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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996
Commission File Number 1-7375
COMMERCE GROUP CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 39-6050862
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
6001 North 91st Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53225-1795
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (414) 462-5310
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
Common Shares $0.10 par value Boston Stock Exchange
National Association of Security
Dealers Automated Systems (NASDAQ)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes X No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant
to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not
be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part
III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. (X).
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates
of the registrant based on the quote of the NASDAQ Small Cap Issue
on May 15, 1996, was approximately $ 15,216,165.
Common shares outstanding as of March 31, 1996, were 7,792,209.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Part III incorporated by reference from the registrant's definitive
Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed,
pursuant to Regulation 14A, no later than 120 days after the close
of the registrant's fiscal year.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP.
1996 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Page
Item 1. Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Item 2. Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. . 41
Item 4(a). Executive Officers of the Company . . . . . . . . . . 41
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Company's Common Equity and Related
Stockholders'Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Item 6. Selected Financial Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations. . . . . . . . . . 44
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. . . . . . 50
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant . . 70
Item 11. Management Remuneration and Transactions. . . . . . . 70
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions . . . . 70
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
on Form 8-K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
The Company will furnish a copy of any exhibit filed as a part of
this report to any shareholder of record upon receipt of a written
request from such person and payment of the Company's reasonable
expenses for furnishing such exhibit. Requests should be made to
the Assistant Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on
the cover page of this report.
PART I
Item 1. Business
Introduction
Commerce Group Corp. ("Commerce," the "Company," and the
"Registrant") is a company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, primarily
engaged in the business of developing mines and producing gold in
the Republic of El Salvador, Central America, through its
Commerce/Sanseb Joint Venture ("Joint Venture"). Commerce holds a
nearly 100% interest (detailed below) in the San Sebastian Gold Mine
("SSGM") and is exploring four other potential gold prospects
located in El Salvador. There are approximately 1.7 million ounces
of proven gold ore reserves at the SSGM, and at two of the other El
Salvador gold mines. There are strong initial indications of gold
ore present at the other sites.
Commerce is currently producing gold at a facility referred to in
this report as the San Cristobal Mill and Plant ("SCMP") by
processing tailings from the SSGM. These tailings are waste
material left as the by-product of past mining operations at the
SSGM. The SCMP is located approximately 13 miles from the SSGM.
Commerce acquired this facility on February 23, 1993, and thereafter
made substantial renovations and modifications to the plant and
equipment before and after placing this facility in operation.
Production began on March 31, 1995, and during the fiscal year
ending March 31, 1996, 5,993 ounces of bullion containing 3,161
ounces of gold and 1,489 ounces of silver were produced at this
facility from these tailings. Revenues from this production were
used primarily to fund further exploration of virgin ore reserves at
the SSGM, to fund the development of the four other mining
prospects, and to fund improvements at the SCMP.
Commerce's current business plan is to secure sufficient capital to
substantially increase its production of gold to at least 40,000
ounces per year and to develop additional gold ore reserves. The
Company expects to increase production by developing an open-pit
mine and a heap-leach operation on site at the SSGM and by acquiring
additional mining equipment which will permit it to process virgin
ore at the SCMP. The heap-leach operation will have the capability
of producing (through processing a higher volume of ore)
significantly more gold than could be produced at the SCMP, which
has a present maximum capacity of 400 tons per day. Commerce will
also continue to drill test holes at previously unexplored areas at
the site of the SSGM and at its four other potential mining
prospects.
Aside from its mining operations, Commerce independently and through
its partially and wholly-owned subsidiaries conducts other business
activities, which at present are substantially less significant than
its gold production and exploration in El Salvador: (1) land
acquisition and real estate development through its wholly-owned
subsidiaries, San Luis Estates, Inc. ("SLE") and Universal
Developers, Inc. ("UDI"); (2) real estate sales, through its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Homespan Realty Co., Inc. ("Homespan"); (3)
the operation of a 331-acre campground known as Standing Rock
Campground, which is owned by Homespan and operated by the Company;
and (4) advertising, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Piccadilly
Advertising Agency, Inc. ("Piccadilly").
Commerce was incorporated in Wisconsin in September 1962, and it
merged into a Delaware corporation in 1971. Its common shares have
been publicly traded since 1968. Commerce acquired 82 1/2% of the
authorized and issued shares of San Sebastian Gold Mines, Inc.
("Sanseb"), a Nevada corporation. The balance of Sanseb's shares
are held by approximately 200 unrelated shareholders. From 1969
forward, Commerce has provided substantially all of the capital
required to develop a mining operation at the SSGM, to fund
exploration, and to acquire and refurbish the SCMP. On September
22, 1987, Commerce and Sanseb entered into a joint venture agreement
(named the "Commerce/Sanseb Joint Venture" and sometimes referred to
herein as the "Joint Venture" or "Comseb") to formalize the
relationship between Commerce and Sanseb with respect to the mining
venture and to divide profits commensurately with Commerce's
substantial investment. The terms of this agreement authorize
Commerce to supervise and control all of the business affairs of the
Joint Venture. Under this agreement 90% of the net pre-tax profits
of the Joint Venture will be distributed to Commerce and 10% to
Sanseb, and because Commerce owns 82 1/2% of the authorized and
issued shares of Sanseb, Commerce in effect has over 98% interest
in the activities of the Joint Venture.
The Joint Venture leases the SSGM from a 52%-owned subsidiary,
Mineral San Sebastian, S.A. de C.V. ("Misanse"), an El Salvador
corporation. Although Misanse owns the real estate comprising the
site of the SSGM, the lease agreement grants Comseb the right to all
gold produced in exchange for a 5% royalty over a term of 25 years
beginning on the first day gold is produced, which Comseb may, at
its option, extend for an additional 25 years. Because Commerce
owns 52% of Misanse, Comseb in effect pays a royalty amounting to
less than 2 1/2% of its gold production to parties other than its
own shareholders.
The Joint Venture is registered as an operating entity to do
business in the State of Wisconsin, U.S.A. and in the Republic of El
Salvador, Central America. Under the Joint Venture Agreement,
Commerce is authorized to sign agreements on behalf of the Joint
Venture.
As of March 31, 1996, the total investment in the El Salvador mining
projects by Commerce, three of Commerce's wholly-owned
subsidiaries, Sanseb, and the Joint Venture amounted to $36,318,848.
The profitability and viability of the Joint Venture is dependent
upon, not only the price of gold in the world market (which can be
unstable), but also upon the political stability of El Salvador and
the availability of adequate funding for either the SCMP operation
or the SSGM open-pit, heap-leaching operation or for the four other
exploration projects.
The Mining Properties
The Company, through the Comseb Joint Venture, is currently engaged
in the mining activities at five separate sites in the country of El
Salvador. From its first involvement with Sanseb in 1968 and until
1993, all of the Company's exploration and development of its mining
activities took place at one site, the San Sebastian Gold Mine. On
February 23, 1993, the Company acquired the San Cristobal Mill and
Plant, which is located approximately 13 miles from the SSGM.
Subsequently the Company acquired certain exploration rights to
sites known as the Modesto (August, 1993), the San Felipe-El Potosi
(in September 1993), the Hormiguero (in September, 1993) and the
Montemayor (in March, 1995). The Company maintains a business
office in San Miguel, El Salvador, and employs over 300
professionals and skilled, semi-skilled, mill personnel and miners
at the sites of its operations.
At the current stage of the exploration and development, the
Company's geologists have defined the following gold reserves:
Contained
Tons Grade Ounces
1. San Sebastian Gold Mine
(a) Tailings 250,000 0.080 20,000
(b) Dumps waste (average grade) 960,000 0.130 124,800
(c) Stope fill (estimated) 1,000,000 0.340 340,000
(d) Open pit--virgin ore 13,400,000 0.087 1,165,800
---------- ---------
15,610,000 1,650,600
2. San Felipe-El Potosi
(a) Tailings 185,000 0.060 11,100
3. Modesto Mine
(a) Virgin ore (proven and
probable) 80,000 0.235 18,800
---------- ---------
Total: 15,875,000 1,680,500
In management's opinion, the Company's ongoing exploration and
development at the five sites will substantially increase the
Company's proven ore reserves.
The San Sebastian Gold Mine
The SSGM is situated on a mountainous tract of land consisting of
approximately 1,470 acres of explored and unexplored mining
prospects. The SSGM is located approximately three miles off of the
Pan American Highway, northwest of the City of Santa Rosa de Lima,
El Salvador. The tract is typical of the numerous volcanic mountains
of the coast range of southeastern El Salvador. The topography is
mountainous with elevations ranging from 300 to 1,500 feet above sea
level. The mountain slopes are steep, the gulches are well defined,
and the drainage is excellent.
The tailings, dump material, and stope fill at the SSGM, are the
by-products of past mining operations. The tailings are the residue
of higher grade ore once milled and processed to recover the then
economically feasible fraction of gold present in the material. The
dump material is actually gold ore which has been mined in the
search for higher grades of gold ore and piled to the side of past
excavations. The stope fill was primarily used to fill the voids in
the underground workings of the past SSGM mining activities. Virgin
gold ore, as the term is used in this report, is gold ore which is
in the open pit and readily available for processing; it also
includes the undeveloped underground gold ore.
Virgin gold ore at the SSGM represents the majority of the material
(13.4 million tons) included in the Company's reserves. The Company
plans to use open-pit mining and truck the gold ore to one or more
heap-leaching pads developed on site at the SSGM site. The use of
open-pit mining and heap-leaching techniques will enable the Company
to process a higher volume of gold ore than can be processed at the
SCMP or through the type of tunnelling operations used by the
Company in the past. The Company plans to continue to operate the
SCMP after developing a leach-pad operation at the SSGM, using the
facility to process the higher grade ore it encounters in the course
of mining at the SSGM. The milling operation at the SCMP is
expected to return a higher rate of gold recovery than can be
expected from heap-leaching techniques.
To date, production has focused on the tailings. There are
approximately 250,000 tons of tailings available for processing, and
these tailings have shown a consistent assay average grade of at
least 0.10 ounces of gold per ton. In an article published by
Mining & Scientific Press, dated September 8, 1917, entitled
"Geology of the San Sebastian Mine, El Salvador," it was observed:
"The tailings from the mill contain approximately 0.10 oz. gold
regardless of the value of the heading assay. Gold telluride has
occasionally been found, but even when the ore is roasted prior to
cyaniding, the tailings still contain about 0.10 oz. gold." The
first year's production has shown a lack of grade consistency,
therefore, the grade is unbalanced and greatly varies.
