|
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2016
(Expressed in United States dollars, except per share amounts and where otherwise noted)
|
May 9, 2016
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 and related notes thereto which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). References to “Entrée” and the “Company” are to Entrée Gold Inc. and/or one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. For further information on the Company, reference should be made to its continuous disclosure (including its most recently filed annual information form (“AIF”)), which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Information is also available on the Company’s website at www.entreegold.com. Information on risks associated with investing in the Company’s securities is contained in the Company’s most recently filed AIF. Technical and scientific information under National Instrument 43-101 concerning the Company’s material properties, including information about mineral resources and reserves, is contained in the Company’s most recently filed AIF and in its technical reports titled “Lookout Hill Feasibility Study Update” dated March 29, 2016 prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd and “Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Ann Mason Project, Nevada, U.S.A.”, with an effective date of September 9, 2015, prepared by AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and Amec Foster Wheeler Americas Limited.
Q1 2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Notice to Proceed Approval for Underground Development at Oyu Tolgoi
On May 5th and 6th, 2016, formal 'notice to proceed' was given for the next stage of development of the world-class Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia by the boards of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill"), Rio Tinto and Entrée's joint venture partner, Oyu Tolgoi LLC ("OTLLC"). According to Turquoise Hill, this was the final requirement for the re-start of the underground development at the Hugo North Lift 1 block cave ("Lift 1"), including Lift 1 of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture's Hugo North Extension deposit.
Expenditures Reduced
Q1 2016 exploration and general and administration expenditures of approximately $498,000 and $605,000, respectively were reduced by 74% and 36% compared to the same quarter in 2015 as a result of the Company’s objective to reduce expenditures which commenced in the second half of 2015.
Sandstorm Equity Participation and Funding Agreement Amendment
The Company entered into an agreement with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm") to amend the Equity Participation and Funding Agreement dated February 14, 2013 (the "2013 Agreement").
The agreement to amend provided for a 17% reduction in the metal credits that Entrée is required to sell and deliver to Sandstorm under the 2013 Agreement. In return, Entrée refunded a portion of the original $40 million deposit by paying $5.5 million in cash and issuing $1.3 million of common shares of the Company. At closing, the parties entered into an Amended and Restated Equity Participation and Funding Agreement (the "Amended Sandstorm Agreement").
The Amended Sandstorm Agreement provides Entrée with greater optionality in terms of structuring any potential refund of a portion of the remaining $33.2 million deposit when and if certain events occur in the future. Specifically, the Amended Sandstorm Agreement provides that in the event the Company’s economic interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property (as defined below) is reduced by up to 34%, the additional refund of up to $6.8 million is not required to be made in cash. Entrée immediately benefits from greater control over its treasury and an increased ability to preserve cash.
At closing, Entrée issued 5,128,604 common shares to Sandstorm at a price of C$0.3496 per share. The shares are subject to a hold period expiring July 2, 2016. The price was calculated using the VWAP of Entrée's shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the 15 trading days preceding February 23, 2016, the effective date of the agreement to amend. Following closing, Sandstorm owns 22,985,746 common shares, or 15.07% of the outstanding shares of the Company.
The Amended Sandstorm Agreement does not impact Sandstorm's requirement to vote its shares as Entrée's Board of Directors specifies with respect to any potential acquisition of the Company, provided the potential acquirer agrees to execute and deliver to Sandstorm a deed of adherence to the Amended Sandstorm Agreement.
Management Changes
Stephen Scott was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective April 1, 2016. Mr. Scott has been acting as the Interim Chief Executive Officer since November 16, 2015. Concurrently with the appointment, Mr. Scott was appointed to the Company's Board of Directors.
Bruce Colwill resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Duane Lo has joined the Company as Interim Chief Financial Officer effective April 1, 2016.
OVERVIEW OF BUSINESS
Entrée is a resource company engaged in exploring mineral resource properties with interests in development and exploration properties in Mongolia, the United States, Australia and Peru.
The Company’s two principal assets are:
|
· |
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property – a 20% carried interest in two of the Oyu Tolgoi project deposits in Mongolia (the "Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property"); and |
|
· |
Ann Mason Project – a copper-molybdenum porphyry project in Nevada, USA (the "Ann Mason Project"). |
The Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is subject to a joint venture (the "Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV") with OTLLC. OTLLC is owned 66% by Turquoise Hill and 34% by the Government of Mongolia (through Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC). The Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property includes the Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit and the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit. The resources at Hugo North Extension include a Probable reserve, which is included in Lift 1 of the Oyu Tolgoi underground block cave mining operation. In December 2015, OTLLC executed a $4.4 billion finance facility for Phase 2 mine development at Oyu Tolgoi. This comprises the first stage of underground mine development, which includes Lift 1 of Hugo North Extension. On May 5th and 6th, 2016, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto announced that formal 'notice to proceed' approval has been given by the boards of Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto and OTLLC. Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto also reported that the updated Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study ("OTFS16") has been completed, including a re-estimate of capital, and all necessary permits have been granted. Underground construction is expected to begin in mid-2016.
The Ann Mason Project includes the Ann Mason copper-molybdenum deposit and the Blue Hill copper deposit in the Yerington district of Nevada. The Company reported the results of the Ann Mason deposit updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2015 PEA") on September 9, 2015. The 2015 PEA envisions an open pit and conventional sulphide flotation milling operation with a proposed mill throughput of 120,000 tonnes per day. Pre-production development is estimated to take three years, followed by 21 years of mine production. Over the life of mine, the project is estimated to produce 5.1 billion pounds of copper. The 2015 PEA incorporates the results of the Company’s 40-hole infill drill program completed in early 2015, and a new resource estimate. Approximately 95% of the mineralization constrained within the ultimate PEA pit ("Phase 5") is now classified as either Measured or Indicated resources, with the remaining 5% classified as Inferred resources. The 2015 PEA also includes preliminary results of a detailed metallurgical program, designed to better characterize the metallurgical processes and recoveries and to support a future Pre-Feasibility study.
The Company also has the following assets:
|
· |
Shivee West – Entrée has a 100% interest in the western portion of the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence in Mongolia ("Shivee West"); |
|
· |
Lordsburg Project – an early stage copper porphyry exploration property ("Lordsburg") in New Mexico, USA; |
|
· |
Lukkacha Project – an early stage exploration property ("Lukkacha") consisting of seven concessions totaling 4,400 hectares of land in Peru, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of the Toquepala mine operation owned by Grupo Mexico; |
|
· |
Blue Rose JV - a 55.79% interest in the Blue Rose copper-iron-gold-molybdenum joint venture property ("Blue Rose") in the Olary Region of South Australia; and |
|
· |
Cañariaco Project Royalty – a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty on Candente Copper Corp.’s Cañariaco project in Peru ("Cañariaco Royalty"). |
Entrée is primarily focused on its principal properties in Mongolia and Nevada.
The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Field operations are conducted out of local offices in the United States and Mongolia.
Trading of the Company’s common shares commenced on the NYSE MKT effective July 18, 2005, under the trading symbol "EGI". On April 24, 2006, the Company’s common shares began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and discontinued trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. The trading symbol remained "ETG". The Company is also traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, under the trading symbols "EKA" and "WKN 121411".
OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
Entrée is primarily focused on advancing its principal properties in Nevada and Mongolia. In addition, Entrée is engaged in evaluating acquisition opportunities which are complementary to its existing projects in mining friendly jurisdictions. The commodities Entrée are most likely to pursue include copper, gold and molybdenum and other base metals. Entrée will consider both small and large projects if they demonstrate potential to add shareholder value in the short to medium term.
The Company expects to spend between $3 million and $3.7 million for the 2016 year, which is discussed below.
Corporate
Entrée has not generated any revenue from operations since its incorporation and Entrée anticipates that it will continue to incur operating expenses without revenues until (i) the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property in Mongolia is brought into production; (ii) it builds and operates a mine on one or more of its other mineral properties; or (iii) it completes a value accretive sale transaction on one or more of its current or future assets.
The Company has focused, and will continue to focus its efforts on conserving cash reserves. Recent efforts include adjustments to operations including rationalizing land holdings in Mongolia, reducing staff levels in each of Mongolia, Canada and the United States as well as reducing certain other overhead expenditures. The Company anticipates regular course corporate expenditures, including general and administrative, legal and filing related fees, and corporate overhead costs to be in the range of $1.8 million to $2.1 million for the 2016 year.
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property
The Company remains focused on engagement with partners and other local Mongolian stakeholders.
OTLLC is targeting underground construction to begin in mid-2016. This follows the $4.4 billion finance facility (with provision for up to $6 billion) that was signed by OTLLC in December 2015 for underground mine development at the Oyu Tolgoi project, including Lift 1 of the Hugo North Extension deposit. Formal 'notice to proceed' approval from the boards of Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto and OTLLC was received and announced on May 5th and 6th, 2016. All necessary permits have been granted. Turquoise Hill announced that OTSF16 has been completed and it expects to release a technical report in the second half of 2016.
Exploration and development of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is under the control of Rio Tinto on behalf of manager OTLLC. The 2016 exploration program and budget for the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property has been prepared by OTLLC. OTLLC’s exploration strategy is focussed on developing a project pipeline in areas that can impact the current development of the Oyu Tolgoi deposits, seeking low-cost development options and continuing assessment of legacy datasets to enable future discoveries. Castle Rock on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is one of the identified priority targets that will be the focus of the future exploration program.
Under the terms of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV, Entrée elected to have OTLLC debt finance Entrée’s share of costs on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, with interest accruing at OTLLC’s actual cost of capital or prime plus 2%, whichever is less, at the date of the advance. As at March 31, 2016, the total amount that OTLLC has contributed to costs on the Company’s behalf, including interest, was $6.9 million.
