UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x

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

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to            

 

Commission File Number: 001-32986

 

General Moly, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

91-0232000

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

1726 Cole Blvd., Suite 115
Lakewood, CO 80401
Telephone:  (303) 928-8599
(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.  YES x NO o

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

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

 

The number of shares outstanding of registrant’s common stock as of November 6, 2009 was 72,437,538.

 

 

 



 

GENERAL MOLY, INC.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

On November 3, 2009, General Moly, Inc. (the “Company”) determined that its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 contained an error with respect to the balance sheet classification of the POS-Minerals interest in Eureka Moly, LLC (the “LLC”). We classified the POS-Minerals interest as noncontrolling interest as of March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 (and as minority interest within temporary equity as of December 31, 2008 prior to our implementation of FASB guidance for Noncontrolling Interests).  After  completion of  a recent review and evaluation of the related LLC agreement  with POS-Minerals , management determined that POS-Minerals interest in the LLC is more appropriately  classified as temporary equity because of a provision in the LLC Agreement that  permits POS-Minerals the option to put its interest in the LLC to the Company’s subsidiary, Nevada Moly, upon  a change of control of the Company, as defined in the LLC agreement, followed by (i) failure to begin full construction at the LLC by the Company or the surviving entity before December 31, 2010, or (ii) failure to use standard mining industry practice in connection with development and operation of the project as contemplated by the parties for a period of twelve months after December 31, 2010.  If POS-Minerals put its interest, Nevada Moly would be required to purchase the interest for 120 percent of POS-Minerals contributions to the LLC plus 10 percent interest.

 

The following table reflects the impact of the reclassification on the Company’s balance sheet for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009:

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2009

 

As of June 30, 2009

 

 

 

As Originally Reported

 

As Restated

 

As Originally Reported

 

As Restated

 

Total Liabilities

 

7,459

 

7,459

 

8,117

 

8,117

 

Contingently Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

 

0

 

99,897

 

0

 

99,761

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

99,897

 

0

 

99,761

 

0

 

Total Equity

 

210,258

 

110,361

 

207,734

 

107,973

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

217,717

 

$

217,717

 

$

215,851

 

$

215,851

 

 

The restatement will have no impact on net loss attributable to the Company or to cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2009 or for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.

 

Based on the foregoing, on November 3, 2009, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of management and after discussion with the Company’s independent accountants, concluded that the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and as of and for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 should no longer be relied upon. The Audit Committee also concluded that these unaudited consolidated financial statements should be restated to reflect this change.

 

2



 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

GENERAL MOLY, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

 

 

 

September 30,
2009
(Unaudited)

 

December 31,
2008

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

58,646

 

$

78,462

 

Restricted cash — Eureka Moly, LLC

 

37

 

13,915

 

Deposits, prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

214

 

326

 

Total Current Assets

 

58,897

 

92,703

 

Mining properties, land and water rights (Note 4)

 

97,432

 

79,292

 

Deposits on project property, plant and equipment

 

40,214

 

31,499

 

Restricted cash held for electricity transmission

 

12,286

 

12,545

 

Restricted cash held for reclamation bonds

 

1,133

 

1,133

 

Non-mining property and equipment, net

 

605

 

763

 

Other assets

 

2,994

 

2,994

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

213,561

 

$

220,929

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

6,175

 

$

6,692

 

Current portion of long term debt

 

121

 

128

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

6,296

 

6,820

 

Provision for post closure reclamation and remediation costs

 

586

 

731

 

Deferred revenue

 

100

 

 

Long term debt, net of current portion

 

240

 

330

 

Total Liabilities

 

7,222

 

7,881

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTINGENTLY REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

 

99,761

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

General Moly, Inc. stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 72,437,538 and 71,852,646 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

 

72

 

72

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

186,812

 

185,179

 

Accumulated deficit before exploration stage

 

(213

)

(213

)

Accumulated deficit during exploration and development stage

 

(80,093

)

(71,990

)

Total General Moly, Inc. stockholders’ equity

 

106,578

 

113,048

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

213,561

 

$

220,929

 

 

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

 

3



 

GENERAL MOLY, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited - In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Inception of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Stage) to

 

 

 

September 
30, 2009

 

September 
30, 2008

 

September 
30, 2009

 

September 
30, 2008

 

September 30,
2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUES

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration and evaluation

 

273

 

1,084

 

638

 

5,270

 

37,342

 

General and administrative expense

 

2,083

 

2,204

 

7,719

 

8,119

 

47,002

 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

 

2,356

 

3,288

 

8,357

 

13,389

 

84,344

 

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

 

(2,356

)

(3,288

)

(8,357

)

(13,389

)

(84,344

)

OTHER INCOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and dividend income

 

6

 

530

 

15

 

1,563

 

3,947

 

Other income

 

 

 

 

 

65

 

TOTAL OTHER INCOME

 

6

 

530

 

15

 

1,563

 

4,012

 

LOSS BEFORE TAXES

 

(2,350

)

(2,758

)

(8,342

)

(11,826

)

(80,332

)

INCOME TAXES

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

$

(2,350

)

$

(2,758

)

$

(8,342

)

$

(11,826

)

$

(80,332

)

LESS: NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTINGENTLY REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

 

 

 

239

 

 

239

 

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL MOLY, INC.

 

$

(2,350

)

$

(2,758

)

$

(8,103

)

$

(11,826

)

$

(80,093

)

BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GENERAL MOLY PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

 

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(0.11

)

$

(0.17

)

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING — BASIC AND DILUTED

 

72,393

 

71,353

 

72,154

 

69,663

 

 

 

 

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

 

4



 

GENERAL MOLY, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited — In thousands)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

January 1, 2002
(Inception of
Exploration
Stage) to

 

 

 

September 30,
2009

 

September 30,
2008

 

September 30,
2009

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Net Loss

 

$

(8,342

)

$

(11,826

)

$

(80,332

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services and expenses paid with common stock

 

 

 

1,990

 

Writedown of deposits on property, plant and equipment

 

378

 

 

378

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

259

 

225

 

812

 

Equity compensation for employees and directors

 

1,330

 

2,029

 

13,314

 

Decrease (increase) in deposits, prepaid expenses and other

 

112

 

53

 

(122

)

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash held for electricity transmission

 

259

 

(12,545

)

(12,286

)

(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(1,027

)

2,951

 

5,643

 

(Decrease) increase in post closure reclamation and remediation costs

 

(145

)

219

 

377

 

Net cash used by operating activities

 

(7,176

)

(18,894

)

(70,226

)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments for the purchase of equipment

 

(7

)

(457

)

(1,331

)

Purchase of securities

 

 

 

(137

)

Purchase and development of mining properties, land and water rights

 

(17,520

)

(32,422

)

(91,274

)

Deposits on property, plant and equipment

 

(9,093

)

(22,849

)

(40,592

)

Proceeds from option to purchase agreement

 

100

 

 

100

 

Increase in restricted cash held for reclamation bonds

 

 

(355

)

(642

)

Cash provided by sale of marketable securities

 

 

 

246

 

Net cash used by investing activities

 

(26,520

)

(56,083

)

(133,630

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of stock, net of issuance costs

 

99

 

20,494

 

165,204

 

Cash proceeds from POS-Minerals Corporation

 

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

Cash paid to POS-Minerals Corporation for purchase price adjustment

 

 

(2,994

)

(2,994

)

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash — Eureka Moly, LLC

 

13,878

 

(41,578

)

(37

)

Net (decrease) increase in debt

 

(97

)

192

 

283

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

13,880

 

76,114

 

262,456

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(19,816

)

1,137

 

58,600

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

78,462

 

78,371

 

46

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

58,646

 

$

79,508

 

$

58,646

 

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation capitalized as development

 

$

714

 

$

1,801

 

$

4,843

 

Restricted cash held for reclamation bond acquired in an acquisition

 

 

 

491

 

Post closure reclamation and remediation costs and accounts payable assumed in an acquisition

 

 

 

263

 

Common stock and warrants issued for property and equipment

 

 

 

1,586

 

 

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

 

5



 

GENERAL MOLY, INC.
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

General Moly, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our”, “the Company”, or “General Moly”) is a Delaware corporation originally incorporated as General Mines Corporation on November 23, 1925.  In 1966, the Company amended its articles of incorporation to change its name to Idaho General Petroleum and Mines Corporation, and amended its articles again in 1967 changing its name to Idaho General Mines, Inc. On October 5, 2007, we reincorporated in the State of Delaware (the “Reincorporation”) through a merger involving Idaho General Mines, Inc. and General Moly, Inc., a Delaware corporation that was a wholly owned subsidiary of Idaho General Mines, Inc. The Reincorporation was effected by merging Idaho General Mines, Inc. with and into General Moly, with General Moly being the surviving entity.  For purposes of the Company’s reporting status with the Securities and Exchange Commission, General Moly is deemed a successor to Idaho General Mines, Inc.