The 960,000 tons of dump material present at the SSGM site has
grades ranging from 0.082 to 0.178 ounces of gold per ton. An
analysis of the stope fill was made by the Company's consulting
geologist who has confirmed that about 7% of the stope fill had been
removed and processed during the 1973-1978 period. The grade of the
stope fill averages 0.34 ounces of gold per ton. It is estimated
that there are about one million tons available for treatment from
the underground operations. It is necessary to remove the material
which has caved in the adits to reach the stope fill areas.
All residue from the contemplated operations will be stockpiled for
potential future processing dependent upon the price of gold,
improvements in technology, and the depletion of better grading
material.
There is good access to the SSGM. The City of Santa Rosa de Lima (3
miles from the SSGM) is a substantial trading center. The SSGM is
approximately 30 miles from San Miguel, which is El Salvador's
second largest city, and approximately 108 miles southeast of El
Salvador's capital city, San Salvador. SSGM is also approximately 26
miles from the City of La Union which has port and railroad
facilities. Several major commercial airlines provide daily flights
to San Salvador. An airline commuter service provides daily
scheduled flights to the cities of Santa Rosa de Lima, San Miguel,
and La Union.
The Company (through the Comseb Joint Venture) leases the SSGM from
Mineral San Sebastian, S. A. ("Misanse"), an El Salvadoran
corporation. The Company owns 52% of the total of Misanse's issued
and outstanding shares. The balance of the shares are owned by
about 100 El Salvador, Central American and United States' citizens.
(Reference is made to Note 6 of the financial statements for related
party interests.)
Misanse Mining Lease
On July 28, 1975, an amended lease agreement between Misanse as
lessor and Sanseb as tenant was executed by the parties giving the
tenant all the possessions and mining rights that pertain to the
SSGM as well as other claims that may already have or could be
claimed in the future within the 1,470 acre plat of land
encompassing the SSGM. The lease was further amended to run
concurrently with the concession described herein and may be
extended for one or more equal periods by the tenant as long as the
tenant has paid the rent and has complied with other obligations
under the lease and the concession. The lease further provides that
the tenant will pay rent to equal 5% of the gross gold production
revenues obtained from the leased SSGM and further commits itself to
maintain production taking into consideration market, political, and
other conditions. In no case will the rent be less than 1,800
colones per month (approximately $206 per month at the current rate
of exchange). The lease further provides that, in the event the
lessor wishes to sell the property, it must first give preference to
the tenant; the lease further provides that the tenant must give
preference to employ its former mining employees and Misanse
shareholders.
The lease is freely assignable by the Joint Venture without notice
to Misanse. The lease may also be cancelled by the Joint Venture on
thirty day's notice to Misanse and thereafter all legal obligations
thereunder shall cease.
In the event that new extended bodies of ore are discovered, Misanse
may be required to make proper claim for them through the Ministry
of Economy of El Salvador's Department of Energy, Mines and
Hydrocarbons, and include such claims in the present lease. Such
addition to the lease is required to be made without additional
rental payment, except that the expenses for procuring the
concession shall be borne by the Joint Venture.
Misanse Concession Agreement
On July 23, 1987, in an official ceremony in the City of Santa Rosa
de Lima, El Salvador, President Jose Napoleon Duarte of the Republic
of El Salvador, presented the "concession" which is the official
decree granting rights to extract gold ore from the SSGM. In order
to obtain the mining concession from the Government of El Salvador,
on December 22, 1986, the Company and Sanseb entered into an
agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit I of the Company's
S.E.C. Form 10-K filed for the period ended March 31, 1988) with
Misanse as follows:
Under the terms of the concession and agreement referred to in the
concession, the Joint Venture has agreed to the following:
(a) The Joint Venture will pay to approximately 270 former El
Salvador employees pursuant to a settlement agreement dated
June, 1985, as follows: A sum of approximately 500,000 colones
(approximately U.S. $57,208 at the current rate of exchange)
in three (3) installments contingent upon the production and
sale of gold, to wit: one-third is to be paid from the sale of
the first production of gold; one-third is to be paid one (1)
year thereafter; and one-third is to be paid two (2) years
after the first payment; a sum of 205,214 colones has been paid
which reduces the total amount due as of March 31, 1996, to
294,786 colones or U.S. $33,728.
(b) Preference is to be given to the former Sanseb employees and
Misanse shareholders in filling any job vacancies, providing
that there is a need for their skills or services.
(c) From the SSGM profits earned, 5% of the gross wages paid to the
full-time employees shall be paid into a newly created pension
fund for the benefit of the employees.
(d) From the SSGM profits earned, a sum of 500,000 colones annually
(equivalent to $57,208 at the present rate of exchange) will be
paid by the Joint Venture as a social tax for the benefit of
the community in the SSGM area which said funds are to be used
for social, economic, educational, recreational, health,
welfare, medical or for such other beneficial community
services as determined by the Joint Venture.
(e) At such time as the Government of El Salvador forms a
cooperative for the benefit of the employees, the Joint Venture
has agreed to contribute from its annual pre-tax earnings, the
sum of 5% of its pre-tax profits, but, in any event, not less
than a minimum amount equal to 5% of 8% of the total assets.
(f) Pursuant to an agreement with the El Salvador Minister of
Economy, at the request of the Company to the El Salvador
Central Reserve Bank and/or office of the El Salvador Minister
of Foreign Commerce, it will be able to convert the El Salvador
currency into United States' currency for the payment of its
loans, interest, and any other obligations, including the
payment of dividends. Presently, there are no restrictions in
converting the El Salvador colones into United States'
currency. The Company, as a foreign investor, may hold dollar
accounts in El Salvador banks and may use these accounts to
obtain local financing.
(g) On November 30, 1987, the El Salvador Minister of Foreign
Commerce issued a project approval for the gold mining
operation which was ratified on April 15, 1988.
(h) In consideration for the obligations agreed to by the Joint
Venture, the Government of El Salvador agreed to exempt the
Joint Venture from the payment of all import duty, fiscal or
municipal taxes whatsoever. The El Salvador Department of
Customs refused to recognize this exemption. On November 15,
1993, the Joint Venture's attorneys filed a declaratory
proceeding with the El Salvador Constitutional Supreme Court
("Court") informing the Court that the Joint Venture's rights
were being violated and that the Court should restrain the
Department of Customs from attempting to collect any duty.
On May 18, 1994, the El Salvador Constitutional Supreme Court of
Justice declared that the Joint Venture is entitled to be
temporarily exempt from the payment of all import duty, fiscal and
municipal taxes on the import of any item relating to the needs of
the SSGM pending its review of the petition filed on November 15,
1993, and that the Company's Joint Venture's constitutional rights
are to be preserved. The El Salvador Department of Customs takes a
position that the Supreme Court could deny the exemption, therefore,
in lieu of paying the Custom's duty, it is accepting a payment bond
in an amount of the Custom's duty until a final decision is made.
It is charging the Company the 10% added value tax (as of July 1995,
13%) which is refundable to the extent of 6% of the value of the
Joint Venture's exports. The Joint Venture plans to export all of
its gold.
Misanse Mineral Concession-Government of El Salvador
On January 27, 1987, the Government granted a right to the SSGM
mining concession ("concession") to Misanse which was subject to the
performance of the El Salvador Mining law requirements. These
rights were simultaneously assigned to the Joint Venture.
On July 23, 1987, the Government of El Salvador delivered and
granted to Misanse, possession of the mining concession. This is
the right to extract and export minerals for a term of 25 years
(plus a 25-year renewal option) beginning on the first day of
production from the real estate which encompasses the SSGM owned by
Misanse. Misanse assigned this concession to the Joint Venture.
Under the concession and applicable El Salvador law, the Joint
Venture has the right to export said minerals for five years
beginning with the first day of production without imposition of
mineral or export taxes. It also has the right to import free of
duty, equipment and all other items necessary to operate the SSGM.
The concession, or the right to mine gold, is subject to
cancellation by the Government of El Salvador if there is an
abandonment of the property such as if there is no demonstration
that the concession holder intends to carry out exploration,
exploitation, or development of the property in good faith during a
six-month period after the concession is granted or if the work of
exploration, exploitation or development is suspended for six months
or if the exploration, exploitation or development is reduced to an
extent that the effort used cannot be regarded as being reasonable
in relation to the importance and resources of the mining property.
In the event of public disaster or disturbance of the public order,
all mines in the given locality shall be regarded as being in
exploration, exploitation or development without the necessity of
any special formality. Such event did occur when, on November 11,
1989, the guerrillas attempted to seize the Country of El Salvador.
On January 16, 1992, a peace accord and cease-fire agreement was
entered into by the Government of El Salvador and its opposition.
The transition from war to peace was effected without any serious
occurrences and final peace was declared on December 15, 1992, with
a three-year period to comply with the terms of the peace pact.
The work of a concession may be suspended by permission of a
competent authority for a reasonable period not to exceed one year.
An exception would be in case of acts of God or force majeure in
which case the period may be extended successively as long as such
reasons exist.
A concession may be fortified for lack of security measure, or if
its condition would endanger the lives of workers, or for failure to
comply with provisions of the Mining Code or other provisions
enacted with respect to any aspect of exploitation in the mining
industry, unless corrected within a reasonable period.
The Complimentary Mining Law states that, in addition to the cases
mentioned in the El Salvador Mining Code, abandonment of the mine
will be presumed if after a significant reduction or exhaustion of
the veins, beds, or other formation in exploitation, three months is
allowed to pass without adequate efforts either to exploit other
deposits existing in the concession or to discover new deposits
suitable for exploitation.
By Article 22 of the El Salvador Mining Code, a concession may be
granted for an unlimited time, as long as the concession holder
complies with the conditions imposed by law. The Joint Venture's
concession is for a period of twenty-five years, beginning on the
first day of production, and with a right to extend it for an
additional twenty-five years.
In addition, the El Salvador Constitution contains certain
provisions which, although not referring specifically to mining, are
applicable thereto. Article 138, for example, prohibits
confiscation of property as a penalty or for any other reasons, but,
in the event that any authority violates this prohibition, the
confiscated property is imprescriptible.
During February 1996, and effective 120 days thereafter, the
Government of El Salvador adopted a revised mining law. This law
grants longer exploration and exploitation terms. It also contains
a provision that three percent of the gold receipts will be paid to
the Government of El Salvador and an additional one percent is to be
paid to the municipality where the mine is located. There are other
provisions that the Company is reviewing to obtain a clear status of
the mining law.
