
DUKE PROJECT ASSAY RESULTS | ||||||||||||
| Drill Hole ID | Dip (o) | Azim (o) | EOH (m) | Incl. | Form (m) | To (m) | Int.2,3,4 (m) | CuEQ1 (%) | Cu (%) | Mo (%) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) |
| DK17001 | 59 | 266 | 519 |
Incl.
Incl. Incl. | 40 40 210 268 317 458 458 509 | 130 73 243 278 347 519 479 519 | 90 33 33 10 30 61 21 10 | 0.35 0.41 0.35 0.31 0.35 0.36 0.41 0.57 | 0.24 0.30 0.21 0.20 0.20 0.23 0.35 0.11 | 0.016 0.013 0.026 0.018 0.030 0.001 0.001 0.001 | 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.1 2.8 3.3 3.0 | 0.06 0.08 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.16 0.04 0.68 |
| DK17002 | 45 | 270 | 527 |
Incl.
Incl. | 17 17 238 308 477 477 | 130 73 268 377 523 498 | 113 56 30 69 47 22 | 0.37 0.41 0.47 0.38 0.40 0.51 | 0.25 0.29 0.33 0.23 0.26 0.31 | 0.014 0.015 0.019 0.029 0.025 0.040 | 1.4 1.6 1.9 1.2 1.4 1.6 | 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.04 0.04 |
| DK18003 | 50 | 267 | 529 | 32 | 68 | 36 | 0.30 | 0.21 | 0.010 | 1.0 | 0.06 | |
| 142 | 164 | 22 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 0.018 | 1.5 | 0.06 | |||||
| 395 | 407 | 12 | 0.47 | 0.21 | 0.004 | 2.3 | 0.34 | |||||
| DK18004 | 50 | 90 | 502 | 88 | 181 | 93 | 0.30 | 0.22 | 0.012 | 1.0 | 0.04 | |
| Incl. | 94 | 106 | 12 | 0.41 | 0.32 | 0.012 | 1.5 | 0.04 | ||||
| DK18005 | 55 | 267 | 485 | 14 | 344 | 331 | 0.34 | 0.22 | 0.019 | 1.0 | 0.04 | |
| Incl. | 71 | 232 | 161 | 0.40 | 0.26 | 0.025 | 1.1 | 0.05 | ||||
| and | 107 | 232 | 125 | 0.44 | 0.29 | 0.029 | 1.2 | 0.05 | ||||
| and | 212 | 232 | 20 | 0.64 | 0.45 | 0.033 | 2.0 | 0.06 | ||||
| Incl. | 308 | 344 | 36 | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.020 | 1.3 | 0.07 | ||||
| DK18006 | 50 | 267 | 500 | 98 | 416 | 318 | 0.33 | 0.24 | 0.012 | 1.1 | 0.05 | |
| Incl. | 227 | 293 | 66 | 0.42 | 0.30 | 0.016 | 1.2 | 0.07 | ||||
| Incl. | 347 | 405 | 58 | 0.46 | 0.34 | 0.017 | 1.5 | 0.06 | ||||
| DK18007 | 55 | 267 | 560 | 373 | 544 | 171 | 0.33 | 0.24 | 0.010 | 1.0 | 0.06 | |
| Incl. | 373 | 394 | 21 | 0.42 | 0.34 | 0.010 | 1.3 | 0.05 | ||||
| Incl. | 406 | 424 | 18 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.011 | 1.2 | 0.08 | ||||
| Incl. | 466 | 544 | 78 | 0.38 | 0.28 | 0.012 | 1.2 | 0.08 | ||||
| DK18008 | 50 | 267 | 487 | 21 | 158 | 137 | 0.31 | 0.22 | 0.011 | 0.8 | 0.06 | |
| Incl. | 21 | 86 | 65 | 0.41 | 0.30 | 0.012 | 1.1 | 0.08 | ||||
| 447 | 464 | 17 | 0.38 | 0.28 | 0.010 | 1.4 | 0.07 | |||||
| 71-02 | 45 | 90 | 163 | 30 | 128 | 98 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.012 | 1.2 | 0.07 | |
| 71-10 | 45 | 90 | 170 | 18 | 165 | 147 | 0.40 | 0.27 | 0.017 | 1.8 | 0.07 | |
| Incl. | 62 | 165 | 102 | 0.47 | 0.31 | 0.021 | 2.1 | 0.09 | ||||
| 71-14 | 90 | 0 | 115 | 29 | 115 | 87 | 0.53 | 0.40 | 0.021 | 2.2 | 0.05 | |
| 71-19 | 90 | 0 | 90 | 47 | 80 | 34 | 0.43 | 0.27 | 0.026 | 2.0 | 0.05 | |
| 1 | Copper equivalent (CuEQ) calculations use metal prices: Cu US$3.00/lb, Mo US$12.00/lb, Ag US$18.00/oz and Au US$1300/oz. | |
| Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100%. | ||
| 2 | Widths reported are drill widths, such that the true thicknesses are unknown. | |
| 3 | All assay intervals represent length weighted averages. | |
| 4 | Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. |
| - 77 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
DUKE Project Agreement
In November, 2016, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with a private company owned by director Robert A. Dickinson to purchase 100% of the DUKE property (16 mineral claims) at the vendor’s direct acquisition costs of $168,996.
There are no royalties associated with the DUKE property.
The JOY Project (comprising the JOY and PINE Properties and the Staked Claims)
The JOY Project comprises the JOY and PINE properties and also the Staked Claims which were acquired directly by Amarc. In 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the JOY property in the northern portion of the Project. In addition, Amarc concluded agreements with each of Gold Fields Toodoggone Exploration Corporation (“GFTEC”) and Cascadero Copper Corporation (“Cascadero”) in mid-2017 which provide that Amarc can purchase 100% of the PINE property. Further to the deal with GFTEC and Cascadero being concluded Hudbay and Amarc agreed to include both the PINE property and the Staked Claims into the JOY Project.