 

We were in the exploration stage until October 4, 2007, when our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the development of the Mt. Hope molybdenum property (the “Mt. Hope Project”) in Eureka County, Nevada.  The Company is now in the development stage and is currently proceeding with the development of the Mt. Hope Project.  We are also in a care and maintenance mode on our Liberty molybdenum property (the “Liberty Property”) in Nye County, Nevada.  In addition, we have certain other, non-core, minor mineral interests in the Western United States that we are currently evaluating for potential development or sale.

 

Certain amounts for the period ended December 31, 2008 have been reclassified to conform to the 2009 presentation.

 

The Mt. Hope Project.  From October 2005 to January 2008, we owned the rights to 100% of the Mt. Hope Project.  Effective as of January 1, 2008, we contributed all of our interest in the assets related to the Mt. Hope Project, including our lease of the Mt. Hope Project into a newly formed entity, Eureka Moly, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LLC”), and in February 2008 (the “Closing Date”) entered into an agreement (the “LLC Agreement”) for the development and operation of the Mt. Hope Project (the “Project”) with POS-Minerals Corporation (“POS-Minerals”) an affiliate of POSCO, a large Korean steel company.  Under the LLC Agreement, POS-Minerals owns a 20% interest in the LLC and General Moly, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, owns an 80% interest.  These ownership interests and/or required contributions under the LLC Agreement can change as discussed below.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, POS-Minerals made its first and second cash contributions to the LLC totaling $100.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “Initial Contributions”).  Additional amounts will be due from POS-Minerals within 15 days after the date (the “ROD Contribution Date”) that specified conditions (the “ROD Contribution Conditions”) have been satisfied.  The ROD Contribution Conditions are the receipt of major operating permits for the project, that the Record of Decision (the “ROD”) from the United States Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) for the project has become effective, and any administrative or judicial appeals with respect thereto are final.  We are currently targeting the effectiveness of the ROD and the satisfaction of the ROD Contribution Conditions to occur in the third quarter of 2010, but circumstances beyond our control, including reviewing agency delays or requests for additional information or studies, and requests for review or appeals of the BLM decision, could cause the effectiveness of the ROD and/or the satisfaction of the ROD Contribution Conditions to be delayed.

 

Our current forecast of the ROD Contribution Date occurring after December 31, 2009 allows POS-Minerals to elect to either retain its 20% share by contributing an additional $56.0 million plus its 20% share of all Project costs incurred from the Closing Date to the ROD Contribution Date or reduce its ownership interest to 13% and fund its remaining 13% share of all Project costs incurred from the Closing Date to the ROD Contribution Date.  Such an election has not been made by POS-Minerals, but is required to be made prior to January 31, 2010.

 

6



 

In addition, if commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project is not achieved by December 31, 2011 for reasons other than a force majeure event, Eureka Moly may be required to return to POS-Minerals a portion of its contributions to the LLC, with no corresponding reduction in POS-Minerals’ ownership percentage, based on its election prior to January 31, 2010 as to its third contribution.  Based on our current plan and expected timetable, it is unlikely the Mt. Hope Project will achieve commercial production by December 31, 2011.  If POS-Minerals elects to retain its 20% interest and makes its additional $56.0 million contribution, the return of contributions will be $36.0 million.  If POS-Minerals elects to retain its 20% interest but does not make its additional $56.0 million contribution, the return of contributions will be zero. If POS-Minerals elects to reduce its ownership interest to 13%, the return of contributions will be $33.0 million.  Such return of contributions is required to be made on or prior to January 27, 2012.  Our subsidiary that holds our interest in the LLC is obligated under the terms of the LLC to make capital contributions to fund the return of contributions to POS-Minerals, if required.  If our subsidiary does not make these capital contributions, POS-Minerals has an election to either take a secured interest in the LLC via a loan, or receive an additional interest in the LLC of approximately 5%.  In the latter case, our interest in the LLC is subject to dilution by a percentage equal to the ratio of 1.5 times the amount of the unpaid contributions over the aggregate amount of deemed capital contributions (as determined under the LLC Agreement) of both parties to the LLC (the “Dilution Formula”).  At September 30, 2009, the aggregate amount of deemed capital contributions of both parties was $950 million.

 

Furthermore, a provision in the LLC Agreement permits POS-Minerals the option to put its interest in the LLC to the Company’s subsidiary, Nevada Moly, upon  a change of control of the Company, as defined in the LLC agreement, followed by (i) failure to begin full construction at the LLC by the Company or the surviving entity before December 31, 2010, or (ii) failure to use standard mining industry practice in connection with development and operation of the project as contemplated by the parties for a period of twelve months after December 31, 2010.  If POS-Minerals put its interest, Nevada Moly would be required to purchase the interest for 120 percent of POS-Minerals contributions to the LLC plus 10 percent interest.

 

The Initial Contributions of $100.0 million that were made by POS-Minerals during 2008 were expended by the second quarter of 2009 in accordance with the program and budget requirements of the Mt. Hope Project.  We are required, pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, to advance funds required to pay costs for the development of the Mt. Hope Project that exceed the Initial Contributions until the ROD Contribution Date, at which point the contributions described above to be made by POS-Minerals will be applied to reimburse us for POS-Minerals’ share of such development costs.  All costs incurred after the ROD Contribution Date will be allocated and funded pro rata based on each party’s ownership interest.  The interest of a party in the LLC that does not make its pro rata capital contributions to fund costs incurred after the ROD Contribution Date is subject to dilution based on the Dilution Formula.

 

NOTE 2 — LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING

 

Our consolidated cash balance at September 30, 2009 was $58.7 million compared to $92.4 million at December 31, 2008.  The cash needs for the development of the Mt. Hope Project require that we or Eureka Moly obtain project financing or other significant financing in addition to the capital contributions anticipated to be received from POS-Minerals.  The aggregate amount of additional financing required for the development of the Mt. Hope Project, minus the amounts anticipated to be received from POS-Minerals on the ROD Contribution Date is anticipated to range between $715 million and $850 million, depending on the election made by POS-Minerals concerning its future contributions.  These amounts do not include financing costs or amounts necessary to fund operating working capital.

 

During 2008, we engaged Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC to assist in our efforts to pursue project financing for the Mt. Hope Project.  Additionally, during the second quarter of 2009, the Company engaged Cutfield Freeman & Co., a London-based financial advisory firm, to assist the Company in primarily seeking bi-lateral agency and off-take related financing to potentially augment the projected bank financing.  Our ability to obtain such project and / or agency financing depends on the effectiveness and the timing of the ROD, the anticipated price of molybdenum, our projected operating costs and the overall state of the economy and the credit markets.

 

7



 

The 2008 disruptions in national and international credit markets have led to volatile conditions.  There is a scarcity of credit and lenders are imposing tighter lending standards and higher interest costs for loans.  Our ability to obtain the necessary funding for the Mt. Hope Project as well as the terms for such funding may be adversely affected by these disruptions in the credit markets.  We may not be able to obtain the necessary financing for the Mt. Hope Project in a timely manner, on customary or favorable terms, or at all.

 

Given the continued uncertainty in the project finance market, low molybdenum prices at the time, and a longer than expected timeframe to receive the federal permits to begin construction at the Mt. Hope project, on March 26, 2009, we implemented a cash conservation plan to reduce expenditures and conserve cash for 2009 and 2010 in order to maximize financial flexibility.  With our September 30, 2009 consolidated cash balance of $58.7 million, we have the capacity to continue our current level of permitting efforts, maintain efforts to secure project financing, and secure and hold critical long lead equipment for the ultimate construction of the Mt. Hope project through the end of 2010 without accessing new sources of financing while maintaining the current cash conservation strategy.

 

The Company has purchase orders for two types of equipment — milling process equipment and mining equipment.  Most equipment orders for the custom-built grinding and other milling process equipment will be completed by the manufacturers and stored.  The grinding and milling process equipment require the longest lead times and maintaining these orders is critical to the Company’s ability to re-start the development of Mt. Hope rapidly.  Fabrication of less critical equipment has been suspended with some manufacturers.  The Company has substantially completed final negotiations with other equipment manufacturers to suspend or terminate fabrication of other milling equipment and to determine the equipment fabrication costs incurred to date, storage costs, and the expected timing of restarting fabrication.

 

Based on our current plan, expected timetable, and the results of such negotiations, we expect to make additional payments of approximately $36.8 million under milling process equipment orders through the end of 2010, with the majority of such spending concentrated in the first half of the year, and $4.1 million in 2011.  As additional financing is secured and equipment procurement is restarted, agreements that were suspended or terminated will be renegotiated under new market terms and conditions, as necessary.  For the gyratory crusher, SAG and ball mills and related electric mill drives, and some other long-lead equipment, we will own the equipment upon final payments occurring throughout 2009 and 2010.  This strategy will allow for a rapid restart of the project development at anytime in 2010.

 

Some orders for mining equipment have been cancelled, and discussions with the remaining suppliers to either cancel or suspend existing agreements are substantially complete.  The lead times and costs associated with many of these items have declined.  Once sufficient financing is secured, the Company anticipates placing orders for this mining equipment.  The Company will continue to evaluate all options to decrease Mt. Hope’s initial capital requirement and facilitate a rapid re-start of the project development.

