Unassociated Document
The
information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed.
This prospectus supplement and the related prospectus are not an offer to sell
these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in
any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Filed
Pursuant to Rule No. 424(b)(5)
Registration
No. 333-150431
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
Subject
to Completion, Dated May 13, 2008
APOLLO
GOLD CORPORATION
Minimum
- Cdn$25,000,000
Maximum
- Cdn$40,000,000
Minimum
-
|
|
Common
Shares
|
Maximum
-
|
|
Common
Shares
|
|
|
|
Cdn$
|
|
per
Common Share
|
We
are
offering
common shares of Apollo Gold Corporation (together with its subsidiaries,
“Apollo Gold,” “we,” “us,” or “our company”) for
Cdn$
per share. The common shares are being offered pursuant to an agency agreement
dated as of
,
2008
among Apollo Gold, Haywood Securities Inc., the lead agent and Blackmont
Capital Inc.,
under
which the agents conditionally offer the common shares offered by this
prospectus supplement for gross proceeds up to Cdn$40,000,000, subject to prior
sale, on a best-efforts basis, if, as and when issued by Apollo Gold. Closing
of
the offering will be subject to the issue of a minimum of Cdn$25,000,000 of
our
common shares. The offering price of the common shares will be determined by
negotiation between Apollo Gold and the lead agent, on behalf of the agents.
The
offering will be conducted in the United States through affiliates of the agents
that are registered broker-dealers in the United States.
Our
common shares are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “AGT”
and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “APG.” On May 12, 2008, the
closing price for our common shares on the American Stock Exchange was $0.64
per
share and the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange was Cdn$0.63 per
share. For a description of our common shares, see “Description of Common
Shares” on page 25 of the related prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, all
references to “$” or “dollars” in this prospectus supplement refer to United
States dollars. References to “Cdn$” in this prospectus supplement refer to
Canadian dollars.
Investing
in the common shares involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors”
beginning on page 5 of the related prospectus.
Neither
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission
or other regulatory body has approved or disapproved these securities, or
determined if this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus is truthful
or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
|
|
Price
to
Public
(1)
|
|
Agents’
Fee (2)
|
|
Net
Proceeds to
Apollo
Gold (3)
|
|
Per
Common Share
|
|
|
Cdn$
|
|
|
Cdn$
|
|
|
Cdn$
|
|
Minimum
Offering (4)
(5)
|
|
|
Cdn$25,000,000
|
|
|
Cdn$1,625,000
|
|
|
Cdn$23,375,000
|
|
Maximum
Offering (4)
(5)
|
|
|
Cdn$40,000,000
|
|
|
Cdn$2,600,000
|
|
|
Cdn$37,400,000
|
|
|
(1) |
The
proceeds from subscriptions will be held by the agents in trust until
subscriptions for a minimum
of offered
shares are received. If
the minimum number of offered shares is not sold, funds received
from
prospective subscribers will be returned to them without interest
or
deduction.
|
|
(2) |
Apollo
Gold has agreed to pay to the agents a cash commission equal to
6.5%
of
the gross proceeds of the offering. In addition, the agents will
be
granted a non-transferable option to acquire for two years such number
of
common shares as is equal to 6% of the total number of shares sold
under
the offering at a price per share equal to the offering price. See
“Plan
of Distribution”.
|
|
(3) |
After
deducting the agents’ fee, but before deducting the expenses of the
offering estimated to be Cdn$250,000, which will be paid by Apollo
Gold
from the proceeds of the offering.
|
|
(4)
|
We
have granted to the agents an over-allotment option exercisable,
in whole
or in part, in the sole discretion of the agents until the date that
is 30
days after the closing date, to increase the offering by up to an
additional 15%
of the offered shares sold under the offering at
the offering price to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market
stabilization purposes. This table excludes any
over-
|
|
|
allotment
shares issuable upon exercise of the over-allotment option. A
purchaser who acquires common shares forming part of the over-allotment
option acquires those common shares under this prospectus
supplement.
In
respect of the over-allotment option, Apollo Gold will pay to the agents
a
fee equal to 6.5% of the proceeds realized on the exercise of the
over-allotment option or $0. per over-allotment share and will grant
to
the agents a non-transferable agents’ option to purchase that number of
common shares equal to 6% of the total number of over-allotment shares
sold pursuant to the exercise of the over-allotment option. If
the over-allotment option is exercised in full (and assuming the
maximum
offering), the total price to the public will be Cdn$46,000,000,
the total
agents’ fee will be Cdn$2,990,0000
and
the total net proceeds to Apollo Gold, before deducting the expenses
of
the offering, will be Cdn$43,010,000.
This
prospectus supplement also relates to the common shares which underlie
the
non-transferable option granted to the agents. See “Plan of Distribution”.
|
|
(5) |
There
will be no closing of the offering unless a minimum
of
offered
shares are issued. If subscriptions for such minimum number of offered
shares have not been received within 90 days following the date of
this
prospectus supplement, the offering may not continue without the
consent
of the securities regulatory authorities and those who have subscribed
for
offered shares on or before such date. See “Plan of
Distribution”.
|
The
agents expect to deliver the common shares to purchasers
on , 2008.
HAYWOOD
SECURITIES (USA) INC.
The
date
of this prospectus supplement
is
, 2008.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
Page
|
|
S-1
|
CURRENCY
INFORMATION
|
S-1
|
NON
GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
|
S-1
|
STATEMENTS
REGARDING LOOKING INFORMATION FORWARD
|
S-2
|
THE
OFFERING
|
S-4
|
THE
COMPANY
|
S-5
|
RISK
FACTORS
|
S-7
|
CAPITALIZATION
|
S-7
|
USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
S-8
|
PRICE
RANGE OF OUR COMMON SHARES
|
S-8
|
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
|
S-9
|
DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
|
S-11
|
U.S.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
|
S-11
|
CANADIAN
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. RESIDENTS
|
S-16
|
LEGAL
MATTERS
|
S-17
|
INTEREST
OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
|
S-17
|
TRANSFER
AGENT AND REGISTRAR
|
S-18
|
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
|
S-18
|
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
|
S-18
|
Related
Prospectus
|
Page
|
IMPORTANT
NOTICE TO READERS
|
1
|
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
|
1
|
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
|
2
|
STATEMENTS
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
|
2
|
OUR
BUSINESS
|
4
|
RISK
FACTORS
|
5
|
RATIO
OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
|
14
|
USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
14
|
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
|
14
|
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
|
25
|
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
|
25
|
SELLING
SHAREHOLDER
|
27
|
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
|
28
|
LEGAL
MATTERS
|
29
|
EXPERTS
|
29
|
You
should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the related prospectus. See
“Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” on page S-19 of this
prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you
with different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer
to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted. Information on any of the websites maintained by us does not
constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus.
You
should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement
and
the related prospectus or any documents
incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have
changed since those dates.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus supplement and the related prospectus have been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, pursuant
to a
registration statement on Form S-3, which we refer to as the registration
statement. We have also filed a Canadian short form prospectus relating to
the
common shares, which we refer to as the Canadian prospectus, with the securities
regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada other than Quebec.
Under the Canadian prospectus, the securities registered under the registration
statement may be offered and sold in each of the provinces of Canada other
than
Quebec, subject to any applicable securities laws.
Our
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in Canada, which we refer to as Canadian GAAP. We provide
certain information reconciling our financial information with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States, which we refer to as U.S.
GAAP.
CURRENCY
INFORMATION
We
report
in United States dollars. Accordingly, all references to “$,” “U.S.$” or
“dollars” in this prospectus supplement refer to United States dollars unless
otherwise indicated. References to “Cdn$” or “Canadian dollars” are used to
indicate Canadian dollar values.
The
noon
rate of exchange on May 12, 2008 as reported by the Bank of Canada for the
conversion of Canadian dollars into United States dollars was Cdn$1.00 equals
$0.9961 and the conversion of United States dollars was $1.00 equals
Cdn$1.0039.
NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES
In
this
prospectus supplement, related prospectus or in the documents incorporated
herein by reference, Apollo Gold uses the terms “cash operating costs,” “total
cash costs,” and “total production costs,” each of which are considered non-GAAP
financial measures as defined in the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission Regulation S-K Item 10 and should not be considered in isolation
or
as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
These terms are used by management to assess performance of individual
operations and to compare Apollo Gold’s performance to other gold
producers.
The
term
“cash operating costs” is used on a per ounce of gold basis. Cash operating
costs per ounce is equivalent to direct operating cost as found on the
Consolidated Statements of Operations, less production royalty expenses and
mining taxes but includes by-product credits for payable silver, lead and
zinc.
The
term
“total cash costs” is equivalent to cash operating costs plus production
royalties and mining taxes.
The
term
“total production costs” is equivalent to total cash costs plus non-cash costs
including depreciation and amortization.
These
measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from
operations as determined under GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly
titled measures of other companies. See Item 7, Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Apollo Gold’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and
Item
2 — Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations in Apollo’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2008 for an explanation of these measures.
STATEMENTS
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This
prospectus supplement, the related prospectus and the documents incorporated
by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the related prospectus contain
forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, with respect to our financial condition, results of
operations, business prospects, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future
events, capital expenditures, and exploration and development efforts. Words
such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. These statements include comments regarding:
|
·
|
our
proposed acquisition of the mill complex from St Andrew Goldfields
Ltd.,
which we refer to as St Andrew;
|
|
·
|
future
timing and operational results and cash flows from the Montana Tunnels
mine;
|
|
·
|
the
establishment and estimates of mineral reserves and
resources;
|
|
·
|
production
and production costs;
|
|
·
|
daily
production and mill throughput
rates;
|
|
·
|
grade
of ore mined and milled;
|
|
·
|
grade
of concentrates produced;
|
|
·
|
anticipated
expenditures for development, exploration, and corporate
overhead;
|
|
·
|
timing
and issue of permits;
|
|
·
|
expansion
plans for existing properties;
|
|
·
|
plans
for Black Fox and Huizopa, including
drilling;
|
|
·
|
estimates
of closure costs;
|
|
·
|
future
financing of projects by Apollo, including the contemplated $75 million
debt financing for Black Fox;
|
|
·
|
estimates
of environmental liabilities;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to obtain financing to fund our estimated expenditure and
capital
requirements;
|
|
·
|
factors
impacting our results of operations;
and
|
|
·
|
the
impact of adoption of new accounting
standards.
|
Although
we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot be certain that these
plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Our actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements
as
a result of the risk factors set forth below and other factors described in
more
detail in this prospectus:
|
·
|
unexpected
changes in business and economic
conditions;
|
|
·
|
significant
increases or decreases in gold prices and zinc prices;
|
|
·
|
changes
in interest and currency exchange
rates;
|
|
·
|
timing
and amount of production;
|
|
·
|
unanticipated
grade changes;
|
|
·
|
unanticipated
recovery or production problems;
|
|
·
|
operational
problems at our mining property;
|
|
·
|
metallurgy,
processing, access, availability of materials, equipment, supplies
and
water;
|
|
·
|
determination
of reserves;
|
|
·
|
changes
in project parameters;
|
|
·
|
costs
and timing of development of new reserves;
|
|
·
|
results
of current and future exploration activities;
|
|
·
|
results
of pending and future feasibility studies;
|
|
·
|
joint
venture relationships;
|
|
·
|
political
or economic instability, either globally or in the countries in which
we
operate;
|
|
·
|
local
and community impacts and issues;
|
|
·
|
timing
of receipt of government approvals;
|
|
·
|
accidents
and labor disputes;
|
|
·
|
environmental
costs and risks;
|
|
·
|
competitive
factors, including competition for property
acquisitions;
|
|
·
|
availability
of external financing at reasonable rates or at all;
and
|
|
·
|
the
factors discussed in the related prospectus under the heading “Risk
Factors.”
|
Many
of
these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. These factors are
not intended to represent a complete list of the general or specific factors
that may affect us. We may note additional factors elsewhere in this prospectus
supplement, the related prospectus and in any documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement and the related prospectus. We
undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
THE
OFFERING
Securities
offered
|
|
common shares. The number of common shares offered assumes full exercise
of the agents’ option.
|
Issue
price
|
|
per
share.
|
Common
shares outstanding before this offering
|
|
160,975,757 common
shares (1)
|
Common
shares outstanding after this offering
|
|
common shares. If the over-allotment option were exercised
in
full,
common shares would be outstanding
after the offering (which number includes the agents’
option).
|
Risk
factors
|
|
An
investment in the common shares involves a high degree of risk. Please
refer to “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of the related prospectus
for factors you should consider before investing.
|
Use
of proceeds
|
|
The
proceeds of this offering, net of the agents’ fee and before expenses, are
estimated to be between a minimum of Cdn$23,375,000, if the minimum
amount
of common shares are sold hereunder, and a maximum of Cdn$37,400,000,
if
the maximum of common shares are sold hereunder, in each case excluding
exercise of the agent’s over-allotment option, and will be used to fund
the proposed acquisition of the mill complex from St Andrew, for
development activities at the Black Fox project and general corporate
purposes.
|
Trading
symbols
|
|
The
issued and outstanding Apollo Gold common chares are currently listed
and
posted for trading on the TSX under the symbol “APG” and on the AMEX under
the symbol “AGT”. Apollo Gold has applied to list the offered shares being
issued and sold by it under this offering (including the over-allotment
shares issuable upon exercise of the over-allotment option and the
common
shares underlying the agents’ option) on the TSX and the AMEX. Listing
will be subject to Apollo Gold fulfilling all of the requirements
of the
TSX and AMEX.
|
(1)
Common shares outstanding at May 12, 2008.
THE
COMPANY
Our
Business
The
earliest predecessor to Apollo Gold Corporation was incorporated under the
laws
of the Province of Ontario in 1936. In May 2003, Apollo Gold reincorporated
under the laws of the Yukon Territory. Apollo Gold Corporation maintains its
registered office at 204 Black Street, Suite 300, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory,
Canada Y1A 2M9, and the telephone number at that office is (867) 668-5252.
Apollo Gold Corporation maintains its principal executive office at 5655 S.
Yosemite Street, Suite 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-3220, and the
telephone number at that office is (720) 886-9656. Our internet address is
http://www.apollogold.com.
Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement
or the related prospectus.
Apollo
is
engaged in gold mining including extraction, processing, refining and the
production of by-product metals, as well as related activities including
exploration and development. Apollo Gold is the operator of the Montana Tunnels
mine, which is a 50% joint venture with Elkhorn Tunnels, LLC. The mine is an
open pit mine and mill producing gold doré and lead-gold and zinc-gold
concentrates.