The JOY Project is located 310 km north-northwest of Mackenzie in an area of moderate topography in the Kemess District of north-central BC, which is one of BC’s best areas for the discovery of precious metals-rich porphyry deposits. Seasonal roads cross the PINE property claims (southern part of the JOY Project), accessing the Pine deposit, and by road from the Brenda porphyry copper deposit, which come within approximately 0.5 km of the JOY Project. The JOY Project is also accessed by helicopter from staging, or from the Kemess mine site located 25 km due south. Power also extends to the Kemess mine site and its 300-person camp.
The Kemess District is well-known to Amarc’s technical team, as the Company draws on the technical expertise of Hunter Dickinson Inc. who is credited as the first team to recognize its true porphyry potential – acquiring both the early-stage Kemess South and Kemess North prospects into El Condor Resources, which developed them into significant porphyry copper-gold deposits before that company was taken over. Northgate Minerals went on to produce 3 million ounces of gold and 780 million pounds of copper over a 12-year period to 20103(Kemess South). More recently in January 2018, Centerra Gold Inc. concluded the purchase of the Kemess Project from former owner Aurico Metals for $310 million thereby acquiring the Kemess Underground Project, the Kemess East Deposit and the former Kemess South Mine infrastructure4 – news that added to the impetus of the growing mineral exploration and discovery interest in this prodigious region. The advanced stage Kemess Underground Project has received its Environmental Assessment approval and concluded an IBA, in addition to which positive results from a Preliminary Economic Assessment were announced for Kemess East in 2017. Further, exploration drilling at the Kemess East Deposit returned intercepts such as 628 m grading 0.53 g/t Au and 0.41% Cu.
3MINFILE Number 094E 094, MINFILE Production Detail Report, BC Geological Survey, Ministry of Energy and Mines, BC.
4Centerra Gold Inc. news release January 8, 2018.
| - 78 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Amarc considers the JOY Project to represent the northern extension to the prolific Kemess porphyry gold-copper district. Highly favorable geology, surface geochemical sampling, along with the drilling of 136 holes by past operators, resulted in narrowing the exploration focus to a number of important-scale, gold-copper deposit targets. One prime target area, the PINE Deposit is the subject of historical resource estimates that are not categorized as prescribed by National Instrument 43-101.
The 2017 programs on the JOY property included 50 km² of geological mapping, collection of 638 surface geochemical samples, completion of 49 line-km of ground IP and 470 line-km of airborne geophysical surveys along with drilling of 1,527 m in three core holes focused on the JOY property. This drilling tested a coincident IP geophysical and geochemical target on the JOY property claims. The three exploration holes returned strongly anomalous results in gold and zinc over significant intervals, hosted mainly within highly altered quartz monzonite intrusive and volcanic rocks. These results are comparable to those from two historical holes drilled by a previous operator some 2 km to the east on the adjoining PINE property claims. Taken together these long intervals of highly altered and anomalous core may represent a classic rock alteration style typically found flanking porphyry copper-gold deposits.
As work progressed in 2017, Amarc recognized the high potential for major gold-copper deposit discoveries on the PINE property claims. Notably, over 10 incompletely tested or untested multiple magnetic, geochemical and IP compelling porphyry gold-copper deposit targets occur in, and with proximity to, a prominent, 20 km long, northeast trending structural belt located 1.5 km south of Amarc’s 2017 drilling. Amarc has identified this compelling target trend as the Finlay Magnetic Corridor, which also hosts the historical PINE and TREE porphyry gold-copper deposit (see new corporate presentation at www.amarcresources.com). As such the Company successfully concluded option agreements with GFTEC and Cascadero to acquire the PINE property claims.
Extensive airborne and ground surveys completed in 2018, over more than 10 deposit-scale targets within the newly acquired PINE property claims, included 1,356 line-km of airborne magnetic and 63 line-km of ground IP geophysics surveys, collection of 2,676 soil geochemical samples, 98 km2 of detailed geological mapping and the drilling of two core holes totalling 946 m. These exploration surveys have significantly advanced the project identifying five clusters of drill-ready targets, covering areas from 1.5 km2to more than 5 km2. These targets are defined by a combination of positive factors that include: IP chargeability highs indicating large sulphide mineralized systems; areas of notable gold and copper enrichment identified by shallow (generally less than 150 m) historical drill holes; coincident, high-contrast copper, gold, silver, ± molybdenum and zinc soil geochemical anomalies; and favorable geology and magnetic signatures. Each of these five targets has the potential to host a significant porphyry gold-copper deposit. Multiple drill holes are required for the initial testing of each target area.
One other potential target at JOY was partially tested at the end of the 2018 season by two, widely spaced drill holes. The first hole encountered classic porphyry-style alteration and sulphide mineralized rock units with geochemically anomalous gold concentrations throughout its 563 m length. This finding is compatible with the edge of a productive mineralized system. Further drilling is warranted, targeting the potential potassic core of this specific mineralized system. The second exploration hole returned no significant results.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
JOY Project Agreements
The mineral claims comprising the Staked Claims were staked and are owned 100% by Amarc. The property acquisition agreements relating to the JOY Project, and also the JOY and PINE property claims are outlined below.
JOY Property Agreement
In November, 2016, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with a private company owned by director Robert A. Dickinson to purchase 100% of the JOY property claims (15 mineral claims) at the vendor’s direct acquisition costs of $335,299, which included required claim assessment work filings.
The property is subject to an underlying NSR royalty to a former owner from production which is capped at $3.5 million.
JOY Project Agreement with Hudbay
On August 22, 2017 Amarc announced it had entered into a Mineral Property Farm-In Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Hudbay, pursuant to which Hudbay may acquire, through a staged investment process, up to a 60% ownership in the JOY Project.
Under the terms of the Agreement Hudbay can earn an initial 49% interest in the JOY Project under a Stage 1 Farm-in Right by funding $15 million of expenditures before December 31, 2020, of which $1.9 million was committed for 2017 and $2 million is committed for 2018.