The Company estimates direct expenditures of between $400,000 and $550,000 for the 2016 year to be spent on internal technical review, legal costs and general administration in Mongolia.
Ann Mason Project
With the completion of the 2015 exploration, baseline environmental and metallurgy programs and the release of an updated PEA on the Ann Mason Project, the Company has taken a decision to reduce expenditures at Ann Mason while it considers the most appropriate path to maximize shareholder value from the project going forward which may include the introduction of a strategic development partner. The Company estimates expenditures including claim filing fees and site maintenance will be between $700,000 and $850,000 for the 2016 year.
Other Properties
All the Company’s other assets have been placed in care and maintenance while management evaluates the best alternatives for each asset in the future. Expenditures for 2016 are expected to be limited to license fees and local administration costs.
The Company estimates expenditures of between $150,000 and $200,000 for the 2016 year.
ENTRÉE/OYU TOLGOI JV PROPERTY AND SHIVEE WEST PROPERTY – MONGOLIA
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Summary
Entrée’s most advanced asset is its interest in two world class porphyry deposits in Mongolia: Hugo North Extension and Heruga. These deposits are the northern-most and southern-most, respectively, in the Oyu Tolgoi series of deposits, which stretches over 12 kilometres across three mining licences.
The 39,807 hectare Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is comprised of the eastern portion of the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence, which hosts the Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit, and all of the Javhlant mining licence, which hosts the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit. The 23,114 hectare western portion of the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence (Shivee West) is not included in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, although OTLLC has a right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by Entrée of an interest in Shivee West.
The Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and Entrée’s 100% owned Shivee West are collectively referred to as the "Lookout Hill" property. The Lookout Hill property, which completely surrounds OTLLC’s Oyu Tolgoi mining licence, is located within the Aimag (province) of Ömnögovi in the South Gobi region of Mongolia, about 570 kilometres south of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and 80 kilometres north of the border with China.
In October 2004, the Company entered into an arm’s-length Equity Participation and Earn-In Agreement (the "Earn-In Agreement") with Turquoise Hill. Under the Earn-In Agreement, Turquoise Hill agreed to purchase equity securities of the Company, and was granted the right to earn an interest in minerals extracted from the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. Most of Turquoise Hill’s rights and obligations under the Earn-In Agreement were subsequently assigned by Turquoise Hill to what was then its wholly-owned subsidiary, OTLLC. As at March 31, 2016, Turquoise Hill holds 9.05% of Entrée’s issued and outstanding shares. Rio Tinto, which owns approximately 51% of Turquoise Hill’s shares, holds an additional 10.86% of Entrée’s issued and outstanding shares.
On June 30, 2008, OTLLC gave notice to Entrée that it had completed its earn-in obligations by expending a total of $35 million on exploration on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. OTLLC earned an 80% interest in all minerals extracted below a sub-surface depth of 560 metres from the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and a 70% interest in all minerals extracted from surface to a depth of 560 metres from the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The Earn-In Agreement provides that at such time as OTLLC completes its earn-in obligations, the parties will enter into a joint venture agreement in the form attached to the Earn-In Agreement. While the parties have not formally executed the joint venture agreement, the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV is operating under those terms.
The illustration below depicts the mining licences that comprise the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and Shivee West:
The Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property includes Measured, Indicated and Inferred mineral resources at the Hugo North Extension deposit and Inferred mineral resources at the Heruga deposit, as reported in Entrée’s technical report titled "Lookout Hill Feasibility Study Update" dated March 29, 2016, prepared for Entrée by OreWin Pty Ltd ("LHTR16"). The Indicated resources at Hugo North Extension contain a Probable reserve, which is included in Lift 1 of the Oyu Tolgoi underground block cave mining operation. The Probable reserve (September 20, 2014) for Hugo North Extension totals 35 million tonnes ("Mt") grading 1.59% copper, 0.55 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold, and 3.72 g/t silver. Entrée holds a 20% carried interest in this mineral reserve through the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV. Although underground development pre-start activities are underway, first development production from Lift 1 is not expected until after 2021. A second lift ("Lift 2") for the Oyu Tolgoi underground block cave operation, including additional resources from Hugo North Extension, has been proposed but has not yet been modeled within the existing mine plan. Lift 1 is the most significant value driver for the Oyu Tolgoi project.
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Summary Production and Economic Analysis Results
|
Description
|
Units
|
Total
|
|
Metal Prices
|
|
Copper
|
$/lb
|
3.08
|
|
Gold
|
$/oz
|
1,304
|
|
Silver
|
$/oz
|
21.46
|
|
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Results
|
|
Processed
|
Mt
|
34.8
|
|
NSR
|
$/t
|
100.57
|
|
Cu Grade
|
%
|
1.59
|
|
Au Grade
|
g/t
|
0.55
|
|
Ag Grade
|
g/t
|
3.72
|
|
Copper Recovered
|
Mlb
|
1,121
|
|
Gold Recovered
|
koz
|
519
|
|
Silver Recovered
|
koz
|
3,591
|
|
Total Cash Costs After Credits
|
$/lb Payable Copper
|
0.99
|
|
NPV8% Before Tax (Entrée’s 20% interest only)
|
$M
|
142
|
|
NPV8% After Tax (Entrée’s 20% interest only)
|
$M
|
106
|
Notes:
|
· |
Entrée has a 20% interest in Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property mineralization. Unless otherwise noted above, results are for the entire Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV. |
|
· |
Metal prices used for calculating the Hugo North Extension underground net smelter returns ("NSR") are as follows: copper at $3.01/lb; gold at $1,250/oz; and silver at $20.37/oz, all based on long-term metal price forecasts at the beginning of the mineral reserve work. The analysis indicates that the mineral reserve is still valid at these metal prices. |
|
· |
The NSR has been calculated with assumptions specific to Hugo North Extension for smelter refining and treatment charges, deductions and payment terms, concentrate transport, metallurgical recoveries and royalties. |
|
· |
The block cave shell was defined using a NSR cut-off of $15/t NSR. |
|
· |
For the underground block cave, all Indicated mineral resources within the shell have been converted to mineral reserves. Low-grade Indicated mineral resources. and Inferred mineral resources have been assigned a zero grade and treated as dilution. |
|
· |
The mineral reserves reported are not additive to the mineral resources. |
The Hugo North Extension NSR (table above) is the highest NSR for all the deposits at Oyu Tolgoi. The NSR calculation reflects the net value received for the ore by the mine (after all costs and charges). An NSR has been calculated on a US Dollar per tonne basis for each of the mineral reserve areas in the Oyu Tolgoi project.
In addition to the mine plan for Lift 1, LHTR16 discusses several alternative production cases that OTLLC has undertaken strategic planning work on. The alternative production cases would include mineral resources from other Oyu Tolgoi deposits, including Hugo North Extension Lift 2 and Heruga, and allow for continuous improvement in plant throughput and potential plant expansions up to 350 thousand tonnes per day. Due to the nature of the deposits associated with Oyu Tolgoi, the project has the flexibility to consider several options for optimizing the overall mine plan for the benefit of stakeholders. Separate development decisions will need to be made based on future prevailing conditions and the experience obtained from developing and operating the initial phases of the project.
A complete description and the Company’s related history of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV is available in the Company’s AIF dated March 30, 2016, available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For additional information regarding the assumptions, qualifications and procedures associated with the scientific and technical information regarding the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, reference should be made to the full text of LHTR16, which is available for review on SEDAR.
Shivee West Property Summary
Shivee West comprises the northwest portion of the Lookout Hill property, and adjoins the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and OTLLC’s Oyu Tolgoi mining licence. Entrée’s exploration programs have focused on identifying epithermal-style gold mineralization and porphyry-style copper-gold mineralization at Shivee West. Past exploration activities have included: geophysical surveys (induced polarization ("IP"), gravity, magnetic), core drilling (38,244 metres in 65 holes), reverse circulation ("RC") drilling (4,145 metres in 34 holes), trenching, geological mapping and geochemical sampling.
Significant mineralized targets identified to date are Argo and Zone III.
Argo and Zone III Gold Targets
In 2011, RC drilling was conducted over the Zone III near-surface epithermal gold target and expanded north, where a new gold zone ("Argo Zone") was discovered 250 metres beyond the previously known area of gold mineralization. The Argo Zone was partly defined by six RC holes (holes EGRC-11-110 to 115), two trenches and surface chip sampling. Hole EGRC-11-112 returned 14 metres of 1.82 g/t gold and hole EGRC-11-111 returned 3 metres of 2.21 g/t gold. Two separate high-grade surface chip samples averaged 42.4 g/t gold over 4 metres and 19.3 g/t gold over 3 metres. Shallow gold mineralization in both zones is hosted by quartz veined felsic volcanic rocks.
The 2012 work program focused on geological mapping, excavator trenching and sampling in the Argo/Zone III area. The area of Argo gold mineralization was extended 140 metres further north from mineralization defined by 2011 RC drilling. The Argo Zone now measures approximately 400 metres long by up to 130 metres wide. One of the trench samples returned 81.4 g/t gold over 3 metres, confirming and expanding 2011 high-grade gold values.
Shivee Tolgoi Trend – Other Targets
Deep geophysical (IP) targets have been identified on the Shivee Tolgoi Trend and four were drilled during the 2010 exploration program. The stratigraphy encountered in some of the holes is interpreted to be equivalent to the ore-hosting Devonian-age units at Oyu Tolgoi. The potential for deep Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold porphyry-style mineralization was re-evaluated in 2011 with detailed geological studies and geophysical surveying. A 1,670 line-kilometre magnetic survey was completed over a belt of rocks which show similarities with the units which host the nearby Oyu Tolgoi deposits.