Apollo
has a development project, the Black Fox project, which is located near the
Township of Matheson in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Apollo also owns
Mexican subsidiaries which own concessions at the Huizopa exploration project,
located in the Sierra Madres in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Huizopa project is
subject to an 80% Apollo/20% Mineras Coronado joint venture
agreement.
Montana
Tunnels Mine
During
the first quarter 2008, approximately 2,255,000 tons were mined, of which
1,982,000 tons were ore. The mill processed 1,227,000 tons of ore at an average
throughput of 13,500 tons per day for the quarter and there was an increase
in
the ore stockpiled at the mill site of approximately 750,000 tons of ore during
the quarter. As at March 31, 2008 the ore stockpile sitting alongside the mill
was 1,260,000 tons. Payable production was 13,900 ounces of gold, 170,000 ounces
of silver, 4,249,000 lbs of lead and 8,864,000 lbs of zinc. Apollo Gold’s share
of this production is 50%. Total cash costs for the first quarter 2008 on a
by-product basis were minus $3 per ounce of gold and on a co-product basis
they
were $561 per ounce of gold, $8.20 per ounce of silver, $0.81 per lb of lead
and
$0.62 per lb of zinc. For
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, Apollo Gold has budgeted total cash costs
on a by-product basis of $100 per ounce of gold.
Reserve
Statement at Black Fox
On
February 29, 2008, we announced a new probable reserve statement with
respect to our Black Fox project that shows a new probable reserve of
1,330,000 ounces of gold, based on a gold price of $650 per ounce. The table
below summarizes the Black Fox probable reserve statement.
Black
Fox Probable Reserve Statement as of
February 29, 2008
Mining
Method
|
|
Cutoff
Grade
Au
g/t
|
|
Tonnes
(000)
|
|
Grade
Au
g/t
|
|
Contained
Au
Ounces
|
|
Open
Pit
|
|
|
0.88
|
|
|
4,350
|
|
|
5.2
|
|
|
730,000
|
|
Underground
|
|
|
3.0
|
|
|
2,110
|
|
|
8.8
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Probable Reserves
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,330,000
|
|
Other
Properties
Apollo
Gold expects to complete 30 to 40 core holes totaling approximately 4,000 metres
of drilling during 2008 as part of its Phase 1 exploration program for the
Huizopa project. We will make a determination on a Phase 2 exploration program
for the Huizopa project once all results for the Phase 1 exploration program
have been received and analyzed by Apollo Gold’s geologists.
Recent
Developments
Potential
Acquisition
On
March
26, 2008, Apollo Gold announced the entry into a non-binding letter of intent
with St Andrew, pursuant to which Apollo Gold intends to purchase from St Andrew
its mill and related equipment, infrastructure, property rights, laboratory
and
tailings facilities, located near Timmins, Ontario for a purchase price of
Cdn$20 million and the assumption of certain related liabilities.
The
purchase price would be paid in two installments, with the first installment
of
Cdn$1.5 million to be paid upon execution of an asset purchase agreement by
Apollo Gold and St Andrew and with the balance to be paid at the closing of
the
acquisition, which, assuming satisfaction of closing conditions, is expected
to
occur on or about June 30, 2008. Apollo Gold would also be responsible for
the
refund to St Andrew of its bonding commitment at the mill complex of
approximately Cdn$1.2 million. Completion of the transaction is subject to
satisfactory completion of due diligence and board approval by Apollo Gold,
board approval by St Andrew, the negotiation and execution of definitive
agreements, regulatory and exchange approvals and other customary conditions.
The terms and conditions of the acquisition would be set forth in a definitive
asset purchase agreement to be entered into between St Andrew and Apollo Gold.
The asset purchase agreement is expected to include mutual employee non-solicit
provisions, mutual “stand-still” provisions, as well as other customary
covenants and agreements for transactions of this type.
St
Andrew
is an “insider” (as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws) of Apollo
Gold by virtue of St Andrew’s ownership of more than 10% of our issued and
outstanding common shares. The acquisition was negotiated at arm’s length and
the purchase price was determined based upon the fair value of the mill complex
using market comparables. In negotiating the purchase price of the mill complex,
Apollo Gold considered the economic benefits of purchasing an operational mill
facility relative to the cost and timing of constructing a new mill and tailings
facility for the Black Fox project as well as the savings attributable to Apollo
Gold from not having to toll treat the ore. For more information regarding
St
Andrew, see “Selling Shareholder” on page 27 of the related
prospectus.
Completion
of the acquisition is subject to a number of conditions and is not assured
nor
guaranteed.
Montana
Tunnels Mill Stoppage
On
April
28, 2008, we announced that a
maintenance issue had occurred at our Montana Tunnels mill processing facility
due to a crack in the exterior shell of the ball mill. Repairs to the ball
mill
will take approximately three weeks. Mine crews are expected to be idle during
the second two weeks of the repairs. Approximately 12 days of concentrate
production were in stock awaiting shipment at the time of the discovery. The
mill is scheduled to restart operations in the week commencing May 19,
2008.
Debt
Financing for the Black Fox Project
On
May 5,
2008, Apollo announced that it had retained Macquarie Bank Ltd. and RMB
Resources Incas as joint arrangers and agents for a $75 million project finance
facility to fund development for the Black Fox project. The retention of
Macquarie Bank Ltd. and RMB Resources Incas does not constitute a financing
offer and any such financing offer will be subject to receipt of formal internal
credit approvals, due diligence and delivery and acceptance of a binding term
sheet.
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. You should
consider the discussion of risks on page 5 of the related prospectus in addition
to the other information in this prospectus supplement before purchasing any
of
our common shares.
CAPITALIZATION
The
following table sets forth Apollo Gold’s capitalization as of the dates
indicated. The table should be read in conjunction with Apollo Gold’s unaudited
financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2008, including the notes
thereto, and management’s discussion and analysis incorporated by reference into
this prospectus supplement and the related prospectus.
|
|
As
at March 31, 2008 Before Giving
Effect
to the Offering
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)
|
|
As
at March 31, 2008 After Giving
Effect
to the Offering
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)
|
Canadian
GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term
Debt
|
|
$9,802
|
|
$9,802
|
Common
Shares (1)
|
|
$167,355
160,975,757
shares
|
|
$ shares
|
Warrants
|
|
$2,234
|
|
$2,234
|
Contributed
Surplus (2)
|
|
$16,776
|
|
$16,776
|
Deficit
|
|
($139,018)
|
|
($139,018)
|
Total
Capitalization
|
|
$57,149
|
|
$
|
|
|
As
at March 31, 2008 Before Giving
Effect
to the Offering
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)
|
|
As
at March 31, 2008 After Giving
Effect
to the Offering
(in
thousands of U.S. dollars)
(unaudited)
|
U.S.
GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term
Debt
|
|
$11,229
|
|
$11,229
|
Common
Shares(1)
|
|
$167,862
160,975,757
shares
|
|
$ shares
|
Warrants
|
|
$2,234
|
|
$2,234
|
Contributed
Surplus (2)
|
|
$41,290
|
|
$41,290
|
Deficit
|
|
($196,514)
|
|
($196,514)
|
Total
Capitalization
|
|
$26,101
|
|
$
|
_________________________
(1)
|
Assumes
completion of the maximum offering (assuming no exercise of the
over-allotment option) but before deducting any of Apollo Gold's
expenses
of the offering, estimated to be Cdn$250,000, or the agents’ fee in
respect of the offering. See “Plan of
Distribution”.
|
(2)
|
Contributed
surplus includes equity component of convertible
debentures.
|
There
have been no material changes in our capitalization since March 31,
2008.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
Apollo
Gold intends to use the net proceeds of the offering as follows:
Use
of Proceeds
|
|
Amount
Minimum
Offering
|
|
Amount
Maximum
Offering
|
Purchase
of the St Andrew Mill Complex
|
|
Cdn$20,000,000
|
|
Cdn$20,000,000
|
Development
of Black Fox Project
|
|
Cdn$5,000,000
|
|
Cdn$5,000,000
|
Unallocated
Working Capital
|
|
Nil
|
|
Cdn$15,000,000
|
The
completion of the proposed purchase of the St Andrew mill complex is not a
condition to completion of the offering. Although Apollo Gold intends to
expend
the net proceeds from the offering as set forth above, there can be no
assurances that the purchase
of the St Andrew mill complex
will be
completed on the basis described or at all and, accordingly, the actual
allocation of net proceeds may vary from that set forth above in the event
that
the purchase cannot be completed. In such event, the net proceeds of the
offering will be used by us to fund our ongoing capital expenditures and for
general corporate purposes. Apollo Gold’s ongoing capital expenditures are
expected to be incurred in connection with the development of the Black Fox
project.
PRICE
RANGE OF OUR COMMON SHARES
Our
common shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange under the trading symbol
“AGT” and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “APG.” As
of May 12, 2008, 160,975,757 common shares were outstanding, and we
had approximately 10,000 shareholders of record. On May 12, 2008, the closing
price for our common shares on the American Stock Exchange was $0.64 per share
and the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange was Cdn$0.63 per share.
The
following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and
low
market closing prices per share of our common shares.
|
American
Stock
Exchange
|
|
Toronto
Stock
Exchange
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
($)
|
|
Cdn$
|
2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
0.78
|
|
0.48
|
|
0.77
|
|
0.50
|
2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
0.78
|
|
0.43
|
|
0.89
|
|
0.50
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
0.52
|
|
0.39
|
|
0.60
|
|
0.40
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
0.57
|
|
0.36
|
|
0.58
|
|
0.42
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.63
|
|
0.44
|
|
0.62
|
|
0.43
|
2006:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
0.77
|
|
0.23
|
|
0.89
|
|
0.26
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
0.86
|
|
0.40
|
|
0.98
|
|
0.45
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
0.53
|
|
0.35
|
|
0.62
|
|
0.40
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
0.51
|
|
0.29
|
|
0.59
|
|
0.33
|
We
have
not declared or paid cash dividends on our common shares since our inception.
Future dividend decisions will consider our then-current business results,
cash
requirements and financial condition.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
The
common shares offered under this prospectus supplement will be distributed
pursuant to an agency agreement dated as of
,
among
Apollo Gold, Haywood Securities Inc., the lead agent and Blackmont
Capital Inc.,
which
we refer to collectively as the agents, under which, subject to compliance
with
all necessary legal requirements and to the terms and conditions contained
in
the agency agreement, the agents have agreed to act as exclusive agents and
to
offer our common shares for sale in the U.S. through the lead agent’s registered
U.S. broker-dealer affiliates, on a best efforts basis. Closing of the offering
will be subject to the issue of a minimum of Cdn$25,000,000 of our common
shares. The offering price of the common shares will be determined by
negotiation between Apollo Gold and the lead agent, on behalf of the agents.
The
offering will be conducted in the United States through affiliates of the agents
that are registered broker-dealers in the United States. The agency agreement
provides that Apollo Gold will pay to the agents a cash fee in an amount equal
to 6.5%
of the
gross proceeds raised from the sale of the offered shares and the over-allotment
shares in consideration for their services in connection with the offering.
The
offering price of
Cdn$
per
offered
share has been determined by negotiation between Apollo Gold and the agents.
In
addition, the agents will be granted the agents’ option to acquire such number
of Apollo Gold’s common shares as is equal to 6% of the total number of offered
shares sold under the offering and over-allotment shares issued pursuant to
the
exercise of the over-allotment option at a price per share equal to the offering
price. The agents’ option will be exercisable at any time until 24 months from
the closing date of the offering. This prospectus supplement also relates to
the
grant of the agents’ option and Apollo Gold’s common shares issuable thereunder
upon the exercise of the agents’ option. Apollo Gold is responsible for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the agents in connection with
the
offering, including fees of the agents’ legal counsel. The agents may form a
sub-agency group including other qualified investment dealers and determine
the
fee payable to the members of such group, which fee will be paid by the agents
out of their fee.
The
agency agreement also provides that Apollo Gold will indemnify the agents and
each of their affiliates against certain liabilities and expenses, including
liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, or will contribute to
payments that the agents or each of their affiliates may be required to make
in
respect thereof.
Apollo
Gold has also granted the agents the over-allotment option, exercisable as
to a
maximum of 15% of the number of offered shares sold under the offering. The
over-allotment option is exercisable for over-allotment shares until the date
that is 30 days following the closing date of the offering on the same terms
as
set forth above, solely to cover over-allotments, if any, made by the agents
in
connection with this offering and for market stabilization purposes. This
prospectus supplement relates to the over-allotment option and any
over-allotment shares issuable thereunder upon the agents’ exercise of the
over-allotment option. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, and
provided the maximum offering is sold, the additional gross proceeds to Apollo
Gold will be Cdn$6,000,000.
The
following table summarizes the compensation we will pay to the agents and
estimated expenses associated with the offering assuming we sell the maximum
amount of Cdn$40,00,000 in the offering.
|
|
Per
Share
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
Agents’
Fee paid by us
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
Cdn$2,600,000
|
|
Cdn$2,990,000
|
Estimated
expenses paid by us
|
|
$
|
|
$
|
|
Cdn$250,000
|
|
Cdn$250,000
|
Provided
the minimum offering of common
shares
(gross proceeds of at least Cdn$25,000,000) has been subscribed for, it is
expected that the closing of the offering will take place on or
about ,
2008.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the offering will be discontinued in the event
the minimum offering has not occurred on or prior to the date which is 90 days
from the date of this prospectus supplement, unless consent is obtained from
the
subscribers and from all applicable securities regulatory authorities to extend
such date. Apollo Gold will appoint the agents as a depositary to hold in trust
all funds received from subscriptions until the minimum number of offered shares
have been sold. If the minimum number of offered shares is not sold within
such
90 day period, funds received from prospective subscribers will be returned
to
them by the depositary without interest or deduction.
Pursuant
to rules and policy statements of certain Canadian securities regulators, the
agents may not, at any time during the period ending on the date the selling
process for the offered
shares ends
and
all stabilization arrangements relating to Apollo Gold’s common shares are
terminated, bid for or purchase common shares for their own account or for
accounts over which they exercise control or direction. The foregoing
restrictions are subject to certain exceptions, on the condition that the bid
or
purchase not be engaged in for the purpose of creating actual or apparent active
trading in, or raising the price of, the common shares. Such exceptions include:
(a) a bid for or purchase of common shares if the bid or purchase is made
through the facilities of the TSX in accordance with the Universal Market
Integrity Rules administered by Market Regulation Services Inc., (b) a bid
or
purchase on behalf of a client, other than certain proscribed clients, provided
that the client’s order was not solicited by an agent, or if the client’s order
was solicited, the solicitation occurred before the period of distribution
as
prescribed by the rules, and (c) a bid or purchase to cover a short position
entered into prior to the period of distribution as prescribed by the rules.