When its Stage 1 Farm-in Right is exercised, Hudbay can, pursuant to a Stage 2 Farm-in Right, earn an additional 1% ownership interest in the JOY Project (for a total 50% ownership interest) by funding $5 million of expenditures (for a total of $20 million) also before December 31, 2020.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 Farm-in expenditures can be accelerated by Hudbay at its discretion. Amarc will be the operator during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 periods. A Joint Venture (“JV”) will be formed when Hudbay has acquired a 49% interest in the JOY Project.
Provided that Hudbay has exercised the Stage 2 Farm-in Right and acquired a 50% interest, it can then elect to go forward via one of two paths.
First, Hudbay can replace Amarc as operator of the JV after it funds all project expenditures and completes a Feasibility Study for the JOY Project by December 31, 2025. Having gained operatorship, Hudbay can then choose to either go forward with Amarc in a 50/50 participating JV or Hudbay can instead elect to continue with its Farm-in (the “Stage 3 Farm-in Right”) to acquire an additional 10% interest in the JOY Project (for a total 60% ownership interest). To exercise its Stage 3 Farm-in Right, Hudbay must fund all expenditures required to submit a British Columbia environmental assessment (“EA”) application for the JOY Project and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application, with the application(s) being accepted for review by December 31, 2026. In addition, Hudbay must also continue to fund all approved project expenditures until all necessary EA Certificates are received. Following receipt of the EA Certificate(s), all approved JOY Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the JV.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
As a second alternative path, after exercising its Stage 2 Farm-in Right Hudbay can elect to proceed directly to the Stage 3 Farm-in Right, so immediately becoming the operator, and acquire a further 10% interest (for a total 60% ownership interest) by, like above, submitting a British Columbia EA application and, if applicable, a Canadian EA application by December 31, 2026. Again, in this instance, Hudbay must also fund all project expenditures until receipt of the necessary EA Certificate(s). Following receipt of project approvals from government, all approved JOY Project expenditures going forward will be shared by Hudbay and Amarc on a pro rata basis (Hudbay 60%/Amarc 40%) under the JV.
Hudbay has a one-time right to defer either of its 2019 or 2020 expenditures in the Stage 1 or Stage 2 Farm-in periods, for a one-year period, subject to certain conditions. If this deferral occurs, Amarc will have a “co-expenditure right”, whereby it can incur and fund approved additional expenditures on the JOY Project up to the amount of the deferred expenditures. Hudbay may elect to reimburse Amarc for these additional expenditures, thereby retaining its interest in the Project. Under either alternative path, if Hudbay does not submit the EA application(s) by December 31, 2026, then Amarc will become operator again.
In January, 2018 the Company amended the Agreement with Hudbay to extend the Stage 1 Farm-in Right period by one year to December 31, 2021. The partners have also agreed to include Amarc’s recently acquired PINE claims and the Staked Claims into the JOY Project.
On January 19, 2019 Amarc announced that Hudbay had relinquished its option to earn up to a 60% interest in the JOY Project. Hudbay had not earned a participating interest in the JOY Project and did not retain any royalty.
PINE Property Agreements
In August, 2017 Amarc announced that it had concluded option agreements with each of GFTEC and Cascadero which enable Amarc to purchase 100% of the 323 km2 PINE property claims (the “Property”).
Agreement with Gold Fields
Amarc’s wholly-owned subsidiary (“Amarc Subco”) has entered into an option agreement with GFTEC (the “GFTEC Agreement”) pursuant to which Amarc Subco obtained the option (the “Option”) to acquire all of GFTEC’s 51% interest in the Property.
Amarc Subco can exercise the Option at any time within four years from the date of the GFTEC Agreement (the “Option Period”) by completing the public listing of Amarc Subco on the TSX Venture Exchange and issuing to GFTEC securities in the capital of that Company so that GFTEC holds 15% of the shares and 15% of any warrants on issue (on a fully diluted basis) following completion of the listing. GFTEC has the right to maintain its 15% pro rata interest through participation in future fundraisings and other share issuances.
| - 81 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
To maintain the right to exercise the Option at any time over up to the four-year Option Period, Amarc must conduct in stages, up to a total of $2.75 million of exploration expenditures (completed) on the Project. But no expenditures are required after the Option to acquire GFTEC’s 51% interest is exercised.
GFTEC will retain a 2.5% net profits interest royalty (“NPI”) on mineral claims comprising about 96% of the Property which are subject to a net smelter return royalty payable to a former owner (“Underlying NSR”) and a 1% net smelter returns royalty (“NSR”) on the balance of the claims that are not subject to the Underlying NSR. The NPI can be reduced to 1.25% at any time through the payment to GFTEC of $2.5 million in cash or shares. The NSR can be reduced to 0.50% through the payment to GFTEC of $2.5 million in cash or shares. If Amarc Subco does not exercise the Option or terminates the GFTEC Agreement at any time during the four years Option Period, then Amarc Subco may be required to make a termination payment to GFTEC. The level of termination payment, if any, varies with the year of termination and the amount of any exploration expenditures completed; varying over the four-year option from a low of no payment to an absolute maximum of $1,375,000 in the event no exploration work was done by Amarc.
Agreement with Cascadero
Amarc has also entered into an option agreement (the “Cascadero Agreement”) with Cascadero pursuant to which Amarc was granted an option (the “Cascadero Option”) to acquire all of Cascadero’s 49% interest in the Property. In order to exercise the Cascadero Option, Amarc is required to make staged cash payments to Cascadero in the aggregate amount of $1 million before October 31, 2018, and issue on a staged basis common shares in its capital to Cascadero having an aggregate value equal to $950,000 at a minimum per share value of 18 cents before October 31, 2018. In lieu of issuing any common shares, Amarc may elect to pay to Cascadero the value of the shares in cash.
On October 31, 2018 Amarc acquired a 100% interest in Cascadero’s 49% interest in the PINE property.