Khoyor Mod, located 6 kilometres south of the Argo Zone, comprises a 250 metre by 300 metre area of porphyry-style quartz stockwork within Devonian sediments. 2012 trench sampling identified anomalous gold (trace to 0.58 g/t) and copper (67 – 505 parts per million) indicative of a porphyry target.
Q1 2016 Update
Turquoise Hill reported on May 5, 2016 that the updated capital estimate for OTFS16 was completed. Tendering activities are in progress for major work packages to support the Phase 2 underground development schedule. Appointments to roles in the underground team are well underway, with key staff starting in Q1 2016.
Turquoise Hill also reported that concentrator throughput increased by 3.1% in Q1 2016 over Q4 2015 resulting in average throughput of approximately 106,000 tonnes per day for the quarter. Given stronger-than-expected Q1 2016 gold production, Turquoise Hill has increased its 2016 gold in concentrates guidance to range between 255,000 to 285,000 ounces from the previous range of between 210,000 to 260,000 ounces. Sales contracts have been signed for approximately 95% of Oyu Tolgoi's expected 2016 concentrate production.
On May 5th and 6th, 2016, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto announced that formal 'notice to proceed' approval has been given by the boards of Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto and OTLLC for underground development of the Hugo North Lift 1 block cave, including Lift 1 of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV's Hugo North Extension deposit. Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto also reported that OTFS16 has been completed, and all necessary permits have been granted. Underground construction is expected to begin in mid-2016.
For the three months ended March 31, 2016, expenses related to Mongolian operations was $188,863 compared to $348,390 during the three months ended March 31, 2015. These costs represented consulting costs related to technical report preparation, support administration and camp closure costs. The lower expenses in 2016 compared to 2015 resulted from a reduction of personnel and overhead in Mongolia.
ANN MASON PROJECT – NEVADA, USA
Summary
The Ann Mason Project is an advanced copper-molybdenum project located in west-central Nevada approximately 75 kilometres southeast of Reno and 7 kilometres west of the town of Yerington. The project is easily accessible from Reno by highway and it is a 20 minute drive from Yerington. The nearest access to the rail network is located 17 kilometres north of Yerington.
The Ann Mason Project hosts two known mineral deposits: Ann Mason and Blue Hill. Both are copper-molybdenum porphyries although Blue Hill is predominantly an oxide copper deposit. Several other under-explored copper oxide and sulphide targets are located throughout the project area, including Blackjack IP, Blackjack Oxide, Roulette, Minnesota and Shamrock.
The project area is defined by the mineral rights to 1,658 unpatented lode claims on public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, and title to 33 patented lode claims. The project covers approximately 12,735 hectares (31,468 acres). Entrée assembled this package of claims through a combination of staking and a series of transactions undertaken since July 2009. A portion of the unpatented claims peripheral to the Ann Mason and Blue Hill deposits are under: (1) a lease with option to purchase agreement (226 claims); and (2) an option agreement with Eurasian Minerals Inc. (216 claims; Entrée earning 80%). Seventeen of the patented lode claims peripheral to the Ann Mason and Blue Hill deposits are subject to a 2% NSR royalty granted to a third party. In addition, 235 of the unpatented lode claims, including the claims covering the Ann Mason and Blue Hill deposits, are subject to a 0.4% NSR royalty held by Sandstorm. Entrée also has an option to purchase 21 unpatented placer claims within the project boundaries. The illustration below depicts the Ann Mason Project.
The results of the 2015 PEA on the Ann Mason deposit were released on September 9, 2015. Key results from the 2015 PEA can be summarized as follows:
|
· |
Base Case* pre-tax net present value ("NPV") (7.5% discount rate) of $1,158 million, internal rate of return ("IRR") of 15.8%. |
|
· |
Base Case* post-tax NPV (7.5% discount rate) of $770 million, IRR of 13.7%. |
|
· |
Development capital costs of approximately $1.35 billion, including $103 million contingency. |
|
· |
Pre-production development of three years. |
|
· |
Mine production for 21 years, followed by four years of reclamation (Life of Mine or "LOM"). |
|
· |
Average LOM cash costs (net of by-product sales) pre-tax of $1.49/lb copper (see Non-US GAAP Performance Measurement below). |
|
· |
Average LOM all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") (net of by-product sales) pre-tax of $1.57/lb copper (see Non-US GAAP Performance Measurement below). |
|
· |
Net average pre-tax undiscounted cash flow over Years 1 to 21 of approximately $298 million per year (and post-tax of $238 million per year). |
|
· |
LOM payable production of approximately: |
|
o |
5.1 billion pounds of copper, |
|
o |
46 million pounds of molybdenum, |
|
o |
0.4 million ounces of gold, and |
|
o |
8.8 million ounces of silver. |
|
· |
Average annual payable production of approximately: |
|
o |
241 million pounds of copper, |
|
o |
2.2 million pounds of molybdenum, |
|
o |
20,000 ounces of gold, and |
|
o |
421,000 ounces of silver. |
|
· |
Strip ratio of 2.01:1 waste to mineralized material (including pre-strip). |
|
· |
LOM average copper recovery of 92%. |
|
· |
Copper concentrate grading 30%. |
*Base Case uses $3.00/lb copper, $11/lb molybdenum, $1,200/oz gold, $20/oz silver.
The 2015 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the 2015 PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The mineral resource estimate for Ann Mason is provided in the Table below.
Mineral Resource Statement for the Ann Mason Deposit based on a 0.20% Copper Cut‑off
|
Classification
|
Tonnage
(Mt)
|
Grade
|
Contained Metal
|
|
Cu
(%)
|
Mo
(%)
|
Au
(g/t)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
Cu
(Mlb)
|
Mo
(Mlb)
|
Au
(Moz)
|
Ag
(Moz)
|
|
Measured
|
412
|
0.33
|
0.006
|
0.03
|
0.64
|
3,037.6
|
58.1
|
0.37
|
8.46
|
|
Indicated
|
988
|
0.31
|
0.006
|
0.03
|
0.66
|
6,853.3
|
128.5
|
0.97
|
21.00
|
|
Measured and Indicated
|
1,400
|
0.32
|
0.006
|
0.03
|
0.65
|
9,890.9
|
186.6
|
1.33
|
29.46
|
|
Inferred
|
623
|
0.29
|
0.007
|
0.03
|
0.66
|
3,987.2
|
96.2
|
0.58
|
13.16
|
Notes:
|
1. |
Effective date September 9, 2015, Peter Oshust, P.Geo. |
|
2. |
Mineral resources are reported within a constraining pit shell developed using Whittle™ software. Assumptions include metal prices of $3.74/lb for copper, $13.23/lb for molybdenum, $1,495/oz for gold, and $23.58/oz for silver, process recoveries of 92% for copper, 50% for molybdenum, 50% for gold, and 55% for silver, mining cost of $1.09/t + $0.02/bench below 1605 metres, $5.82/t for processing, and $0.30/t for G&A. |
|
3. |
Assumptions include 100% mining recovery. |
|
4. |
An external dilution factor was not considered during this mineral resource estimation. |
|
5. |
Internal dilution within a 20 metre x 20 metre x 15 metre selective mining unit ("SMU") was considered. |
|
6. |
The 0.4% NSR royalty held by Sandstorm was not considered during the preparation of the constraining pit. |
|
7. |
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. |
A first mineral resource estimate for the Blue Hill deposit was completed in October 2012. The resource estimate was prepared as a first step in determining if Blue Hill could serve to generate early cash flow for the Ann Mason Project, should the Ann Mason deposit advance to production. The near surface oxide and mixed mineralization at Blue Hill is acid-soluble and amenable to low-cost heap leach and solvent extraction/electrowinning ("SX/EW") processing. Both deposits remain open in several directions. The following table summarizes the Blue Hill mineral resources.
Summary of Blue Hill Pit-Constrained Inferred Mineral Resource (Effective July 31, 2012)
|
Zone
|
Base Case
Cut-off
(Cu %)
|
Tonnes
(Million)
|
Cu
(%)
|
Cu
(Million lb)
|
Mo
(%)
|
Au
(g/t)
|
Ag
(g/t)
|
|
Oxide
|
0.10
|
47.44
|
0.17
|
179.37
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
Mixed
|
0.10
|
24.69
|
0.18
|
98.12
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
Oxide/Mixed
Sub-total
|
0.10
|
72.13
|
0.17
|
277.49
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|
Sulphide
|
0.15
|
49.86
|
0.23
|
253.46
|
0.005
|
0.01
|
0.3
|
Notes:
|
1. |
Mineral resources are classified in accordance with the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. |
|
2. |
Mineral resources do not include external dilution, nor was the tabulation of contained metal adjusted to reflect metallurgical recoveries. |
|
3. |
Tonnages are rounded to the nearest 10,000 tonnes, and grades are rounded to two decimal places. |
|
4. |
Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. |
|
5. |
Material quantities and grades are expressed in metric units, and contained metal in imperial units. |
For additional information regarding the assumptions, qualifications and procedures associated with the scientific and technical information regarding the Ann Mason Project, reference should be made to the Company’s technical report titled "Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Ann Mason Project, Nevada, U.S.A." with an effective date of September 9, 2015, prepared by AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and Amec Foster Wheeler Americas Limited, a copy of which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Q1 2016 Update
There was no activity on the Ann Mason Project in Q1 2016, other than care and maintenance related activities.
For the three months ended March 31, 2016, Ann Mason Project expenses were $248,489 compared to $1,527,472 during the comparative quarter of 2015. Expenditures in 2016 were related to termination costs, claim filing fees and general maintenance of the site. The comparative quarter of 2015 included drilling costs, technical studies and a larger team that were in the process of completing the 2015 PEA. These activities and expenditures ceased by the end of 2015 resulting in the lower comparative costs.