The
agents may engage in market stabilization or market balancing activities on
the
TSX where the bid for or purchase of the common shares is for the purpose of
maintaining a fair and orderly market in the common shares, subject to price
limitations applicable to such bids or purchases. Such transactions, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
In
connection with the offering, the agents (or their affiliates
that are registered broker-dealers in the United States)
may
engage in stabilizing transactions, agents’ transactions and syndicate covering
transactions in accordance with Regulation M under the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to
purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed
a
specified maximum.
Stabilizing
transactions and syndicate-covering transactions may have the effect of raising
or maintaining the market price of our common shares or preventing or retarding
a decline in their market price. As a result, the price of our common shares
may
be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These
transactions may be effected on the TSX, the AMEX or otherwise and, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Pursuant
to the agency agreement, Apollo Gold has agreed that, subject to certain
exceptions, it will not issue, agree to issue, or announce an intention to
issue
any additional common shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for common shares for a period of 90 days subsequent to the date of the offering
closing without the prior written consent of Haywood Securities Inc., which
consent may not be unreasonably withheld.
The
issued and outstanding Apollo Gold common shares are currently listed and posted
for trading on the TSX under the symbol “APG” and on the AMEX under the symbol
“AGT”. We have applied to list the offered shares being issued and sold by
Apollo Gold under this offering (including the over-allotment shares issuable
upon exercise of the over-allotment option and the common shares underlying
the
agents’ option) on the TSX and the AMEX. Listing will be subject to Apollo Gold
fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSX and AMEX.
DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
We
are
authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares, without par value.
As
of May 12, 2008, there were 160,975,757 common shares outstanding. For a
description of our common shares, see “Description of Common Shares” on page 25
of the related prospectus.
U.S.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Considerations
The
following is a summary of the material anticipated U.S. federal income tax
consequences regarding the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common
shares. This summary applies to you only if you hold such common shares as
a
capital asset and are eligible for benefits under the Convention between the
United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on
Capital signed on September 26, 1980, as amended and currently in force, which
we refer to as the U.S.-Canada tax treaty. This summary is based upon the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code,
regulations promulgated under the Code, administrative rulings and judicial
decisions and the U.S.-Canada tax treaty as in effect on the date of this
prospectus supplement. Changes in the laws may alter the tax treatment of our
common shares, possibly with retroactive effect.
This
summary is general in nature and does not address the effects of any state
or
local taxes, or the tax consequences in jurisdictions other than the United
States. In addition, it does not address all tax consequences that may be
relevant to you in your particular circumstances, nor does it apply to you
if
you are a holder with a special status, such as:
|
·
|
a
person that owns, or is treated as owning under certain ownership
attribution rules, 10% or more of our voting
shares;
|
|
·
|
a
broker, dealer or trader in securities or
currencies;
|
|
·
|
a
bank, mutual fund, life insurance company or other financial
institution;
|
|
·
|
a
tax-exempt organization;
|
|
·
|
a
qualified retirement plan or individual retirement
account;
|
|
·
|
a
person that holds our common shares as part of a straddle, hedge,
constructive sale or other integrated transaction for tax
purposes;
|
|
·
|
a
partnership, S corporation, small business investment company or
other
pass-through entity;
|
|
·
|
an
investor in a partnership, S corporation, small business investment
company or other pass-through
entity;
|
|
·
|
a
person whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S.
dollar;
|
|
·
|
a
person liable for alternative minimum
tax;
|
|
·
|
a
U.S. Holder (as defined below) who is a resident or deemed to be
a
resident in Canada pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada);
and
|
|
·
|
a
non-U.S. Holder (as defined below) that has a trade or business in
the
United States, or is an individual that either has a tax home in
the
United States or is present within the United States for 183 days
or more
during the taxable year.
|
If
a
partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership
for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common shares, the tax treatment
of
a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the
activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership that owns or may
acquire our common shares should consult the partner’s tax advisor regarding the
specific tax consequences of the acquisition and ownership of our common
shares.
We
believe that we are not, have not at any time been, and will not be after this
offering a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957(a) of the
Code, although we can provide no certainty concerning this result.
YOU
SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE
ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON SHARES IN LIGHT OF YOUR
PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
U.S.
Holders
The
following discussion applies to you if you are a “U.S. Holder.” For purposes of
this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a common share that
is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
·
|
an
individual citizen or resident of the United States (including an
alien
who is a “green card” holder or who is present in the United States for 31
days or more in the calendar year and meets certain other
requirements);
|
|
·
|
a
corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United
States
or any political subdivision
thereof;
|
|
·
|
an
estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source; or
|
|
·
|
a
trust (1) that validly elects to be treated as a U.S. person for
U.S.
federal income tax purposes, or (2) the administration over which
a U.S.
court can exercise primary supervision and all of the substantial
decisions of which one or more U.S. persons have the authority to
control.
|
Distributions
We
do not
anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. However, subject to
the
discussion under “— Passive
foreign investment company”
below,
the gross amount of distributions, if any, payable by us on our common shares
generally would be treated as dividend income to the extent paid out of current
or accumulated earnings and profits. A distribution on our shares in excess
of
current or accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a tax-free return
of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in such shares and
then as capital gain. See “— Sale
or other disposition of common shares”
below.
Canadian
withholding tax on dividends paid by us to a U.S. Holder is generally reduced
to
15% pursuant to the U.S.-Canada tax treaty. U.S. Holders generally may claim
the
amount of any Canadian income taxes withheld either as a deduction from gross
income or as a credit against U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to
numerous complex limitations that must be determined and applied on an
individual
basis. A U.S. Holder’s ability to claim such a credit again U.S. federal income
tax liability may be limited to the extent that dividends on our common shares
are treated as U.S.- source income for U.S. foreign tax credit
purposes.
Sale
or other dispositions of common shares
Subject
to the discussion under “— Passive
foreign investment company”
below,
in general, if you sell or otherwise dispose of our common shares in a taxable
disposition:
|
·
|
you
will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference (if any) between
the
U.S. dollar value of the amount realized on such sale or other taxable
disposition and your adjusted tax basis in such common
shares;
|
|
·
|
any
gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital
gain or loss if your holding period for the common shares sold is
more
than one year at the time of such sale or other taxable disposition;
and
|
|
·
|
any
gain or loss will generally be treated as U.S.-source income for
U.S.
foreign tax credit purposes, although special rules apply to U.S.
Holders
who have a fixed place of business outside the United States to which
this
gain is attributable.
|
Long-term
capital gains of individual taxpayers are generally subject to a 15% maximum
U.S. federal income tax rate for capital gains recognized in taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2011. The deductibility of capital losses is subject
to limitations.
If
you
are a cash basis taxpayer who receives foreign currency, such as Canadian
dollars, in connection with a sale or other taxable disposition of our common
shares, the amount realized will be based on the U.S. dollar value of the
foreign currency received with respect to such common shares, as determined
on
the settlement date of such sale or other taxable disposition.
If
you
are an accrual basis taxpayer who receives foreign currency in a sale or other
taxable disposition of our common shares, you generally may elect the same
treatment required of cash basis taxpayers with respect to a sale or other
taxable disposition of such common shares, provided the election is applied
consistently from year to year. The election may not be changed without the
consent of the IRS. If you are an accrual basis taxpayer and do not elect to
be
treated as a cash basis taxpayer (pursuant to the U.S. Treasury Regulations
applicable to foreign currency transactions) for this purpose, you might have
a
foreign currency gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes because
of
differences between the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency received
on
the date of the sale (or other taxable disposition) of our common shares and
the
date of payment. Any such currency gain or loss generally will be treated as
ordinary income or loss and would be in addition to gain or loss, if any,
recognized on the sale (or other taxable disposition) of our common
shares.
Passive
foreign investment company
PFIC
Rules Generally.
U.S.
Holders of our common shares would be subject to a special, adverse tax regime
(that would differ in certain respects from that described above) if we were
or
were to become a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. The tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually
and are dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our
control. We do not expect to be a PFIC for the 2008 tax year, although we can
provide no certainty concerning this result. For 2009 and later tax years,
we
can provide no assurance concerning whether or not we will be a PFIC. We do
not
intend to make or issue to U.S. Holders any determinations of our status as
a
PFIC for any taxable year.
In
general terms, we will be a PFIC for any tax year in which either (i) 75% or
more of our gross income is passive income (the “income test”) or (ii) the
average percentage, by fair market value, of our assets that produce or are
held
for the production of passive income is 50% or more (the “asset test”). Passive
income includes, for example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties,
certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from
commodities transactions. For example, we could be a PFIC for a tax year if
we
have (i) losses from sales activities but interest income (and/or other passive
income) that exceeds those losses or (ii) positive gross profit from sales
but
interest income (and/or other passive income) constitutes 75% or more of our
total gross income. In such situations, we could be a PFIC even without
recognizing substantial amounts of passive income.
If
we
were, or were to become, a PFIC for any year in which a U.S. Holder owns our
common shares, gain on a disposition (or deemed disposition) of our common
shares and certain distributions with respect to our common shares (so-called
“excess distributions”) would be subject to a special adverse tax regime. Such
gains and excess distributions would be allocated ratably to the U.S. Holder’s
holding period. The portion of such gains and excess distribution allocable
to
the current year would be includible as ordinary income in the current year.
The
U.S. Holder would be taxed on prior years’ allocations at the highest marginal
rates applicable to ordinary income for each such year and would be subject
to
interest charges to reflect the value of the U.S. income tax deferral. U.S.
Holders must report any gains or distributions received from a PFIC by filing
a
Form 8621 with their returns.
Certain
elections may sometimes be used to reduce the adverse impact of the PFIC rules
on U.S. Holders (“qualifying electing fund”, “QEF”, and “mark-to-market”
elections), but these elections may accelerate the recognition of taxable income
and may result in the recognition of ordinary income. The
PFIC
rules are extremely complex, and shareholders are urged to consult their own
tax
advisers regarding the potential consequences to them of Apollo Gold Corporation
being classified as a PFIC.
QEF
Election to Reduce Impact of PFIC Rules.
The
rules described above for Excess Distributions will not apply to a U.S. Holder
if the U.S. Holder makes a QEF election for the first taxable year of the U.S.
Holder's holding period for our common shares during which we are a PFIC and
we
comply with specified reporting requirements. A QEF election for a taxable
year
generally must be made on or before the due date (as may be extended) for filing
the taxpayer's U.S. federal income tax return for the year. A U.S. Holder who
makes a QEF election generally must report on a current basis his or her share
of our ordinary income and net capital gain for any taxable year in which we
are
a PFIC, whether or not we distribute those earnings.
Upon
request, we will use reasonable best efforts to provide to a U.S. Holder no
later than ninety days after the request the information required to make a
QEF
election. A U.S. Holder who makes a QEF election must file a Form 8621 with
their annual return.
Mark-to-Market
Election to Reduce Impact of PFIC Rules.
If we
become a PFIC, a U.S. Holder of our common shares may elect to recognize any
gain or loss on our common shares on a mark-to-market basis at the end of each
taxable year, so long as the common shares are regularly traded on a qualifying
exchange. The mark-to-market election under the PFIC rules is an alternative
to
the QEF election. We believe the common shares will be regularly traded on
a
qualifying exchange, but we cannot provide assurance that our common shares
will
be considered regularly traded on a qualifying exchange for all years in which
we may be a PFIC. A U.S. Holder who makes a mark-to-market election generally
must recognize as ordinary income all appreciation inherent in the U.S. Holder’s
investment in our common shares on a mark-to-market basis and may recognize
losses inherent in our common shares only to the extent of prior mark-to-market
gain recognition. The mark-to-market election must be made by the due date
(as
may be extended) for filing the taxpayer's federal income tax return for the
first year in which the election
is to take effect. A U.S. Holder who makes a mark-to-market election must file
a
Form 8621 with their annual return.
Rules
for Lower-Tier PFIC Subsidiaries.
Special
adverse rules apply to U.S. Holders of our common shares for any year in which
we are a PFIC and have a non-U.S. subsidiary that is also a PFIC (a “lower-tier
PFIC”). If we are a PFIC and a U.S. Holder of our common shares does not make a
QEF election (as described above) in respect of any lower-tier PFIC, the U.S.
Holder could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described
above if (i) we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our
interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or (ii) the U.S. Holder disposes of all or
part
of our common shares. A QEF election that is made for our common shares will
not
apply to a lower -tier PFIC, although a separate QEF election might be made
with
respect to a lower-tier PFIC. We will use reasonable best efforts to cause
a
lower-tier PFIC to provide the information necessary for an effective QEF
election to be made with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. Moreover, a
mark-to-market election is not available for lower-tier PFICs.
Non-U.S.
Holders
The
following summary applies to you if you are a non-U.S. Holder of our common
shares. A non-U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of a common share that is not
a
U.S. Holder.
Distributions
In
general, you will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding
tax
on dividends, if any, received from us with respect to our common shares, unless
such income is (i) effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or
business in the United States or (ii) if a treaty applies, such income is
attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base you maintain in the
United States.
Sale
or other disposition of common shares
In
general, you will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized
upon the sale or other disposition of our common shares unless:
|
·
|
such
gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or
business or, if a treaty applies, such gain is attributable to a
permanent
establishment or fixed base you maintain in the United States;
or
|
|
·
|
you
are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days
or more
during the taxable year of disposition or have a tax home in the
United
States, and certain other requirements are
met.
|
Information
reporting and backup withholding
U.S.
Holders of our common shares may be subject to information reporting and may
be
subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) on distributions
on
our common shares or on the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our
common shares paid within the United States. Payments of distributions on,
or
the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common shares to or
through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to backup
withholding, although information reporting may apply to those payments in
certain circumstances. Backup withholding will generally not apply, however,
to
a U.S. Holder who:
|
·
|
furnishes
a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that the U.S.
Holder is not subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9 (or substitute
form); or
|
|
·
|
is
otherwise exempt from backup
withholding.
|
In
general, a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to information reporting and
backup withholding. However, a non-U.S. Holder may be required to establish
an
exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying the
non-U.S. Holder’s non-U.S. status on Form W-8BEN.
Backup
withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to
a
holder under the backup withholding rules may be credited against the holder’s
U.S. federal income tax liability, and a holder may obtain a refund of any
excess amounts withheld by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the
IRS
in a timely manner.