 

The cash conservation plan has reduced our total cash utilization for general administration and overhead to approximately $1 million per month.  Based on our current cash on hand, the Company expects it will have adequate liquidity for operations through the end of 2010 without accessing new sources of financing.  Engineering efforts, approximately 60% complete, were largely suspended in the second quarter of 2009, pending the completion of financing.  Some engineering that is critical for permitting or project restart readiness has continued at a slower pace.

 

The cash conservation plan also impacted General Moly employees and contractor support.  In March 2009, the Company initiated plans to reduce administrative expenses by $5 million per year through a combination of compensation restructuring and position eliminations.  The majority of costs associated with termination benefits were recognized in March, 2009 although additional costs of $0.1 million were recognized during the second quarter for a few affected employees who rendered services beyond 60 days.  We also incurred approximately $0.7 million in equipment contract cancellation costs during the second quarter of 2009.  Such costs were a combination of deposits forfeited and costs to cancel contracts.

 

While we do not expect to achieve full project financing until credit markets and molybdenum prices demonstrate sustained improvement, we are continuing to evaluate a number of potential sources for capital, including the possibility of a sale of additional minority interests in the Mt. Hope Project, additional support from

 

8



 

current strategic partners, off-take related debt, and debt from private investment groups, as well as the capital markets.

 

Once the ROD is effective, additional capital will be required through the commencement of commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project.  Our ability to develop the project is dependent on, among other things, our ability to raise the necessary capital to fund the Mt. Hope Project both in sufficient amount and in a timely manner.  Additionally, if the currently estimated costs of the Mt. Hope Project are exceeded we will need to raise additional capital to fund such overruns.  The Company is currently, and will on an ongoing basis be, pursuing the most efficient sources of funding for the project including, but not limited to, the equity markets, the bank project finance markets, bi-lateral agency financing and the high yield debt markets.

 

We also require capital to maintain our mining claims and other rights related to the Liberty Property, as well as continue payment of ongoing general and administrative costs associated with supporting our operations.

 

NOTE 3 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The interim Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of these interim statements have been included.  All such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature except for the adoption of the new accounting standards discussed below.  The Company has evaluated all subsequent events through November 9, 2009, the filing date of this Form 10-Q, and the issuance of our financial statements.  The results reported in these interim Consolidated Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for the entire year.  These interim Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

This summary of significant accounting policies is presented to assist in understanding the financial statements.  The financial statements and notes are representations of the Company’s management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity.  These accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the financial statements.

 

Contingently Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

 

On January 1, 2009, we adopted FASB issued authoritative guidance related to Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, the provisions of which, among others, require the recognition of a noncontrolling interest (previously referred to as minority interest), as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity for all periods presented. In addition, the amount of net income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest is included in consolidated net income or loss on the face of the consolidated statement of operations.    Under GAAP, certain noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities meet the definition of mandatorily redeemable financial instruments if the ability to redeem the interest is outside of the control of the consolidating entity.  As described in Note 1, the LLC Agreement permits POS-Minerals the option to put its interest in the LLC to Nevada Moly upon a change of control, as defined in the LLC Agreement, followed by (i) failure to begin full construction at the LLC by the Company or the surviving entity before December 31, 2010, or (ii) failure to use standard mining industry practice in connection with development and operation of the project as contemplated by the parties for a period of twelve months after December 31, 2010.  As such, the contingently redeemable noncontrolling interest has continued to be shown as a separate caption between liabilities and equity (mezzanine section).  The carrying value of the contingently redeemable noncontrolling interest reflects the investment of the noncontrolling interest, less losses attributable to the interest.

 

Estimates

 

The process of preparing consolidated financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions regarding certain types of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses.  Such estimates primarily relate to unsettled transactions and events as of the date of the financial statements.  Accordingly, upon settlement, actual results may differ from estimated amounts.

 

9



 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

We consider all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The restricted cash of Eureka Moly represents the unspent amount of the POS-Minerals contributions, which are available for the continuing development of the Mt. Hope Project.  The Company’s cash equivalent instruments are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy established by FASB guidance for Fair Value Measurements because they are valued based on quoted market prices in active markets.  These cash instruments included $57.5 million in U.S. Treasury securities at September 30, 2009.

 

Exploration and Development Stage Activities

 

We were in the exploration stage from January 2002 until October 4, 2007.  On October 4, 2007, our Board of Directors approved the development of the Mt. Hope Project as contemplated in the Bankable Feasibility Study and we then entered into the Development Stage.  We have not realized any revenue from operations.  We will be primarily engaged in development of the Mt. Hope Project and exploration and evaluation of the Liberty Property until we enter the production stage.

 

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share

 

Net loss per share was computed by dividing the net loss attributable to General Moly, Inc. by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.  The weighted average number of shares was calculated by taking the number of shares outstanding and weighting them by the amount of time that they were outstanding.  Outstanding warrants to purchase 7,455,434 and 7,560,434 shares of common stock, options to purchase 3,121,656 and 4,267,500 shares of common stock and awards totaling 175,000 and 255,000 at September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 because to do so would have been anti-dilutive.  Therefore, basic loss per share is the same as diluted loss per share.

 

Mineral Exploration and Development Costs

 

All exploration expenditures are expensed as incurred.  Significant property acquisition payments for active exploration properties are capitalized.  If no economic ore body is discovered, previously capitalized costs are expensed in the period the property is abandoned.  Expenditures to develop new mines, to define further mineralization in existing ore bodies, and to expand the capacity of operating mines, are capitalized and amortized on a units-of-production basis over proven and probable reserves.

 

Should a property be abandoned, its capitalized costs are charged to operations.  The Company charges to the consolidated statement of operations the allocable portion of capitalized costs attributable to properties sold.  Capitalized costs are allocated to properties sold based on the proportion of claims sold to the claims remaining within the project area.

 

Mining Properties, Land and Water Rights

 

Costs of acquiring and developing mining properties, land and water rights are capitalized as appropriate by project area.  Exploration and related costs and costs to maintain mining properties, land and water rights are expensed as incurred while the property is in the exploration and evaluation stage.  Development and related costs and costs to maintain mining properties, land and water rights are capitalized as incurred while the property is in the development stage.  When a property reaches the production stage, the related capitalized costs are amortized using the units-of-production basis over proven and probable reserves.  Mining properties, land and water rights are periodically assessed for impairment of value, and any subsequent losses are charged to operations at the time of impairment.  If a property is abandoned or sold, a gain or loss is recognized and included in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

 

10



 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Property and equipment are depreciated using the following estimated useful lives: field equipment — five years; office furniture, fixtures, and equipment — five years; vehicles — three to five years; leasehold improvements — three years; residential trailers — ten to twenty years; and buildings and improvements — ten years.

 

Provision for Taxes

 

Income taxes are provided based upon the liability method of accounting pursuant to FASB guidance for Accounting for Income Taxes (hereinafter “ASC 740”).  Under this approach, deferred income taxes are recorded to reflect the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end.  A valuation allowance is recorded against the deferred tax asset if management does not believe the Company has met the “more likely than not” standard imposed by ASC 740 to allow recognition of such an asset.

 

Reclamation and Remediation

 

Expenditures for ongoing compliance with environmental regulations that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate.  Expenditures resulting from the remediation of existing conditions caused by past operations that do not contribute to future revenue generations are expensed.  Liabilities are recognized when environmental assessments indicate that remediation efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.  Estimates of such liabilities are based upon currently available facts, existing technology and presently enacted laws and regulations taking into consideration the likely effects of inflation and other societal and economic factors, and include estimates of associated legal costs.  These amounts also reflect prior experience in remediating contaminated sites, other companies’ clean-up experience and data released by The Environmental Protection Agency or other organizations.  Such estimates are by their nature imprecise and can be expected to be revised over time because of changes in government regulations, operations, technology and inflation.  Recoveries are evaluated separately from the liability. When recovery is assured, the Company records and reports an asset separately from the associated liability.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

Stock-based compensation represents the fair value related to stock-based awards granted to members of the board of directors, officers and employees.  The Company uses the Black-Scholes model to determine the fair value of stock-based awards under FASB guidance for Share Based Payments.  For stock-based compensation that is earned upon the satisfaction of a service condition, the cost is recognized on a straight-line basis (net of estimated forfeitures) over the requisite vesting period (up to three years).  Awards expire five years from the date of vesting.  Further information regarding stock-based compensation can be found in Note 6 — “Equity Incentives.”  Stock compensation costs related to services associated with the Mt. Hope project are capitalized as development costs.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued guidance for Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly. Based on the guidance, if an entity determines that the level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased and that a transaction is not orderly, further analysis of transactions or quoted prices is needed, and a significant adjustment to the transaction or quoted prices may be necessary to estimate fair value.  This guidance is to be applied prospectively and is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The Company has adopted this guidance for its quarter ending September 30, 2009.  The adoption of the guidance had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued guidance for Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, amending previous guidance on Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments that required an

 