LORDSBURG PROPERTY – NEW MEXICO, USA
Summary
The Lordsburg property is located in southwest New Mexico approximately 370 kilometres southwest of Albuquerque. The Lordsburg claims cover 2,013 hectares (4,974 acres) adjacent to the historic Lordsburg copper-gold-silver district. Entrée has a 100% interest in the property.
A zone of surface alteration and anomalous copper geochemistry exceeds 1.2 kilometres in length and 600 metres in width. Within this zone, drilling has confirmed sub-surface copper-gold mineralization over a 600 x 600 metre area. A near surface intersection in hole EG-L-09-012 returned 0.25% copper and 0.15 g/t gold over 94 metres with a copper equivalent ("CuEq") grade of 0.35%, including 60 metres of 0.31% copper and 0.21 g/t gold, with a copper equivalent grade of 0.44%. CuEq has been calculated using assumed metal prices ($1.35/pound for copper and $650/ounce for gold) and 100% metallurgical recovery is assumed; %CuEq. = %Cu+(g/t Au*18.98)/29.76.
Mineralization appears best developed in the contact areas between a feldspar porphyry stock and volcanic rocks. Potassic alteration and sulphide-quartz veining are associated with the strongest areas of mineralization.
Entrée completed 6,092 metres of drilling in 12 holes in 2008 and 2009 at Lordsburg. Future drilling will be directed towards expanding the existing drill-defined copper and gold zone. The proposed Plan of Operations for Lordsburg has been approved by the Bureau of Land Management and an Application to Conduct Mineral Exploration has been approved by the New Mexico Division of Mining and Minerals.
The Lordsburg property is subject to a 2% NSR royalty, which may be bought down to 1% at any time up to and including January 1, 2017 for $2.4 million. The buydown price is payable in cash or a combination of cash and common shares at Entrée’s election.
Q1 2016 Update
The Company has placed all exploration activities at Lordsburg on hold for 2016 while management evaluates future plans for this property which may include the introduction of an exploration partner. There were no direct expenditures related to this property in Q1 2016.
LUKKACHA PROPERTY – PERU
Summary
The Lukkacha property is located in the Tacna Province of southern Peru approximately 1,000 kilometres southeast of Lima, 130 kilometres east of the port city of Ilo, and 50 kilometres southeast from the giant Toquepala copper mine of Grupo Mexico. The property consists of seven concessions totalling 4,400 hectares, and is subject to a conditional agreement, pursuant to which Entrée may acquire up to a 100% interest in the claims.
Situated within 50 kilometres of the international border with Chile, initiation of work is subject to Entrée obtaining a Supreme Decree allowing it to work on the property. As a first step in obtaining the Supreme Decree, a joint military inspection of the property took place on September 12, 2013. The military submitted a favourable written opinion to the General Secretary of the Ministry of Defense on September 15, 2013. During 2014, Entrée held several meetings with the local village to discuss completion of a community economic and land use agreement. The agreement was completed and registered in March 2015.
The claims cover two large colour anomalies associated with possible porphyry-style alteration, iron oxides and quartz veining. The property has never been drilled and represents a unique opportunity for grass roots exploration within a major copper district.
Under the agreement between Entrée and a private Peruvian company, Entrée may earn an initial 70% interest in the property, subject to obtaining a Supreme Decree, by making cash payments totaling $215,000 and expending a minimum of $1.5 million on exploration. Once Entrée has earned a 70% interest, it may acquire a further 30% interest by paying the vendor $2 million. The vendor would retain a 2% NSR royalty, half of which may be purchased at any time.
Q1 2016 Update
The Company has placed all exploration activities at the Lukkacha property on hold for 2016 pending the issue of a Supreme Decree. In addition, management is reviewing its obligations and alternatives related to upcoming community, option and license payments of approximately $66,000 in mid-2016. Expenditures in Q1 2016 were minimal and related to administrative costs in Peru.
BLUE ROSE PROPERTY – AUSTRALIA
Summary
The Blue Rose copper-iron-gold-molybdenum property is located in the Olary Region of South Australia, 300 kilometres northeast of Adelaide and 130 kilometres west-southwest of Broken Hill. Entrée (operator) has a 55.79% interest in the property, with Giralia Resources Pty Ltd., now a subsidiary of Atlas Iron Limited, retaining a 44.21% interest. The property consists of one exploration licence, EL5129, totalling 716 square kilometres. An application to renew the licence for an additional 2-year term was filed on June 11, 2015 and was approved effective August 4, 2015.
Magnetite iron formations and a molybdenum copper target (Netley Hill) occur in the southern portion of the tenement while copper oxide mineralization (Blue Rose) and a gold target (Golden Sophia) are located in the north-central area of the tenement.
The Blue Rose property is underlain by the late Precambrian metasedimentary rocks of the Adelaide Geosyncline, which include siltstone, quartzite, limestone and iron formation of the Burra, Umberatana and Wilpena Groups. To the southeast of the property, these rocks have been intruded by the early Ordovician Anabama Granite (Netley Hill molybdenum-copper target).
In October 2013, the Blue Rose joint venture filed a Part 9B native title application under the South Australia Mining Act and the Wilyakali and Ngadjuri groups registered as native title claimants. Native title agreements must be concluded with claimants prior to any exploration on the joint venture licence. A native title agreement was signed with the Wilyakali group in December 2013 and an agreement with the Ngadjuri group was signed in March 2014.
Q1 2016 Update
The Company has placed all exploration activities at Blue Rose on hold for 2016 while management evaluates future plans for this property. Expenditures in Q1 2016 were minimal and related to administrative costs in Australia.
CAÑARIACO PROJECT ROYALTY – PERU
Summary
In July 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with Candente Copper Corp. (TSX:DNT) ("Candente") to acquire a 0.5% NSR royalty on Candente's 100% owned Cañariaco project in Peru for a purchase price of $500,000.
The Cañariaco project includes the Cañariaco Norte copper-gold-silver deposit, as well as the adjacent Cañariaco Sur and Quebrada Verde prospects, located within the western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes in the Department of Lambayeque, Northern Peru.
There was no activity or expenditures related to this royalty in Q1 2016.
SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL OPERATING RESULTS
|
|
|
First Quarter Ended - March 31
|
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
Exploration
|
|
$
|
(498
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,898
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,564
|
)
|
|
General and administration
|
|
|
(605
|
)
|
|
|
(939
|
)
|
|
|
(1,144
|
)
|
|
Consultancy and advisory
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(125
|
)
|
|
|
(286
|
)
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
(9
|
)
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
(18
|
)
|
|
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
|
|
|
(434
|
)
|
|
|
1,749
|
|
|
|
1,072
|
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(1,546
|
)
|
|
|
(1,225
|
)
|
|
|
(1,940
|
)
|
|
Interest income (expense)
|
|
|
(40
|
)
|
|
|
(17
|
)
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
Loss from equity investee
|
|
|
(46
|
)
|
|
|
(26
|
)
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
707
|
|
|
|
663
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(1,632
|
)
|
|
|
(561
|
)
|
|
|
(1,280
|
)
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
1,399
|
|
|
|
(2,835
|
)
|
|
|
(1,696
|
)
|
|
Comprehensive loss
|
|
$
|
(233
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3,396
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,976
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic/diluted loss per share
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
56,886
|
|
|
$
|
71,698
|
|
|
$
|
92,784
|
|
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
$
|
34,255
|
|
|
$
|
40,684
|
|
|
$
|
48,819
|
|
Exploration costs in the first quarter of 2016 included expenditures of approximately $271,000 primarily related to the Ann Mason Project, approximately $189,000 related to the Mongolian properties and approximately $38,000 in holding costs on all the other properties. This decrease compared to the same quarter in 2015 was mainly related to the completion of the 2015 PEA and exploration programs at Ann Mason during the 2015 year and a reduction in exploration personnel and overhead costs at both Ann Mason and Mongolia.
General and administration expenditures in the first quarter of 2016 included year-end audit costs and some further termination costs. Overall, general and administration costs were lower than the comparative quarter of 2015 due to the reduction in corporate personnel and overhead costs that commenced during the second half of 2015.
Foreign exchange (loss) gain is primarily the result of movements between the C$ and US$ as the Company holds its cash in both currencies.
Interest expense was primarily related to the loan payable to OTLLC pursuant to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV and is subject to a variable interest rate.
The loss from equity investee was related to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.
There was no income tax recovery recognized during the quarter as management does not deem any income taxes recoverable in the foreseeable future.
Quarterly Financial Data – 2 year historic trend
|
|
|
|
Q1 16
|
|
|
|
Q4 15
|
|
|
|
Q3 15
|
|
|
|
Q2 15
|
|
|
|
Q1 15
|
|
|
|
Q4 14
|
|
|
|
Q3 14
|
|
|
|
Q2 14
|
|
|
Exploration
|
|
$
|
498
|
|
|
$
|
868
|
|
|
$
|
1,066
|
|
|
$
|
1,329
|
|
|
$
|
1,898
|
|
|
$
|
4,465
|
|
|
$
|
2,268
|
|
|
$
|
757
|
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
605
|
|
|
|
2,213
|
|
|
|
777
|
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
|
939
|
|
|
|
1,183
|
|
|
|
845
|
|
|
|
980
|
|
|
Consultancy and advisory fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
177
|
|
|
|
234
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
Impairment of mineral property
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
interests
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
552
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Gain on sale of mineral property
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
interest
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(28
|
)
|
|
Foreign exchange loss (gain)
|
|
|
434
|
|
|
|
(406
|
)
|
|
|
(1,136
|
)
|
|
|
368
|
|
|
|
(1,749
|
)
|
|
|
(663
|
)
|
|
|
(1,127
|
)
|
|
|
882
|
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
1,546
|
|
|
|
2,685
|
|
|
|
717
|
|
|
|
2,510
|
|
|
|
1,225
|
|
|
|
5,133
|
|
|
|
2,731
|
|
|
|
2,842
|
|
|
Interest expense (income)
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
289
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
(32
|
)
|
|
Loss from equity investee
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
Income tax expense (recovery)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,057
|
|
|
|
(662
|
)
|
|
|
472
|
|
|
|
(707
|
)
|
|
|
(2,131
|
)
|
|
|
(1,349
|
)
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
1,631
|
|
|
$
|
4,071
|
|
|
$
|
146
|
|
|
$
|
3,049
|
|
|
$
|
561
|
|
|
$
|
3,063
|
|
|
$
|
1,399
|
|
|
$
|
2,925
|
|
|
Basic/diluted loss per share
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
Exploration costs trended lower since the peak in Q4 2014 as the Company completed its exploration and 2015 PEA programs at Ann Mason, reduced its technical review work related to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and placed all the other properties on care and maintenance through 2015.