CANADIAN
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. RESIDENTS
The
following is a summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax
considerations under the Income Tax Act (Canada), which we refer to as the
“Tax
Act,” generally applicable to the holding and disposition of our common shares.
This summary applies to you (a “U.S. shareholder”) only if you: (i) acquire
common shares in this offering; (ii) are at all relevant times for purposes
of
the Tax Act, not resident or deemed to be resident in Canada; (iii) deal at
arm’s length with our company; (iv) acquire and hold the common shares as
capital property and do not use or hold the common shares in the course of
carrying on, or otherwise in connection with, a business in Canada; and (v)
for
purposes of the income tax convention between the U.S. and Canada signed on
September 26, 1980, as amended, which we refer to as the “U.S. — Canada tax
treaty,” are a resident of the United States, have never been a resident of
Canada, and have not held or used (and do not hold or use) common shares in
connection with a permanent establishment or fixed base in Canada. Generally,
common shares will be considered to be capital property to you provided that
you
do not use the common shares in the course of carrying on a business and have
not acquired them in one or more transactions considered to be an adventure
or
concern in the nature of trade. This summary assumes that the common shares
will
at all relevant times be listed on a prescribed stock exchange for purposes
of
the Tax Act which currently includes the Toronto Stock Exchange.
This
summary does not deal with special situations, such as particular circumstances
of a U.S. shareholder who is a trader or dealer in securities, a limited
liability company, a tax-exempt entity, or an insurer carrying on an insurance
business in Canada and elsewhere.
This
summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act and the regulations
thereunder in force at the date hereof, all specific proposals to amend the
Tax
Act and regulations thereunder publicly announced by or on behalf of the
Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof, which we refer to as
the
“Tax Proposals”, the current provisions of the U.S. — Canada tax treaty, and the
administrative practices of the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) publicly released
prior to the date hereof. While this summary assumes that the Tax Proposals
will
be enacted as currently proposed, no assurance can be given in this
respect.
This
summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax
considerations and, except for any Tax Proposals, does not take into account
or
anticipate any changes in law, whether by legislative, governmental or judicial
decision or action, or any changes in the U.S. — Canada tax treaty or
administrative practices of the CRA. This summary does not take into account
provincial, territorial, U.S. or other foreign income tax considerations, which
may differ significantly from those discussed herein. Provisions of provincial
income tax legislation vary from province to province in Canada and may differ
from federal income tax legislation. This summary is not intended as legal
or
tax advice to any particular holder of common shares and should not be so
construed. The tax consequences to any particular holder of common shares will
vary according to that holder’s particular circumstances. Each holder should
consult
the holder’s own tax advisor with respect to the income tax consequences
applicable to the holder’s own particular circumstances.
For
purposes of the Tax Act, you must compute all amounts relevant in computing
your
liability under the Tax Act in Canadian dollars. Amounts denominated in United
States dollars including adjusted cost base, proceeds of disposition and
dividends must be converted into Canadian dollars based on the prevailing
exchange rate at the relevant time.
Taxation
of U.S. Holders
Dividends
We
do not
anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. However, dividends that
are paid or credited or deemed to be paid or credited to a U.S. shareholder
by
us are subject to Canadian withholding tax. Under the U.S. — Canada tax treaty,
the rate of withholding tax on dividends paid or credited to a U.S. shareholder
is generally limited to 15% of the gross amount of the dividend (or 5% in the
case of a U.S. shareholder that is a corporation beneficially owning at least
10% of the company’s voting shares).
Dispositions
A
U.S.
shareholder will generally not be subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect
of
a capital gain realized on the disposition or deemed disposition of a common
share, nor will capital losses arising therefrom be recognized under the Tax
Act, unless the common share constitutes “taxable Canadian property” that is not
“treaty-protected property” to the U.S. shareholder thereof for purposes of the
Tax Act.
A
common
share will be taxable Canadian property to a U.S. shareholder if, at any time
during the 60 month period ending at the time of disposition, the U.S.
shareholder or persons with whom the U.S. shareholder did not deal at arm’s
length (or the U.S. shareholder together with such persons) owned 25% or more
of
the company’s issued shares of any class or series. In the case of a U.S.
shareholder to whom common shares represent taxable Canadian property, such
shares will be considered treaty-protected property by reason of the U.S. —
Canada tax treaty (and no Canadian income tax will be payable under the Tax
Act
on any capital gain realized on a disposition of such shares in the open market)
unless the value of such shares is derived principally from real property
situated in Canada. We believe that the value of our common shares is not
derived principally from real property situated in Canada.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain
legal matters relating to the offering and to the offered shares to be
distributed pursuant to this prospectus supplement will be passed upon by
Fogler, Rubinoff LLP, with respect to Canadian legal matters, and by Davis
Graham & Stubbs LLP, with respect to United States legal matters, on behalf
of Apollo Gold, and by Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, with respect to Canadian
legal matters, and by Goodwin Procter LLP, with respect to United States legal
matters, on behalf of the agents.
INTEREST
OF NAMED EXPERTS
AND COUNSEL
Certain
legal matters relating to the offering and to the offered shares to be
distributed pursuant to this prospectus supplement will be passed upon by
Fogler, Rubinoff LLP, with respect to Canadian legal matters. G.
Michael Hobart, who is a partner with Fogler, Rubinoff LLP is also a director
of
Apollo Gold.
TRANSFER
AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The
transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is CIBC Mellon Trust Company,
320 Bay Street, P. O. Box 1, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A6,
Canada.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The
SEC
allows us to “incorporate by reference” our publicly filed reports into this
prospectus supplement, which means that information included in those reports
is
considered part of this prospectus supplement. Information that we file with
the
SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement will automatically update
and
supersede the information contained in this prospectus supplement and in prior
reports. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future
filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act until all of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus
have been sold:
|
1.
|
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007;
|
|
2.
|
Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008;
and
|
|
3.
|
The
description of our capital stock set forth in our Registration Statement
on Form 10, filed June 23, 2003.
|
We
will
furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or
all
of the above documents, other than exhibits to such documents that are not
specifically incorporated by reference therein. You should direct any requests
for documents to the Chief Financial Officer, Apollo Gold Corporation, 5655
S.
Yosemite Street, Suite 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-3220, telephone
(720) 886-9656.
The
information relating to us contained in this prospectus is not comprehensive
and
should be read together with the information contained in the incorporated
documents. Descriptions contained in the incorporated documents as to the
contents of any contract or other document may not contain all of the
information which is of interest to you. You should refer to the copy of such
contract or other document filed as an exhibit to our filings.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This
prospectus supplement and the related prospectus is pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC. Certain information in the
registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus supplement and
the
related prospectus in accordance with SEC rules.
We
file
annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC. You
may read and copy the registration statement and any other document that we
file
at the SEC’s public reference room located at Judiciary Plaza, 100 F Street,
N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330
for
further information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also
available to you free of charge at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
We
have
filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3, under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the securities offered by this
prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement, which constitutes part of
the
Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set
forth
in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which have been omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Reference is hereby made
to the Registration Statement and the exhibits to the Registration Statement
for
further information with respect to us and our securities.
PROSPECTUS
APOLLO
GOLD CORPORATION
$100,000,000
Debt Securities, Common Shares and Warrants
28,675,000
Shares of Common Shares Offered by the Selling Shareholder
___________________________
Apollo
Gold Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Apollo Gold,” “we,” “us,” or
“our company”) may use this prospectus to offer and sell from time to time our
debt securities, common shares or warrants, in one or more transactions up
to a
total dollar amount of $100,000,000. The selling shareholder identified on
page
27 may also use this prospectus to offer and sell an aggregate of up to
28,675,000 shares of our common shares. Apollo Gold Corporation will not receive
any proceeds from the sale of the shares being sold by the selling
shareholder.
This
prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we
may
offer. The accompanying prospectus supplement sets forth specific information
with regard to the particular securities being offered and may add, update
or
change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this
prospectus and the prospectus supplement, together with any additional
information which is incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.
Our
common shares are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “AGT”
and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “APG.” On April 21, 2008, the
closing price for our common shares on the American Stock Exchange was $0.68
per
share and the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange was Cdn$0.68 per
share.
The
selling shareholder may sell the shares in transactions on the American Stock
Exchange or the Toronto Stock Exchange and by any other method permitted by
applicable law. The selling shareholder may sell the shares at prevailing market
prices or at prices negotiated with purchasers and will be responsible for
any
commissions or discounts due to brokers or dealers. The amount of these
commissions or discounts cannot be known at this time because they will be
negotiated at the time of the sales. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on
page 28.
References
in this prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are
indicated by the symbol “Cdn$”.
This
prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied
by
the applicable prospectus supplement.
The
securities offered in this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. You should
carefully consider the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” beginning on
page 5 of this prospectus in determining whether to purchase our
securities.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission
has
approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus
is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The
date
of this prospectus is May 7, 2008.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
IMPORTANT
NOTICE TO READERS
|
1
|
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
|
1
|
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
|
2
|
STATEMENTS
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
|
2
|
OUR
BUSINESS
|
4
|
RISK
FACTORS
|
5
|
RATIO
OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
|
14
|
USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
14
|
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
|
14
|
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
|
25
|
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
|
25
|
SELLING
SHAREHOLDER
|
27
|
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
|
28
|
LEGAL
MATTERS
|
29
|
EXPERTS
|
29
|
You
should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. Neither we nor the selling shareholder have authorized anyone to
provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated
in
this prospectus.
Neither
we nor the selling shareholder are making an offer of these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offering is not permitted.
You
should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference
in
this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front
of
this prospectus or the dates of the documents incorporated by
reference.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE TO READERS
This
prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process on Form
S-3. Under the shelf registration, we may sell any combination of the securities
described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar
amount of $100,000,000. In addition, St Andrew Goldfields may from time to
time
offer and sell up to 28,675,000 shares of our common shares in one or more
underwritten offerings under this registration statement.
This
prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we
or
St Andrew Goldfields may offer. Each time that we or St Andrew Goldfields sell
securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific
information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement also
may
add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should
read
both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making an
investment in our securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for more
information. We or St Andrew Goldfields may use this prospectus to sell
securities only if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including the
exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about
us
and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement
can be read at the SEC’s website, located at http://www.sec.gov, or at the SEC’s
offices referenced under the heading “Where You Can Find More
Information.”
You
should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any accompanying
prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate
as
of any date other than the date on its front cover.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We
are
subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended (which we sometimes refer to in this prospectus as the “Exchange Act”),
and file annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Unites States Securities and Exchange Commission (which
we
sometimes refer to in this prospectus as the “SEC”). The SEC maintains a web
site (http://www.sec.gov)
on
which our reports, proxy statements and other information are made available.
Such reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected
and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330
for
further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.
We
have
filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3, under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the securities
offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the
Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in
the
Registration Statement, certain parts of which have been omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Reference is hereby made to the
Registration Statement and the exhibits to the Registration Statement for
further information with respect to us and the securities.
INCORPORATION
OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The
SEC
allows us to “incorporate by reference” our publicly filed reports into this
prospectus, which means that information included in those reports is considered
part of this prospectus. Information that we file with the SEC after the date
of
this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information
contained in this prospectus and in prior reports. We incorporate by reference
the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until all of the
securities offered pursuant to this prospectus have been sold:
|
1.
|
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007;
|
|
2.
|
Our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2008;
and
|
|
3.
|
The
description of our capital stock set forth in our Registration Statement
on Form 10, filed June 23, 2003.
|
We
will
furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or
all
of the above documents, other than exhibits to such documents that are not
specifically incorporated by reference therein. You should direct any requests
for documents to the Chief Financial Officer, Apollo Gold Corporation, 5655
S.
Yosemite Street, Suite 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-3220, telephone
(720) 886-9656.
The
information relating to us contained in this prospectus is not comprehensive
and
should be read together with the information contained in the incorporated
documents. Descriptions contained in the incorporated documents as to the
contents of any contract or other document may not contain all of the
information which is of interest to you. You should refer to the copy of such
contract or other document filed as an exhibit to our filings.
STATEMENTS
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus
contain forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to our financial condition, results
of operations, business prospects, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future
events, capital expenditure, and exploration and development efforts. Words
such
as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. These statements include comments regarding:
|
·
|
future
timing and operational results and cash flows from the Montana Tunnels
mine;
|
|
·
|
the
establishment and estimates of mineral reserves and
resources;
|
|
·
|
the
timing of completion of a Black Fox feasibility
study;
|
|
·
|
production
and production costs;
|
|
·
|
daily
production and mill throughput
rates;
|
|
·
|
grade
of ore mined and milled;
|
|
·
|
grade
of concentrates produced;
|
|
·
|
anticipated
expenditures for development, exploration, and corporate
overhead;
|
|
·
|
timing
and issue of permits;
|
|
·
|
expansion
plans for existing properties;
|
|
·
|
plans
for Black Fox and Huizopa, including
drilling;
|
|
·
|
estimates
of closure costs;
|
|
·
|
future
financing of projects at Apollo;
|
|
·
|
estimates
of environmental liabilities;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to obtain financing to fund our estimated expenditure and
capital
requirements;
|
|
·
|
factors
impacting our results of operations;
and
|
|
·
|
the
impact of adoption of new accounting
standards.
|
Although
we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot be certain that these
plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Our actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements
as
a result of the risk factors set forth below and other factors described in
more
detail in this prospectus:
|
·
|
unexpected
changes in business and economic
conditions;
|
|
·
|
significant
increases or decreases in gold prices and zinc prices;
|
|
·
|
changes
in interest and currency exchange
rates;
|
|
·
|
timing
and amount of production;
|
|
·
|
unanticipated
grade changes;
|
|
·
|
unanticipated
recovery or production problems;
|
|
·
|
operational
problems at our mining property;
|
|
·
|
metallurgy,
processing, access, availability of materials, equipment, supplies
and
water;
|
|
·
|
determination
of reserves;
|
|
·
|
changes
in project parameters;
|
|
·
|
costs
and timing of development of new reserves;
|
|
·
|
results
of current and future exploration activities;
|
|
·
|
results
of pending and future feasibility studies;
|
|
·
|
joint
venture relationships;
|
|
·
|
political
or economic instability, either globally or in the countries in which
we
operate;
|
|
·
|
local
and community impacts and issues;
|
|
·
|
timing
of receipt of government approvals;
|
|
·
|
accidents
and labor disputes;
|
|
·
|
environmental
costs and risks;
|
|
·
|
competitive
factors, including competition for property
acquisitions;
|
|
·
|
availability
of external financing at reasonable rates or at all;
and
|
|
·
|
the
factors discussed in this prospectus under the heading “Risk
Factors.”
|
Many
of
these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. These factors are
not intended to represent a complete list of the general or specific factors
that may affect us. We may note additional factors elsewhere in this prospectus,
in an accompanying prospectus supplement and in any documents incorporated
by
reference into this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement. We
undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
APOLLO
GOLD COROPORATION
The
earliest predecessor to Apollo Gold Corporation was incorporated under the
laws
of the Province of Ontario in 1936. In May 2003, it reincorporated under the
laws of the Yukon Territory. Apollo Gold Corporation maintains its registered
office at 204 Black Street, Suite 300, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
Y1A
2M9, and the telephone number at that office is (867) 668-5252. Apollo Gold
Corporation maintains its principal executive office at 5655 S. Yosemite Street,
Suite 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-3220, and the telephone number
at
that office is (720) 886-9656. Our internet address is http://www.apollogold.com.