The PINE property is subject to a 3% Underlying NSR royalty payable to a former owner. Amarc has reached an agreement with the former owner to cap the 3% NSR at $5 million payable from production for consideration totaling $100,000 and 300,000 Amarc shares, payable in stages through to January 31, 2019 (the “Capped Royalty Agreement”).
The GFTEC Agreement, Cascadero Agreement and Capped Royalty Agreement were subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval which has been received.
Other Properties
Amarc’s focus with respect to its Newton and Galileo projects is to work towards venturing them out to third parties to further advance exploration.
| - 82 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Galileo – Blackwater District Property
Amarc owns a 100% interest in the Galileo property, which is located within the Blackwater district, approximately 75 km southwest of Vanderhoof, BC, and 176 km southwest of northern BC’s regional hub city of Prince George. The area is characterized by subdued topography and is well served by existing transportation and power infrastructure and a skilled workforce, which supports an active exploration and mining industry.
The Company has completed an approximately 5,120 line-km of helicopter-borne, magnetic and electromagnetic geophysical survey over certain properties in the Blackwater district, from which epithermal gold-silver and porphyry gold-copper-type targets were identified for ground evaluation. At Galileo the results of more than 230 line-km of IP ground geophysical surveys, combined with information from soil geochemical surveys and prospecting have identified four principle target areas with the potential to represent important sulphide systems for drill testing.
The Galileo property is located approximately 35 kilometres from New Gold’s Blackwater gold deposit (Proven and Probable Reserves of 344.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.74 g/t gold containing 8.2 million gold ounces, and 5.5 g/t silver containing 60.8 million silver ounces; New Gold news release December 12, 2013).
Amarc has undertaken consultation with local First Nations. All parties worked together in a diligent manner in order to develop a positive working relationship.
The Newton Property
Amarc made a drill discovery at its 100% owned Newton bulk-tonnage gold-silver project in late 2009 and subsequently conducted exploration and delineation drilling at the deposit until June 2012.
An initial mineral resource estimate announced in September 2012, based on 24,513 m of core drilling in 78 holes completed up to June 30, 2012, confirms that Newton is a significant bulk tonnage gold discovery that remains open to further expansion. At a 0.25 g/t gold cut-off, Inferred Mineral Resources comprise 111.5 million tonnes grading 0.44 g/t gold and 2.1 g/t silver, containing 1.6 million ounces of gold and 7.7 million ounces of silver.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Inferred Mineral Resources at various cut-off grades are summarized in the table below.
NEWTON GOLD PROJECT – INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES
| Cut-Off Grade | Size | Grade | Contained Metal | ||
| (g/t Au) | Tonnage (000 t) | Gold (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Gold (000 oz) | Silver (000 oz) |
| 0.20 | 147,069 | 0.38 | 1.9 | 1,818 | 8,833 |
| 0.25 | 111,460 | 0.44 | 2.1 | 1,571 | 7,694 |
| 0.30 | 85,239 | 0.49 | 2.4 | 1,334 | 6,495 |
| 0.35 | 65,384 | 0.54 | 2.7 | 1,130 | 5,635 |
| 0.40 | 49,502 | 0.59 | 2.9 | 938 | 4,596 |
Notes:
| 1. | CIM definitions were followed for this mineral resource estimate. An "Inferred Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. |
| 2. | Inferred Mineral Resources were estimated using a long-term gold price of US$1,750 per ounce, a long-term silver price of US$25 per ounce, and a US$/C$ 1.00 exchange rate. |
| 3. | Bulk density is 2.71 tonnes per cubic metre. |
| 4. | Numbers may not add due to rounding. |
| 5. | The Effective Date of the Mineral Resource is July 4, 2012; the Effective Date being defined as the date when Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. was in receipt of full data which informed the resource. |
The Newton Inferred Mineral Resources was prepared using geostatistical methods by technical staff at HDI and audited by geological and mining consultants at Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. under the direction of Reno Pressacco, P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person. Sample preparation and analysis of drill core samples from Newton were completed at the ISO 9001:2008 accredited and ISO-IEC 17025:2005 accredited Acme Analytical Laboratories (Vancouver) Ltd. A technical report providing further details of the estimate has been filed onwww.sedar.com.
The current Newton resource extends over an area of approximately 800 m by 800 m and to a depth of 560 m, and is open to expansion to the northwest, west and to depth. It is located within the southeast segment of an extensive seven square kilometre sulphide system that is characterized by widespread gold enrichment indicating good potential for the development of substantial additional resources. This large, fertile mineral system extends well beyond the limits of the current resource and is largely concealed under shallow cover.
Newton exhibits key characteristics that typify significant hydrothermal gold deposits. The deposit lies within a large, gold-enriched epithermal system that formed approximately 72 million years ago contemporaneously with felsic volcanic and intrusive rocks, which were emplaced into a structurally-active graben environment. Gold, silver and associated base metal mineralization was precipitated with extensive zones of strong quartz-sericite alteration. The alteration types, metal associations and geological setting at Newton are nearly identical to those which characterize several major intrusion-related epithermal gold deposits in BC – including the important Blackwater-Davidson, and Snowfields deposits.
| - 84 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Exploration and resource expansion potential are clearly indicated at Newton by the large scale of the hydrothermal system, the structurally- and magmatically-active nature of the geological setting at the time of mineralization, the intensity of the hydrothermal alteration and the strong, widespread metal anomalies that have been confirmed by widely-spaced wildcat drilling. In addition, the Newton deposit occupies only one portion of an extensive IP geophysics chargeability anomaly. It is important to note that, beyond the currently delineated Newton resource, anomalous concentrations of metals have been intersected in almost all exploration holes drilled on the property. Large portions of the system remain untested or have been tested only by widely-spaced reconnaissance drilling.
Amarc’s Newton property is located some 100 km west of the City of Williams Lake, BC, in a region characterized by gently rolling hills and other characteristics favorable for project development. The district is well served by existing transportation and power infrastructure and a skilled workforce, which support a number of operating mines, as well as late-stage mineral development and exploration projects.