Proposed Mining, Mill, Heap-Leaching and Exploration Operations
San Cristobal Mill and Plant ("SCMP") Recovery and Processing
Systems
On February 23, 1993, the Company, on behalf of the Joint Venture
acquired SCMP, a precious metals' cyanide leaching mill and plant
rated with a capacity of processing 200 tons per day which utilized
the following unit operations: crushing, grinding, thickening,
agitated leaching, counter current decantation of leach solution,
recovery of precious metals by zinc precipitation (Merrill-Crowe),
and direct smelting of precipitates to produce precious metals as
dore and tailings' disposal.
The Company's engineers recommended that this processing system be
retrofitted and converted to process the SSGM tailings by a
cyanidation carbon-in-leach (CIL) system to recover the residual
cyanide soluble precious metals. The retrofitting has been
completed and the first pouring of gold on a test basis took place
on March 31, 1995. The SCMP is being operated on a "start-up and
build-up" to a gradual full capacity system during this trial and
modification period.
Although the Joint Venture owns the mill, plant and related
equipment, it does not own the land and certain buildings. Since
February 23, 1993, the Joint Venture attempted to either lease or
purchase this real estate from an Agency of the El Salvador
Government, Corporacion Salvadorena de Inversiones ("Corsain"). On
November 12, 1993, the Joint Venture entered into an agreement with
Corsain to lease approximately 166 acres of land and the buildings
for a period of ten years. The annual rental charge is U.S. $11,500
payable in advance and subject to annual increases based on the
United States' percentage rate of inflation. Also as agreed, an
$11,500 security deposit was required and this deposit is subject to
an annual increase based on the U.S. inflation rate. The premises
are strategically located to process gold ore from three of the four
other mining prospects that are in the exploration stage.
SCMP Project Operating Plan
Production Schedule
Preproduction development, consisting primarily of expansive road
and site improvements to the mine and mill sites, and delivery of
tailings' reclaim and expansive mill equipment modification, has
taken place during the last year. Initial production is from the
SSGM tailings. After that tailings' resource is exhausted, tailings
will come from the San Felipe-El Potosi Mine (Potosi), or in the
event that crushing and grinding equipment is acquired, then the
Joint Venture plans to process the higher grade ore from the SSGM.
The Joint Venture dedicated extraordinary efforts to attain its
production goals, but there were delays in establishing the SCMP in
a mode to accomplish its expectations. Substantial modifications
had to take place and a completely new force of labor had to be
seasoned to operate the SCMP. An unusual rainy aftermath of the
hurricane season caused hauling problems and many metallurgical
differences were encountered due to the unbalance of the tailings'
grade and consistency; in the handling of the tailings, coarse
material separation was encountered creating difficulties in
achieving its production goal. Other related factors delayed the
Joint Venture from realizing its goals. Nevertheless, the
operations, if recorded on a profit or loss basis, would have
reflected a nominal profit. It is expected that the ongoing
technical changes should activate the increase of the profits to
meet the projections.
The other sources of gold ore from the SSGM to be used at the SCMP
operation will be obtained from the stope fill or higher grade gold
ore after obtaining access through the underground workings from the
main ore body. This gold ore will have to be crushed and pulverized
which increases the cost, but then the yield is expected to be at a
92% recovery. The income from the higher recovery of gold ore will
be substantially more than the greater cost involved, providing that
the world gold market price does not decline below $200 an ounce.
SCMP Continued Operating Plans
Tailings from SSGM and/or Potosi are reclaimed utilizing a
rubber-tired wheel loader and loaded into 20-25 ton trucks for
transport to the SCMP. Trucks then haul the tailings approximately
15 miles from the SSGM or approximately 30 miles from Potosi to the
SCMP. Mine employees are responsible for tailings' reclaim
activities including determination of areas to be reclaimed, truck
and loader operating and maintenance, and head sampling and sample
analysis.
The tailings are received at the SCMP where they are weighed,
logged, and sampled. Weighing is performed utilizing a conveyor
belt scale and/or a truck scale located on the SCMP site. The
tailings are then unloaded at the SCMP site and stockpiled. An area
was developed to allow stockpiling of more than 15,000 tons on the
SCMP site.
SSGM tailings are transferred from the stockpile to a feed bin
utilizing a rubber-tired wheel loader. The feed bin has a capacity
of approximately 10 cubic yards (13.5 tons). Feed is fed at a
controlled rate onto a conveyor, which transfers the feed to the
next part of the process. The conveyor includes a belt scale
(weightometer) for instantaneous determination of feed rate and
totalizing of tonnage fed to the process.
The conveyor discharges into a chute which transports the material
into the ball mill which serves as a repulper. Water is added to
the solids in the ball mill to a pulp density of approximately 40%
to 50% solids by weight, and lime is added to raise the alkalinity
of the pulp to approximately PH 10.5. The repulp tank includes a
mixing agitator for suspension and conditioning of the slurry. The
slurry is transferred from the repulp tank to the leaching process
utilizing a slurry transfer pump.
Slurry transferred from the repulp tank is directed to a 20 mesh
static sieve bend screen to remove any oversize or trash material.
The slurry then enters the first of six agitated leach tanks
utilized for cyanide leaching of the pulp. This provides for
approximately 24 hours leach retention time. A seventh tank is
maintained in operable condition as a standby unit. Liquid cyanide
is added to the first leach tank to dissolve the gold.
Precious metals recovery is accomplished by utilizing
carbon-in-leach (CIL) methods where activated carbon is utilized to
adsorb the gold from the solution. Each leach tank is equipped with
an air lift pump for inter-stage advancement of carbon, and an air
swept stationary screen for retention of carbon and downstream
gravity transfer of pulp. A 20 mesh carbon safety screen is
attached to the end of the leaching circuit. An air blower provides
air for operation of the air lifts and air sweep on the screens.
Pulp loaded with precious metals in the carbon from the CIL process
is passed over a carbon recovery screen where the carbon is retained
and washed, and the pulp is directed back to the CIL process. The
carbon is moved counter-current to the pulp flow in order that the
highest possible gold loadings are obtained and highly active fresh
carbon is maintained in the last leach tanks.
Liquid ferrous sulfate is added to the tailings to destroy any
residual cyanide. Tailings from the CIL process are directed to the
tailings' impoundment area using a slurry transfer pump. Tailings
are stored in a tailings' impoundment area with tailings' water
reclaimed as required.
Loaded (gold containing) carbon is transferred from the carbon
recovery screen to the strip and acid wash circuits. The carbon is
stripped utilizing atmospheric Zadra desorption methods, with the
resulting pregnant strip solution reporting to electrowinning, where
gold containing sludge is formed, which is pyrometallurgically
refined on-site to dore metal. The carbon is acid washed to remove
detrimental impurities prior to being transferred back to the CIL
circuit.
Reagents (cyanide, lime) are made up in separate agitated mix tanks.
The cyanide mix tank holds up to three days worth of 20% cyanide by
weight solution. The lime mix tank holds up to one eight-hour
shifts worth of 20% lime by weight slurry. The lime is pumped to
the repulp tank and CIL process as required for alkalinity control.
The cyanide is pumped to the CIL process and carbon strip circuit as
required.
Process water is provided from mine sources and stored in a 40'
thickener. Process water is pumped from the thickener to various
locations throughout the process. If water treatment is required it
is done by utilizing the thickener as a mixing/precipitation device.
Electricity is supplied by local public utilities. In the event
power is discontinued for any reason whatsoever, an emergency
generator to produce power is on site to maintain and take over the
process system.
SCMP Personnel
The SCMP employees, during this past year's start-up testing period
(including its own trained security personnel) totals about 144
persons. The SCMP is operated 24 hours per day, seven days per week
and 52 weeks per year.
SSGM Open-Pit, Heap-Leaching Operation
The Joint Venture has placed the SCMP into operations. It now
intends to obtain a sum of $6 million or more to commence an
open-pit, heap-leaching operation at the SSGM site. An additional
$7 million or more is estimated to be required for the crushing
system and mining equipment if the Joint Venture were unable to
lease this equipment. After these funds are obtained, the Joint
Venture intends to start processing gold ore from its open pit at a
production level of 2,000 tons per day. During the second year, the
production level plans are to expand production to 3,000 tons per
day (the funds for this expansion could be generated from profits).
An increase to process 4,000 tons of gold ore per day would take
place during the third year and another expansion to process 6,000
tons per day would take place at the beginning of the fifth year,
and all funds for this expansion should be available through a
combination of earned profits, borrowing, or other sources. The
independent feasibility study and the Company's Project Summary
report comfortably support this program as the estimated projected
production costs are substantially lower than a current $390 per
ounce market price of gold. The total volume of proven gold ore
reserves from the open-pit area amount to 13.4 million tons with an
average grade of 0.087 ounces of gold per ton. With the anticipated
production volume, there is at least an eight-year supply of gold
ore. More gold ore would be developed during this period of time as
it is believed that a substantial amount of gold ore can be proven.
The leach pad site consisting of approximately 3.7 acres on the SSGM
property was chosen because of the relatively even grade level, the
access to water supply, electric power, roads, telephone service,
and because of its close proximity to the open-pit area.
Gold ore will be crushed to produce stones of a size which will
maximize gold recovery. If required, lime and cement will be added
"agglomerated" to such gold bearing material that will require this
process to assist the heap-leaching operation, in accordance with
metallurgical recommendations.
This leach pad will be constructed with a plastic liner sandwiched
between layers of gravel to protect its integrity. On top, the
liner will be protected with a six-foot layer of one-inch gravel
comprised of gold-bearing material. Material to be processed and
agglomerated if necessary will, in stages, be heaped an additional
20 feet on top of this protective layer, and then removed at the end
of the leaching cycle.
Basically, this process involves the placement of material
containing gold onto a "pad" which is impermeable to liquids,
sprinkling the "heap" with a water-based chemical solution which
will dissolve the gold as it percolates through the material,
collecting the solution at the bottom of the heap as it runs off the
pad, and then recovering the gold from the solution. The chemical
solution is actually recycled through the heap many times before it
is processed, in order to maximize the recovery of gold and to
recycle the chemicals.
Gold laden cyanide solution will be collected at the base of the pad
and then will be filtered through a series of carbon adsorption
columns (a series of open-topped tanks) where the gold will be drawn
out of the solution and into beds of granular activated carbon.
Next, the carbon from the columns will be washed with acid to strip
the gold from the carbon into a more concentrated solution. Lastly,
gold will be removed from this acid solution by electrolysis (the
same process used in gold-plating) first by collecting the gold on
steel wool type cathodes, and then by electrolytically transferring
the gold to a charged metal plate in another acid solution. After
their use in processing a batch of gold, the cyanide and acid
solutions, as well as the carbon, will be replenished and recycled
to process the next batch. This procedure is similar to the
existing SCMP process.