11



 

entity to provide disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial information. The new guidance is to be applied prospectively and is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 with early adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009.  The Company has adopted the new guidance for quarter ending September 30, 2009.  The adoption of the new guidance had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance for Subsequent Events, which provides guidance to establish general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. The guidance also requires entities to disclose the date through which subsequent events were evaluated as well as the rationale for why that date was selected. This disclosure should alert all users of financial statements that an entity has not evaluated subsequent events after that date in the set of financial statements being presented. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The Company adopted the provisions of this new guidance for the interim period ended June 30, 2009.  The adoption of such guidance had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In June 2009, the FASB approved the “FASB Accounting Standards Codification” (the “Codification”) as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. GAAP, effective on July 1, 2009. The Codification does not change current U.S. GAAP, but is intended to simplify user access to all authoritative U.S. GAAP by providing all the authoritative literature related to a particular topic in one place. All existing accounting standard documents will be superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the Codification will be considered non-authoritative. The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Codification is effective for the Company in the interim period ending September 30, 2009 and the adoption did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

NOTE 4 — MINING PROPERTIES, LAND AND WATER RIGHTS

 

We currently have interests in two mining properties that are the primary focus of our operations.  The Mt. Hope Project is currently in the development stage and the Liberty Property is in a care and maintenance mode.  The following is a summary of mining properties, land and water rights at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

Mining Properties, Land and Water Rights

 

 

 

At
September 30,
2009

 

At December 31,
2008

 

Mt. Hope Project:

 

 

 

 

 

Development costs

 

$

72,523

 

$

54,722

 

Mineral, land and water rights

 

10,253

 

10,253

 

Advance Royalties

 

4,000

 

3,650

 

Total Mt. Hope Project

 

86,776

 

68,625

 

Total Liberty Property

 

9,767

 

9,778

 

Other Properties

 

889

 

889

 

Total

 

$

97,432

 

$

79,292

 

 

On June 26 2009, the Company and Josephine Mining Corp. (JMC), a privately-owned Canadian company whose president is a related party to one of the Company’s Board members, entered into an Option to Purchase Agreement for the Company’s Turner Gold property, a multi-metallic property located in Josephine County, Oregon.  The Company acquired the property in 2004.  JMC paid $0.1 million upon entering into the agreement, which allows JMC certain exploratory rights through the option period.  Each option is non-refundable.  The $0.1 million has been recorded as deferred revenue pending completion of the purchase.  At JMC’s option, $0.3 million will be due December 26, 2010 and $1.6 million on or before December 26, 2011 if JMC decides to complete the purchase.  The Company has also retained a Production Royalty of 1.5% of all net smelter returns on future production from the property.

 

12



 

NOTE 5 — COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK WARRANTS

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2009 we issued no shares of common stock, and in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we issued 492,225 shares of common stock, pursuant to stock awards under the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

At September 30, 2009, we had warrants outstanding totaling 7,455,434 of which 6,455,434 are exercisable at $3.75 per warrant and expire February 2011 and 1,000,000 are exercisable at $10.00 per share once General Moly has received financing necessary for the commencement of commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project and will expire one year afterwards.

 

NOTE 6 — EQUITY INCENTIVES

 

In 2006, the Board and shareholders of the Company approved the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) which replaced the 2003 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2003 Plan”).  In 2007, the shareholders approved an amendment to the 2006 Plan to increase the number of shares that may be issued under the 2006 Plan.   The 2006 Plan authorizes the Board, or a committee of the Board, to issue or transfer up to an aggregate of 5,460,000 shares of common stock (including the unissued shares available under the 2003 Plan) of which 531,822 remain available for issuance.  Awards under the Plan may include incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, and stock appreciation rights.   Stock appreciation rights may be settled with cash or common shares.  The Company settles the exercise of other stock-based compensation with newly issued common shares.

 

Stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value as calculated utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is recognized as compensation ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite vesting/service period.  As of September 30, 2009, there was $2.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years.

 

Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

 

All stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARS”) are approved prior to or on the date of grant.  Stock options and SARS are granted at an exercise price equal to or greater than the Company’s stock price on the date of grant.  Awards vest over a period of zero to three years with a contractual term of five years after vesting.  The Company estimates the fair value of stock options and SARS using the Black-Scholes valuation model, consistent with the provisions of FASB guidance on Share Based Payment.  Key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options and SARS include the grant price of the award, expected option term, volatility of the Company’s stock, the risk-free rate and the Company’s dividend yield.  The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used in the valuation and the resulting weighted-average fair value per option or SAR award granted:

 

Stock Option and SARS Valuation Assumptions

 

Expected Life *

 

3.5 to 5.5 years

 

Interest Rate

 

0.44% to 1.90%

 

Volatility **

 

93% to 123%

 

Dividend Yields

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Fair Value of Stock Appreciation Rights Granted During the Nine Months ended September 30, 2009

 

$0.60

 

 


*                 The expected life is the number of years that the Company estimates, based upon history, that options or SARS will be outstanding prior to exercise or forfeiture.

 

13



 

* *  The Company’s estimates of expected volatility are principally based on the historic volatility of the Company’s common stock over the most recent period commensurate with the estimated expected life of the Company’s stock options or SARS and other relevant factors.

 

The following table summarizes option activity under the Plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2009:

 

Stock Option Activity

 

 

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Number of
Shares
Under
Option

 

Balance at January 1, 2009

 

$

5.27

 

3,855,490

 

Options Granted

 

$

1.69

 

40,000

 

Options Exercised

 

$

1.00

 

(100,000

)

Options Forfeited

 

$

8.05

 

(258,334

)

Options Expired

 

$

2.82

 

(415,500

)

Balance at September 30, 2009

 

$

5.46

 

3,121,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at September 30, 2009

 

$

4.89

 

2,569,991

 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, there were 450,000 SARS granted at a weighted average exercise price of $0.84 per right, and 62,780 SARS were forfeited.  No SARS were exercised, none expired, and none were exercisable during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.    At September 30, 2009, the aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable (fully vested) options was $0.6 million and had a weighted-average remaining contractual term of 2.8 years.

 

Stock Awards

 

Grants of stock awards have been made to Board members, officers, and employees.  Stock awards have been granted as performance based, earned over a required service period or to Board members for services.  Incentive based grants generally vest and stock is received without restriction to the extent of one-third of the stock award for each year following the date of grant.  Performance based grants are recognized as compensation based on the probable outcome of achieving the performance condition.  Compensation for stock awards issued to Board members that are earned based on a required service period is recognized over the vesting period, if any, of one to two years.  Stock awards issued to Board members that have no required service period are recognized as compensation upon grant of the award.

 

The compensation expense recognized by the Company for stock awards is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, a total of 363,663 shares were granted to employees with a weighted average grant date fair value of $2.64 per share, while a total of 128,562 shares were granted to Board members and the Secretary of the Company with a weighted average grant date fair value of $1.16 per share.

 

14



 

Summary of Compensation Recognized Under Equity Incentives

 

The following is a summary of compensation recognized under equity incentives for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Activity for

 

 

 

Three & Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

Stock-Based Compensation Summary

 

2009

 

2009

 

Stock Options

 

$

239

 

$

1,167

 

SARS

 

345

 

568

 

Forfeitures related to the restructuring

 

 

(567

)

Stock Awards:

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting over time

 

179

 

302

 

Board members and Secretary

 

119

 

574

 

Total

 

$

882

 

$

2,044

 

The compensation recognized under equity incentives for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 is recorded as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalized as Development

 

$

356

 

$

714

 

Expensed

 

526

 

1,330

 

Total

 

$

882

 

$

2,044

 

 

Taxes

 

A portion of the Company’s granted options qualify as incentive stock options (ISO) for income tax purposes.  As such, a tax benefit is not recorded at the time the compensation cost related to the options is recorded for book purposes due to the fact that an ISO does not ordinarily result in a tax benefit unless there is a disqualifying disposition.  Stock option grants of non-qualified options result in the creation of a deferred tax asset, which is a temporary difference, until the time that the option is exercised.

 

15



 

NOTE 7 — CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

 

Activity for
Nine Months Ended

 

Changes in Equity

 

September 30,
2009

 

September 30,
2008

 

Total Equity December 31, 2008 & 2007, respectively

 

$

113,048

 

$

102,105

 

Common stock:

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

72

 

66

 

Exercised warrants

 

 

5

 

Exercised options

 

0

 

1

 

At end of period

 

72

 

72

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital:

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

185,179

 

159,828

 

Exercised warrants

 

 

20,256

 

Exercised options

 

99

 

302

 

Stock based compensation

 

1,534

 

3,830

 

Unvested shares earned

 

 

(69

)

At end of period

 

186,812

 

184,147

 

Accumulated deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

At beginning of period

 

(72,203

)

(57,789

)

Net loss

 

(8,103

)

(11,826

)

At end of period

 

(80,306

)

(69,615

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Equity September 30, 2009 & 2008, respectively

 

$

106,578

 

$

114,604

 

 

NOTE 8 — INCOME TAXES

 

At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had deferred tax assets principally arising from the net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes multiplied by an expected rate of 35%.  As our management cannot determine that it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefit of the deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance equal to the deferred tax asset has been established at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.  The significant components of the deferred tax asset at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Deferred Tax Asset Valuation

 

 

 

September 30, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

Operating loss carryforward

 

$

118,989

 

$

94,004

 

Unamortized exploration expense

 

6,651

 

8,126

 

Deductible stock-based compensation

 

2,779

 

2,779

 

Deductible temporary difference

 

128,419

 

104,909

 

Taxable temporary difference — development costs

 

(53,842

)

(38,674

)

Net deductible temporary difference

 

74,577

 

66,235

 

Deferred tax asset

 

$

26,102

 

$

23,182

 

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance

 

$

(26,102

)

$

(23,182

)

Net deferred tax asset

 

$

 

$

 

 

At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $119.0 million and $94.0 million, respectively, which expire in the years 2022 through 2029.