Information contained on our website is not a part of this
prospectus.
Apollo
is
engaged in gold mining including extraction, processing, refining and the
production of by-product metals, as well as related activities including
exploration and development. The Company is the operator of the Montana Tunnels
mine, which is a 50% joint venture with Elkhorn Tunnels, LLC. The Mine is an
open pit mine and mill producing gold doré and lead-gold and zinc-gold
concentrates.
Apollo
has a development project, the Black Fox Project, which is located near the
Township of Matheson in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Apollo also owns
Mexican subsidiaries which own concessions at the Huizopa exploration project,
located in the Sierra Madres in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Huizopa project is
subject to an 80% Apollo/20% Mineras Coronado joint venture
agreement.
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in the securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider
the following discussion of risks in addition to the other information in this
prospectus before purchasing any of the securities. In addition to historic
information, the information in this prospectus contains “forward looking”
statements about our future business and performance. Our actual operating
results and financial performance may be very different from what we expect
as
of the date of this prospectus. The risks below address some of the factors
that
may affect our future operating results and financial
performance.
We
have a history of losses.
With
the
exception of the most recent fiscal year during which we had a net income of
$2,416,000, we have incurred significant losses. Our net losses were $15,587,000
and $22,208,000 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
There can be no assurance that we will achieve or sustain profitability in
the
future.
We
have experienced operational problems at our Montana Tunnels
mine.
Since
the
sale of our Florida Canyon and Standard mines in November 2005, all of our
revenues have been derived from our milling operations at the Montana Tunnels
mine, which is a low grade mine. Historically, the Montana Tunnels mine has
been
unprofitable. During 2004, we experienced problems related to the milling of
low-grade ore at the Montana Tunnels mine, which negatively affected our
revenues and earnings. Throughout 2005, we experienced operational problems,
particularly in the open pit, leading to the suspension of mining on October
21,
2005 for safety reasons due to increased wall activity in the open pit. After
the suspension of mining and until May 12, 2006, we were able to continue to
produce gold doré, lead-gold and zinc-gold concentrates from milling low grade
stockpiled ore. However, on May 12, 2006, all operations ceased at the mine
and
it was placed on care and maintenance. On July 28, 2006, we entered into a
joint
venture agreement with Elkhorn Tunnels, LLC, in respect of the Montana Tunnels
mine pursuant to which Elkhorn Tunnels made financial contributions in exchange
for a fifty percent interest in the mine. Mill operations recommenced in March
2007, however there can be no assurances that we will not encounter additional
operational problems at our Montana Tunnels mine.
Our
earnings may be affected by metals price volatility, specifically the volatility
of gold and zinc prices.
We
historically have derived all of our revenues from the sale of gold, silver,
lead and zinc, and our development and exploration activities are focused on
gold. As a result, our future earnings are directly related to the price of
gold. Changes in the price of gold significantly affect our profitability.
Gold
prices historically have fluctuated widely, based on numerous industry factors
including:
|
·
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industrial
and jewelry demand;
|
|
·
|
central
bank lending, sales and purchases of
gold;
|
|
·
|
forward
sales of gold by producers and
speculators;
|
|
·
|
production
and cost levels in major gold-producing regions;
and
|
|
·
|
rapid
short-term changes in supply and demand because of speculative or
hedging
activities.
|
Gold
prices are also affected by macroeconomic factors, including:
|
·
|
confidence
in the global monetary system;
|
|
·
|
expectations
of the future rate of inflation (if
any);
|
|
·
|
the
strength of, and confidence in, the U.S. dollar (the currency in
which the
price of gold is generally quoted) and other
currencies;
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|
·
|
global
or regional political or economic events, including but not limited
to
acts of terrorism.
|
The
current demand for, and supply of, gold also affects gold prices. The supply
of
gold consists of a combination of new production from mining and existing stock
of bullion held by government central banks, public and private financial
institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals. As the amounts
produced by all producers in any single year constitute a small portion of
the
total potential supply of gold, normal variations in current production do
not
usually have a significant impact on the supply of gold or on its price.
Mobilization of gold held by central banks through lending and official sales
may have a significant adverse impact on the gold price.
All
of
the above factors are beyond our control and are impossible for us to predict.
If the market prices for gold, silver, zinc or lead fall below our costs to
produce them for a sustained period of time, we will experience additional
losses and we could also be required by our reduced revenue to discontinue
exploration, development and/or mining at one or more of our
properties.
We
do not currently have and may not be able to raise the funds necessary to
explore and develop our Black Fox and Huizopa properties.
We
do not
currently have sufficient funds to complete all of our planned development
activities at Black Fox and our planned exploration activities at Huizopa or
to
develop a mine at Black Fox. The development of Black Fox and exploration of
Huizopa will require significant capital expenditures. Sources of external
financing may include bank and non-bank borrowings and future debt and equity
offerings. There can be no assurance that financing will be available on
acceptable terms, or at all. The failure to obtain financing would have a
material adverse effect on our growth strategy and our results of operations
and
financial condition.
Substantially
all of our assets are pledged to secure our indebtedness.
Substantially
all of the Montana Tunnels assets and our Black Fox property are pledged to
secure indebtedness outstanding under the Facility Agreement, dated October
12,
2007, by and among Montana Tunnels Mining, Inc., Apollo, Apollo Gold, Inc.,
a
wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo, RMB Australia Holdings Limited and RMB
Resources Inc. Since these assets represent substantially all of our assets,
we
will not have access to additional secured lending until this indebtedness
is
repaid, which may require us to raise additional funds through unsecured debt
and equity offerings. Default under our debt obligations would entitle our
lenders to foreclose on our assets.
The
inability to raise additional working capital or the foreclosure of our assets
could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results
of
operations.
Our
Huizopa exploration project is subject to political and regulatory
uncertainty.
Our
Huizopa exploration project is located in the northern part of the Sierra Madres
in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. There are numerous risks inherent in
conducting business in Mexico, including political
and economic instability, exposure to currency fluctuations, greater
difficulties in accounts receivable collection, difficulties in staffing and
managing operations and potentially adverse tax consequences. In addition,
our
ability to explore and develop our Huizopa exploration project is subject to
maintaining satisfactory relations with the Ejido Huizopa, which is a group
of
local inhabitants who under Mexican law are granted rights to conduct
agricultural activities and control surface access on the property. In 2006,
we
entered into an agreement with the Ejido Huizopa pursuant to which we agreed
to
make annual payments to the Ejido Huizopa in exchange for the right to use
the
land covering our mining concessions for all activities necessary for the
exploration, development and production of potential ore deposits. There can
be
no assurances that the Ejido Huizopa will continue to honor the agreement.
If we
are unable to successfully manage our operations in Mexico or maintain
satisfactory relations with the Ejido Huizopa, our development of the Huizopa
property could be hindered or terminated and, as a result, our business and
financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our
reserve estimates are potentially inaccurate.
We
estimate our reserves on our properties as either “proven reserves” or “probable
reserves.” Our ore reserve figures and costs are primarily estimates and are not
guarantees that we will recover the indicated quantities of these metals. We
estimate proven reserve quantities based on sampling and testing of sites
conducted by us and by independent companies hired by us. Probable reserves
are
based on information similar to that used for proven reserves, but the sites
for
sampling are less extensive, and the degree of certainty is less. Reserve
estimation is an interpretive process based upon available geological data
and
statistical inferences and is inherently imprecise and may prove to be
unreliable.
Our
reserves are reduced as existing reserves are depleted through production.
Reserves may be reduced due to lower than anticipated volume and grade of
reserves mined and processed and recovery rates.
Reserve
estimates are calculated using assumptions regarding metals prices. These prices
have fluctuated widely in the past. Declines in the market price of metals,
as
well as increased production costs, capital costs and reduced recovery rates,
may render reserves uneconomic to exploit, and lead to a reduction in reserves.
Any material reduction in our reserves may lead to increased net losses, reduced
cash flow, asset write-downs and other adverse effects on our results of
operations and financial condition, including difficulty in obtaining financing
and a decrease in our stock price. Reserves should not be interpreted as
assurances of mine life or of the profitability of current or future operations.
No assurance can be given that the amount of metal estimated will be produced
or
the indicated level of recovery of these metals will be realized.
We
may not achieve our production estimates.
We
prepare estimates of future production for our operations. We develop our
estimates based on, among other things, mining experience, reserve estimates,
assumptions regarding ground conditions and physical characteristics of ores
(such as hardness and presence or absence of certain metallurgical
characteristics) and estimated rates and costs of mining and processing. In
the
past, our actual production from time to time has been lower than our production
estimates and this may be the case in the future.
Each
of
these factors also applies to future development properties not yet in
production and to the Montana Tunnels mine expansion. In the case of mines
we
may develop in the future, we do not have the benefit of actual experience
in
our estimates, and there is a greater likelihood that the actual results
will
vary
from the estimates. In addition, development and expansion projects are subject
to unexpected construction and start-up problems and delays.
Our
future profitability depends in part, on actual economic returns and actual
costs of developing mines, which may differ significantly from our estimates
and
involve unexpected problems, costs and delays.
We
are
engaged in the development of new ore bodies. Our ability to sustain or increase
our present level of production is dependent in part on the successful
exploration and development of new ore bodies and/or expansion of existing
mining operations. Decisions about the development of Black Fox and other future
projects are subject to the successful completion of feasibility studies,
issuance of necessary governmental permits and receipt of adequate
financing.
Development
projects have no operating history upon which to base estimates of future cash
flow. Our estimates of proven and probable ore reserves and cash operating
costs
are, to a large extent, based upon detailed geologic and engineering analysis.
We also conduct feasibility studies that derive estimates of capital and
operating costs based upon many factors.
It
is
possible that actual costs and economic returns may differ materially from
our
best estimates. It is not unusual in the mining industry for new mining
operations to experience unexpected problems during the start-up phase and
to
require more capital than anticipated. There can be no assurance that the Black
Fox property that we are developing will be profitable.
Mineral
exploration in general, and gold exploration in particular, is speculative
and
is frequently unsuccessful.
Mineral
exploration, particularly for gold and silver, is highly speculative in nature,
capital intensive, involves many risks and frequently is nonproductive. There
can be no assurance that our mineral exploration efforts will be successful.
If
we discover a site with gold or other mineralization, it will take a number
of
years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during
which time the economic feasibility of production may change. Substantial
expenditures are required to establish ore reserves through drilling, to
determine metallurgical processes to extract the metals from the ore and, in
the
case of new properties, to construct mining and processing facilities. As a
result of these uncertainties, no assurance can be given that our exploration
programs will result in the expansion or replacement of existing ore reserves
that are being depleted by current production.
We
have a limited operating history on which to evaluate our potential for future
success.
We
were
formed as a result of a merger in June 2002 and have only a limited operating
history upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. During this
period, we have not generated sufficient revenues to cover our expenses and
costs.
The
market price of our common shares could experience volatility and could decline
significantly.
Our
common shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock
Exchange. Our share price has declined significantly since 2004, and in 2007
the
price of our common shares fluctuated from a low of $0.36 per share to a high
of
$0.78 per share. Securities of small-cap companies have experienced substantial
volatility in the past, often based on factors unrelated to the financial
performance
or prospects of the companies involved. These factors include macroeconomic
developments in North America and globally and market perceptions of the
attractiveness of particular industries. Our share price is also likely to
be
significantly affected by short-term changes in gold and zinc prices or in
our
financial condition or results of operations as reflected in our quarterly
earnings reports. As a result of any of these factors, the market price of
our
common shares at any given point in time might not accurately reflect our
long-term value. Securities class action litigation often has been brought
against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their
securities. We could in the future be the target of similar litigation.
Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and damages and divert
management’s attention and resources.
The
existence of outstanding rights to purchase common shares may impair our share
price and our ability to raise capital.
As
of
April 14, 2008, approximately 36.6 million of our common shares are issuable
on
exercise of warrants, options or other rights to purchase common shares at
prices ranging from $0.20 to $2.24. In addition, there are approximately 15.3
million common shares issuable upon the conversion of the $7.7 million
outstanding principal amount of convertible debentures issued February 23,
2007
at the option of the holder at a conversion price of $0.50 per share. During
the
term of the warrants, options and other rights, the holders are given an
opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of our common shares
with
a resulting dilution in the interest of the other shareholders. Our ability
to
obtain additional equity financing during the period such rights are outstanding
may be adversely affected, and the existence of the rights may have an adverse
effect on the price of our common shares. The holders of the warrants, options
and other rights can be expected to exercise them at a time when we would,
in
all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital by a new offering of
securities on terms more favorable than those provided by the outstanding
rights.
If
we complete additional equity financings, then our existing shareholders may
experience dilution.
Any
additional equity financing that we obtain would involve the sale of our common
shares and/or sales of securities that are convertible or exercisable into
our
common shares, such as share purchase warrants or convertible notes. There
is no
assurance that we will be able to complete equity financings that are not
dilutive to our existing shareholders.
The
titles to some of our properties may be uncertain or
defective.
Certain
of our United States mineral rights consist of “unpatented” mining claims
created and maintained in accordance with the U.S. General Mining Law of 1872.
Unpatented mining claims are unique U.S. property interests, and are generally
considered to be subject to greater title risk than other real property
interests because the validity of unpatented mining claims is often uncertain.
This uncertainty arises, in part, out of the complex federal and state laws
and
regulations that supplement the General Mining Law. Also, unpatented mining
claims and related rights, including rights to use the surface, are subject
to
possible challenges by third parties or contests by the federal government.