General and administrative costs have trended lower since Q4 2014 in line with the reduction in exploration activities with the exception of Q4 2015, which included termination and shutdown costs primarily attributable to a reduction of staff levels in Canada and the United States as well as a reduction in certain other overhead expenditures.
During the three months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded an impairment of mineral property interests of $552,095 on the Blue Rose joint venture property.
Interest expense is primarily due to accrued interest on the OTLLC loan payable, partially offset by interest income earned on invested cash. Interest expense remains consistent quarter on quarter, with the exception of Q4 2015, which included an adjustment to accrued interest income from prior periods. Interest income continues to decrease every quarter due to lower principal amounts invested as a result of cash expenditures on operations throughout the year.
The loss from equity investee remains consistent quarter on quarter.
The Company did not recognized income tax recovery in Q1 2016 as management does not deem any income taxes recoverable in the foreseeable future.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
|
|
|
First Quarter Ended - March 31,
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Before changes in non-cash working capital items
|
|
$
|
(1,058
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,929
|
)
|
|
- After changes in non-cash working capital items
|
|
|
(7,419
|
)
|
|
|
(3,679
|
)
|
|
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
Net cash flows
|
|
|
(7,411
|
)
|
|
|
(3,686
|
)
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
|
|
|
171
|
|
|
|
(266
|
)
|
|
Cash balance
|
|
$
|
15,546
|
|
|
$
|
29,565
|
|
Cash expenditures before changes in non-cash working capital items was 64% lower than the comparative quarter of 2015 due to the reduction in exploration and general and administrative expenditures.
Cash expenditures after working capital items in Q1 2016 included the $5.5 million cash refund to Sandstorm and approximately $916,000 to reduce the accounts payable balance. This was the primary reason for the increase in cash outflow compared to the same quarter in 2015.
Cash flows from (used in) financing and investing activities was minimal in both comparative quarters.
The Company is an exploration stage company and has not generated positive cash flow from its operations. As a result, the Company has been dependent on equity and production-based financings for additional funding. Working capital on hand at March 31, 2016 was approximately $15,450,000 with a cash balance of approximately $15,545,000. Management believes it has adequate financial resources to satisfy its obligations over the next 12 month period and does not anticipate the need for additional funding during this time.
Loans Payable to Oyu Tolgoi LLC
Under the terms of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV, OTLLC will contribute funds to approved joint venture programs and budgets on the Company’s behalf. Interest on each loan advance shall accrue at an annual rate equal to OTLLC’s actual cost of capital or the prime rate of the Royal Bank of Canada, plus two percent (2%) per annum, whichever is less, as at the date of the advance. The loans will be repayable by the Company monthly from ninety percent (90%) of the Company’s share of available cash flow from the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV. In the absence of available cash flow, the loans will not be repayable. The loans are not expected to be repaid within one year.
Contractual Obligations
As at March 31, 2016, the Company had the following contractual obligations outstanding:
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less than 1 year
|
|
|
1 - 2 years
|
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
Accounts payable and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
476
|
|
|
$
|
476
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
Lease commitments
|
|
$
|
272
|
|
|
$
|
196
|
|
|
$
|
76
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
AMENDED SANDSTORM AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the 2013 Agreement, Sandstorm provided an upfront refundable deposit (the "Deposit") of $40 million to the Company. The Company will use future payments that it receives from its mineral property interests to purchase and deliver metal credits to Sandstorm, in amounts that are indexed to the Company’s share of gold, silver and copper production from the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. Upon the delivery of metal credits, Sandstorm will also make the cash payment outlined below. In addition, the 2013 Agreement provided for a partial refund of the Deposit and a pro rata reduction in the number of metal credits deliverable to Sandstorm in the event of a partial expropriation of Entrée’s economic interest, contractually or otherwise, in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.
On February 23, 2016, the Company and Sandstorm entered into an Agreement to Amend, whereby the Company refunded 17% of the Deposit ($6.8 million) (the "Refund") in cash and shares thereby reducing the Deposit to $33.2 million for a 17% reduction in the metal credits that the Company is required to deliver to Sandstorm. At closing on March 1, 2016, the parties entered into the Amended Sandstorm Agreement. Under the terms of the Amended Sandstorm Agreement, the Company will purchase and deliver gold, silver and copper credits equivalent to:
|
· |
28.1% of Entrée’s share of gold and silver, and 2.1% of Entrée’s share of copper, produced from the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence (excluding Shivee West); and |
|
· |
21.3% of Entrée’s share of gold and silver, and 2.1% of Entrée’s share of copper, produced from the Javhlant mining licence. |
Upon the delivery of metal credits, Sandstorm will make a cash payment to the Company equal to the lesser of the prevailing market price and $220 per ounce of gold, $5 per ounce of silver and $0.50 per pound of copper (subject to inflation adjustments). After approximately 8.6 million ounces of gold, 40.3 million ounces of silver and 9.1 billion pounds of copper have been produced from the entire Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property the cash payment will be increased to the lesser of the prevailing market price and $500 per ounce of gold, $10 per ounce of silver and $1.10 per pound of copper (subject to inflation adjustments). To the extent that the prevailing market price is greater than the amount of the cash payment, the difference between the two will be credited against the Deposit (the net amount of the Deposit being the "Unearned Balance").
This arrangement does not require the delivery of actual metal, and the Company may use revenue from any of its assets to purchase the requisite amount of metal credits.
Under the Amended Sandstorm Agreement, Sandstorm has a right of first refusal, subject to certain exceptions, on future production-based funding agreements. The Amended Sandstorm Agreement also contains other customary terms and conditions, including representations, warranties, covenants and events of default. The initial term of the Amended Sandstorm Agreement is 50 years, subject to successive 10-year extensions at the discretion of Sandstorm.
In addition, the Amended Sandstorm Agreement provides that the Company will not be required to make any further refund of the Deposit if Entrée’s economic interest is reduced by up to and including 17%. If there is a reduction of greater than 17% up to and including 34%, the Amended Sandstorm Agreement provides the Company with ability to refund a corresponding portion of the Deposit in cash or common shares of the Company or any combination of the two at the Company’s election, in which case there would be a further 17% reduction in deliverable metal credits. If the Company elects to refund Sandstorm with common shares of the Company, the value of each common share shall be equal to the volume weighted average price for the five (5) trading days immediately preceding the 90th day after the reduction in Entrée’s economic interest. In no case will Sandstorm become a "control person" under the Amended Sandstorm Agreement. In the event an issuance of shares would cause Sandstorm to become a "control person", the maximum number of shares will be issued, and with respect to the value of the remaining shares, 50% will not be refunded (and there will not be a corresponding reduction in deliverable metal credits) and the remaining 50% will be refunded by the issuance of shares in tranches over time, such that the number of shares that Sandstorm holds does not reach or exceed 20%. All shares will be priced in the context of the market at the time they are issued.
In the event of a full expropriation, the remainder of the Unearned Balance after the foregoing refunds must be returned in cash.
For accounting purposes, the Deposit is accounted for as deferred revenue on the balance sheet and the original Deposit was recorded at the historical amount of C$40,032,000. As a result of the Amended Sandstorm Agreement, the deferred revenue amount was adjusted to reflect the $6.8 million Refund which was recorded at the foreign exchange amount at the date of the Refund resulting in a net balance of C$30,865,190. This amount is subject to foreign currency fluctuations upon conversion to US dollars at each reporting period.
The $6.8 million Deposit refund was paid with $5.5 million in cash and the issuance of $1.3 million of common shares of the Company. On March 1, 2016, the Company issued 5,128,604 common shares to Sandstorm at a price of C$0.3496 per common share pursuant to the Agreement to Amend.
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On March 1, 2016, the Company issued 5,128,604 common shares to Sandstorm at a price of C$0.3496 per common share pursuant to Amended Sandstorm Agreement.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company issued 60,000 common shares for cash proceeds of $10,765 on the exercise of stock options. The fair value recorded when the options were granted of $5,198 has been transferred from additional paid-in capital to common stock on the exercise of the options.
The Company’s authorized share capital consists of unlimited common shares without par value. At March 31, 2016 and May 9, 2016, the Company had 152,519,521 shares and 152,634,521 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.
The following is a summary of stock options outstanding as at the date of this report:
|
Number of shares (000’s)
|
Vested (000’s)
|
Price per share CAD
|
Expiry Date
|
|
250
|
250
|
2.05 – 2.23
|
Jul 2016
|
|
1,496
|
1,496
|
0.73 – 1.25
|
Jan – Jun 2017
|
|
6,310
|
6,310
|
0.30 – 0.56
|
Mar – Dec 2018
|
|
3,910
|
3,885
|
0.21 – 0.38
|
Dec 2019 – Dec 2020
|
|
100
|
50
|
0.39
|
Mar 2021
|
|
12,081
|
12,006
|
|
|
OTHER DISCLOSURES
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Entrée has no off-balance sheet arrangements except for the contractual obligation noted above.