 

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NOTE 9—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Mt. Hope Lease Agreement

 

The Mt. Hope Lease may be terminated upon the expiration of its 30-year term, earlier at the election of Eureka Moly, or upon our material breach and failure to cure such breach.  If Eureka Moly terminates the lease, termination is effective 30 days after receipt by Mount Hope Mines, Inc. (“MHMI”) of written notice to terminate the Mt. Hope Lease and no further payments would be due to MHMI.  In order to maintain the lease, Eureka Moly must pay certain deferral fees and advance royalties as discussed below.

 

The Mt. Hope Lease Agreement requires a royalty advance (the “Construction Royalty Advance”) of 3% of the construction capital cost estimate upon the earliest of Eureka Moly securing project financing in sufficient amounts to develop and put into operation the Mt. Hope property at a production level of at least 10 million pounds of annual production or October 19, 2008.

 

Eureka Moly has the right to defer the Construction Royalty Advance for one or two years by payment of a deferral fee (the “Deferral Fee”) in the amount of $0.4 million on or before October 19, 2008 and October 19, 2009 in the event project financing for the project has not been secured by each of the dates.  On October 17, 2008 Eureka Moly paid the $0.4 million Deferral Fee of October 19, 2008 discussed above to MHMI thereby deferring the Construction Royalty Advance.  Through September 30, 2009, we have paid $3.7 million of the total Construction Royalty Advance, and the Company paid an additional deferral fee of $0.4 million in October 2009.  Any remaining unpaid Construction Royalty Advance amounts on October 19, 2011 must be paid 50% on October 19, 2011 with the other 50% due on October 19, 2012.

 

Once the Construction Royalty Advance has been paid in full, Eureka Moly is obligated to pay an advance royalty (the “Annual Advance Royalty”) each October 19 thereafter in the amount of $0.5 million per year.  The Construction Royalty Advance and the Annual Advance Royalty are collectively referred to as the “Advance Royalties”.  All Advance Royalties are credited against the Production Royalties once the mine has achieved commercial production.  The Deferral Fees are not recoverable against Production Royalties.

 

Eureka Moly is obligated to pay the Construction Royalty Advance each time capital is raised for the Mt. Hope Project.  Based on the current estimate of raising capital and developing and operating the mine, we believe Eureka Moly’s contractual obligations under the Mt. Hope Lease Agreement will be as shown in the following table (in thousands).  This estimate is based on our current estimates of the timing of securing project financing and construction capital costs.

 

Deferral Fee and Advance Royalty Commitments

 

Year

 

Deferral Fees

 

Advance Royalties

 

Total

 

2009

 

350

 

 

350

 

2010

 

 

22,150

(1)

22,150

 

2011

 

 

500

 

500

 

2012(2)

 

 

500

 

500

 

Total

 

$

350

 

$

23,150

 

$

23,500

 

 


(1)          Assumes project financing is completed by the Company in 2010.

 

(2)          After the mine begins production, Eureka Moly estimates that the Production Royalties will be in excess of the Annual Advance Royalties for the life of the project and, further, the Construction Royalty Advance will be fully recovered (credited against MHMI Production Royalties) by the end of 2014.

 

17



 

Deposits on project property, plant and equipment

 

As a continuing part of the development of the Mt. Hope Project, Eureka Moly has placed orders for mining and milling equipment that must be built to specification and requires a long lead time for engineering and manufacturing.  Contractual commitments for long lead items require progress payments during the engineering and fabrication of the equipment and have cancellation penalties in the event Eureka Moly cancels the contract.

 

At September 30, 2009, we have contracts to purchase mining equipment comprised of two electric shovels and have cancelled orders for mine drills and loaders.  We have a non-binding letter of agreement on 24 haul trucks that establishes our priority for delivery and provides for the then current pricing using market indices upon initiation of an order.  We have active orders with varying stages of fabrication on milling process equipment comprised of two 230kV primary transformers and substation, a primary crusher, a semi-autogenous mill, two ball mills, and various motors for the mills.  We have suspended fabrication on 16 flotation cells, lime slaking equipment, hydrocyclones, and other smaller milling process equipment with the ability to re-initiate fabrication at any time.  We have substantially completed negotiations with the manufacturer of two multi-hearth molybdenum roasters to terminate its fabrication of this equipment and receive finished goods of the partially completed order.  We plan to re-establish a new purchase order with this manufacturer as additional financing is secured and equipment procurement is restarted under then current market terms and conditions.

 

The following table sets forth Eureka Moly’s cash commitments under mining and milling equipment contracts (collectively, “Purchase Contracts”) at September 30, 2009 (in thousands).

 

Cash Commitments under Purchase Contracts

 

Year

 

As of
September 30,
2009

 

2009 — Remainder

 

$

 2,650

 

2010

 

34,117

 

2011

 

12,350

 

2012

 

21,121

 

2013

 

2,406

 

Total

 

$

 72,644

 

 

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

 

References made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company,” refer to General Moly, Inc.

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations constitutes management’s review of the factors that affected our financial and operating performance for three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which was filed on February 27, 2009.

 

We routinely post important information about us on our Company website.  Our website address is www.generalmoly.com.

 

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Overview

 

We are a development stage company and began the development of the Mt. Hope Project on October 4, 2007.  During the year ended December 31, 2008 we also completed work on a pre-feasibility study of our Liberty Property.  We continue to approach the Liberty Property in a care and maintenance mode, and do not expect to spend appreciable amounts of capital on the Liberty Property until market conditions warrant its development.

 

On October 4, 2007, our Board of Directors approved the development of the Mt. Hope Project as contemplated in our Bankable Feasibility Study.  The Company completed basic engineering of the Mt. Hope Project during the year ended December 31, 2008 and updated its capital cost estimate related to the Mt. Hope Project based upon having completed 30% of engineering.

 

The development of the Mt. Hope Project has an estimated total capital requirement of $1,154.0 million including development costs of approximately $1,039.3 million (in 2008 dollars) and $114.7 million in cash bonding requirements and pre-payments.  These amounts do not include financing costs or amounts necessary to fund operating working capital.  Through the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we have spent approximately $132.1 million and have $58.7 million remaining cash on hand for use in the development of the Mt. Hope Project and other cash requirements.

 

Given the continued uncertainty in the project finance market, low molybdenum prices at the time, and a longer than expected timeframe to receive the federal permits to begin construction at the Mt. Hope project, on March 26, 2009, we implemented a cash conservation plan to reduce expenditures and conserve cash for 2009 and 2010 in order to maximize financial flexibility.  In addition to conserving cash, the plans implemented seek to retain critical employees, and will retain the ability to start construction at the Mt. Hope project pending continued improvements in the molybdenum and capital markets.  With our September 30, 2009 consolidated cash balance of $58.7 million, we have the capacity to continue our current level of permitting efforts, maintain efforts to secure project financing, and secure the most critical long lead equipment for the ultimate construction of the Mt. Hope project without accessing new sources of financing through the end of 2010 while maintaining the current cash conservation strategy.

 

Once financing is obtained and we have received the major operating permits and the ROD from the BLM, it is expected that Mt. Hope can be constructed and in production within 20 months.  In the interim, our permitting efforts are continuing full-time.  The Company has maintained its orders for grinding, milling, and other specialty long lead equipment, although other engineering, administrative and third-party work has been slowed or suspended.

 

We will continue to work with Credit Suisse and Barclays to seek project financing.   During the second quarter of 2009, the Company engaged Cutfield Freeman & Co., a London-based financial advisory firm, to assist the Company in primarily seeking bi-lateral agency and off-take supported financing to potentially augment the projected bank financing.  We will continue evaluating all sources of capital, including equity partners at the asset level and vendor financing.  Given our strong off-take agreements and other preparatory work completed, we believe the Company is well positioned to execute a project finance facility upon the receipt of ROD, and as credit conditions and the molybdenum price continue to improve.

 

Over the third quarter of 2009, spot molybdenum prices traded between approximately $10.15 and $17.45 per pound, ending the quarter at $14.13 and trading as low as $11.00 per pound more recently.  Price fluctuations during the period were primarily attributable to changing Chinese demand patterns.  Although Chinese crude steel production continues at record levels, Chinese imports of molybdenum have diminished recently, causing price weakness.  Prices well above the lows seen earlier this year continue to be supported by Chinese molybdenum imports, increasing steel capacity utilization rates in developing nations, modestly improving steel capacity utilization rates in the United States and Europe, an end to global inventory de-stocking, and molybdenum supply reductions.