Exploration Projects
The Joint Venture is performing the following El Salvador
exploration programs:
(1) At the SSGM site which is located approximately two and
one-half miles northwest of the City of Santa Rosa de Lima,
Department of La Union, El Salvador.
(2) At the San Felipe-El Potosi Mine and its extension, the El
Capulin Mine, which are located near the City of Potosi,
Department of San Miguel, El Salvador (approximately 18 miles
northwest of the City of San Miguel).
(3) At the Hormiguero Mine which is located about five miles
southeast of the SCMP near the City of Comacaron in the
Departments of San Miguel and Morazan, El Salvador.
(4) At the Modesto Mine which is located near the City of El
Paisnal about 19 miles from the Capital City in the
Department of San Salvador, El Salvador.
(5) At the Montemayor Mine which is located about 14 miles
northeast of SCMP, about six miles northwest of SSGM, and
two and one-half miles east of the City of San Francisco
Gotera in the Department of Morazan.
All of the above mines were formerly in production and did produce
gold and/or silver. In addition to the channel trenching, test pit
holes, and underground adit openings, the Joint Venture has acquired
its own diamond drilling rig to explore in depth, the above
described potential targets. All of the properties have promising
geologic surroundings and alternations, and all have been mined and
produced gold in the past.
Also, the Joint Venture has its own SSGM on-site laboratory with
full-time, trained personnel working three shifts to fire assay the
gold ore samples. It also has two full-time surveying crews
consisting of ten persons. (Reference is made to Item 2.
Properties for additional detailed information.)
Gold Prices, Sales, Marketing and Competition
Since the Joint Venture is in operation and producing gold on a
limited basis, its revenues, profitability and cash flow will be
greatly influenced by the price of gold. The gold price is
unpredictable, can fluctuate widely and is affected by numerous
factors beyond the Company's control, including, but not limited to,
expectations for inflation, the relative strength of the United
States' dollar in relation to other major currencies, political and
economic conditions, and production costs in major gold-producing
regions. The supply and demand for gold also affects the price.
Gold and silver can be sold on numerous markets throughout the
world, and the market price is readily ascertainable for such metal.
There are many refiners and smelters available to process these
precious metals. Refined gold and silver can also be sold to a
large number of precious metal dealers on a competitive basis. The
Joint Venture's SCMP operation which produces dore is refined by
Handy & Harman's refinery located in the United States.
The Joint Venture will not be a major gold producer of gold based on
the size of existing gold mining companies. The Company believes no
single gold-producing Company has a large impact to offset either
the price or supply of gold in the world market. There are many
companies in the world producing gold. Many of these companies have
substantially greater technical and financial resources than the
Company. The Company believes that the expertise of the Joint
Venture's experienced employees, its low overhead and its projected
low cost of production will allow it to compete effectively and to
produce reasonable profits.
Environmental Matters
The exploration, development and production processes conducted by
the Joint Venture in the Republic of El Salvador presently are not
subject to any categorical regulations regarding environmental
protection.
The Joint Venture believes that it is in its best interest to use
similar environmental standards as are enforced in the United States
regarding safety precautions, employee health and safety, air
quality standards, pollution of stream and fresh water sources,
waste material, odor, noise, dust and other reasonable environmental
protection practices.
Political Environment in El Salvador
The following information is an excerpt from a report entitled,
"U.S. Embassy--San Salvador Country Commercial Guide for the fiscal
year 1995":
"El Salvador's successful two-year peace process recently came to
culmination with peaceful presidential, legislative, and municipal
elections, in which the political party of the ex-guerrillas, the
FMLN, participated. Though losing the presidential election, the
FMLN and a coalition of other left of center parties won 22 seats in
the 84-seat Legislative Assembly, becoming the second major
political force in the country. The [1994] presidential election
was won by Armando Calderon Sol, the candidate of the
right-of-center Arena party, which won 39 seats in the Assembly.
Arena moderated its right-wing policies during the administration of
outgoing President Alfredo Cristiani, ending the 12-year civil war
as well as greatly liberalizing the economy and reducing corruption.
"El Salvador has an excellent relationship with the United States,
solidified by 12 years of close cooperation during the Salvadoran
civil war. Leaders of the FMLN have established close relations
with the U.S. government, seeing it as an honest broker during the
peace process. The vast majority of Salvadoran people also view the
U.S. in a favorable light, a sentiment augmented by the fact that
almost a million Salvadorans live in the U.S.
"El Salvador has a Presidential political system, with a unicameral
Legislative Assembly and an independent judiciary dominated by the
Supreme Court. Elections for President are held every five years;
for the Assembly and municipalities, every three years. They were
concurrent in 1994. Arena is the strongest political party in the
country, currently controlling the executive, a working majority in
the assembly (with the help of a smaller party), and the vast
majority of municipalities. The FMLN controls the second largest
number of seats in the Assembly and came in second in the first
round of the Presidential election. The center-left Christian
Democratic Party (PDC) has seen its support slowly erode since
controlling the Presidency and Assembly in the mid-1980s. It still
controls, however, eighteen seats in the new Assembly. There are
several other small, insignificant parties."
Economy Status
The following selected information on El Salvador was obtained from
excerpts of the "Central Intelligence Agency World Fact Book":
"Overview: The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of GDP, employs
about 40% of the labor force, and contributes about 66% to total
exports. Coffee is the major commercial crop, accounting for 45% of
export earnings. The manufacturing sector, based largely on food
and beverage processing, accounts for 19% of GDP and 15% of
employment. In 1992-94 the government made substantial progress
toward privatization and deregulation of the economy. Growth in
national output in 1991-94 nearly averaged 5%, exceeding growth in
population for the first time since 1987; and inflation in 1994 of
10% was down from 19% in 1993. National product:
"National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion
(1994 est.)
"National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
"National product per capita: $1,710 (1994 est.)
"Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1994 est.)
"Unemployment rate: 6.7% (1993)
"Budget:
"revenues: $846 million "expenditures: $890 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
"Exports: $823 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
"commodities: coffee, sugarcane, shrimp
"partners: US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Germany
"Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
"commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods
"partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany
"External debt: $2.6 billion (December 1992)
"Industrial production: growth rate 7.6% (1993)
" . . .
"Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, nonmetallic
products, tobacco, chemicals, textiles, furniture
"Agriculture: accounts for 24% of GDP and 40% of labor force
(including fishing and forestry); coffee most important commercial
crop; other products - sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseeds, beef,
dairy products, shrimp; not self-sufficient in food
" . . .
"Economic aid:
"recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $2.95
billion (plus $250 million for 1992-96); Western (non-US) countries,
ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $525 million
"Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
"Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 - 8.760 (January
1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993), 8.4500 (1992), 8.080 (1991),
8.0300 (1990)
"Fiscal year: calendar year"
Investment Climate in El Salvador
The following information is reproduced from a report prepared by
the U.S. Embassy named, "U.S. Embassy - San Salvador Country
Commercial Guide FY 1996":
"- Openness to Foreign Investment
"The Salvadoran Government is committed to attracting foreign
investment. Companies from the United States, Canada, Germany,
Korea, Taiwan, and Mexico have made investments here with favorable
results. The primary legislation governing foreign investment in El
Salvador is the 1990 Export Reactivation Law; and the 1988 Foreign
Investment Promotion and Guarantee law.
"The 1988 Foreign Investment and Promotion Law is a comprehensive
statute. To investors who register with the Ministry of Economy
this law provides:
"-Unrestricted remittance of net profits for investors in industrial
activities.
"-Remittance of net profits up to fifty percent of the registered
foreign capital per year for investors in commercial and service
activities. In practice, however, there is free convertibility of
capital.
"-Unrestricted remittance of funds obtained from the liquidation of
a business in proportion to the foreign funds invested.
"-Unrestricted remittance of royalties and fees for use of foreign
patents, trademarks, technical assistance and other similar
services.
"-Foreign investors may hold dollar accounts in El Salvador and may
use these accounts to obtain local financing.
"...
"Under the Export Reactivation Law of 1990, firms not located in
free zones and exporting less than one hundred percent of their
production may apply for tax rebates of six percent of the FOB value
of these exports. However, the paperwork to obtain this rebate is
cumbersome.
"In 1994 the government announced that it was setting up a one-stop
office for foreign investment in the Ministry of Economy, where
investors now register their investments. To date, no concrete
steps have been taken towards this end. The registration process is
supposed to be non-discriminatory and is not considered an
impediment to investment.
"It is not necessary to have a local partner in El Salvador. Some
maquila operations are completely foreign-owned. Three
multinational oil companies operate in El Salvador, and two of these
companies share a small refinery. Two U.S. banks have offices in El
Salvador. The banking law has been modified to encourage other
foreign banks to enter the country. Although foreign investment in
newly-privatized banks is limited, there are no restrictions on
ownership of new banks.
"Conversion and Transfer Policies
"El Salvador has a freely convertible currency that trades at
approximately 8.75 colones per dollar. This currency is buoyed by
family remittances of nearly one billion dollars per year from
Salvadorans who reside outside the nation. The nation's banks and
many foreign exchange houses actively trade dollars and colons.
Foreign businesses freely remit profits, repatriate capital, and
bring in capital for additional investments. Banks publish their
exchange rates daily in local newspapers.
"Expropriation and Compensation
"The last case of expropriation began in 1986, when the government
nationalized the assets of CAESS, San Salvador's electric
distribution company. Six years later, shareholders received the
first payment of ten million dollars. In March 1993, the government
concluded payments of cash and bonds and the case was settled to the
satisfaction of all parties.
"In 1960 the United States and Salvadoran governments signed an
investment guarantee treaty, which guaranteed U.S. investors against
losses that could arise from currency inconvertibility or
expropriation. As of July 1995, the US and El Salvador have nearly
completed negotiating a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) that would
encompass all aspects of investment. It has not been signed for
technical reasons.
" . . .
"Political Violence (as it may affect investments)
"El Salvador continues its transition to a peacetime society after
12 years of civil conflict. There have been few confirmed acts of
political violence since the elections in mid-1994. Although
general crime levels are high and are of concern to the business
community, we are not aware of political violence specifically aimed
at foreign investors, their businesses or their property.
"Performance Requirements
"El Salvador's investment legislation does not require investors to
export specific amounts, transfer technology, incorporate set levels
of local content, or fulfill other performance criteria.
"Right to Private Ownership and Establishment
"Foreign citizens and private companies can freely establish
businesses in El Salvador. However, foreigners are prohibited from
operating small businesses with start-up capital of less than the
equivalent of USD 25,000 dollars. This is not seen as an impediment
to foreign investment, and does not seem to be strictly enforced.