Amarc has undertaken significant consultation with local First Nations. All parties worked together in a diligent manner in order to develop a positive and respectful working relationship with respect to the Newton property
Newton Property Agreement
Amarc holds a 100% interest in the Newton Property. Newton Gold Corp. holds a 5% net profits interest royalty. In addition, the mineral claims defined in an underlying agreement are subject to a 2% NSR royalty, which royalty may be purchased by Amarc for $2 million at any time. Advance NSR royalty payments of $25,000 per annum commenced on January 1, 2011.
Corporate Update
In January 2019, Ronald Thiessen has resigned as director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Diane Nicolson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Michael Lee has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
| - 85 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Market Trends
Average annual prices for copper, molybdenum, gold and silver during last 5 years are shown in the following table:
| Average metal price (US$) | ||||
| Calendar year | Copper | Molybdenum | Gold | Silver |
| 2014 | 3.11/lb | 11.59/lb | 1,264/oz | 19.09/oz |
| 2015 | 2.50/lb | 6.73/lb | 1,160/oz | 15.69/oz |
| 2016 | 2.21/lb | 6.56/lb | 1,251/oz | 17.14/oz |
| 2017 | 2.88/lb | 7.26/lb | 1,275/oz | 17.01/oz |
| 2018 | 2.96/lb | 11.94/lb | 1.269/oz | 15.71/oz |
| 2019 (to the date of this document) | 2.79/lb | 11.95/lb | 1.312/oz | 15.23/oz |
| - 86 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
| 1.3 | Selected Annual Information |
The following information is derived from the Company’s annual financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB effective for the respective reporting years of the Company and are expressed in Canadian Dollars. The Company’s audited financial statements are publicly available on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com.
| ($ 000’s, except loss per share) | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 799 | $ | 3,625 | $ | 1,112 | ||||||
| Non-current liabilities | $ | – | $ | 764 | $ | 940 | ||||||
| Net loss for the year | $ | 1,949 | $ | 2,072 | $ | 1,043 | ||||||
| Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||
| 1.4 | Summary of Quarterly Results |
These amounts are expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, except per share amounts. Minor differences are due to rounding.
| Fiscal Quarter Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ 000’s) | Mar 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Jun 30, 2018 | Mar 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Sep 30, 2017 | Jun 30, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (income) loss | $ | 197 | $ | 909 | $ | 104 | $ | 739 | $ | 283 | $ | 1,068 | $ | (67 | ) | $ | 788 | |||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted (income) loss per share | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||
The variations in net results over the fiscal quarters presented above were caused be the Company’s mineral exploration and evaluation activities, which typically ramp-up in the summer during the 3rd calendar quarters. See the following section of the MD&A for additional discussions.
| 1.5 | Results of Operations |
The Company recorded a decrease in net loss of $123,000 from a net loss of $2,072,000 for the prior year to a net loss of $1,949,000 for the current year.
The following table provides changes in expenditures and cost recoveries in the current year presented compared to the prior year:
| Expenditures/recoveries | Year ended March 31, 2019 | Year ended March 31, 2018 | ||||||
| (Decrease) Increase in exploration and evaluation expenditures | $ | (1,992,000 | ) | $ | 3,808,000 | |||
| (Decrease) Increase in administrative expenditures | (139,000 | ) | 320,000 | |||||
| (Decrease) Increase in cost recoveries | (2,354,000 | ) | 3,311,000 | |||||
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
The above noted changes in the level of expenditures and cost recoveries in the current periods presented compared to the prior periods are commensurate with the decrease in the Company’s operating and financing activities as discussed herein.
A breakdown of the Company’s exploration and evaluation expenses for the year ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
| Year ended March 31, 2019 | IKE | JOY | DUKE | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Assays and analysis | $ | 112,788 | $ | 168,000 | $ | 67,853 | $ | 5,851 | $ | 354,492 | ||||||||||
| Drilling | 392,582 | 140,219 | 267,881 | – | 800,682 | |||||||||||||||
| Equipment rental | 29,356 | 65,689 | 8,380 | – | 103,425 | |||||||||||||||
| Geological | 210,114 | 854,551 | 147,409 | 83,625 | 1,295,699 | |||||||||||||||
| Helicopter and fuel | 425,196 | 503,610 | – | 5,921 | 934,727 | |||||||||||||||
| Property costs and assessments | 51,985 | 457,500 | 49,745 | 93,696 | 652,926 | |||||||||||||||
| Site activities | 259,010 | 555,869 | 129,804 | 19,143 | 963,826 | |||||||||||||||
| Socioeconomic | 27,947 | 127,817 | 36,753 | – | 192,517 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 24,087 | 50,536 | 6,744 | 10,441 | 91,808 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,533,065 | $ | 2,923,791 | $ | 714,569 | $ | 218,677 | $ | 5,390,102 | ||||||||||
| Year ended March 31, 2018 | IKE | JOY | DUKE | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Assays and analysis | $ | 115,547 | $ | 101,521 | $ | 28,415 | $ | (21,250 | ) | $ | 224,233 | |||||||||
| Drilling | 538,475 | 215,024 | 446,429 | – | 1,199,928 | |||||||||||||||
| Equipment rental | 34,100 | 20,739 | 18,790 | – | 73,629 | |||||||||||||||
| Geological | 808,037 | 518,365 | 168,453 | 14,000 | 1,508,855 | |||||||||||||||
| Helicopter and fuel | 965,992 | 553,037 | – | – | 1,519,029 | |||||||||||||||
| Property costs and assessments | 71,729 | 1,427,000 | 5,672 | 49,200 | 1,553,601 | |||||||||||||||
| Site activities | 384,257 | 344,248 | 177,466 | – | 905,971 | |||||||||||||||
| Socioeconomic | 46,235 | 170,494 | 93,547 | 113 | 310,389 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 51,227 | 17,324 | 17,730 | – | 86,281 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,015,599 | $ | 3,367,752 | $ | 956,502 | $ | 42,063 | $ | 7,381,916 | ||||||||||
The Company’s mineral exploration and evaluation activities presented above were concentrated in the second and third quarters of the year.