 

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Restructuring and Suspension of Project Development

 

As discussed above, we implemented a cash conservation plan whereby total cash utilization other than equipment purchases has declined to approximately $1 million per month.  Based on our current cash on hand and our cash conservation plan, the Company expects it will have adequate liquidity for operations, as modified, through the end of 2010 without accessing new sources of financing.  Engineering efforts, approximately 60% complete, have been largely suspended pending the completion of financing.  Some engineering that is critical for permitting or project restart readiness, has continued at a slower pace.

 

The Company issued purchase orders for two types of equipment — milling process equipment and mining equipment.  Most equipment orders for the custom-built grinding and other milling process equipment will be completed by the manufacturers and stored.  The grinding and milling process equipment require the longest lead times and maintaining these orders is critical to the Company’s ability to re-start the development of Mt. Hope rapidly.  Fabrication of less critical equipment has been suspended with some manufacturers. With respect to the remaining milling process equipment, where schedule is not critical, the manufacturers have agreed to suspend fabrication of the equipment.  The Company has substantially completed negotiation with other equipment manufacturers to suspend or terminate fabrication of other milling equipment and to determine the equipment fabrication costs incurred to date, storage costs, and the expected timing of restarting fabrication.

 

Based on our current plan, expected timetable, and the results of such negotiations, we expect to make additional payments towards purchase of this equipment of approximately $36.8 million under milling process equipment orders through the end of 2010, with the majority of such spending concentrated in the first half of the year, and $4.1 million in 2011.  As additional financing is secured and equipment procurement is restarted, agreements that were suspended or terminated will be renegotiated under the then current market terms and conditions, as necessary.

 

The drills and loaders for the mine operation have been cancelled, and discussions for the purchase of the shovels are substantially complete with this order remaining in place.  An agreement has been reached with a truck manufacturer to hold production slots for timely delivery.  The lead times and pricing associated with many of these items have declined.  Once financing is secured, the Company anticipates placing orders for this mining equipment again.  The Company will continue to evaluate all options to decrease Mt. Hope’s initial capital requirement and facilitate a timely re-start of the project development.

 

The cash conservation plan also impacted General Moly employees and contractor support.  In March 2009, the Company initiated plans to reduce administrative expenses by $5 million per year through a combination of compensation restructuring and position eliminations.

 

Permitting Update

 

The Mt. Hope Project will require both Federal and State permits before it can commence construction and operations.  Major permits required for the Mt. Hope Project include the ROD, a BLM issued permit, the water pollution control permit and reclamation permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection—Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation (“BMRR”), and an air quality permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection— Bureau of Air Pollution Control (“BAPC”).

 

The BLM is preparing an environmental impact statement (“EIS”) analyzing the environmental impacts of the Mt. Hope Project and alternatives in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.  Upon completion and approval of the EIS, the BLM will issue the ROD for the Mt. Hope Project.  The ROD will be effective on the date the BLM has recorded its decision to approve the EIS and plan of operations for the Mt. Hope Project.  We currently expect to receive the ROD in the third quarter of 2010.  In September 2006, the BLM determined that the plan of operations met the regulatory requirements with respect to completeness and comprehensiveness.  Since that time, baseline technical reports have been submitted and plan of operations updates have been submitted to accommodate additional detail based on progression of project design.  All technical reports that form the basis of the EIS have

 

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been submitted to the BLM for approval at the time of this filing.  Final approval by the BLM of the technical reports will allow the completion of a draft EIS, which will then be open to additional public review and comment.  Public comment will then be considered and if warranted by the BLM will be incorporated into the draft for publication of a Final EIS.

 

The other time critical State permits have also been submitted for agency review and approval at the time of this filing.  We believe these other major operating permits will be received on or prior to the effective date of the ROD.

 

Although we currently are targeting the effectiveness of the ROD and the receipt of all major operating permits to occur in approximately the second half of 2010, circumstances beyond our control, including reviewing - agency delays or requests for additional information or studies, and appeals of the BLM decision, could cause the effectiveness of the ROD to be delayed.  The occurrence of any or a combination of these adverse circumstances may increase the estimated costs of development, require us to obtain additional interim financing, and / or  delay our ability to consummate project financing or other significant financing.  A delay in the ROD or the receipt of major operating permits also affects the satisfaction of the ROD Contribution Conditions, extends the time for the receipt of POS-Minerals third contribution, if any, and may affect the contingent obligation of Eureka Moly to refund capital contributions to POS-Minerals and the amount of any such refund.  See “—The Mt. Hope Project” below.

 

Water Rights Update

 

On March 26, 2009, the Nevada State Engineer approved the Company’s previously filed water applications that requested mining and milling use of 11,300 acre feet annually of water to be drawn from a well field near the Mt. Hope project in Kobeh Valley.  This ruling, combined with actual pump tests conducted in late 2008 that confirmed well pumping rates in Kobeh Valley, is anticipated to meet the Mt. Hope project’s life-of-mine water requirements of approximately 7,000 gallons per minute.

 

Subsequent to that ruling and the Company’s announcement thereof, two appeals were filed with the Seventh Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada to challenge the State Engineer’s decision.  A successful appeal could have a material negative impact on the Mt. Hope project.  In September, the appellants filed their opening briefs.  The Company has reviewed the appellants’ briefs and believes them to contain the same arguments as the original protests.  We have submitted our Answering Brief and now expect a final brief by the appellants by the end of 2009, after which a District Judge will hear Oral Arguments.  We now anticipate that the appeal will be ruled upon by the District Judge in the first quarter of 2010.  The appellants maintain the right to advance the appeal to the State of Nevada Supreme Court.

 

Although the water application approvals are under appeal, the State Engineer issued the Company all water permits on July 21, 2009, providing the legal and regulatory authority to the use of the 11,300 acre feet annually of water for our mining operations.

 

The Mt. Hope Project

 

Effective as of January 1, 2008, we contributed all of our interest in the assets related to the Mt. Hope Project, including the Mt. Hope Lease, to Eureka Moly, and in February 2008 entered into the LLC Agreement with POS-Minerals.  Under the terms of the LLC Agreement, POS-Minerals owns a 20% interest in Eureka Moly, and General Moly, through a subsidiary, owns an 80% interest. These ownership interests and/or the required contributions under the LLC Agreement can change as discussed below.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, POS-Minerals made its Initial Contributions to the LLC totaling $100.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2008.  Additional amounts will be due from POS-Minerals within 15 days after the date the ROD Contribution Conditions have been satisfied.  The ROD Contribution Conditions are the receipt of major operating permits for the project, that the ROD has become effective, and any administrative or judicial appeals with respect thereto are final.  See “—Permitting Update” above for a discussion of the status of permitting.

 

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Our current forecast of the ROD Contribution Date occurring after December 31, 2009 allows POS-Minerals to elect to either retain its 20% share by contributing an additional $56.0 million plus its 20% share of all LLC costs incurred from the Closing Date to the ROD Contribution Date or reduce its ownership interest to 13% and fund its remaining 13% share of all LLC costs incurred from the Closing Date to the ROD Contribution Date.  Such an election has not been made by POS-Minerals, but is required to be made prior to January 31, 2010.

 

In addition, if commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project is not achieved by December 31, 2011 for reasons other than a force majeure event, Eureka Moly may be required to return to POS-Minerals a portion of its contributions to the LLC, with no corresponding reduction in POS-Minerals’ ownership percentage, based on its election prior to January 31, 2010 as to its third contribution.  Based on our current plan and expected timetable, it is unlikely the Mt. Hope Project will achieve commercial production by December 31, 2011.  If POS-Minerals elects to retain its 20% interest and makes its additional $56.0 million contribution, the return of contributions will be $36.0 million.  If POS-Minerals elects to retain its 20% interest but does not make its additional $56.0 million contribution, the return of contributions will be zero. If POS-Minerals elects to reduce its ownership interest to 13%, the return of contributions will be $33.0 million.  Such return of contributions is required to be made on or prior to January 27, 2012.  Our subsidiary that holds our interest in the LLC is obligated under the terms of the LLC Agreement to make capital contributions to fund the return of contributions to POS-Minerals, if required.  If our subsidiary does not make these capital contributions, POS-Minerals has an election to either take a secured interest in the LLC via a loan, or receive an additional interest in the LLC of approximately 5%.  In the latter case, our interest in the LLC is subject to dilution based on the Dilution Formula, calculated as a percentage equal to the ratio of 1.5 times the amount of such unpaid contributions, over the aggregate amount of deemed capital contributions (as determined under the LLC Agreement) of both parties to the LLC.  At September 30, 2009, the aggregate amount of deemed capital contributions of both parties was $950 million.

 

Furthermore, a provision in the LLC Agreement permits POS-Minerals the option to put its interest in the LLC to the Company’s subsidiary, Nevada Moly, upon  a change of control of the Company, as defined in the LLC agreement, followed by (i) failure to begin full construction at the LLC by the Company or the surviving entity before December 31, 2010, or (ii) failure to use standard mining industry practice in connection with development and operation of the project as contemplated by the parties for a period of twelve months after December 31, 2010.  If POS-Minerals put its interest, Nevada Moly would be required to purchase the interest for 120 percent of POS-Minerals contributions to the LLC plus 10 percent interest.