Financial Instruments
The following table provides the fair value of each classification of financial instrument:
|
|
|
March 31, 2016
|
|
|
December 31, 2015
|
|
|
Financial assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
15,546
|
|
|
$
|
22,786
|
|
|
Receivables
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
|
98
|
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
Total financial assets
|
|
$
|
15,660
|
|
|
$
|
22,901
|
|
|
Financial liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
476
|
|
|
$
|
1,350
|
|
|
Loans payable
|
|
|
6,893
|
|
|
|
6,824
|
|
|
Total financial liabilities
|
|
$
|
7,369
|
|
|
$
|
8,174
|
|
Fair value measurement is based on a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value which are:
Level 1 — Quoted prices that are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets that are observable.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
At March 31, 2016, the Company had Level 1 financial instruments, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, with a fair value of $15,545,648.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS
The Company is a "domestic" issuer under Canadian securities law and a "foreign private issuer" under United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") regulations. The Company files its financial statements with both Canadian and U.S. securities regulators in accordance with US GAAP, as permitted under current regulations. In 2008, the Accounting Standards Board in Canada and the Canadian Securities Administrators ("CSA") confirmed that domestic issuers were required to transition to International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. On June 27, 2008, the CSA Staff issued Staff Notice 52-321 "Early Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, Use of US GAAP and References to IFRS-IASB" which confirmed that domestic issuers that are also SEC registrants are able to continue to use US GAAP. Consequently, the Company was not required to convert to IFRS effective January 1, 2011 and has elected to continue using US GAAP.
NON-US GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
"Cash Costs" and all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") are non-US GAAP Performance Measurements. These performance measurements are included because these statistics are widely accepted as the standard of reporting cash costs of production in North America. These performance measurements do not have a meaning within US GAAP and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measurements should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with US GAAP.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Measurement of the Company’s assets and liabilities is subject to risks and uncertainties, including those related to reserve and resource estimates; title to mineral properties; future commodity prices; costs of futyesure production; future costs of restoration provisions; changes in government legislation and regulations; future income tax amounts; the availability of financing; and various operational factors.
Entrée is a mineral exploration company and is exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties; some of these risks and uncertainties have been discussed elsewhere in this MD&A. For a more extensive discussion of risks and uncertainties to which Entrée is exposed, the reader should refer to the section titled "Risk Factors" contained in the Company’s AIF available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Legal and Political Risk
The Minerals Law of Mongolia defines a mineral deposit of strategic importance (a "Strategic Deposit") as a mineral resource that may have the potential to impact national security, or the economic and social development of the country, or that is generating or has the potential to generate more than 5% of Mongolia’s gross domestic product in any given year. The Minerals Law of Mongolia provides that the State may be an equity participant with any private legal entity, up to a 34% equity interest, in the exploitation of any Strategic Deposit where the quantity and grade of the deposit have been defined by exploration that has not been funded from the State budget. Under Resolution No 57 dated July 16, 2009 of the State Great Khural, the Oyu Tolgoi series of deposits were declared to be Strategic Deposits.
The Minerals Law provides that the State may be an equity participant with any private legal entity, up to a 34% equity interest, in the exploitation of any Strategic Deposit where the quantity and grade of the deposit have been defined by exploration that has not been funded from the State budget. On October 6, 2009, Turquoise Hill, its wholly-owned subsidiary OTLLC, and Rio Tinto signed an investment agreement (the "Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement") with the Mongolian Government, which regulates the relationship among the parties and stabilizes the long term tax, legal, fiscal, regulatory and operating environment to support the development of the Oyu Tolgoi project. The Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement specifies that the Government of Mongolia will own 34% of the shares of OTLLC (and by extension, 34% of OTLLC’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property) through its subsidiary Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC. A shareholders’ agreement was concurrently executed to establish the Government’s 34% ownership interest in OTLLC and to govern the relationship among the parties.
The Ministry of Mining has advised Entrée that it considers the deposits on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property to be part of the series of Oyu Tolgoi deposits. Entrée has been in discussions with stakeholders of the Oyu Tolgoi project, including the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto, since the Government of Mongolia temporarily restricted the joint venture licences from transfer in February 2013. The discussions to date have focussed on issues arising from Entrée’s exclusion from the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, including the fact that the Government of Mongolia does not have a full 34% interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the fact that the mining licences integral to future underground operations are held by more than one corporate entity; and the fact that Entrée does not benefit from the stability that it would otherwise have if it were a party to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. In order to receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, the Government of Mongolia may require Entrée to agree to certain concessions, including with respect to the economic benefit of Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, or the royalty rates applicable to Entrée’s share of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property mineralization. No agreements have been finalized. If the parties fail to reach mutually acceptable agreements in a timely manner, there is a risk that the Government of Mongolia may resort to measures which, whether legitimate or not, could have an adverse effect on the business, assets and financial condition of Entrée as well as the Company’s share price. Such measures could include suspending, revoking, cancelling or withdrawing the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences; attempting to invalidate, confiscate, expropriate or rescind the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV or Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; and filing legal proceedings against Entrée.
Entrée is not presently a party to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. Although OTLLC agreed under the terms of the Earn-In Agreement to use its best efforts to cause Entrée to be brought within the ambit of, made subject to and be entitled to the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement or a separate stability agreement on substantially similar terms to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, unless and until Entrée finalizes agreements with the Government of Mongolia and other Oyu Tolgoi stakeholders, there can be no assurance that Entrée will be entitled to all of the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, including stability with respect to taxes payable. If Entrée is not entitled to all of the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, it could be subject to the surtax royalty which came into effect in Mongolia on January 1, 2011. The rates of the surtax royalty vary from 1% to 5% for minerals other than copper. For copper, the surtax royalty rates range between 22% and 30% for ore, between 11% and 15% for concentrates, and between 1% and 5% for final products. No surtax royalty is charged on any minerals below a certain threshold market price, which varies depending on the type of minerals. This is in addition to the standard royalty rates of 2.5% for coal sold in Mongolia and commonly occurring minerals sold in Mongolia, and 5% for all other minerals.
Even if Entrée does finalize agreements with the Government of Mongolia and other Oyu Tolgoi stakeholders, there can be no assurance that the present or future Parliament will refrain from enacting legislation that undermines such agreements or the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement or that the present or a future government will refrain from adopting government policies or seeking to renegotiate the terms of such agreements or the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement (which was threatened in both 2011 and 2012) in ways that are adverse to Entrée’s interests or that impair OTLLC’s ability to develop and operate the Oyu Tolgoi project on the basis currently contemplated, which may have a material adverse impact on Entrée and the Company’s share price.
The Government of Mongolia has put in place a framework and environment for foreign direct investment. However, there are political constituencies within Mongolia that have espoused ideas that would not be regarded by the international mining community as conducive to foreign investment if they were to become law or official government policy. This was evidenced by revisions to the Minerals Law in 2006 as well as by the recent passage of legislation to control foreign direct investment in strategic sectors of the Mongolian economy, including mining. In October 2011, Prime Minister Batbold stated in his 2012 budget speech that the Government of Mongolia is revisiting all treaties for the avoidance of double taxation, including the 2002 convention between Canada and Mongolia for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital (the "Canadian Double Tax Treaty").
On November 1, 2013, a new Investment Law came into effect in Mongolia. The new law is aimed at reviving foreign investment by easing restrictions on investors in key sectors such as mining and by providing greater certainty on the taxes they must pay. The full impact of the new Investment Law is not yet known.
On January 16, 2014, the Mongolian Parliament adopted a new State Minerals Policy. The main focus of the policy is to establish a stable investment environment; improve the quality of mineral exploration, mining and processing; encourage the use of environmentally friendly and modern technology; and strengthen the competitiveness of the Mongolian mining sector on the international market. The State Minerals Policy is also intended to serve as the basis for amendments to the existing Minerals Law and other laws relating to the mining sector. On July 1, 2014, the Mongolian Parliament passed the amendments to the Minerals Law (the "2014 Amendments"). In addition, the Mongolian Parliament also passed a separate law which repeals the 2010 statute which imposed a moratorium on the granting of new exploration licences and the transfer of existing licences. The 2014 Amendments extend the maximum period for an exploration licence from 9 years to 12 years (although it ended the three year pre-mining period sometimes given to licence holders upon the expiration of their exploration rights), extend the requirement for holders of mining licences to ensure that 90% of their workforce is comprised of Mongolian nationals to the mining licence holder’s subcontractors as well, make clearer the roles and responsibilities of government ministries and departments with respect to mineral matters, modify the definition of Strategic Deposit to reflect its impact on the national economy and not regional economy, and provide for some instances where a tender may not be required to obtain minerals licences where state funding has been used if related to compensation for declaring a special needs area, among other changes. On February 18, 2015, the Mongolian Parliament adopted a further amendment to the Minerals Law (the "2015 Amendment"), which permits a licence holder to negotiate with the Government of Mongolia with respect to an exchange of the Government’s 34% (50% in cases where exploration has been funded by the State budget) equity interest in a licence holder with a Strategic Deposit for an additional royalty payable to the Government. The amount of the royalty payment would vary depending on the particulars of the Strategic Deposit but cannot exceed five percent. The rate of this royalty payment shall be approved by the Government of Mongolia. The full impact of the 2015 Amendment is not yet known.