There are several sectors shielded from foreign and local private
investment or competition. The national telephone company (ANTEL),
the water and sewer company (ANDA), and the electric company (CEL)
are owned by the state, but their monopolies are slowly being
dismantled. For example, private power generation is now allowed
(although for practical purposes, it must be sold to CEL for
distribution), and a U.S. company has formed a partnership with
ANTEL to operate the country's cellular phone system. Artesanal
fishing within 12 miles of the coast is limited to citizens of El
Salvador. Commercial fishing between 12 to 200 miles from the coast
can be undertaken by Salvadoran citizens, foreigners legally
residing in El Salvador, or joint ventures legally registered with
the government. Commercial fishing licenses must be obtained from
CENDEPESCA, a government entity. Foreigners may engage in sport
fishing without restriction in any of El Salvador's coastal waters.
" . . .
"Regulatory System (laws and procedures as they pertain to
investment)
"The laws and policies of El Salvador are relatively transparent and
generally foster competition. Bureaucratic procedures, although
cumbersome, have improved in recent years and are relatively
streamline for foreign investors. Sectors that are still regulated
or owned by the state, such as electricity, water and
telecommunications, are slowly moving towards privatization or
de-regulation that will allow for investment and competition. The
superintendent of Banks supervises the banking system, but interest
rates are determined by market forces. Banking-law reforms have
attracted two new foreign banks to the country in the last year, and
several new financial institutions have been established by
Salvadoran investors. Gasoline prices are `controlled' by the
government, but are actually based on an average of U.S. Gulf Coast
refinery prices.
"Bilateral Investment Treaties
"The United States and El Salvador signed an investment guarantee
treaty in 1960 designed to protect U.S. investors against
expropriation or currency inconvertibility. The United States and
El Salvador also have a framework agreement for a Trade and
Investment Council (TIC). An all-encompassing bilateral investment
treaty which would address issues such as [as] national treatment
for foreign investors, transfers, expropriation, investment
disputes, tax policies, etc., is being negotiated, but has not been
signed for technical reasons. The US and Salvadoran government are
working towards but have not yet reached agreement on a Tax
Information Exchange Agreement.
"El Salvador is a member of the Central American Common Market, and
has approximately 50 commercial and technical cooperation treaties
in effect. Three of these treaties (Mexico, Spain, and Venezuela)
look to promote coinvestment. Mexico's economic difficulties have
led to the deferral of planned negotiations on a free trade
agreement. El Salvador is a member of the World Trade Organization.
"OPIC
"The Overseas Investment Corporation (OPIC) has a bilateral
agreement with El Salvador. OPIC has approved insurance coverage
for the expansion of a U.S. bank in El Salvador, and is considering
several other projects. OPIC insures currency inconvertibility,
expropriation and civil strife, as well as corporate financing. El
Salvador is a member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA).
"Labor
"Of El Salvador's labor force of approximately 1.5 million workers,
34 percent work in the agricultural sector. This is followed by
services (21 percent), commerce (18 percent) and manufacturing (15
percent). The minimum wage in the industrial and commerce sectors
is 1050 colons roughly 120 dollars a month. Urban employees with
minimal skills generally earn at least twenty percent more than the
minimum wage. Although the minimum wage is less for agricultural
workers, coffee plantation owners report that they pay above the
minimum wage to attract workers during the harvest.
"According to a Planning Ministry survey of 5,000 urban and rural
families, unemployment in 1994 was 7.7 percent. Visible
underemployment could add three to seven percent to that figure.
However, some construction contractors cannot find sufficient
skilled workers, due to the amount of projects now underway in El
Salvador. According to the above survey, 150,000 more people are
employed in 1994 than 1993. The statistics from this survey are not
considered precise, but do indicate trends.
"Salvadoran labor is perceived as hard working and trainable. The
general educational level is low, which may inhibit the development
of industries needing skilled, educated labor. In addition, there
is a lack of middle management-level talent, which often results in
foreigners being brought in to perform such tasks.
"The Constitution of December 1983 guarantees the right of employees
to organize into associations and unions. Employers are free to
hire union or non-union labor. Closed shops are illegal.
". . .
"Capital Outflow Policy
"There are no restrictions on capital outflow for Salvadorans, nor
are there any specific incentives to invest capital outside El
Salvador. Regarding investment outflow, Salvadoran investors have
interests in hotels, real estate and industry in Mexico, Guatemala,
Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and the U.S. Accurate statistics about
the size of these investments are not available.
"Major Foreign Investors
"Coastal Technologies - owner/operators of the Nejapa
power-generating plant. Estimated value over USD 140 million
dollars.
"Kimberley Clark de C.A. - owns a paper products factory.
"Texaco Caribbean - fuel storage and lubricant blending plant in
Acajutla, and service station/grocery markets throughout the
country.
"Esso Standard Oil - together with Shell, owns and operates a small
oil refinery in Acajutla. Also own service station/grocery marts
throughout the country.
"Shell El Salvador - shares an oil refinery with Esso, and owns
service station/grocery marts throughout the country.
"Bayer de El Salvador - owns a modern pharmaceutical processing
plant.
"Sara Lee Knit Products - owns a clothing assembly plant in the El
Pedregal free trade zone.
"Xerox de El Salvador - sells and services office equipment and
computers.
"Western Petroleum - produces and exports alcohol to the U.S.
"British American Tobacco - manufactures cigarettes."
Efforts to Obtain Capital
Substantial consideration, time and effort continue to be given to
secure investment capital through various financial arrangements for
the operation of the SCMP, the SSGM, and the other exploration
projects. The Company, Sanseb, and the Joint Venture have
considered the past political situation in El Salvador to have been
unstable and a great deterrent to the investment community. The
stigma of the past political unrest still continues as a barrier to
investors.
The Company has been successful in obtaining investment funds that
were required to retrofit and operate its SCMP, conduct its various
exploration and drilling program, and for its current needs. It
believes that it will be able to obtain the funds it will require to
conduct its business affairs until the Joint Venture begins earning
profits and has adequate cash flow. An investment of approximately
U.S. $13 million will be needed for its contemplated SSGM open-pit,
heap-leaching operation. It is estimated that an additional $2
million would be required to expand the SCMP facilities and $10
million is needed for a drilling program on the five exploration
projects. Plans for obtaining these funds are in process.
Land Acquisition and Development
During the past years, the Company has substantially reduced its
activities in the business of land acquisition and real estate
development which was conducted principally through its two
wholly-owned subsidiaries, San Luis Estates, Inc. ("SLE"), a
Colorado Corporation, and Universal Developers, Inc. ("UDI"), a
Wisconsin Corporation.
SLE had been the developer of a large tract of land for recreation,
retirement and other individual purposes consisting of approximately
7,000 acres of land which was subdivided in the San Luis North
Estates Subdivision located in Costilla County, Colorado, which
abuts the Town of San Luis, Colorado, and which lies between the San
Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges in southern Colorado.
This tract of land had been subdivided into 1,205 five-acre or
larger parcels, unimproved except for gravel roads now maintained by
Costilla County, drainage, survey, staking, and water rights
adjudication.
As of March 31, 1996, there remained an inventory of 40 five-acre
parcels of real estate which represents less than 4% of the total
lots developed in this subdivision. It is the intent of the Company
to sell the remaining lot inventory as a bulk sale for cash or to
exchange it for other assets or to reduce its debts. This land
inventory is not considered material or significant to the Company's
operations.
SLE believes that it is in compliance with the requirement of the
Department of Housing and Urban development ("HUD") to sell its
remaining lots in the San Luis North Estates Subdivision; if
necessary, it intends to maintain its registration effective with
HUD in anticipation of selling its remaining lots unless it finds
that it is exempt from the HUD rules and regulations.
SLE also owns twelve improved lots located in the City of Fort
Garland, Costilla County, Colorado. The assets of SLE have served
as a source of collateral for funds advanced to the Company and its
majority-owned subsidiaries.
The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Homespan, owns a 331-acre
campground known as Standing Rock Campground located in Camden
County, Missouri. This recreational resort includes approximately
three quarters of a mile of lake frontage on the Lake of the Ozarks,
130 campsites of which 120 campsites include hook ups for
electricity, water, sewer, and a pad for recreational vehicle
parking. A clubhouse and also several ancillary buildings are on
the premises. The Company is the operator of the campground and is
leasing space to campers and others on a daily, weekly, or monthly
basis.
Misanse, the Company's majority-owned subsidiary (52%) owns the SSGM
real estate consisting of approximately 1,470 acres which is located
approximately two and one-half miles northwest of the City of Santa
Rosa de Lima, off of the Pan American Highway, and about 108 miles
southeast of the Capital City of San Salvador, El Salvador, and it
is about 11 miles west from the border of the Country of Honduras.
It is also about 26 miles from the City of La Union which has
railroad and port facilities. An airline commuter service provides
daily scheduled flights to the City of Santa Rosa de Lima.
On November 27, 1994, the Company purchased 22 acres of land on the
Modesto Mine site which is located due north of the City of Paisnal
and approximately 19 miles north of San Salvador, the capital city
of El Salvador. Reference is made to "Item 2. Properties," for
additional information.
Real Estate Sales
Homespan, the local real estate marketing subsidiary of the Company
is presently inactive. It has no significant activity and is not
material to the Company's operation. Homespan holds the title to
the real estate located in Colorado and the Standing Rock Campground
("SRC"), located in the Lake of the Ozarks. SRC is operated by the
Company. Assets of Homespan have also served as a source of
collateral for funds loaned to the Company and its majority-owned
subsidiaries.
Advertising
The Company owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Piccadilly
Advertising Agency, Inc. ("Piccadilly"), a Wisconsin Corporation.
Piccadilly provides, when required, advertising services to the
Company and its other subsidiaries when they are needed. It was and
still may be able to obtain advertising discounts because of its
agency status. Piccadilly's operations are not significant or
material to the Company's operations.
Patents and License Agreements
On July 23, 1987, the Government of El Salvador delivered and
granted to Misanse, possession of a mining concession. This is the
right to extract and export minerals for a term of 25 years (plus a
25-year renewal option) beginning on the first day of production
from the real estate owned by Misanse and encompassing the SSGM.