The
validity of an unpatented mining claim, in terms of both its location and its
maintenance, is dependent on strict compliance with a complex body of federal
and state statutory and decisional law. In addition, there are few public
records that definitively control the issues of validity and ownership of
unpatented mining claims.
In
recent
years, the U.S. Congress has considered a number of proposed amendments to
the
General Mining Law. Although no such legislation has been adopted to date,
there
can be no assurance that such legislation will not be adopted in the future. If
ever adopted, such legislation could, among other things, impose royalties
on
gold production from unpatented mining claims located on federal lands or impose
fees on production from patented mining claims. If such legislation is ever
adopted, it could have an adverse impact on earnings from our operations, could
reduce estimates of our reserves and could curtail our future exploration and
development activity on federal lands or patented claims.
While
we
have no reason to believe that our rights to mine on any of our properties
are
in doubt, title to mining properties are subject to potential claims by third
parties. In September 2006, five of our claims associated with our Black Fox
Project were listed as reopened for staking on the Ministry of Northern
Development and Mines (MNDM) website. These claims totaling 185 acres were
immediately staked by local prospectors. None of our reserves are located on
these claims. Four of these overstaked claims have since been returned to us.
We
are negotiating with the overstaker with respect to the remaining claim;
however, no guarantee can be made that such negotiations will be successful.
It
is our opinion that these claims were erroneously listed as open. We are working
diligently to resolve this matter.
We
may lose rights to properties if we fail to meet payment requirements or
development or production schedules.
We
derive
the rights to most of our mineral properties from unpatented mining claims,
leaseholds, joint ventures or purchase option agreements which require the
payment of maintenance fees, rents, purchase price installments, exploration
expenditures, or other fees. If we fail to make these payments when they are
due, our rights to the property may lapse. There can be no assurance that we
will always make payments by the requisite payment dates. In addition, some
contracts with respect to our mineral properties require development or
production schedules. There can be no assurance that we will be able to meet
any
or all of the development or production schedules. Our ability to transfer
or
sell our rights to some of our mineral properties requires government approvals
or third party consents, which may not be granted.
We
face substantial governmental regulation.
Safety.
Our
U.S. mining operation is subject to inspection and regulation by the Mine Safety
and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor (“MSHA”)
under the provisions of the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) also has jurisdiction over safety and
health standards not covered by MSHA. Our policy is to comply with applicable
directives and regulations of MSHA and OSHA. We have made and expect to make
in
the future, significant expenditures to comply with these laws and
regulations.
Current
Environmental Laws and Regulations.
We must
comply with environmental standards, laws and regulations that may result in
increased costs and delays depending on the nature of the regulated activity
and
how stringently the regulations are implemented by the regulatory authority.
The
costs and delays associated with compliance with such laws and regulations
could
stop us from proceeding with the exploration of a project or the operation
or
future exploration of a mine. Laws and regulations involving the protection
and
remediation of the environment and the governmental policies for implementation
of such laws and regulations are constantly changing and are generally becoming
more restrictive. We have made, and expect to make in the future, significant
expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations.
Some
of
our properties are located in historic mining districts with past production
and
abandoned mines. The major historical mine workings and processing facilities
owned (wholly or partially) by us in Montana are being targeted by the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality (“MDEQ”) for publicly funded cleanup, which
reduces our exposure to financial liability. We are participating with the
MDEQ
under Voluntary Cleanup Plans on those sites. Our cleanup responsibilities
have
been completed at the Corbin Flats Facility and at the Gregory Mine site, both
located in Jefferson County, Montana, under programs involving cooperative
efforts with the MDEQ. MDEQ is also contemplating remediation of the Washington
Mine site at public expense under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act
of 1977 (“SMCRA”). In February 2004, we consented to MDEQ’s entry onto the
portion of the Washington Mine site owned by us to undertake publicly funded
remediation under SMCRA. In March 2004, we entered into a definitive written
settlement agreement with MDEQ and the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) under
which MDEQ will conduct publicly funded remediation of the Wickes Smelter site
under SMCRA and will grant us a site release in exchange for our donation of
the
portion of the site owned by us to BLM for use as a waste repository. However,
there can be no assurance that we will continue to resolve disputed liability
for historical mine and ore processing facility waste sites on such favorable
terms in the future. We remain exposed to liability, or assertions of liability,
that would require expenditure of legal defense costs, under joint and several
liability statutes for cleanups of historical wastes that have not yet been
completed.
Environmental
laws and regulations may also have an indirect impact on us, such as increased
costs for electricity due to acid rain provisions of the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990. Charges by refiners to which we sell our metallic
concentrates and products have substantially increased over the past several
years because of requirements that refiners meet revised environmental quality
standards. We have no control over the refiners’ operations or their compliance
with environmental laws and regulations.
Potential
Legislation.
Changes
to the current laws and regulations governing the operations and activities
of
mining companies, including changes to the U.S. General Mining Law of 1872,
and
permitting, environmental, title, health and safety, labor and tax laws, are
actively considered from time to time. We cannot predict which changes may
be
considered or adopted and changes in these laws and regulations could have
a
material adverse impact on our business. Expenses associated with the compliance
with new laws or regulations could be material. Further, increased expenses
could prevent or delay exploration or mine development projects and could
therefore affect future levels of mineral production.
We
are subject to environmental risks.
Environmental
Liability.
We are
subject to potential risks and liabilities associated with environmental
compliance and the disposal of waste rock and materials that occur as a result
of our mineral exploration and production. To the extent that we are subject
to
environmental liabilities, the payment of such liabilities or the costs that
we
may incur to remedy any non-compliance with environmental laws would reduce
funds otherwise available to us and could have a material adverse effect on
our
financial condition or results of operations. If we are unable to fully remedy
an environmental problem, we might be required to suspend operations or enter
into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remedy.
The
potential exposure may be significant and could have a material adverse effect
on us. We have not purchased insurance for environmental risks (including
potential liability for pollution or other hazards as a result of the disposal
of waste products occurring from exploration and production) because it is
not
generally available at a reasonable price or at all.
Environmental
Permits.
All of
our exploration, development and production activities are subject to regulation
under one or more of the various state, federal and provincial environmental
laws and regulations in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Many of the regulations
require us to obtain permits for our activities. We must update and review
our
permits from time to time, and are subject to environmental impact analyses
and
public review processes prior to approval of the additional activities. It
is
possible that future changes in applicable laws, regulations and permits or
changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could have a
significant impact on some portion of our business, causing those activities
to
be economically reevaluated at that time. Those risks include, but are not
limited to, the risk that regulatory authorities may increase bonding
requirements beyond our financial capabilities. The posting of bonds in
accordance with regulatory determinations is a condition to the right to operate
under all material operating permits, and therefore increases in bonding
requirements could prevent our operations from continuing even if we were in
full compliance with all substantive environmental laws.
We
face strong competition from other mining companies for the acquisition of
new
properties.
Mines
have limited lives and as a result, we may seek to replace and expand our
reserves through the acquisition of new properties. In addition, there is a
limited supply of desirable mineral lands available in the United States, Canada
and Mexico and other areas where we would consider conducting exploration and/or
production activities. Because we face strong competition for new properties
from other mining companies, most of which have greater financial resources
than
we do, we may be unable to acquire attractive new mining
properties.
We
are dependent on certain key personnel.
We
are
currently dependent upon the ability and experience of R. David Russell, our
President and Chief Executive Officer; Richard F. Nanna, our Senior Vice
President-Exploration; and Melvyn Williams, our Chief Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President-Finance and Corporate Development. We believe that our
success depends on the continued service of our key officers and there can
be no
assurance that we will be able to retain any or all of such officers. We
currently do not carry key person insurance on any of these individuals, and
the
loss of one or more of them could have a material adverse effect on our
operations.
There
may be certain tax risks associated with investments in our
company.
Potential
investors that are U.S. taxpayers should consider that we could be considered
to
be a “passive foreign investment company” (a “PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Although we believe that we currently are not a PFIC, the tests for
determining PFIC status are dependent upon a number of factors, some of which
are beyond our ability to predict or control, and we can not assure you that
we
are not currently a PFIC or that will not become a PFIC in the future. If we
are
or become a PFIC, a U.S. taxpayer who disposes of (or is deemed to dispose
of)
our common shares at a gain or who receives a so-called “excess distribution” on
our common shares generally would be subject to a special adverse tax regime.
Such gains and excess distributions would be allocated ratably to the U.S.
taxpayer’s holding period. The portion of any such gains and excess
distributions allocated to the current year would be includible as ordinary
income in the current year. Prior years’ allocations would be taxed at the
highest marginal rate applicable to ordinary income for each such year and
would
be subject to interest charges to reflect the value of the U.S. income tax
deferral. Additional special adverse rules also apply to investors who are
U.S.
taxpayers who own our common shares if we are a PFIC and have a non-U.S.
subsidiary that is also a PFIC. Special estate tax rules could be applicable
to
our common shares if we are a PFIC.
Possible
hedging activities could expose us to losses.
In
connection with our $8.0 million borrowing with RMB Australia Holdings Limited
in October 2007, we were required to enter into hedges of approximately 65%
and
40%, respectively, of our share of lead and zinc production from the Montana
Tunnels mine during the 12 months following the date of the borrowing. In the
future, we may enter into precious and/or base metals hedging contracts that
may
involve outright forward sales contracts, spot-deferred sales contracts, the
use
of options which may involve the sale of call options and the purchase of all
these hedging instruments. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
successfully hedge against price, currency and interest rate fluctuations.
Further, there can be no assurance that the use of hedging techniques will
always be to our benefit. Some hedging instruments may prevent us from realizing
the benefit from subsequent increases in market prices with respect to covered
production. This limitation would limit our revenues and profits. Hedging
contracts are also subject to the risk that the other party may be unable or
unwilling to perform its obligations under these contracts. Any significant
nonperformance could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition
and results of operations.
Our
operations may be adversely affected by risks and hazards associated with the
mining industry.
Our
business is subject to a number of risks and hazards including adverse
environmental effects, technical difficulties due to unusual or unexpected
geologic formations, and pit wall failures.
Such
risks could result in personal injury, environmental damage, damage to and
destruction of production facilities, delays in mining and liability. For some
of these risks, we maintain insurance to protect against these losses at levels
consistent with our historical experience and industry practice. However, we
may
not be able to maintain current levels of insurance, particularly if there
is a
significant increase in the cost of premiums. Insurance against environmental
risks is generally too expensive or not available for us and other companies
in
our industry, and, therefore, we do not maintain environmental insurance. To
the
extent we are subject to environmental liabilities, we would have to pay for
these liabilities. Moreover, in the event that we are unable to fully pay for
the cost of remediating an environmental problem, we might be required to
suspend or significantly curtail operations or enter into other interim
compliance measures.
You
could have difficulty or be unable to enforce certain civil liabilities on
us,
certain of our directors and our experts.
We
are a
Yukon Territory, Canada, corporation. While our principal executive officer
is
located in the United States, many of our assets are located outside of the
United States. Additionally, a number of our directors are residents of Canada.
It might not be possible for investors in the United States to collect judgments
obtained in United States courts predicated on the civil liability provisions
of
U.S. securities legislation. It could also be difficult for you to effect
service of process in connection with any action brought in the United States
upon such directors. Execution by United States courts of any judgment obtained
against us, or any of the directors, executive officers or experts identified
in
this prospectus or documents incorporated by reference herein, in United States
courts would be limited to the assets, or the assets of such persons or
corporations, as the case might be, in the United States. The enforceability
in
Canada of United States judgments or liabilities in original actions in Canadian
courts predicated solely upon the civil liability provisions of the federal
securities laws of the United States is doubtful.
RATIO
OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The
ratios of our earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated are as
follows:
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
Ratio
of Earnings
to
Fixed Charges
|
|
1.2x
|
|
--
(1)
|
|
--
(1)
|
|
--
(1)
|
|
--
(1)
|
(1)
Our
earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by the following amounts
for
the years ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
$12,560,000
|
|
$13,428,000
|
|
$27,043,000
|
|
$15,585,000
|
The
computation of earnings to fixed charges is based on the applicable amounts
for
us and our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. For purposes of computing
these
ratios, earnings consist of operating income before income taxes plus fixed
charges. Fixed charges consist of interest charges which include accretion
on
convertible debentures.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
Unless
otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use
the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered under this prospectus
for the exploration and development of our properties, acquisition, exploration
and development of additional properties or interests, working capital and
general corporate purposes.
Pending
the application of the net proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds in
short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments, or other
investment-grade securities.
The
selling shareholder will receive all of the proceeds from the sales of the
shares of common shares offered by it. We will not receive any proceeds from
the
sales of the common shares by the selling shareholder.
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
We
may
issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The following
description summarizes the general terms of the debt securities that we may
offer pursuant to this prospectus that are common to all series. The particular
terms of any series of our debt securities will be described in the prospectus
supplement relating to those debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable
prospectus supplement for the terms of the series of debt securities offered
because the terms of specific series of debt securities may differ from the
general information that we have provided below.
We
conduct substantially our operations in the United States and Mexico through
subsidiaries. As a result, claims of the holders of the debt securities will
generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries,
except to the extent that we may be recognized as a creditor of those
subsidiaries. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries other than us may include
substantial amounts of long-term debt, commercial paper and other short-term
borrowings.
As
required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly
offered, the debt securities will be governed by a document called an
“indenture.” An indenture is a contract between a financial institution, acting
on your behalf as trustee of the debt securities offered, and us. The debt
securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture that we will enter into
with
a trustee, which we will select. When we refer to the “indenture” in this
prospectus, we are referring to the indenture under which your debt securities
are issued, as may be supplemented by any supplemental indenture applicable
to
your debt securities. The trustee has two main roles. First, subject to some
limitations on the extent to which the trustee can act on your behalf, the
trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default on our obligations
under the indenture. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties
for us with respect to the debt securities.
A
prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any particular series
of debt securities, including any of the terms in this section that will not
apply to that series, and any special considerations, including tax
considerations, applicable to those debt securities. The prospectus supplement
relating to each series of debt securities that we offer using this prospectus
will be attached to the front of this prospectus. In some instances, certain
of
the precise terms of debt securities you are offered may be described in a
further prospectus supplement. If information in a prospectus supplement is
inconsistent with the information in this prospectus, then the information
in
the prospectus supplement will apply and, where applicable, supersede the
information in this prospectus.
The
following section is a summary of the principal terms and provisions that will
be included in the indenture, unless otherwise provided in any applicable
prospectus supplement. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe
every aspect of the debt securities or the indenture. We urge you to read the
indenture and any supplement thereto that are applicable to you. The form of
indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information
on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.