The IKE Project and the JOY Project exploration and evaluation activities were primarily funded by Hudbay during the current and prior year. Accordingly, the Company recorded cost recoveries for the year ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 of $1,645,000 and $3,245,000 related to the IKE Project, and $2,893,000 and $2,952,000 related to the JOY Project, respectively, representing such funding.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
A breakdown by project of the Company’s exploration and evaluation expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
| Three months ended March 31, 2019 | IKE | JOY | DUKE | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Assays and analysis | $ | 5,420 | $ | 5,606 | $ | 2,380 | $ | – | $ | 13,406 | ||||||||||
| Drilling | – | – | – | 729 | 729 | |||||||||||||||
| Equipment rental | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Geological | 20,287 | 42,219 | 36,640 | 45,424 | 144,570 | |||||||||||||||
| Helicopter and fuel | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Property costs and assessments | 1,787 | 7,500 | 49,745 | 50,000 | 109,032 | |||||||||||||||
| Site activities | 1,480 | 15,462 | 4,623 | – | 21,565 | |||||||||||||||
| Socioeconomic | 5,434 | 24,780 | 20,133 | – | 50,347 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | – | 175 | 45 | 2,835 | 3,055 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 34,408 | $ | 95,742 | $ | 113,566 | $ | 98,988 | $ | 342,704 | ||||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, 2018 | IKE | JOY | DUKE | Other | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Assays and analysis | $ | 5,097 | $ | 34,948 | $ | 2,720 | $ | (6,250 | ) | $ | 36,515 | |||||||||
| Drilling | – | – | 268,921 | – | 268,921 | |||||||||||||||
| Equipment rental | 482 | 481 | 6,262 | – | 7,225 | |||||||||||||||
| Geological | 42,373 | 44,028 | 72,071 | 1,575 | 160,047 | |||||||||||||||
| Helicopter and fuel | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
| Property costs and assessments | 21,531 | 627,000 | – | – | 648,531 | |||||||||||||||
| Site activities | 3,482 | 20,244 | 81,061 | – | 104,787 | |||||||||||||||
| Socioeconomic | 12,126 | 37,904 | 38,083 | – | 88,113 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 56 | 125 | 6,433 | – | 6,614 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 85,147 | $ | 764,730 | $ | 475,551 | $ | (4,675 | ) | $ | 1,320,753 | |||||||||
| - 89 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
The Financial Statements provides a breakdown of the Company’s general and administration expenses for the year. General and administration expenses for the fourth quarter of the current year of $224,000 were consistent with the prior year of $223,000. A breakdown of general and administration expenses for the fourth quarter of the current year and prior year is as follows:
| Fourth Quarter ending March 31, | ||||||||
| General and Administration Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| Legal, accounting and audit | $ | 494 | $ | 21,326 | ||||
| Office and administration | 141,939 | 143,961 | ||||||
| Shareholder communication | 58,839 | 33,199 | ||||||
| Travel and accommodation | 13,954 | 10,875 | ||||||
| Trust and regulatory | 9,252 | 13,413 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 224,478 | $ | 222,774 | ||||
| 1.6 | Liquidity |
Historically, the Company’s sole source of funding has been provided from the issuance of equity securities for cash, primarily through private placements to sophisticated investors and institutions, and from director loans. The Company’s access to financing is always uncertain. There can be no assurance of continued access to significant equity funding to finance the Company’s ongoing operations.
At March 31, 2019, the Company had a cash balance of $283,000 and a working capital deficit of approximately $716,000, which was primarily due to a director’s loan of $1,000,000 due in November 2019 that was reclassified as a current liability. The Company is in discussions in regards to an extension to the loan. The Company plans its cash spending based on availability of funds.
Further advancement and development of the Company’s mineral property interests in the long run will require additional funding from a combination of the Company’s shareholders, existing or potential new partners, and debt financing. As the Company is currently in the exploration stage, it does not have any revenues from operations. Therefore, the Company relies on funding from its partners for its continuing financial liquidity and the Company relies on the equity market and debt financing as sources of funding. The Company continues to focus on preserving its cash resources while maintaining its operational activities.
The Company does not have any material capital lease obligations, purchase obligations or any other long-term obligations.
| 1.7 | Capital Resources |
The Company has no lines of credit or other sources of financing which have been arranged or utilized.
The Company has no “Purchase Obligations” defined as any agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on the Company that specifies all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
| 1.8 | Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements |
None.
| 1.9 | Transactions with Related Parties |
The required quantitative disclosure is provided in the Financial Statements, which are publicly available on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com.
Hunter Dickinson Inc.
Hunter Dickinson Inc. (“HDI”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (“HDSI”) are private companies established by a group of mining professionals. HDSI provides contract services for a number of mineral exploration and development companies, and also to companies that are outside of the mining and mineral development space. Amarc is one of the publicly-listed companies for which HDSI provides a variety of contract services.
The Company has one director in common with HDSI, namely Robert Dickinson. Also, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Corporate Secretary are employees of HDSI and work for the Company under an employee secondment arrangement between the Company and HDSI.
Pursuant to an agreement dated July 2, 2010, HDSI provides cost effective technical, geological, corporate communications, regulatory compliance, and administrative and management services to the Company, on a non-exclusive basis as needed and as requested by the Company. As a result of this relationship, the Company has ready access to a range of diverse and specialized expertise on a regular basis, without having to engage or hire full-time employees or experts. The Company benefits from the economies of scale created by HDSI which itself serves several clients.
The Company is not obligated to acquire any minimum amount of services from HDSI. The monetary amount of the services received from HDSI in a given period of time is a function of annually set and agreed charge-out rates for and the time spent by each HDSI employee engaged by the Company.
HDSI also incurs third-party costs on behalf of the Company. Such third party costs include, for example, directors and officers insurance, travel, conferences, and communication services. Third-party costs are billed at cost, without markup.