Misanse assigned this concession to the Joint Venture. Under the
concession and applicable El Salvador law, including a bi-lateral
agreement, the Joint Venture has the right to export said minerals
for five years beginning with the first day of production, without
imposition of mineral or export taxes. It also has the right to
import free of duty, equipment and all other items necessary to
operate the SSGM. (Reference is made to "Item 1. Concession
Agreement")
The Joint Venture has applications pending with the El Salvador
Department of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons for the exploration
rights of the following mining properties located in El Salvador:
San Felipe-El Potosi Mine, and its extension, the El Capulin Mine,
the Hormiguero Mine, the Modesto Mine, and the Montemayor Mine. The
Company and its subsidiaries hold no patents or trademarks.
Significant Customers
The Company presently has no individual significant customers in
which the loss of one or more would have an adverse effect on any
segment of its operations or from whom the Company has received more
than 10% of its consolidated revenues; however, since the Joint
Venture is producing gold, the gold in dore form is sold at the
world market price to a refinery located in the United States.
Miscellaneous
Backlog orders are not significant to either the Company's or its
majority-owned subsidiaries' areas of operations, or at this time is
any portion of their operations subject to renegotiation of profits
or termination of contracts at the election of the United States'
Government.
Neither the Company nor its majority-owned subsidiaries conduct any
material research and development activities, except as indicated in
this report with respect to the Joint Venture and its mining
exploration and exploitation programs.
Federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of
materials into the environment will not have a substantial effect on
the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the
Company or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries.
Financial Information About Industry Segments Lines of Business
Operation
Campground: For the years ended March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
revenues have been generated from the campground business. Although
Homespan owns the campground real estate, the Company is the
campground operator.
Land Sales
The Company intends to sell its remaining lots in Colorado on a bulk
basis.
Mining
The Company's primary strategy, through its Joint Venture, is to use
its SCMP facilities to process gold ore transported from SSGM and
other exploration opportunities located in the Republic of El
Salvador. The Joint Venture has produced gold from its SCMP
operations during this start-up period.
The Company anticipates that the capital required for the purchase
of equipment and working capital can be obtained from the sale of
its common or preferred shares, bonds, equity offerings, loans,
leases, partial sale of its gold reserves, sale of gold, or from a
combination of these and other creative funding possibilities.
Competition
The Company believes that neither it, nor any other competitor, has
a material effect on the precious metal markets, and that the price
that the Joint Venture will receive for its sale of gold is
dependent upon world market conditions over which neither it nor any
other single competitor has control.
Employees
As of March 31, 1996, the Joint Venture employed approximately 304
full-time persons from El Salvador to perform its exploration,
exploitation, and development programs; to produce gold from its
SCMP facilities; and to handle the administration of its activities.
None of these employees are covered by any collective bargaining
agreements. It has developed a harmonious relationship with its
employees, and it believes that it is the largest single
non-agricultural employer in the El Salvador Eastern Zone. Also,
the Company employs approximately four persons (plus part-time help)
in the United States.
Insurance
The Joint Venture has in existence insurance through an El Salvador
insurance company with the following coverage: general liability,
vehicle liability and extended coverage, fire, explosion, hurricane,
cyclone, tornado, windstorm, hail, flood, storm, earthquake, tremor
or volcanic eruption, politically-motivated violence, terrorism,
strikes, work stoppages, riots, uprisings, malicious acts,
vandalism, and related acts. As additional equipment and assets are
acquired or improvements are made, the insurance coverage can be
increased accordingly.
Industry Segments
-----------------
1. Unaffiliated Sales Year Ended March 31,
Industry Location 1996 1995 1994
- ------------ ------------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Mining El Salvador $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Campground Missouri, USA 55,692 54,600 54,804
Real Estate Colorado, USA 0 9,000 0
2. There Were No Intersegment Sales
3. Total Revenues Year Ended March 31,
Industry Location 1996 1995 1994
- ------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- ------------
Mining El Salvador $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Campground Missouri, USA 55,692 54,600 54,804
Real Estate Colorado, USA 0 9,000 0
Other Delaware/Wis.,
USA 1,289,568 759,581 453,160
----------- ----------- -----------
Total: $ 1,345,260 $ 823,181 $ 507,964
4. Operating Profit (Loss) Year Ended March 31,
Industry Location 1996 1995 1994
- ------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Mining El Salvador $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Campground Missouri, USA (6,741) (7,336) (8,325)
Real Estate Colorado, USA 0 7,676 0
Interest Income El Salvador/
Delaware
Wisconsin, USA 794,543 274,407 75,177
----------- ----------- -----------
Total: $ 787,802 $ 274,747 $ 66,852
5. Identifiable Assets Year Ended March 31,
Industry Location 1996 1995 1994
- ------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Mining El Salvador $18,838,770 $15,692,668 $12,808,590
Campground Missouri, USA 1,135,500 1,135,500 1,135,500
Real Estate Colorado, USA 21,000 21,000 22,325
Corporate Assets 517,845 768,305 238,148
----------- ----------- -----------
Total: $20,513,115 $17,617,473 $14,204,563
Item 2. Properties
Corporate Headquarters
The Company leased approximately 3,100 square feet of office space
for its corporate headquarters on the second floor of the building
known as the General Building located at 6001 North 91st Street,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at a rental charge of $2,145 on a
month-to-month basis. As of December 1, 1995, the Company increased
the space it rents to 4,032 square feet with a monthly rental charge
of $2,789. The lessor is General Lumber & Supply Co., Inc. ("General
Lumber"), a Wisconsin Corporation. The Company's President, Edward
L. Machulak owns 55% of the common stock of General Lumber. Edward
L. Machulak disclaims any interest in the balance of General Lumber
common stock which is owned by two of Mr. Machulak's brothers, his
wife, and a trust for the benefit of his children. In addition, the
Company shares proportionately any increase in real property taxes
and any increase in general fire and extended coverage insurance on
the property. In lieu of cash payment, the Lessor has agreed to
apply the monthly rental payments owed to the open-ended, secured,
on-demand promissory note(s) due to it.
Real Estate Holdings
A description of the Company's real estate holdings are set forth in
"Item 1. Land Acquisition and Development." Real estate assets
have served as a source of collateral for funds loaned to the
Company and its wholly and partially-owned subsidiaries.
San Sebastian Gold Mine ("SSGM")
Tailings from the SSGM are being transported to the SCMP site to
produce gold. SCMP is gradually increasing its tonnage process to
its full capacity of 400 tons per day. It plans to mine virgin
gold ore from its open pit and to extract the stope fill from
underground to produce gold on its own site. The property consists
of 1,470 acres. SSGM is located approximately 2 1/2 miles northwest
of the City of Santa Rosa de Lima in the Department of La Union,
Republic of El Salvador, Central America.
SSGM Current Status
The Joint Venture has commenced producing gold at the SCMP site. It
processed approximately 100,000 tons of the 360,000 tons of tailings
during the last fiscal year. Plans are to gradually increase its
daily tonnage until it is up to the full capacity of the SCMP.
The Company, through its Joint Venture is conducting the following
activities: It is in the development and pre-production mining
stage which consists of completing its survey, mapping, site
preparation, infrastructure, construction, planning, and in the
performance of the auxiliary work needed to begin gold production at
the SSGM site. The Joint Venture's geologists have determined that
SSGM has minable gold ore reserves via an open pit of approximately
13.4 million tons of gold ore which should contain approximately
1.166 million ounces of gold. In addition, it has approximately
960,000 tons of dump material, and about one million tons of stope
fill. Presently, the Company is seeking funding to purchase
equipment, to purchase inventory, and to use for working capital for
its on-site proposed open-pit, heap-leaching operation. In
addition, the Company is actively engaged in the exploration and
development of the peripheral area (including diamond drilling)
surrounding the main body of gold ore in order to increase its gold
ore reserves.
The Company's main objective and plan, through the Joint Venture, is
to operate a moderate tonnage, low-grade, open-pit, heap-leaching
operation to produce gold on its SSGM site. Dependent on the grade
of ore and the tonnage processed, it anticipates producing more than
40,000 ounces of gold from its open-pit, heap-leaching operations
during the first twelve full operating months and more thereafter.
SSGM Geology
The ore deposit consists of contact-fissure veins carrying
gold-bearing pyrite. The veins occur at the contact between
quartz-monzonite porphyry dike and surrounding eruptives which are
basalt capped by trachyte. All the rocks are of recent age,
probably late tertiary. The SSGM lies within a silicified and
hydrothermally altered zone of acid to basic volcanoes roughly
within a two-square kilometer area.
The occurrence is typical of the late stage deposition associated
with instrusives in Island Arc plate tectonics dating millions of
years (four to 65 million) ago. These are typically polymetallic
precious metal-base deposits with high grade veining in large haloes
of low grade resembling in part the Kuroko deposits in Japan. The
dike is shaped like a flattened "s" and consists of a 2,800 foot
long essentially vertical east-west segment, a northwest striking
western section "dragged" sharply north for 800 feet and dipping 70
degrees northeast and a vertical south-east striking east.
Its geologists state that it is similar in size and physical
characteristics to the large low-grade, open-pit Pueblo Viejo Mine
located in the Dominican Republic.
SSGM Ore Reserves
As of March 31, 1996, the SSGM has approximately 13.4 million tons
of virgin proven gold ore reserves, grading 0.087 ounces of gold
per ton and containing about 1.2 million ounces of gold. Overall
the stripping ratio is low, ranging from zero in the Coseguina Hill
area which is highly mineralized and consists of a series of high
angle vertical veins to a possible stripping ratio of 1:3 to 1:8.
It is planned to use these reserves; they will be screened, crushed
and, if required, they will be agglomerated and placed on a proposed
leach pad on the SSGM site. In addition, there are approximately
250,000 tons of tailings with a grade of 0.08 ounces of gold per ton
and about one million tons of stope fill with a grade of 0.34
ounces per ton. (For additional information, reference is made to
"Item 1. Proposed Mining, Mill, Heap-Leaching and Exploration
Operations.")
Since July, 1987 through March 31, 1996, the following exploration
has been performed on the SSGM site: surface channel trenching,
33,386 meters (110,173 feet/20.9 miles); test pit hole excavations,
655 vertical meters (2,162 feet/.41 miles); underground workings and
adit openings, 962 meters (3,175 feet/.60 miles). Also, 42,234
assay samples were completed at the Joint Venture's laboratory
located near the SSGM site. The surface samples averaged 0.026
ounces of gold per ton over an area approximately 1,000 feet in
width and approximately 5,000 feet in length.
SSGM Diamond Drilling Program
The Joint Venture has completed eight diamond drill holes at the
SSGM site. Five were on the San Juan Hill which ranged in depth
from 106 feet to 172 feet and the grade varied (dependent on the
rock encountered) from 0.01 to 0.15 ounces of gold per ton. Three
drill holes were drilled in the Coseguina area from 62 feet to 255
feet. The grade of gold varied from 0.01 to 0.54 ounces of gold per
ton. In some areas former adits were encountered which prevented
the drilling to go to a deeper depth. It presently is working two
shifts and ten to 15 persons are employed.