General
The
senior debt securities will have the same ranking as all of our other unsecured
and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured
and
will be subordinated and junior to all senior indebtedness.
The
debt
securities may be issued in one or more separate series of senior debt
securities and/or subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement
relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered will specify
the particular amounts, prices and terms of those debt securities. These terms
may include:
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the
title of the debt securities;
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any
limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities;
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the
date or dates, or the method of determining the dates, on which the
debt
securities will mature;
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the
interest rate or rates of the debt securities, or the method of
determining those rates, the interest payment dates and, for registered
debt securities, the regular record
dates;
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if
a debt security is issued with original issue discount, the yield
to
maturity;
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the
places where payments may be made on the debt
securities;
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any
mandatory or optional redemption provisions applicable to the debt
securities;
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any
sinking fund or analogous provisions applicable to the debt
securities;
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any
conversion or exchange provisions applicable to the debt
securities;
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any
terms for the attachment to the debt securities of warrants, options
or
other rights to purchase or sell our
securities;
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the
portion of the principal amount of the debt security payable upon
the
acceleration of maturity if other than the entire principal amount
of the
debt securities;
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any
deletions of, or changes or additions to, the events of default or
covenants applicable to the debt
securities;
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if
other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which payments
of
principal, premium and/or interest on the debt securities will be
payable
and whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different
currency;
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the
method of determining the amount of any payments on the debt securities
which are linked to an index;
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whether
the debt securities will be issued in fully registered form without
coupons or in bearer form, with or without coupons, or any combination
of
these, and whether they will be issued in the form of one or more
global
securities in temporary or definitive
form;
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any
terms relating to the delivery of the debt securities if they are
to be
issued upon the exercise of
warrants;
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whether
and on what terms we will pay additional amounts to holders of the
debt
securities that are not U.S. persons in respect of any tax, assessment
or
governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether and
on what
terms we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather
than
pay the additional amounts; and
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any
other specific terms of the debt
securities.
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Unless
otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, (1) the debt
securities will be registered debt securities and (2) debt securities
denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued, in the case of registered debt
securities, in denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 and,
in
the case of bearer debt securities, in denominations of $5,000. Debt securities
may bear legends required by U.S. federal tax law and regulations.
If
any of
the debt securities are sold for any foreign currency or currency unit or if
any
payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency
unit, the prospectus supplement will contain any restrictions, elections, tax
consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to the debt
securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.
Exchange,
Registration and Transfer
Debt
securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust office of
the
security registrar or at any other office or agency maintained by us for these
purposes, without the payment of any service charge, except for any tax or
governmental charges. The senior trustee initially will be the designated
security registrar in the United States for the senior debt securities. The
subordinated trustee initially will be the designated security registrar in
the
United States for the subordinated debt securities.
If
debt
securities are issuable as both registered debt securities and bearer debt
securities, the bearer debt securities will be exchangeable for registered
debt
securities. Except as provided below, bearer
debt securities will have outstanding coupons. If a bearer debt security with
related coupons is surrendered in exchange for a registered debt security
between a record date and the date set for the payment of interest, the bearer
debt security will be surrendered without the coupon relating to that interest
payment and that payment will be made only to the holder of the coupon when
due.
In
the
event of any redemption in part of any class or series of debt securities,
we
will not be required to:
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issue,
register the transfer of, or exchange, debt securities of any series
between the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt
securities of that series to be redeemed and the close of business:
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if
debt securities of the series are issuable only as registered debt
securities, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption,
and
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if
debt securities of the series are issuable as bearer debt securities,
the
day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption
or, if
debt securities of the series are also issuable as registered debt
securities and there is no publication, the day of mailing of the
relevant
notice of redemption;
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register
the transfer, or exchange, of any registered debt security selected
for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any
registered debt security being redeemed in part;
or
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exchange
any bearer debt security selected for redemption, except to exchange
it
for a registered debt security which is simultaneously surrendered
for
redemption.
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Payment
and Paying Agent
We
will
pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered securities in the
designated currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent.
Payment of interest on fully registered securities may be made at our option
by
check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered
on
days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement.
We
will
pay principal, interest and any premium on bearer securities in the designated
currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent or agents
outside of the United States. Payments will be made at the offices of the paying
agent in the United States only if the designated currency is U.S. dollars
and
payment outside of the United States is illegal or effectively precluded. If
any
amount payable on any debt security or coupon remains unclaimed at the end
of
two years after that amount became due and payable, the paying agent will
release any unclaimed amounts to us, and the holder of the debt security or
coupon will look only to us for payment.
Global
Securities
A
global
security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities.
Generally all debt securities represented by the same global securities will
have the same terms. Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be
represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name
of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial
institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless
we
specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depositary Trust
Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt
securities that are issued in book-entry form.
A
global
security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other
than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise.
As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be
the
sole registered holder of all debt securities represented by a global security,
and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global
security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a
broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account either
with the depositary or with another institution that has an account with the
depositary. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security
will not be registered holder of the debt security, but an indirect holder
of a
beneficial interest in the global security.
Temporary
Global Securities
All
or
any portion of the debt securities of a series that are issuable as bearer
debt
securities initially may be represented by one or more temporary global debt
securities, without interest coupons, to be deposited with the depositary for
credit to the accounts of the beneficial owners of the debt securities or to
other accounts as they may direct. On and after an exchange date provided in
the
applicable prospectus supplement, each temporary global debt security will
be
exchangeable for definitive debt securities in bearer form, registered form,
definitive global bearer form or any combination of these forms, as specified
in
the prospectus supplement. No bearer debt security delivered in exchange for
a
portion of a temporary global debt security will be mailed or delivered to
any
location in the United States.
Interest
on a temporary global debt security will be paid to the depositary with respect
to the portion held for its account only after they deliver to the trustee
a
certificate which states that the portion:
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has
not been acquired by or on behalf of a United States person or for
offer
to resell or for resale to a United States person or any person inside
the
United States; or
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if
a beneficial interest has been acquired by a United States person,
that
the person is a financial institution, as defined in the Internal
Revenue
Code, purchasing for its own account or has acquired the debt security
through a financial institution and that the debt securities are
held by a
financial institution that has agreed in writing to comply with the
requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal
Revenue
Code and the regulations to the Internal Revenue Code and that it
did not
purchase for resale inside the United States.
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The
certificate must be based on statements provided by the beneficial owners of
interests in the temporary global debt security. The depositary will credit
the
interest received by it to the accounts of the beneficial owners of the debt
security or to other accounts as they may direct.
“United
States person” means a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation,
partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States or an estate or trust with income subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source.
Definitive
Global Securities
Bearer
Securities.
The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the exchange provisions, if
any,
of debt securities issuable in definitive global bearer form. We will not
deliver any bearer debt securities delivered in exchange for a portion of a
definitive global debt security to any location in the United States.
U.S.
Book-Entry Securities.
Debt
securities of a series represented by a definitive global registered debt
security and deposited with or on behalf of a depositary in the United States
will be represented by a definitive global debt security registered in the
name
of the depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a global debt security
and the deposit of the global debt security with the depositary, the depositary
will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective
principal amounts represented by that global debt security to the accounts
of
participating institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its
nominee. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the underwriters
or
agents for the sale of U.S. book-entry debt securities or by our company, if
these debt securities are offered and sold directly by our company.
Ownership
of U.S. book-entry debt securities will be limited to participants or persons
that may hold interests through participants. In addition, ownership of U.S.
book-entry debt securities will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that
ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary
or
its nominee for the definitive global debt security or by participants or
persons that hold through participants.
So
long
as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a global debt
security, that depositary or nominee, as the case may be, will be considered
the
sole owner or holder of the U.S. book-entry debt securities represented by
that
global debt security for all purposes under the indenture. Payment of principal
of, and premium and interest, if any, on, U.S. book-entry debt securities will
be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner or the holder
of the global debt security representing the U.S. book-entry debt securities.
Owners of U.S. book-entry debt securities:
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will
not be entitled to have the debt securities registered in their
names;
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will
not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities
in
definitive form; and
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will
not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under
the
indenture.
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The
laws
of some jurisdictions require that purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws impair the ability to
purchase or transfer U.S. book-entry debt securities.
We
expect
that the depositary for U.S. book-entry debt securities of a series, upon
receipt of any payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on,
the
related definitive global debt security, will immediately credit participants’
accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial
interests in the principal amount of the global debt security as shown on the
records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to
owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security held through those
participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those
participants.
Covenants
of the Company
We
may,
without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, merge into or
consolidate with any other person, or convey or transfer all or substantially
all of our company’s properties and assets to another person provided
that:
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the
successor assumes on the same terms and conditions all the obligations
under the debt securities and the indentures;
and
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immediately
after giving effect to the transaction, there is no default under
the
applicable indenture.
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The
remaining or acquiring person will be substituted for our company in the
indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the
indenture. A prospectus supplement will describe any other limitations on the
ability of our company to merge into, consolidate with, or convey or transfer
all or substantially all or our properties and assets to, another person.
Satisfaction
and Discharge; Defeasance
We
may be
discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of any class or series
that have matured or will mature or be redeemed within one year if we deposit
with the trustee enough cash and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign
government securities, as the case may be, to pay all the principal, interest
and any premium due to the stated maturity or redemption date of the debt
securities and comply with the other conditions set forth in the applicable
indenture. The principal conditions that we must satisfy to discharge our
obligations on any debt securities are (1) pay all other sums payable with
respect to the applicable series of debt securities and (2) deliver to the
trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel which state that the
required conditions have been satisfied.
Each
indenture contains a provision that permits our company to elect to be
discharged from all of our obligations with respect to any class or series
of
debt securities then outstanding. However, even if we effect a legal defeasance,
some of our obligations will continue, including obligations to:
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maintain
and apply money in the defeasance
trust;
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register
the transfer or exchange of the debt
securities;
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replace
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities;
and
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maintain
a registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt
securities.
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Each
indenture also permits our company to elect to be released from our obligations
under specified covenants and from the consequences of an event of default
resulting from a breach of those covenants. To make either of the above
elections, we must deposit in trust with the trustee cash and/or U.S. government
obligations, if the debt securities are denominated in U.S. dollars, and/or
foreign government securities if the debt securities are denominated in a
foreign currency, which through the payment of principal and interest under
their terms will provide sufficient amounts, without reinvestment, to repay
in
full those debt securities. As a condition to legal defeasance or covenant
defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the
holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for
U.S.
federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and defeasance and will
be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same amount and in the same manner
and times as would have been the case if the deposit and defeasance had not
occurred. In the case of a legal defeasance only, the opinion of counsel must
be
based on a ruling of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other change in
applicable U.S. federal income tax law.
The
indentures specify the types of U.S. government obligations and foreign
government securities that we may deposit.
Events
of Default, Notice and Waiver
Each
indenture defines an event of default with respect to any class or series of
debt securities as one or more of the following events:
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failure
to pay interest on any debt security of the class or series for 30
days
when due;
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failure
to pay the principal or any premium on any debt securities of the
class or
series when due;
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failure
to make any sinking fund payment for 30 days when
due;
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failure
to perform any other covenant in the debt securities of the series
or in
the applicable indenture with respect to debt securities of the series
for
90 days after being given notice; and
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occurrence
of an event of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization set forth
in the
indenture.
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An
event
of default for a particular class or series of debt securities does not
necessarily constitute an event of default for any other class or series of
debt
securities issued under an indenture.
In
the
case of an event of default arising from events of bankruptcy or insolvency
set
forth in the indenture, all outstanding debt securities will become due and
payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other event of
default as to a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee
or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding
debt
securities of that series may declare all the debt securities to be due and
payable immediately.
The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities
then
outstanding by notice to the trustee may on behalf of the holders of all of
the
debt securities of that series waive any existing default or event of default
and its consequences under the applicable indenture except a continuing default
or event of default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the
debt
securities of that series.
Each
indenture requires the trustee to, within 90 days after the occurrence of a
default known to it with respect to any outstanding series of debt securities,
give the holders of that class or series notice of the default if uncured or
not
waived. However, the trustee may withhold this notice if it determines in good
faith that the withholding of this notice is in the interest of those holders,
except that the trustee may not withhold this notice in the case of a payment
default. The term “default” for the purpose of this provision means any event
that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of
default with respect to debt securities of that series.
Other
than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an event of
default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers
under the applicable indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders
of debt securities, unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable
security and indemnity. Each indenture provides that the holders of a majority
in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may direct
the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to
the trustee, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee
if
the direction would not conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture.
However, the trustee may take any other action that it deems proper which is
not
inconsistent with any direction and may decline
to follow any direction if it in good faith determines that the directed action
would involve it in personal liability.
Each
indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the trustee a
certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.
Modification
of the Indentures
We
and
the applicable trustee may modify an indenture without the consent of the
holders for limited purposes, including adding to our covenants or events of
default, establishing forms or terms of debt securities, curing ambiguities
and
other purposes which do not adversely affect the holders in any material
respect.
We
and
the applicable trustee may make modifications and amendments to an indenture
with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of all affected series. However, without the consent
of each affected holder, no modification may:
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change
the stated maturity of any debt
security;
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reduce
the principal, premium, if any, or rate of interest on any debt
security;
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change
any place of payment or the currency in which any debt security is
payable;
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impair
the right to enforce any payment after the stated maturity or redemption
date;
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adversely
affect the terms of any conversion
right;
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reduce
the percentage of holders of outstanding debt securities of any series
required to consent to any modification, amendment or waiver under
the
indenture;
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change
any of our obligations, with respect to outstanding debt securities
of a
series, to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the
purposes
specified in the indenture for the series;
or
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change
the provisions in the indenture that relate to its modification or
amendment other than to increase the percentage of outstanding debt
securities of any series required to consent to any modification
or waiver
under the indenture.
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Meetings
The
indentures contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt
securities of a series. A meeting may be called at any time by the trustee
and
also, upon request, by our company or the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, in any case upon notice
given in accordance with “Notices” below. Persons holding a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will constitute
a quorum at a meeting. A meeting called by our company or the trustee that
does
not have a quorum may be adjourned for not less than 10 days. If there is not
a
quorum at the adjourned meeting, the meeting may be further adjourned for not
less than 10 days. Any resolution presented at a meeting at which a quorum
is
present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, except
for
any consent which must be given by the holders of each debt security affected
by
the modifications or amendments of an indenture described above under
“Modification of the Indentures.”