There are no ongoing contractual or other commitments resulting from the Company’s transactions with HDSI, other than the payment for services already rendered and billed. The agreement may be terminated upon 60 days’ notice by either the Company or HDSI.
The details of transactions with HDSI and the balance due to HDSI as a result of such transactions are provided in the Financial Statements, along with the details of borrowings by the Company from Mr. Dickinson.
United Mineral Services Ltd.
United Mineral Services Ltd. (“UMS”) is a privately held company wholly-owned by one of the Company’s directors. UMS is engaged in the acquisition and exploration of mineral property interests. UMS does incur third party expenses on behalf of the Company from time to time.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Details of transactions with UMS and the balance due to UMS as a result of such transactions are provided in the Financial Statements.
| 1.10 | Fourth Quarter |
See 1.5 Results of Operations above.
| 1.11 | Proposed Transactions |
Except as discussed in this MD&A, there are no proposed transactions requiring disclosure under this section.
| 1.12 | Critical Accounting Estimates |
Not required. The Company is a venture issuer.
| 1.13 | Changes in Accounting Policies including Initial Adoption |
The required disclosure is provided in the Financial Statements, which are publicly available on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com.
| 1.14 | Financial Instruments and Other Instruments |
The carrying amounts of cash, amounts receivable, marketable securities, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, balance due to a related party, and director’s loan approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.
| 1.15 | Other MD&A Requirements |
Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR atwww.sedar.com.
| 1.15.1 | Additional Disclosure for Venture Issuers without Significant Revenue |
| (a) | capitalized or expensed exploration and development costs | See1.5 Results of Operations above. |
| (b) | expensed research and development costs | Not applicable. |
| (c) | deferred development costs | Not applicable. |
| (d) | general and administration expenses | See1.5 Results of Operations above. |
| (e) | any material costs, whether capitalized, deferred or expensed, not referred to in (a) through (d) | None. |
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
| 1.15.2 | Disclosure of Outstanding Share Data |
The following table details the share capital structure as of the date of this MD&A:
| Number | ||||
| Common shares | 170,602,894 | |||
| Share purchase warrants | 5,000,000 | |||
| 1.15.3 | Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
The Company has disclosure controls and procedures in place to provide reasonable assurance that any information required to be disclosed by the Company under securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the appropriate time periods and that required information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, so that decisions can be made about the timely disclosure of that information.
| 1.15.4 | Internal Controls over Financial Reporting Procedures |
The Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
| • | pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; |
| • | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and |
| • | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
There has been no change in the design of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
| - 93 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019. In making the assessment, it used the criteria set forth in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on their assessment, management has concluded that, as at March 31, 2019, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.
| 1.15.5 | Limitations of Controls and Procedures |
The Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, believe that any system of disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Furthermore, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override of controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
| 1.16 | Risk Factors |
The risk factors associated with the principal business of the Company are discussed below. Briefly, these include the highly speculative nature of the mining industry characterized by the requirement for large capital investment from an early stage and a very small probability of finding economic mineral deposits. In addition to the general risks of mining, there are country-specific risks associated with operations, including political, social, and legal risk.
Due to the nature of the Company’s business and the present stage of exploration and development of its projects, the Company may be subject to significant risks. Readers should carefully consider all such risks set out in the discussion below. The Company’s actual exploration and operating results may be very different from those expected as at the date of this MD&A.
| - 94 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Exploration and Mining Risks
Resource exploration, development, and operations are highly speculative, characterized by a number of significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate, including, among other things, unprofitable efforts resulting not only from the failure to discover mineral deposits but from finding mineral deposits which, though present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from production. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, fires, power outages, labour disruptions, flooding, explosions, cave-ins, landslides and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labour are other risks involved in the operation of mines and the conduct of exploration programs. The Company will rely on consultants and others for exploration, development, construction and operating expertise. Substantial expenditures are required to establish mineral resources and mineral reserves through drilling, to develop metallurgical processes to extract the metal from mineral resources, and in the case of new properties, to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for mining.
No assurance can be given that minerals will be discovered in sufficient quantities to justify commercial operations or that funds required for development can be obtained on a timely basis. Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors, some of which are:
| • | the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; |
| • | metal prices, which may be volatile, and are highly cyclical; and |
| • | government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals, and environmental protection. |
The exact effect of these factors cannot accurately be predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in the Company not receiving an adequate return on invested capital.
The Company will carefully evaluate the political and economic environment in considering any properties for acquisition. There can be no assurance that additional significant restrictions will not be placed on the Company’s projects and any other properties the Company may acquire, or its operations. Such restrictions may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operation.
First Nations
Our properties are located within First Nations asserted traditional territories, and the exploration and development of these properties may affect, or be perceived to affect, asserted aboriginal rights and title, which has the potential to manifest permitting delays or opposition by First Nations communities.
The Company is working to establish positive relationships with First Nations. As part of this process the Company may enter into agreements commensurate with the stage of activity, with First Nations in relation to current and future exploration and any potential future production. This could reduce expected earnings.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Future Profits/Losses and Production Revenues/Expenses
The Company has no history of operations and expects that its losses will continue for the foreseeable future. No deposit that has been shown to be economic has yet been found on the Company’s projects. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to acquire any additional properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will be profitable in the future. The Company’s operating expenses and capital expenditures may increase in subsequent years as needed consultants, personnel and equipment associated with advancing exploration, development and commercial production of the Company’s projects and any other properties the Company may acquire, are added. The amounts and timing of expenditures will depend on:
| • | the progress of ongoing exploration and development; |
| • | the results of consultants’ analyses and recommendations; |
| • | the rate at which operating losses are incurred; |
| • | the execution of any joint venture agreements with strategic partners; and |
| • | the acquisition of additional properties and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. |
The Company does not expect to receive revenues from operations in the foreseeable future, if at all. The Company expects to incur losses unless and until such time as the projects the Company advances, or any other properties the Company may acquire, enter into commercial production and generate sufficient revenues to fund its continuing operations.