The Ministry of Finance and certain Members of Parliament have released draft laws and draft amendments to the tax legislation of Mongolia which include provisions related to the taxation of foreign legal entities operating in Mongolia and minerals companies in general. If certain provisions of these amendments were adopted by Parliament as currently drafted, they could adversely affect Entree's interests. It is not possible to determine when, if ever, these amendments would be adopted and in what form.
If the Government of Mongolia revises, amends or cancels the Canadian Double Tax Treaty; if the new Investment Law, State Minerals Policy, 2014 Amendments or 2015 Amendment are implemented or interpreted in a manner that is not favourable to foreign investment or Entrée’s interests; or if new tax laws or amendments to tax laws are adopted that are not favourable to foreign investment or Entrée’s interests, it could have an adverse effect on Entrée’s operations in Mongolia and future cash flow, earnings, results of operations and financial condition as well as the Company’s share price.
While the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV is operating under the terms of the joint venture agreement appended to the Earn-in Agreement, the joint venture agreement has not been formally executed by the parties. There can be no assurance that OTLLC or its shareholders will not attempt to renegotiate some or all of the material terms governing the joint venture relationship in a manner which could have an adverse effect on Entrée’s future cash flow, earnings, results of operations and financial condition.
OTLLC has earned either a 70% or 80% interest in mineralization extracted from the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, depending on the depth at which minerals are extracted, and has effective control of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV. Rio Tinto, which beneficially owns 19.9% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares, exerts a significant degree of control over the business and affairs of Turquoise Hill and OTLLC. Pursuant to various agreements between Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto is responsible for the management of the building and operation of the Oyu Tolgoi project (which includes the Heruga and Hugo North Extension deposits on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property); is responsible for all exploration operations on behalf of OTLLC, including exploration on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; and prepares all programs and budgets for approval by the OTLLC board. The interest of Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and OTLLC and the interests of the Company’s other shareholders are not necessarily aligned and there can be no assurance that Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill or OTLLC will exercise its rights or act in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the Company’s other shareholders.
Entrée is and will be subject to the risks normally associated with the conduct of joint ventures, which include disagreements as to how to develop, operate and finance a project, inequality of bargaining power, incompatible strategic and economic objectives and possible litigation between the participants regarding joint venture matters. These matters may have an adverse effect on Entrée’s ability to realize the full economic benefits of its interest in the property that is the subject of a joint venture, which could affect its results of operations and financial condition as well as the Company’s share price.
In the course of its business, Entrée may from time to time become involved in various claims, arbitration and other legal proceedings, with and without merit. The nature and results of any such proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Any potential future claims and proceedings are likely to be of a material nature. In addition, such claims, arbitration and other legal proceedings can be lengthy and involve the incurrence of substantial costs and resources by Entrée, and the outcome, and Entrée’s ability to enforce any ruling(s) obtained pursuant to such proceedings, are subject to inherent risk and uncertainty. The initiation, pursuit and/or outcome of any particular claim, arbitration or legal proceeding could have a material adverse effect on Entrée’s financial position and results of operations, and on Entrée’s business, assets and prospects. In addition, if Entrée is unable to resolve any existing or future potential disputes and proceedings favourably, or obtain enforcement of any favourable ruling, if any, that may be obtained pursuant to such proceedings, it is likely to have a material adverse impact on Entrée’s business, financial condition and results of operations and Entrée’s assets and prospects as well as the Company’s share price.
On February 27, 2013, the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia ("MRAM") delivered notice to Entrée advising that any transfer, sale or lease of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences is temporarily restricted. While Entrée was subsequently advised that the temporary transfer restriction on the joint venture mining licences will be lifted, it has not received official notification of the lifting of the restriction. Any future action by the Government of Mongolia to suspend, revoke, withdraw or cancel the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences, whether legitimate or not, would have an adverse effect on the business, assets and financial condition of Entrée as well as the Company’s share price.
The Earn-In Agreement requires OTLLC to enter into a form of joint venture agreement that bestows upon it certain powers and duties as manager of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV, including the duty to cure title defects, the duty to prosecute and defend all litigation or administrative proceedings arising out of operations, and the duty to do all acts reasonably necessary to maintain the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property assets, including the mining licences. Pursuant to the Assignment Agreement dated March 1, 2005 between the Company, Turquoise Hill and OTLLC, the Company is also entitled to look to Turquoise Hill for the performance of OTLLC’s obligations under the Earn-In Agreement, which is governed by British Columbia law. In addition, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences are included in the contract area of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. The Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement restricts the grounds upon which the Mongolian State administrative authority in charge of geology and mining may revoke a mining licence covered by the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. The Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement also includes a dispute resolution clause that requires the parties to resolve disputes through international commercial arbitration procedures. Entrée is not a party to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement and does not have any direct rights under the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. In the event that the Government of Mongolia suspends, revokes, withdraws or cancels the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences, there can be no assurance that OTLLC, Turquoise Hill or Rio Tinto will invoke the international arbitration procedures, or that Entrée will be able to enforce the terms of the Earn-In Agreement to cause OTLLC or Turquoise Hill to do all acts reasonably necessary to maintain the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property assets, including by invoking the international arbitration procedures under the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. There may also be limitations on OTLLC, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto’s ability to enforce the terms of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement against the Government of Mongolia, which is a sovereign entity, regardless of the outcome of an arbitration proceeding. Without an effective means of enforcing the terms of the Earn-In Agreement or the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, Entrée could be deprived of substantial rights and benefits with little or no recourse for fair and reasonable compensation as well as the Company’s share price.
In the event of a dispute arising at or in respect of Entrée’s foreign operations, Entrée may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts or may not be successful in subjecting foreign persons to the jurisdiction of courts in Canada or other jurisdictions. Entrée may also be hindered or prevented from enforcing its rights with respect to a governmental entity or instrumentality because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Any adverse or arbitrary decision of a court, arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory body, or Entrée’s inability to enforce its contractual rights, may have a material adverse impact on Entrée’s business, assets, prospects, financial condition and results of operation as well as the Company’s share price.
In June 2010, the Government of Mongolia passed Resolution 140, the purpose of which is to authorize the designation of certain land areas for "state special needs" within certain defined areas, some of which include or are in proximity to the Oyu Tolgoi project. These state special needs areas are to be used for Khanbogd village development and for infrastructure and plant facilities necessary in order to implement the development and operation of the Oyu Tolgoi project. A portion of the Shivee Tolgoi licence is included in the land area that is subject to Resolution 140.
In June 2011, the Government of Mongolia passed Resolution 175, the purpose of which is to authorize the designation of certain land areas for "state special needs" within certain defined areas in proximity to the Oyu Tolgoi project. These state special needs areas are to be used for infrastructure facilities necessary in order to implement the development and construction of the Oyu Tolgoi project. Portions of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant licences are included in the land area that is subject to Resolution 175.
It is expected but not yet formally confirmed by the Government that to the extent that a consensual access agreement exists or is entered into between OTLLC and an affected licence holder, the application of Resolution 175 to the land area covered by the access agreement will be unnecessary. OTLLC has existing access and surface rights to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property pursuant to the Earn-In Agreement. If Entrée is unable to reach a consensual arrangement with OTLLC with respect to Shivee West, Entrée’s right to use and access a corridor of land included in the state special needs areas for a proposed power line may be adversely affected by the application of Resolution 175. While the Mongolian Government would be responsible for compensating Entrée in accordance with the mandate of Resolution 175, the amount of such compensation is not presently quantifiable.
While the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement contains provisions restricting the circumstances under which the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant licences may be expropriated which may make the application of Resolution 140 and Resolution 175 to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property unnecessary, there can be no assurances that the Resolutions will not be applied in a manner that has an adverse impact on Entrée.
In March 2014, the Government of Mongolia passed Resolution 81, the purpose of which is to approve the direction of the railway line heading from Ukhaa Khudag deposit located in the territory of Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugobi aimag, to the port of Gashuunshukhait and to appoint the Minister of Roads and Transportation to develop a detailed engineering layout of the base structure of the railway. On June 18, 2014, Entrée was advised by MRAM that the base structure overlaps with a portion of the Javhlant licence. By Order No. 123 dated June 18, 2014, the Minister of Mining approved the composition of a working group to resolve matters related to the holders of licences through which the railway passes. The Minister of Mining has not yet responded to a request from Entrée to meet to discuss the proposed railway, and no further correspondence from MRAM or the Minister of Mining has been received. It is not yet clear whether the State has the legal right to take a portion of the Javhlant licence, with or without compensation, in order to implement a national railway project, and if it does, whether it will attempt to exercise that right. While the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement contains provisions restricting the circumstances under which the Javhlant licence may be expropriated, there can be no assurances that Resolution 81 will not be applied in a manner that has an adverse impact on Entrée.
Risks Associated with the Development of the Oyu Tolgoi Project
Further development of the Oyu Tolgoi project depends upon OTLLC’s ability to obtain a reliable source of funding. Volatility in capital markets and commodity prices and other macroeconomic factors may adversely affect OTLLC’s ability to secure project financing.
Although Turquoise Hill announced on December 14, 2015 that OTLLC had signed a $4.4 billion project finance facility (with provision for up to $6 billion) provided by a syndicate of international financial institutions and export credit agencies, the facility is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions precedent typical for a financing of this nature.
In the event the facility is not drawn down or the conditions precedent are not satisfied, there can be no assurance that Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto or OTLLC will continue to pursue project financing for the Oyu Tolgoi project, or that Oyu Tolgoi project financing will be available within the time frame required to permit development of the underground mine within current cost estimates, on schedule or at all.
In addition, OTLLC operates in a region of the world that is prone to economic and political upheaval and instability, which may make it more difficult to obtain sufficient debt financing from project lenders for future phases of the Oyu Tolgoi project.