However,
a resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver, or other action which may be made, given, or taken
by
the holders of a specified percentage, which is equal to or less than a
majority, in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series may
be
adopted at a meeting at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of
the
holders of the specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
debt
securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any
meeting of holders of debt securities of any series duly held in accordance
with
an indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series
and the related coupons. The indentures provide that specified consents, waivers
and other actions may be given by the holders of a specified percentage of
outstanding debt securities of all series affected by the modification or
amendment, acting as one class. For purposes of these consents, waivers and
actions, only the principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series
represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present and voting in favor of
the
action will be counted for purposes of calculating the aggregate principal
amount of outstanding debt securities of all series affected by the modification
or amendment favoring the action.
Notices
In
most
instances, notices to holders of bearer debt securities will be given by
publication at least once in a daily newspaper in New York, New York and in
London, England and in other cities as may be specified in the bearer debt
securities and will be mailed to those persons whose names and addresses were
previously filed with the applicable trustee, within the time prescribed for
the
giving of the notice. Notice to holders of registered debt securities will
be
given by mail to the addresses of those holders as they appear in the security
register.
Title
Title
to
any bearer debt securities and any related coupons will pass by delivery. We,
the trustee, and any agent of ours or the trustee may treat the holder of any
bearer debt security or related coupon and, prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer, the registered owner of any registered debt security
as the absolute owner of that debt security for the purpose of making payment
and for all other purposes, regardless of whether or not that debt security
or
coupon shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the
contrary.
Replacement
of Securities Coupons
Debt
securities or coupons that have been mutilated will be replaced by our company
at the expense of the holder upon surrender of the mutilated debt security
or
coupon to the security registrar. Debt securities or coupons that become
destroyed, stolen, or lost will be replaced by our company at the expense of
the
holder upon delivery to the security registrar of evidence of its destruction,
loss, or theft satisfactory to our company and the security registrar. In the
case of a destroyed, lost, or stolen debt security or coupon, the holder of
the
debt security or coupon may be required to provide reasonable security or
indemnity to the trustee and our company before a replacement debt security
will
be issued.
Governing
Law
The
indentures, the debt securities, and the coupons will be governed by, and
construed under, the laws of the State of New York without regard to the
principles of conflicts of laws.
Concerning
the Trustees
We
may
from time to time maintain lines of credit, and have other customary banking
relationships, with any of the trustees.
Senior
Debt Securities
The
senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our company’s other
unsecured and non-subordinated debt.
Certain
Covenants in the Senior Indenture
The
prospectus supplement relating to a series of senior debt securities will
describe any material covenants in respect of that series of senior debt
securities.
Subordinated
Debt Securities
The
subordinated debt securities will be unsecured. The subordinated debt securities
will be subordinate in right of payment to all senior indebtedness. In addition,
claims of creditors and preferred shareholders of our subsidiaries generally
will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries
over the claims of our creditors, including holders of the subordinated debt
securities, even though those obligations may not constitute senior
indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities, therefore, will be effectively
subordinated to creditors, including trade creditors, and preferred shareholders
of our subsidiaries, if any, with regard to the assets of our subsidiaries.
Creditors of our subsidiaries include trade creditors, secured creditors and
creditors holding guarantees issued by our subsidiaries.
Unless
otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, senior indebtedness shall mean
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all indebtedness for money
borrowed by our company and any deferrals, renewals, or extensions of any senior
indebtedness. Indebtedness for money borrowed by our company includes all
indebtedness of another person for money borrowed that we guarantee, other
than
the subordinated debt securities, whether outstanding on the date of execution
of the subordinated indenture or created, assumed or incurred after the date
of
the subordinated indenture. However, senior indebtedness will not include any
indebtedness that expressly states to have the same rank as the subordinated
debt securities or to rank junior to the subordinated debt securities. Senior
indebtedness will also not include:
|
· |
any
of our obligations to our subsidiaries;
and
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· |
any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing
by our
company.
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The
senior debt securities constitute senior indebtedness under the subordinated
indenture. A prospectus supplement will describe the relative ranking among
different series of subordinated debt securities.
Unless
otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, we may not make any payment
on
the subordinated debt securities and may not purchase, redeem, or retire any
subordinated debt securities if any senior indebtedness is not paid when due
or
the maturity of any senior indebtedness is accelerated as a result of a default,
unless the default has been cured or waived and the acceleration has been
rescinded or the senior indebtedness has been paid in full. We may, however,
pay
the subordinated debt securities without regard to these limitations if the
subordinated trustee and our company receive written notice approving
the payment from the representatives of the holders of senior indebtedness
with
respect to which either of the events set forth above has occurred and is
continuing. Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, during the
continuance of any default with respect to any designated senior indebtedness
under which its maturity may be accelerated immediately without further notice
or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, we may not pay the
subordinated debt securities for 90 days after the receipt by the subordinated
trustee of written notice of a default from the representatives of the holders
of designated senior indebtedness. If the holders of designated senior
indebtedness or the representatives of those holders have not accelerated the
maturity of the designated senior indebtedness at the end of the 90 day period,
we may resume payments on the subordinated debt securities. Only one notice
may
be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the number of
defaults with respect to designated senior indebtedness during that period.
In
the
event that we pay or distribute our company’s assets to creditors upon a total
or partial liquidation, dissolution or reorganization of our company or our
company’s property, the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to
receive payment in full of the senior indebtedness before the holders of
subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment. Until the
senior indebtedness is paid in full, any payment or distribution to which
holders of subordinated debt securities would be entitled but for the
subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture will be made to holders
of the senior indebtedness as their respective interests may appear. However,
holders of subordinated debt securities will be permitted to receive
distributions of shares and debt securities subordinated to the senior
indebtedness. If a distribution is made to holders of subordinated debt
securities that, due to the subordination provisions, should not have been
made
to them, the holders of subordinated debt securities are required to hold it
in
trust for the holders of senior indebtedness, and pay it over to them as their
interests may appear.
If
payment of the subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event
of default, either we or the subordinated trustee will promptly notify the
holders of senior indebtedness or the representatives of the holders of the
acceleration. We may not pay the subordinated debt securities until five
business days after the holders or the representatives of the senior
indebtedness receive notice of the acceleration. Afterwards, we may pay the
subordinated debt securities only if the subordination provisions of the
subordinated indenture otherwise permit payment at that time.
As
a
result of the subordination provisions contained in the subordinated indenture,
in the event of insolvency, our creditors who are holders of senior indebtedness
may recover more, ratably, than the holders of subordinated debt securities.
In
addition, our creditors who are not holders of senior indebtedness may recover
less, ratably, than holders of senior indebtedness and may recover more,
ratably, than the holders of subordinated indebtedness.
The
prospectus supplement relating to a series of subordinated debt securities
will
describe any material covenants in respect of any series of subordinated debt
securities.
DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
We
are
authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares, without par value.
As
of April 14, 2008, there were 160,975,757 common shares
outstanding.
Dividend
Rights
Holders
of our common shares may receive dividends when, as and if declared by our
board
on the common shares, subject to the preferential dividend rights of any other
classes or series of shares of our
company. In no event may a dividend be declared or paid on the common shares
if
payment of the dividend would cause the realizable value of our company’s assets
to be less than the aggregate of its liabilities and the amount required to
redeem all of the shares having redemption or retraction rights, which are
then
outstanding.
Voting
and Other Rights
Holders
of our common shares are entitled to one vote per share, and in general, all
matters will be determined by a majority of votes cast.
Election
of Directors
All
of
the directors serve from the date of election or appointment until the earlier
of the next annual meeting of the company’s shareholders or the date on which
their successors are elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions
of
our By-laws and Articles of Incorporation. Directors are elected by a majority
of votes cast.
Liquidation
In
the
event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Apollo Gold, holders
of
the common shares have the right to a ratable portion of the assets remaining
after payment of liabilities and liquidation preferences of any preferred shares
or other securities that may then be outstanding.
Redemption
Apollo
Gold common shares are not redeemable or convertible.
Other
Provisions
All
outstanding common shares are, and the common shares offered by this prospectus
or obtainable on exercise or conversion of other securities offered hereby,
if
issued in the manner described in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplement, will be, fully paid and non-assessable.
You
should read the prospectus supplement relating to any offering of common shares,
or of securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for common shares,
for
the terms of the offering, including the number of common shares offered, any
initial offering price and market prices relating to the common
shares.
This
section is a summary and may not describe every aspect of our common shares
that
may be important to you. We urge you to read our Articles of Incorporation,
as
amended, and our By-laws, because they, and not this description, define your
rights as a holder of our common shares. See “Where You Can Find More
Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these
documents.
CIBC
Mellon Trust Company, 320
Bay
Street, P.O. Box 1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 4A6,
is the
transfer agent and registrar for our common shares.
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
We
may
issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, common shares or units
consisting of any combination of the foregoing securities. Each series of
warrants will be issued under a separate warrant
agreement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of
the
warrants offered, including but not limited to the following:
(1) the
number of warrants offered;
(2) the
price
or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
(3) the
currency or currencies in which the prices of the warrants may be
payable;
(4) the
securities for which the warrants are exercisable;
(5) whether
the warrants will be issued with any other securities and, if so, the amount
and
terms of these securities;
(6) the
amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of each warrant and the price
at
which and the currency or currencies in which the securities may be purchased
upon such exercise;
(7) the
events or conditions under which the amount of securities may be subject to
adjustment;
(8) the
date
on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on
which such right shall expire;
(9) the
circumstances, if any, which will cause the warrants to be deemed to be
automatically exercised;
(10) any
material risk factors relating to such warrants;
(11) if
applicable, the identity of the warrant agent; and
(12) any
other
terms of such warrants.
Prior
to
the exercise of any warrants, holders of such warrants will not have any rights
of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the
right
to receive payments of dividends, or the right to vote such underlying
securities.
Prospective
purchasers of warrants should be aware that special United States federal income
tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to instruments such
as warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe such
considerations, to the extent they are material, as they apply generally to
purchasers of such warrants.
SELLING
SHAREHOLDER
The
following table sets forth, as of April 14, 2008:
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·
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The
name of the selling shareholder;
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·
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The
number of shares and the percentage of shares beneficially owned
by the
selling shareholder;
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·
|
The
maximum number of shares that may be offered by the selling
shareholder;
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|
·
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The
number of shares and the percentage of shares to be beneficially
owned by
the selling shareholder after the sale of all the
shares.
|
The
selling shareholder may offer and sell, from time to time, some or all of the
shares covered by this prospectus. The actual number of shares, if any, to
be
offered by the selling shareholder and the number of shares and the percentage
of shares to be beneficially owned by the selling shareholder following such
offering will be disclosed in an applicable prospectus supplement. We have
registered the shares covered by this prospectus for offer and sale by the
selling shareholder so that those shares may be freely sold to the public by
it.
Registration of the shares covered by this prospectus does not mean, however,
that those shares necessarily will be offered or sold.
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|
Shares
Beneficially Owned (1)
|
|
Common
Shares Offered Hereby
|
|
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
After Sale of Common Shares
Offered
Hereby
|
Name
and Address
of
Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number
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|
Percentage
(3)
|
|
Number
|
|
Number
(2)
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|
Percentage |
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St
Andrew Goldfields Ltd.
1540
Cornwall Road
Suite
212
Oakville,
Ontario
Canada
L6J 7W5
|
|
28,675,000
|
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17.8%
|
|
28,675,000
|
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-0-
|
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0%
|
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, a person is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days, including the right to
acquire through the exercise of an option or warrant or through the conversion
of a security.
(2)
Assumes that all of the shares currently beneficially owned by the selling
shareholder and registered hereunder are sold and the selling shareholder
acquires no additional common shares before the completion of this
offering.
(3)
The
percentage ownership for the selling shareholder is based on 160,975,757 common
shares outstanding as of April 14, 2008.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
and
the selling shareholder may offer the securities directly to one or more
purchasers, through agents, or through underwriters or dealers designated from
time to time. We and the selling shareholder may distribute the securities
from
time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices (which
may
be changed from time to time), at market prices prevailing at the times of
sale,
at prices related to these prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
We
and the selling shareholder may offer securities in the same offering, or we
and
the selling shareholder may offer securities in separate offerings. The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of
the
securities, including:
the
offeror(s) of the securities;
the
terms
of the securities to which the prospectus supplement relates;
the
name
or names of any underwriters;
the
purchase price of the securities (if then known) and the proceeds to be received
from the sale;
any
underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
and
any
discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
If
underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the
underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one
or
more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering
price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may
be
either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by
managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The obligations
of
the underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to the conditions
precedent agreed to by the parties and the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all the securities of a class or series if any are purchased. Any
initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Securities
may be sold directly by our company or the selling shareholder or through agents
designated by our company or the selling shareholder from time to time. Any
agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this
prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by our
company or the selling shareholder to any agent will be set forth, in the
prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement,
any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its
appointment.
We
or the
selling shareholder may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers
by
eligible institutions to purchase securities from our company or the selling
shareholder at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement
under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a
specified date in the future. The conditions to these contracts and the
commissions payable for solicitation of these contracts will be set forth in
the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Agents
and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by our company or the
selling shareholder against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents
or underwriters may be required to make relating to these liabilities. Agents
and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, our company in the ordinary course of business.
In
addition, any securities covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale
pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A under the Securities Act may be sold under
Rule 144 or Rule 144A rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
Each
class or series of securities other than the common shares will be a new issue
of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter may make
a
market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can
be
given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any securities.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Lackowicz,
Shier & Hoffman, Yukon Territory, Canada, has provided its opinion on the
validity of the securities offered by this prospectus.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Chartered
Accountants, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by
reference, which report expresses an unqualified opinion on the financial
statements and includes a separate report titled Comments by Independent
Registered Chartered Accountants on Canada - United States of America Reporting
Differences referring to changes in accounting principles and substantial doubt
on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority
as experts in accounting and auditing.
Our
reserves at December 31, 2007 incorporated in
this
prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2007, were
prepared by us and audited by SRK Consulting (US), Inc. All information
regarding reserves incorporated by reference herein is in reliance upon the
authority of that form as experts in such matters.
You
should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in
this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus. We have authorized no
one
to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these
securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of this prospectus.
APOLLO
GOLD CORPORATION
$100,000,000
Debt Securities, Common Shares and Warrants
28,675,000
Shares of Common Shares Offered by Selling Shareholder
______________________
PROSPECTUS
______________________