SSGM Proposed Mining Open-Pit, Heap-Leaching Operations at the SSGM
Site
The open-pit ore will be loaded into trucks by wheel loaders and
hauled to the recovery plant area. The ore will then be placed into
a vibrating screen hopper which will remove gold ore larger than 3/4
inches in size. Lime, cement and cyanide solution will be added if
needed to this crushed ore. If needed, it will then be placed into
an agglomerator to convert the fine material into small stable
pellets saturated with cyanide solution. The material will be
conveyed to the leach pad and stacked using conveyors.
The first step will be to load the first sections of the pad with
the crushed ore. Belt conveyors will be used to transfer ore to a
stacking conveyor to build a heap. After loading is completed, the
ore cures and the top surface of the heap will be manually levelled.
Leaching of the heap proceeds by distributing barren sodium cyanide
leach solution to the heap with sprinklers or by drip irrigation.
The gold will be recovered via a carbon column system where the
porous carbon recovers the solvent gold by adsorption. The carbon
will be stripped and the solution will flow through an
electrowinning cell where gold will be recovered from the strip
solution by electroplating onto stainless steel wool cathodes.
Gold laden steel wool cathodes will be periodically removed from the
electrowinning cells and transferred to the replating cell. In the
replating cell the gold will be electrolytically stripped from the
steel wool and plated onto stainless steel cathode sheets.
The gold will be recovered from the cathodes, mixed with fluxes,
placed in a crucible, and heated in a furnace until melted. The
gold will then be poured into molds to form dore bars.
SSGM Ownership of the Property
The San Sebastian Gold Mine real estate consisting of approximately
1,470 acres, is owned by Misanse, a Salvadoran Corporation. The
Company owns 52% of Misanse common shares that are issued and
outstanding.
History and Development-SSGM
The San Sebastian Gold Mine has a long history of gold production.
Unquestionably, the SSGM deposit was the jewel of the El Salvador
mining industry and one of the most prolific gold mines in Central
America.
Prior to 1880, the SSGM was probably known to the natives of the
area and Spaniards, and may have produced gold during colonial days;
however, no records of production exist. Numerous artifacts in the
Santa Rosa River below the present day SSGM provide mute evidence of
primitive early day mining operations.
In 1883, an American company hired Mr. Charles Butters to conduct
experimental metallurgical tests on ore from the SSGM in his
laboratory in New York. He determined that amalgamation and gravity
concentration could not be effectively employed, but that the gold
was amenable to recovery by chlorination.
From 1885-1888, the first effective exploration work at the SSGM was
done by the above-mentioned American company. Mr. Butters was
contracted to build a 30-ton-per-day chlorination plant at the SSGM
site. This small scale operation proved unsuccessful, and the SSGM
ceased production.
In 1898, the property was purchased by General Lisandro Letona.
In 1904, Mr. Butters, believing that the SSGM was a valuable
property which had been grossly mismanaged, acquired the property in
association with Mr. David J. Pullinger of Johannesburg, South
Africa, for $100,000. Within a year of acquisition, Mr. Butters had
established ore reserves of 42,560 tons with an average content of
2.75 ounces per ton. Their operations mined approximately
$1,000,000 worth of gold from ore bearing gold at two and three
quarter ounces or more per ton.
From 1904 to 1908, three investigations were made at the SSGM site
by Mr. Butters and his staff regarding the type of beneficiation
process best suited to the SSGM ores. It was determined that
roasting, followed by cyanidation, and the recovery of the gold by
means of combined electrolytic and zinc precipitation, was the most
effective method. In later years, roasting of the ores was
discontinued.
(During the period 1890-1898, Mr. Butters had been active in the
development of cyanidation of gold ores at the Rand Mine in South
Africa, and recognized the process as a revolutionary metallurgical
practice.)
Continuous operations at the SSGM by Butters Salvador Mines were
performed from 1908 to 1917, at which time operations ceased due to
exhaustion of what they believed to be all of the high grade (two
ounces or more of gold per ton) ore body. Butters Salvador Mines
was voluntarily liquidated in October, 1917.
Initially, mill capacity was 20 tons per day; it later increased to
40 tons, then to 100 tons, and finally, 120 tons per day. For a
period of several years, mill heads averaged no less than two ounces
of gold per ton. The SSGM was considered among the richest gold
mines in the world. During the peak years of operation (1908-1917),
more than 1,500 people were employed at the SSGM. During this
interval of time, the SSGM is reported to have produced 950,000
ounces of gold.
From 1917 to 1921, small operations at the SSGM, under the direction
of Mr. Butters, yielded approximately 150,000 ounces of gold.
In 1924, Mr. G. Swanquist, a former member of Mr. Butters' staff,
obtained the rights to develop the SSGM, but did no work worthy of
mention.
From 1933 to 1953, owing to the increase in the world price of gold
from $20.67 per ounce to $35.00 per ounce, operations were renewed
under the name of Butters Salvador Mines, Ltd. Initially, only the
richest ore shoots were mined; later, level and shaft pillars were
exploited. In 1933, the rate of milling was approximately 40 tons
per day. Diminishing grade and labor problems forced closure in
1953. During the period 1933 to 1945, approximately 150,000 ounces
of gold were produced, and from 1945 to 1953, 30,000 ounces of gold
were produced.
In 1953, when Butters Salvador Mines, Ltd. ceased operations,
members of the labor union acquired the property in lieu of a
severance pay settlement. The members of the union organized
Misanse, an El Salvador Corporation, and managed monthly shipments
of approximately 70 tons of surface oxide ore and old fill to the
nearby Mina Lola mill.
In 1964, a ten-ton-per-day flotation and cyanide plant operated
intermittently on an unprofitable basis.
From 1967 to 1968, there were unprofitable small-scale high-grading
operations on an intermittent basis by various local miners working
under a contract system with Misanse.
The Company's investment in Sanseb dates back to 1969. Sanseb
acquired its lease to mine gold from Misanse in 1968. During March
of 1973, the Company acquired control of Sanseb, and since then,
owns 2,002,037 (82 1/2%) of Sanseb's issued and outstanding common
shares.
From 1969 to 1972, work advanced in reopening collapsed SSGM tunnels
and workings, with limited mining-milling operations. A straight
cyanidation plant was installed using zinc box (shavings)
precipitation and operating on an intermittent basis with limited
daily production.
From February of 1973 to 1978, reorganization of Sanseb under the
control of the Company, with continuous and increased production
from the SSGM, was commenced along with extensive plant
modifications, including conversion to Merrill Crowe type (zinc
dust) precipitation. The existing mill was upgraded to 100 tons per
day when this plant was installed. The underground tunnels and
workings were rehabilitated. While the SSGM produced significant
revenue, heavy exploration and development costs strained the cash
flow of the operation.
On February 6, 1978, Sanseb ordered operations at the SSGM suspended
due to the unavailability of investment capital and the lack of
continuity in management, both exacerbated by labor and primarily
due to the political unrest, particularly in the Eastern Zone of El
Salvador where the SSGM is located. On May 6, 1978, as a result of
the decision to suspend operations, former employees of Sanseb
claimed that Sanseb was obligated under El Salvador law for the
payment of severance pay to its former employees. Sanseb's legal
position was that it temporarily suspended operations due to the
political instability and since it did not terminate all activities,
it was not liable at that time for the severance pay. In January of
1979, a lower El Salvador Court awarded possession of the mining
rights (not the real estate) to the former employees. It is
believed that the Court had no right to award a concession as only
the Government of El Salvador has this right and authority.
During 1979, when the embargo was in effect, Mr. Robert Villatoro
contracted to operate the SSGM. From the reports provided by his
employees, it is believed that he extracted more than 10,000 ounces
of gold. Mr. Villatoro ceased operations during 1981 or 1982 when
the guerrillas were extremely active in the eastern part of El
Salvador which includes the SSGM area.
During this time a dramatic increase in the world market price of
gold (a peak of over $800/oz. in 1980) as well as developments in
the technology of gold extraction presented new opportunities for
the Company and Sanseb at the SSGM.
In February, 1985, the Company made an on-site inspection of the
mill and SSGM site, which disclosed that the buildings, offices,
machine shop, laboratory, mill and equipment were completely
destroyed. Also, the SSGM tunnels and workings consisting of
approximately 37 miles were demolished and collapsed. The Company
consulted with geologists and engineers to develop a new plan of
extracting gold from the reserves developed in the Company's
exploration and development program and to process gold via an
open-pit, heap-leaching operation.
In June, 1985, the Company and Sanseb settled the claims of Sanseb's
former employees by agreeing to compensate them for the severance
pay with proceeds attained from future gold production. The El
Salvador Court, on June 6, 1985, had decreed, in a non-appealable
order, to the nullification of all previous acts of the previous
Court's orders, and removed the embargo previously decreed. In
addition, the El Salvador Court ordered the return of all of the
assets, rights and everything else whatsoever previously owed to the
Company, Misanse and Sanseb.
The Company had no significant activity at the SSGM site from
February, 1978 through January 1987. The present status is that,
since January, 1987, the Company, through the Joint Venture, has
completed certain of the required mining pre-production preliminary
stages in the minable proven gold ore reserve area, and it is active
in attempting to obtain financing for the project. It is also
engaged in the exploration and the expansion program to develop
additional gold ore reserves in the area surrounding the minable
gold ore reserves.
On July 27, 1987, El Salvador President Jose Napoleon Duarte, at an
official ceremony in the City of Santa Rosa de Lima, personally
presented the mining concession to Misanse, which simultaneously was
assigned to Commerce Group Corp. and San Sebastian Gold Mines, Inc.
During October, 1989, the Joint Venture set up in the City of San
Miguel, its own laboratory equipment and began performance of assays
from its SSGM ore sample. It trained its personnel to use this
modern laboratory which was equipped with modern technical
equipment.
Since 1990 to present date, extensive channel trenching, adit
openings and test pit excavations developed thousands of fire assay
samples. They were assayed at the Joint Venture laboratory. This
laboratory was relocated to a Company-owned site near the SSGM.
Extensive dirt roads and a bridge were constructed. Electric lines
to the laboratory were restored. A diamond drilling program has
been initiated to determine if there are additional gold ore
reserves on this site.
During this twelve-month period ended March 31, 1996, the Company
has advanced funds, performed services, and allocated its general
and administrative costs to the Joint Venture.