OTLLC’s estimates regarding the cost of development and operation of the Oyu Tolgoi project are estimates only. The estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual expenditures to differ materially from those estimated. If these estimates prove incorrect, the total capital expenditures required to complete development of the Oyu Tolgoi project underground mine, including the portion that Entrée is responsible for, may increase, which may have a material adverse impact on Entrée, its results of operations, financial conditions, and the Company’s share price.
There are a number of uncertainties inherent in the development and construction of any new or existing mine, including the Oyu Tolgoi project. These uncertainties include: the timing and cost, which can be considerable, of the construction of mining and processing facilities; the availability and cost of skilled labour, process water, power and transportation, including costs of transport for the supply chain for the Oyu Tolgoi project, which requires routing approaches which have not been fully tested; the annual usage costs to the local province for sand, aggregate and water; the availability and cost of appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; and the need to obtain necessary environmental and other government permits, such permits being on reasonable terms, and the timing of those permits. The cost, timing and complexities of mine construction and development are increased by the remote location of the Oyu Tolgoi project.
It is common in new mining operations and in the development or expansion of existing facilities to experience unexpected problems and delays during development, construction and mine start-up, which may cause delays in commencement or expansion of mineral production. Any delays could impact disclosed project economics. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the future development, construction or expansion activities will be successfully completed within cost estimates, on schedule or at all and, if completed, there is no assurance that such activities will result in profitable mining operations.
Risks Associated with the Amended Sandstorm Agreement
The 2013 Agreement provided for a partial refund of the Deposit and a pro rata reduction in the number of metal credits deliverable to Sandstorm in the event of a partial expropriation of Entrée’s economic interest, contractually or otherwise, in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. The Amended Sandstorm Agreement provides that the Company will not be required to make any further refund of the Deposit if Entrée’s economic interest is reduced by up to and including 17%. If there is a reduction of greater than 17% up to and including 34%, the Amended Sandstorm Agreement provides the Company with greater flexibility and optionality in terms of how the Company will refund a corresponding portion of the Deposit. To the extent there is an expropriation of greater than 34%, which is not reversed during the abeyance period provided for in the Amended Sandstorm Agreement, the Company will be required to return a portion of the Deposit in cash (the amount of the repayment not to exceed the amount of the Unearned Balance).
If an event of default occurs under the Amended Sandstorm Agreement, the Company may be required to immediately pay to Sandstorm a default fee, which it may not have sufficient funds to cover. Some potential events of default may be outside of Entrée’s control, including a full expropriation of Entrée’s economic interest, contractually or otherwise, in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property which is not reversed during the abeyance period provided for in the Amended Sandstorm Agreement. If an event of default occurs and the Company is required to pay a default fee to Sandstorm, it may have a material adverse impact on Entrée’s business, financial condition, assets and prospects, and on the Company’s share price.
Under the Amended Sandstorm Agreement, the Company agreed to use future cash flows from its mineral property interests to purchase and deliver metal credits to Sandstorm. The Amended Sandstorm Agreement does not require the Company to deliver actual metal production, therefore the Company will have to use revenue it receives from the sale of its share of metal production to purchase the requisite amount of metal credits for delivery to Sandstorm. To the extent metal prices on the day on which the Company’s production is sold are different from metal prices on the day on which the Company purchases metal credits for delivery to Sandstorm, the Company may suffer a gain or loss on the difference.
Risks Associated with Mining or Related to Entrée
The estimates of reserves and resources, including the anticipated tonnages and grades that will be achieved or the indicated level of recovery that will be realized, are estimates only and no assurances can be given as to their accuracy. Such estimates are, in large part, based on interpretations of geological data obtained from drill holes and other sampling techniques. Actual mineralization or formations may be different from those predicted. Reserve and resource estimates are materially dependent on prevailing market prices and the cost of recovering and processing minerals at the mine site. Market fluctuations in the price of metals or increases in the costs to recover metals may render the mining of ore reserves uneconomical and materially adversely affect operations.
There is no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of the exploration properties in which Entrée has an interest. There is also no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of ore are discovered, a mineral property will be brought into commercial production. The discovery of mineral deposits is dependent upon a number of factors, not the least of which is the technical skill of the exploration personnel involved. The commercial viability of a mineral deposit, once discovered, is also dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade, recoveries and proximity to infrastructure, metal prices and government regulations, including regulations relating to taxation, royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals, and environmental protection. Most of the above factors are beyond the control of Entrée. If mineral reserves in commercially exploitable quantities are established on any of Entrée’s properties (other than the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, in which Entrée has a carried interest), Entrée will be required to expend substantial sums of money to establish the extent of the resource, develop processes to extract it and develop extraction and processing facilities and infrastructure. Although Entrée may derive substantial benefits from the discovery of a major deposit, there can be no assurance that such a resource will be large enough to justify commercial operations, nor can there be any assurance that Entrée will be able to raise the funds required for development on a timely basis. If Entrée cannot raise the necessary capital or complete the necessary facilities and infrastructure, its business may fail. Entrée may be required to acquire rights to additional lands in order to develop a mine if a mine cannot be properly located on Entrée’s properties. There can be no assurance that Entrée will be able to acquire such additional lands on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
Recent global financial and market conditions have been subject to increased volatility, which may impact the ability of Entrée to obtain equity or debt financing in the future and, if obtained, on terms favourable to Entrée. If Entrée cannot raise the money that it needs to continue exploration of its mineral properties, there is a risk that Entrée may be forced to delay, scale back, or eliminate certain of its exploration activities. If these increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, Entrée’s operations could be adversely impacted and the value and the price of the Company’s common shares could be adversely affected.
Rio Tinto’s beneficial shareholdings in the Company potentially give Rio Tinto the voting power to influence the policies, business and affairs of Entrée and the outcome of any significant corporate transaction or other matter, including a merger, business combination or a sale of all, or substantially all, of Entrée’s assets. In addition, Rio Tinto (on behalf of OTLLC) has operational control over the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. OTLLC also has a right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by Entrée of an interest in Shivee West, which is not subject to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV. The share position in the Company of each of Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a transaction involving a change of control of the Company in favour of a third party that otherwise could result in a premium in the market price of the Company’s common shares in the future.
Entrée must comply with licence and permitting requirements. In Mongolia, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant exploration licences were converted to mining licences on October 27, 2009. These licences now have a term of 30 years, with two potential extensions of 20 years each. The total estimated annual fees to maintain the licences in good standing, which are primarily the responsibility of OTLLC, is approximately $944,000. In Nevada, maintenance fees must be paid to the Bureau of Land Management. For the 2016 assessment year, the aggregate fee for the Ann Mason Project was approximately $250,000.
In both Nevada and Mongolia, Entrée must comply with environmental regulations that govern air and water quality and land disturbance and provide mine reclamation and closure costs.
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for designing internal control over financial reporting, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with US GAAP. No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the period beginning on January 1, 2016 and ended on March 31, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This MD&A contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future prices of copper, gold, molybdenum and silver; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the realization of mineral reserve and resource estimates; anticipated future production, capital and operating costs, cash flows and mine life; completion of a Pre-Feasibility study on the Ann Mason Project; the potential impact of future exploration results on Ann Mason mine design and economics; the potential development of Ann Mason; potential types of mining operations; construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; alternative production scenarios and associated expansion options; the anticipated value of Entrée’s interest in Lift 1 of the Hugo North Extension deposit; the expected timing of initial production from Lift 1 of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Rio Tinto, OTLLC and Turquoise Hill on a range of issues including Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and certain material agreements; potential actions by the Government of Mongolia with respect to the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the potential for Entrée to be included in or otherwise receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement or another similar agreement; the potential for the Government of Mongolia to seek to directly or indirectly invest in Entrée’s interest in the Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits; the potential application of the Government of Mongolia’s Resolution 81, Resolution 140 and Resolution 175 to the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant licences; potential size of a mineralized zone; potential expansion of mineralization; potential discovery of new mineralized zones; potential metallurgical recoveries and grades; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and budgets; permitting time lines; anticipated business activities; corporate strategies; requirements for additional capital; uses of funds; proposed acquisitions and dispositions of assets; and future financial performance.
In certain cases, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budgeted”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “does not anticipate” or “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of Entrée’s future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions, legal proceedings and negotiations and the environment in which Entrée will operate in the future, including the status of Entrée’s relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill. With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, the approval of OTFS16 by OTLLC and its shareholders; the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; the timing and availability of a long term power source for the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; the timing to satisfy all conditions precedent to the first drawdown of project financing; the impact of the delay in the funding and development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine; and production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.
Other uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements and information include, amongst others, whether the size, grade and continuity of deposits and resource and reserve estimates have been interpreted correctly from exploration results; whether the results of preliminary test work are indicative of what the results of future test work will be; fluctuations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchange rates; actions by Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and/or OTLLC and by government authorities including the Government of Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of laws, regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability and cost of necessary items such as power, water, skilled labour, transportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; and misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking statements.
In addition, there are also known and unknown risk factors which may cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Entrée to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures; discrepancies between actual and anticipated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; global financial conditions; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; future prices of copper, gold, silver and molybdenum; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining government approvals, permits or licences or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; environmental risks; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage; as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk" in this MD&A and in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the AIF. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Robert Cinits, P.Geo., Entrée’s Vice-President, Corporate Development and a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has approved the technical disclosure in this MD&A.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors - Canadian Disclosure Standards in Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves
The terms "mineral reserve", "Proven mineral reserve" and "Probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on May 10, 2014, as may be amended from time to time by the CIM.
The definitions of Proven and Probable reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three year history average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.
In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "Measured mineral resource", "Indicated mineral resource" and "Inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and normally are not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases.
Accordingly, information contained in this MD&A containing descriptions of our mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