 

The Initial Contributions of $100.0 million that were made by POS-Minerals during 2008 were expended by the second quarter of 2009 in accordance with the program and budget requirements of the Mt. Hope Project.  We are required, pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, to advance funds required to pay costs for the development of the Mt. Hope Project that exceed the Initial Contributions until the ROD Contribution Date, at which point the contributions described above to be made by POS-Minerals will be applied to reimburse us for POS-Minerals’ share of such development costs.  All costs incurred after the ROD Contribution Date will be allocated and funded pro rata based on each party’s ownership interest.  The interest of a party in the LLC that does not make its pro rata capital contributions to fund costs incurred after the ROD Contribution Date is subject to dilution based on the Dilution Formula.

 

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Capital Requirements

 

For the period from December 31, 2008 to September30, 2009

 

Our total consolidated cash balance at September 30, 2009 was $58.7 million compared to $92.4 million at December 31, 2008.  The decrease in our cash balances for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was due primarily to development costs incurred of $17.1 million, deposits on property plant and equipment totaling $8.7 million, and general and administrative costs of $7.7 million.  Deposits on property, plant and equipment relate primarily to scheduled payments for long lead time equipment for the Mt. Hope Project.  See “— Contractual Obligations” below.

 

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As discussed above under “— Permitting and Water Rights Update”, we currently anticipate the effectiveness of the ROD and the satisfaction of the ROD Contribution Conditions to occur in the third quarter of 2010, but circumstances beyond our control could cause the effectiveness of the ROD and / or the satisfaction of the ROD Contribution Conditions to be delayed.  We estimate that this will delay the achievement of the ROD Contribution Date to the second half of 2010 and allow POS-Minerals to elect to pay $56.0 million plus its 20% share of LLC costs incurred from the Closing Date to the ROD Contribution Date to retain its 20% share of the LLC or alternatively, to reduce its interest from 20% to 13%, in which case POS-Minerals would fund its 13% share of costs incurred from the Closing Date to the ROD Contribution Date.

 

As discussed above under “— Restructuring and Suspension of Project Development”, we have suspended engineering efforts and mining and most milling process equipment purchases for the Mt. Hope Project until such time as we can obtain additional financing.  We are continuing to evaluate a number of potential sources for capital, including the possibility of a sale of additional minority interest in the Mt. Hope Project, additional support from current strategic partners, off-take related debt, and debt from private investment groups, as well as the capital markets.

 

With our cash conservation plan, our non-equipment related cash requirements have declined to approximately $1 million per month.  Based on our current plan and expected timetable, we expect to make additional payments of approximately $36.8 million under milling process equipment orders through the end of 2010, with the majority of such spending concentrated in the first half of the year, and $4.1 million in 2011.  As additional financing is secured and equipment procurement is restarted, agreements that were suspended or terminated will be renegotiated under current market terms and conditions, as necessary.  Accordingly, based on our current cash on hand and our cash conservation plan, the Company expects it will have adequate liquidity for operations, as modified and based on successful renegotiation of mining equipment contracts, through the year ended December 31, 2010 without accessing new sources of financing while maintaining the current cash conservation strategy.

 

Once the ROD is effective, additional capital will be required through the commencement of commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project.  Our ability to develop the project is dependent on, among other things, our ability to raise the necessary capital to fund the Mt. Hope Project both in sufficient amount and in a timely manner.  Additionally, if the currently estimated costs of the Mt. Hope Project are exceeded we will need to raise additional capital to fund such overruns.  The Company is currently, and will on an ongoing basis be, pursuing the most efficient sources of funding for the project including, but not limited to, the equity markets, the bank project finance markets and the high yield capital debt markets.

 

The cash needs for the development of the Mt. Hope Project require that we or Eureka Moly obtain project financing or other significant financing in addition to the capital contributions anticipated to be received from POS-Minerals.  The aggregate amount of additional financing required for the development of the Mt. Hope Project, minus the amounts anticipated to be received from POS-Minerals on the ROD Contribution Date is anticipated to range between $715 million and $850 million depending on the election made by POS-Minerals concerning its future contributions.  These amounts do not include financing costs or amounts necessary to fund operating working capital.  During 2008, we engaged Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC to assist in our efforts to pursue project financing for the Mt. Hope Project.  In the second quarter of 2009, the Company engaged Cutfield Freeman & Co., a London-based financial advisory firm, to assist the Company in primarily seeking bi-lateral agency and off-take financing to potentially augment the projected bank financing.  Our ability to obtain such project and / or agency financing depends on the effectiveness and the timing of the ROD, the anticipated price of molybdenum, our projected operating costs and the overall state of the economy and the credit markets.

 

The 2008 disruptions in national and international credit markets have led to volatile conditions.  There is a scarcity of credit and lenders are imposing tighter lending standards and higher interest costs for loans.  Our ability to obtain the necessary funding for the Mt. Hope Project as well as the terms for such funding may be adversely affected by these disruptions in the credit markets.  We may not be able to obtain the necessary financing for the Mt. Hope Project in a timely manner, on customary or favorable terms, or at all.

 

We also require additional capital to maintain our mining claims and other rights related to the Liberty Property, as well as continue payment of ongoing general and administrative costs associated with supporting our planned operations.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three months ended September 30, 2009 compared to three months ended September 30, 2008

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 we had a consolidated net loss of $2.4 million compared with a net loss of $2.8 million in the same period for 2008.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, exploration and evaluation expenses were $0.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  For the three months ended September 30, 2008 we incurred exploration and evaluation costs on the Liberty Property associated with ongoing pre-feasibility studies.  For the three months ended September 30, 2009 the Liberty Property has been on a care and maintenance status, and, accordingly, the resulting exploration and evaluation expenses are considerably lower for the period.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, general and administrative expenses were $2.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.  For the three months ended September 30, 2009, the decline in costs compared to the previous year relates to the implementation of our cash conservation plan.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2008

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 we had a consolidated net loss of $8.3 million compared with a net loss of $11.8 million in the same period for 2008.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, exploration and evaluation expenses were $0.6 million and $5.2 million, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 we incurred exploration and evaluation costs on the Liberty Property as we completed a pre-feasibility study on the Liberty Property in April 2008.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 the Liberty Property has been on a care and maintenance status, and, accordingly, the resulting exploration and evaluation expenses are considerably lower for the period.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, general and administrative expenses were $7.7 million and $8.1 million, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 restructuring costs resulting from the implementation of our cash conservation plan are included in general and administrative expenses.  In March 2009 we incurred costs related to one-time employee termination benefits totaling $0.8 million.  The majority of the affected employees were not required to render service beyond 60 days, and accordingly, costs associated with these one-time termination benefits were recognized in March 2009.  Additional costs of $0.1 million were recognized during the second quarter, for those few affected employees who rendered services beyond 60 days.

 

We also incurred approximately $0.7 million in equipment contract cancellation costs through the third quarter of 2009.  Such costs were a combination of deposits forfeited and costs to cancel contracts.

 

Interest income was nil for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with $1.0 million in 2008 as a result of substantially lower interest rates, and lower cash balances in 2009 compared with the corresponding periods in 2008.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As a continuing part of the development of the Mt. Hope Project, Eureka Moly has placed orders for mining and milling equipment that must be built to specification and require long lead times for engineering and manufacturing.  Contractual commitments for long lead items require progress payments during the engineering and fabrication of the equipment and have cancellation penalties in the event Eureka Moly cancels the contract.

 

At September 30, 2009, we have contracts to purchase mining equipment comprised of two electric shovels and have cancelled orders for mine drills and loaders.  We have a non-binding letter of agreement on 24 haul trucks that establishes our priority for delivery and provides for the then current pricing using market indices upon initiation of

 

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an order.  We have active orders with varying stages of fabrication on milling process equipment comprised of two 230kV primary transformers and substation, a primary crusher, a semi-autogenous mill, two ball mills, and various motors for the mills.  We have suspended fabrication on 16 flotation cells, lime slaking equipment, hydrocyclones, and other smaller milling process equipment with the ability to re-initiate fabrication at any time.  We have substantially completed negotiations with the manufacturer of two multi-hearth molybdenum roasters to terminate its fabrication of this equipment and receive finished goods of the partially completed order.  We plan to re-establish a new purchase order with this manufacturer as additional financing is secured and equipment procurement is restarted under then current market terms and conditions.

 

The following table sets forth Eureka Moly’s cash commitments under mining and milling Purchase Contracts at September 30, 2009 (in millions).

 

Cash Commitments under Purchase Contracts

 

Period

 

As of
September 30, 2009

 

4th Quarter 2009

 

2.7

 

2010

 

34.1

 

2011

 

12.3

 

2012

 

21.1

 

2013

 

2.4

 

Total

 

$

72.6

 

 

Cash commitments under Purchase Contracts are inclusive of $40.9 million under milling process equipment orders (approximately $36.8 million due through the end of 2010, and $4.1 million in 2011), and $31.7 million in mining equipment orders.