The development of mineral properties will require the commitment of substantial resources to conduct the time-consuming exploration and development of the properties. There can be no assurance that the Company will generate any revenues or achieve profitability. There can be no assurance that the underlying assumed levels of expenses will prove to be accurate.
Additional Funding Requirements
The Company has limited working capital as at the current reporting date.
Further exploration on, and development of, the Company’s projects will require additional resources and funding. The Company currently does not have sufficient funds to fully develop these projects.
In addition, a positive production decision, if achieved, would require significant funding for project engineering and construction. Accordingly, the continuing development of the Company’s properties will depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain financing through debt financing, equity financing, the joint venturing of projects, or other means.
There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining the required financing for these or other purposes, including for general working capital.
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AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Competitors in the Mining Industry
The mining industry is competitive in all of its phases, including financing, technical resources, personnel and property acquisition. It requires significant capital, technical resources, personnel and operational experience to effectively compete in the mining industry. Because of the high costs associated with exploration, the expertise required to analyze a project’s potential and the capital required to develop a mine, larger companies with significant resources may have a competitive advantage over Amarc. Amarc faces strong competition from other mining companies, some with greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than those that Amarc possesses. As a result of this competition, Amarc may be unable to maintain or acquire financing, personnel, technical resources or attractive mining properties on terms Amarc considers acceptable or at all.
Risks That Are Not Insurable
Hazards such as unusual or unexpected geological formations and other conditions are involved in mineral exploration and development. Amarc may become subject to liability for pollution, cave-ins or hazards against which it cannot insure. The payment of such liabilities could result in increases in Amarc’s operating expenses which could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on Amarc’s financial position and its results of operations. Although Amarc maintains liability insurance in an amount which it considers adequate, the nature of these risks is such that the liabilities might exceed policy limits, the liabilities and hazards might not be insurable against, or Amarc might elect not to insure itself against such liabilities due to high premium costs or other reasons. In these events, Amarc could incur significant liabilities and costs that could materially increase Amarc’s operating expenses.
Environmental Matters
All of the Company’s operations will be subject to environmental regulations, which can make operations more expensive or potentially prohibit them altogether.
The Company may be subject to the risks and liabilities associated with potential pollution of the environment and the disposal of waste products that could occur as a result of its activities.
To the extent the Company is subject to environmental liabilities, the payment of such liabilities or the costs that it may incur to remedy environmental pollution would reduce funds otherwise available to it and could have a material adverse effect on the Company. If the Company is unable to fully remedy an environmental problem, it might be required to suspend operations or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remedy. The potential exposure may be significant and could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
All of the Company’s activities are or will be subject to regulation under one or more environmental laws and regulations. Many of the regulations require the Company to obtain permits for its activities. The Company must update and review its permits from time to time, and is subject to environmental impact analyses and public review processes prior to approval of the additional activities. It is possible that future changes in applicable laws, regulations and permits or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could have a significant impact on some portion of the Company’s business, causing those activities to become economically unattractive at that time.
Market for Securities and Volatility of Share Price
There can be no assurance that an active trading market in the Company’s securities will be established or sustained. The market price for the Company’s securities is subject to wide fluctuations. Factors such as announcements of exploration results, as well as market conditions in the industry, may have a significant adverse impact on the market price of the securities of the Company. Shares of the Company are suitable only for those who can afford to lose their entire investment. The stock market has from time to time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.
| - 97 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Conflicts of Interest
Certain of the Company’s directors and officers may serve as directors or officers of other companies or companies providing services to the Company or they may have significant shareholdings in other companies. Situations may arise where these directors and/or officers of the Company may be in competition with the Company. Any conflicts of interest will be subject to and governed by the law applicable to directors’ and officers’ conflicts of interest. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the Company’s directors, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against the approval of such participation or such terms. In accordance with applicable laws, the directors of the Company are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
Payment of Dividends Unlikely
There is no assurance that the Company will pay dividends on its shares in the near future. The Company will likely require all its funds to further the development of its business.
Lack of Revenues; History of Operating Losses
The Company does not have any operational history or earnings and has incurred net losses and negative cash flow from its operations since incorporation. Although the Company will hope to eventually generate revenues, significant operating losses are to be anticipated for at least the next several years and possibly longer. To the extent that such expenses do not result in the creation of appropriate revenues, the Company’s business may be materially adversely affected. It is not possible to forecast how the business of the Company will develop.
General Economic Conditions
Market conditions and unexpected volatility or illiquidity in financial markets may adversely affect the prospects of the Company and the value of its shares.
Reliance on Key Personnel
The Company will be dependent on the continued services of its senior management team, and its ability to retain other key personnel. The loss of such key personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company. There can be no assurance that any of the Company’s employees will remain with the Company or that, in the future, the employees will not organize competitive businesses or accept employment with companies competitive with the Company.
| - 98 - |
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2019
Furthermore, as part of the Company’s growth strategy, it must continue to hire highly qualified individuals. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attract, assimilate or retain qualified personnel in the future, which would adversely affect its business.
Changes in Federal and Provincial Government Rules, Regulations or Agreements, or Their Application, May Negatively Affect the Company’s Ownership Rights, Its Access to or Its Ability to Advance the Exploration and Development of its Mineral Properties
The federal and provincial governments currently have in place or may in the future implement laws, regulations, policies or agreements that may negatively affect the Company’s ownership rights with respect to its mineral properties or its access to the properties. These may restrain or block the Company’s ability to advance the exploration and development of its mineral properties or significantly increase the costs and timeframe to advance the properties.
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| ITEM 19 | EXHIBITS |
The following Exhibits have been filed with the Company’sCompany's Annual Report on Form 20-F in previous years:
| (1) | Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2010. |
| (2) | Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2008. |
| (3) | Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2013. |
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The following exhibits are included with this Annual Report on Form 20-F:
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
/s/ Luqman KhanMichael Lee
Chief Financial Officer
DATED: July 26, 201815, 2019