 

We also incurred approximately $0.7 million in equipment contract cancellation costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Such costs were a combination of deposits forfeited and costs to cancel contracts.  We also estimate that we will be required to pay approximately $0.7 million in additional insurance and handling costs, related to the custom-build grinding and other milling process equipment.  Based on our current plan, expected timetable, and the results of such negotiations, we expect to make additional payments of approximately $36.8 million under these milling process equipment orders through the end of 2010, and $4.1 million in 2011.  As additional financing is secured and equipment procurement is restarted, agreements that were suspended or terminated will be renegotiated under the then current market terms and conditions, as necessary.

 

ITEM 3.           QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

We are a development stage company in the business of the exploration, development and mining of properties primarily containing molybdenum.  As a result, upon commencement of production, our financial performance could be materially affected by fluctuations in the market price of molybdenum and other metals we may mine.  The market prices of metals can fluctuate widely due to a number of factors.  These factors include fluctuations with respect to the rate of inflation, the exchange rates of the U.S. dollar and other currencies, interest rates, global or regional political and economic conditions, banking environment, global and regional demand, production costs, and investor sentiment.

 

In order to better manage commodity price risk and to seek to reduce the negative impact of fluctuations in prices, we will seek to enter into long term supply contracts.  On December 28, 2007, we entered into a molybdenum supply agreement with ArcelorMittal that provides for ArcelorMittal to purchase 6.5 million pounds of

 

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molybdenum per year, plus or minus 10%, once the Mt. Hope Project commences commercial operations at minimum specified levels. The supply agreement provides for a floor price along with a discount for spot prices above the floor price and expires five years after the commencement of commercial production at the Mt. Hope Project.  Both the floor and threshold levels at which the percentage discounts change are indexed to a producer price index.

 

Additionally, on May 14, 2008, we entered into a molybdenum supply agreement with SeAH Besteel Corporation (“SeAH Besteel”), Korea’s largest manufacturer of specialty steels, which provides for SeAH Besteel to purchase 4.0 million pounds of molybdenum per year, plus or minus 10%, once the Mt. Hope Project commences commercial operations at minimum specified levels. Like the ArcelorMittal supply agreement, the supply agreement with SeAH Besteel provides for a floor price along with staged discounts for spot prices above the floor price and expires five years from the date of first supply under the agreement.  Both the floor and threshold levels at which the percentage discounts change are indexed to a producer price index.

 

On August 8, 2008, the Company entered into a molybdenum supply agreement (the “Sojitz Agreement”) with Sojitz Corporation.  The Sojitz Agreement provides for the supply of 5.0 million pounds per year of molybdenum for five years, beginning once the Mt. Hope Project reaches certain minimum commercial production levels.  One million annual pounds sold under the Sojitz Agreement will be subject to a per-pound molybdenum floor price and is offset by a flat discount to spot moly prices above the floor.  The remaining 4.0 million annual pounds sold under the Sojitz Agreement will be sold with reference to spot moly prices without regard to a floor price.  The Sojitz Agreement includes a provision for cancellation in the event that supply from the Mt. Hope Project has not begun by January 1, 2013.

 

All three long term supply agreements provide for supply only after commercial production levels are achieved, and no provisions require the Company to deliver product or make any payments if commercial production is never achieved, or declines in later periods.  The agreements require that monthly shortfalls be made up only if the Company’s portion of Mt. Hope production is available for delivery, after POS-Minerals has taken its share.  In no event do these requirements to make up monthly shortfalls become obligations of the Company if production does not meet targeted levels.

 

Furthermore, each of the agreements have take-or-pay provisions that require the buyers to either take delivery of product made available by the Company, or to pay as though they had taken delivery pursuant to the term of the agreements.

 

While we have not used derivative financial instruments in the past, we may elect to enter into derivative financial instruments to manage commodity price risk.  We have not entered into any market risk sensitive instruments for trading or speculative purposes and do not expect to enter into derivative or other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

As of September 30, 2009, we had a balance of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of $58.7 million.  Interest rates on short term, highly liquid investments have not changed materially since December 31, 2008 and continue to be 1% or less on an annualized basis. If and to the extent that these funds were invested in interest bearing instruments during the entire nine month period ended September 30, 2009, a hypothetical 1% point decrease in the rate of interest earned on these funds would reduce interest income to nil for the nine month period ended September 30, 2009.

 

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ITEM 4.           CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the CEO and CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 (“Evaluation Dates”). Based on our initial evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the Evaluation Dates.

 

However, subsequent to the Evaluation Dates, as reported under Item 4.02 of the Form 8-K filed by the Company on November 9, 2009, on November 3, 2009, the management of the Company concluded that the Company’s financial statements as of and for the period from March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 as included in the Company’s Reports on Form 10-Q for such periods should no longer be relied upon and should be restated to correct for errors detected by management. The Company is filing amendments to its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 as a result of these restatements.

 

Accordingly, subsequent to the Evaluation Dates, management of the Company identified a deficiency in our disclosure controls and procedures.   We determined that our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 contained an error with respect to the balance sheet classification of the POS-Minerals interest in Eureka Moly, LLC (the “LLC”). We classified the POS-Minerals interest as noncontrolling interest as of March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 (and as minority interest within temporary equity as of December 31, 2008 prior to our implementation of FASB guidance for Noncontrolling Interests).  After  completion of  a recent review and evaluation of the related LLC agreement  with POS-Minerals , management determined that POS-Minerals interest in the LLC is more appropriately  classified as temporary equity because of a provision in the LLC Agreement that  permits POS-Minerals the option to put its interest in the LLC to the Company’s subsidiary, Nevada Moly, upon  a change of control of the Company, as defined in the LLC agreement, followed by (i) failure to begin full construction at the LLC by the Company or the surviving entity before December 31, 2010, or (ii) failure to use standard mining industry practice in connection with development and operation of the project as contemplated by the parties for a period of twelve months after December 31, 2010.  Due to the significance of this error, we will be restating our financial statements for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009 and have reflected this restatement in this report for the quarterly and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009.  Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO  concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

Management concluded the reason for this error primarily related to the lack of technical accounting expertise relating to interpretation of GAAP with respect to equity instruments with redemption characteristics.

 

We have taken measures to establish effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, including reviewing all equity instruments to identify any securities that may have to be classified between liabilities and equity (in the mezzanine section), as contingently redeemable noncontrolling interests, and implementing policies and procedures for the accounting of these securities.

 

On November 3, 2009, management, as a result of its ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act) Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)), concluded the control deficiency disclosed in this Item 4 had been addressed and remediated.

 

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There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.           LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

On March 26, 2009, the Nevada State Engineer approved the Company’s previously filed water applications that requested mining and milling use of 11,300 acre feet annually of water to be drawn from a well field near the Mt. Hope project in Kobeh Valley.  This ruling, combined with actual pump tests conducted in late 2008 that confirmed well pumping rates in Kobeh Valley, is anticipated to meet the Mt. Hope project’s life-of-mine water requirements of approximately 7,000 gallons per minute.

 

Subsequent to that ruling and the Company’s announcement thereof, two appeals were filed in April of 2009 with the Seventh Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada to challenge the State Engineer’s decision.  A successful appeal could have a material negative impact on the Mt. Hope project.  In September, the appellants filed their opening briefs.  The Company has reviewed the appellants’ briefs and believes them to contain the same arguments as the original protests.  We have submitted our Answering Brief and now expect a final brief by the appellants in December, after which a court date to hear Oral Arguments will be established.  We now anticipate that the appeal will be ruled upon by the District Judge in the first quarter of 2010.  The appellants maintain the right to advance the appeal to the State of Nevada Supreme Court.

 

Although the water application approvals are under appeal, the State Engineer issued the Company all water permits on July 21, 2009, providing the legal and regulatory authority to the use of the 11,300 acre feet annually of water for our mining operations.

 

ITEM 1A.           RISK FACTORS.

 

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including the discussion under the heading “Risk Factors” therein, and this report describe risks that may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.  The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and this report are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operations.

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this report may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of our Company, the Mt. Hope Project, Liberty Property and our other projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  We use the words “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “future,” “plan,” “estimate,” “potential” and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions are described in the “Risk Factors” section included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and this report, and include, among other things:

 

·                  our dependence on the success of the Mt. Hope Project;

·                  the ability to obtain all required permits and approvals for the Mt. Hope Project and the Liberty Property;

·                  issues related to the management of the Mt. Hope Project pursuant to the LLC Agreement;

·                  risks related to the failure of POS-Minerals to make contributions pursuant to the LLC Agreement;

·                  fluctuations in the market price of, and demand for, molybdenum and other metals;

 

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·                  the estimation and realization of mineral reserves, if any;

·                  the timing of exploration, development and production activities and estimated future production, if any;

·                  estimates related to costs of production, capital, operating and exploration expenditures;

·                  requirements for additional capital and the possible sources of such capital;

·                  government regulation of mining operations, environmental conditions and risks, reclamation and rehabilitation expenses;

·                  title disputes or claims; and

·                  limitations of insurance coverage.

 

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth above.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, and any events anticipated in the forward-looking statements may not actually occur.  Except as required by law, we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform those statements to actual results or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  We qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this report by the foregoing cautionary statements.

 

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

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.          DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.          SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

ITEM 5.          OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6.          EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated: November 9, 2009

 

 

GENERAL MOLY, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Chaput

 

 

David A. Chaput

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and

 

 

Duly Authorized Officer

 

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