San Cristobal Mill and Plant ("SCMP") Recovery and Processing System
SCMP Location
SCMP is located near the City of El Divisadero, (off of the Pan
American Highway), and is approximately 13 miles east of the City
of San Miguel, the second largest City in the Republic of El
Salvador, Central America.
SCMP Lease Agreement
On November 12, 1993, the Joint Venture entered into an agreement
with Corporacion Salvadorena de Inversiones ("Corsain"), a
governmental agency of El Salvador, to lease for a period of ten
years, approximately 166 acres of land and buildings on which its
gold processing mill, plant and related equipment are located, and
which is approximately 15 miles east of the SSGM site. The annual
lease payment is U.S. $11,500 (payable in El Salvador colones at the
then current rate of exchange), payable annually in advance, and
subject to an annual increase based on the annual United States'
inflation rate. As agreed, a security deposit of U.S. $11,500 was
paid on the same date which also will be increased annually to
correspond with the annual U.S. inflation rate.
SCMP Mill and Plant Process Description
On February 23, 1993, at an auction held by an El Salvador Court,
the Company, on behalf of the Joint Venture, was the successful
bidder in acquiring SCMP, a precious metals' cyanide leaching mill
and plant rated with a capacity of processing 200 tons of virgin ore
per day consisting of the following unit operations: crushing,
grinding, thickening, agitated leaching, counter current decantation
of leach solution, recovery of precious metals by zinc precipitation
(Merrill-Crowe), and direct smelting of precipitates to produce
precious metals as dore and tailings' disposal.
Instead of utilizing the existing recovery system, the Joint
Venture's engineers have designed a carbon-in-leach (CIL) process
which is described in detail under Project Operating Plan.
The advantage of beginning the processing of gold ore with the
tailings is that the tailings do not have to be mined, ground or
pulverized. The cost of processing this material is substantially
low, and it is expected to recover 70% of the gold from the SSGM
tailings (70% from the Potosi tailings) during a twelve-hour cycling
period.
The Joint Venture completed the retrofitting, rehabilitation,
repairing and restoring of the SCMP's plant and presently is
producing gold on a limited production basis by processing the
tailings from its SSGM.
SCMP Gold Ore Sources
The Joint Venture has several sources of gold ore to process at the
SCMP: the approximately 250,000 tons of SSGM tailings (the residue
of the higher grade ore processed in the past) which have an average
grade of at least 0.08 ounces of gold per ton; the 185,000 tons of
Potosi tailings which have an average grade of 0.06 ounces of gold
per ton; the SSGM open-pit virgin ore; the dump material; and the
ore and stope fill from the underground workings.
The other sources of gold ore to be used at the SCMP operations are
the higher grade gold ore (0.13 ounces or higher) which could be
processed with a 92% recovery grade, but at a lower volume of 200
tons per day. The income from the higher recovery of gold ore will
be substantially more than the greater cost involved in this
process. There is a sufficient amount of dump material, stope fill
and higher grade virgin gold ore that could be used via the SCMP
crushing and grinding process to recover 92% or more of the gold
which recovery is substantially more than the 60% recovery of gold
through the heap-leaching process. The Joint Venture's geologists
estimate that there are more than one million tons of higher grade
ore from the stope fill (underground) to be processed via the SCMP.
It is intended to expand the SCMP to a larger production capacity.
Current Status
The start-up, testing and adjustment stage of processing the
remaining 250,000 tons of SSGM tailings via trucking this ore to the
SCMP has commenced and the Joint Venture is in this preliminary
stage of producing gold. The SCMP is designed to process 400 tons
per day by utilizing 12-hour cycles that should recover
approximately 70% of the gold from the tailings. The average grade
is now about 0.08 ounces of gold per ton.
During this fiscal year the Joint Venture did process at the SCMP
approximately 74,000 dry tons (approximately 100,000 wet tons) of
tailings which yielded 5,993 ounces of dore and accounted for
3160.64 ounces of gold and 1488.86 ounces of silver. The gross
receipts amounted to $1,238,612. The average selling price of gold
was $391.00/oz. and silver was sold at $4.91/oz. The proceeds from
the sale of gold and silver were used to reduce the amount of
Company advances to the Joint Venture.
San Felipe-El Potosi Mine ("Potosi") and its extension the El
Capulin Mine ("El Capulin")
Potosi Location
The Joint Venture has commenced an exploration program on the Potosi
property which is located approximately 18 miles northwest of the
City of San Miguel, the second largest city in the Republic of El
Salvador, on a paved road 15 miles to the City of Chapalteque and
then west three miles on a gravel road to the City of Potosi. The
historical records indicate that the potential of developing a gold
mine is above average.
Potosi Historical Information
Historical records evidence that exploration and production of gold
took place in 1899 and that Potosi was worked intermittently from
1906 through 1952. The main production period in six levels was
from 1938 through 1952 at a rate of 35 to 50 tons per day.
Production data avouch that 30,000 ounces of gold were produced from
1945 through 1952 after which the mine became dormant. During this
time a limited underground exploration program confirmed that the
gold ore reserves were of commercial value. The gold assays from
some of the former drill hole samples on the southern extension of
the north-south portion of this property showed a grade of 0.10 to
0.35 ounces of gold per ton of ore.
Potosi Geology
The Potosi vein type occurrences are very strong, persistent, poor
quartz-calcite fissure fillings from two to ten feet wide and up to
3,400 feet in length. On a regional scale, the veins are fairly
straight-forward type structures but in detail they can be
complicated. Dips in the north-south veins are steeper than in the
lattice systems such as the 50 degrees to 90 degrees in the Potosi
type. The proportion of gold-to-silver increases in north-south
striking veins or in veins of any orientation whose dips more
closely approach the vertical.
Two relatively narrow north-south veins, 450 feet apart, have been
worked in the past by vertical and an inclined shaft for up to 2,100
feet along the strike and to depths of between 180 and 440 feet
below surface on four to six levels. The veins are contained in
coarse-grained augite andesites. The larger of the veins is up to
ten feet in width, dipping 55 degrees to 75 degrees west. The
second vein is weaker in structure and about three feet in width.
Gold values seem to be indiscriminately associated with quartz and
do not seem to diminish at depth. Assay plans and ore reserve
sections completed in 1952 show 30 blocks with an average grade of
0.6563 ounces of gold per ton. Holes drilled from the projected
extension of the north-south portion of one of the veins returned
various five-foot sludge samples grading 0.10 to 0.35 ounces of gold
per ton with a one foot of core length grading at 0.39 ounces of
gold per ton. It appears that the deposition took place at higher
temperatures than attributed to silver, thus the vertical zoning of
gold deposition is deeper or has a larger vertical dimension than
silver; therefore the possibility of considerable ore below levels
is a realistic one. The age mineralization is past laramide with
the host rock being rhyolite. The previous gold-silver ratio was
0.3:1.
Potosi Tailings' Reserve
Since October 25, 1993, Comseb has had a full-time crew, ranging
from 25 to 30 employees, conducting an exploration program
consisting of surveys, channel trenching, adit openings, test pit
holes, excavation and drilling of the tailings to determine its gold
content.
Twenty-four test pit hole excavations have been plotted and drilled
on this four-acre site of tailings. The depth to the bottom of the
tailings' pile varied from 7.00 to 10.2 meters (23 to 34 vertical
feet) and a total of 137.6 meters (454 feet) of test pit hole
excavations were completed. The 573 fire assay samples (tailings)
indicated an average grade of gold per ounce to be 0.06 (0.06
times 185,000 tons should contain 11,100 ounces of gold times a 70%
recovery should yield about 7,770 ounces of gold).
Potosi and El Capulin Exploration Undertakings
A total of 1,354 meters (4,467 feet) of channel trenching were
achieved. A total of 548 meters (1,808 feet) of adits have been
restored for entry into the old workings. A tabulation of the work
completed by the Joint Venture is as follows:
1. Surface
a. Twenty surface channel trenches were completed and the 1,180
samples that were fire assayed reflected a grade of gold of
0.02 ounces per ton. Two surface veins were intercepted,
reflecting a grade of gold of 0.05 ounces per ton.
2. Potosi Underground Workings
a. Guayabito Adit: No veins were discovered; the 399 samples
that were fire assayed reflected an average grade of gold of
0.01 ounces per ton.
b. Guarumo Adit: The three samples that were fire assayed
reflected an average grade of gold of 0.05 ounces per ton.
c. San Isidro Adit: The 243 samples that were fire assayed
reflected a grade of gold of 0.02 ounces per ton and four
samples that were fire assayed from an intercepted vein show
a grade of gold of 0.04 ounces per ton.
d. Cacho de Oro: The 59 samples that were fire assayed
reflected an average grade of gold of 0.07 ounces per ton.
This vein appears to correspond with the Guarumo vein
system.
e. Canon 821: The 34 samples that were fire assayed reflected
an average grade of gold of 0.05 ounces per ton.
3. The El Capulin Mine
Surface: The 109 samples that were fire assayed reflected an average
grade of gold of 0.09 ounces per ton. The 228 samples that were
fire assayed from an area 1,000 to 1,300 feet away from the
above-surface ore reflected a grade of gold of 0.03 ounces per ton
4. Tailings
The 573 samples that were fire assayed reflected a grade of gold of
0.06 ounces per ton.
Exploration on this property will continue with channel trenching,
re-opening of former adits, and to include diamond core drilling,
mapping and sampling of the known mineralized areas to determine if
there is any other gold mineralization on this property. Diamond
drilling may be utilized to outline the more promising shoots and to
check for continuity at depth.
Potosi Exploration Concession
The exploration concession application was filed on September 6,
1993, with the Department of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons, a
division of the El Salvador's Minister of Economy's office, by the
owners of the real estate, the Cooperative San Felipe-El Potosi.
The concession consists of approximately 6,100 acres.
While the concession application is pending, it precludes any others
from performing exploration on this site. Upon assessing that the
property has potential mining prospects, the Joint Venture has the
right to apply for the mining concession.
Potosi Lease Agreement
The Joint Venture entered into a lease agreement with the San Felipe
Potosi Cooperative ("Cooperative") of the City of Potosi, El
Salvador on July 6, 1993, to lease the real estate for a period of
30 years and with an option to renew the lease for an additional 25
years, for the purpose of mining and extracting minerals and under
the following basic terms and conditions:
1. The term of the lease will be for a period of 30 years plus an
option to automatically extend the lease for an additional 25
years.
2. The lease payment will be 5% of the gross receipts derived from
the production of precious metals from this site and will be
payable monthly.
3. The Joint Venture will advance to the Cooperative the funds
required to obtain the mining concession from the El Salvador
Department of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons and all related
costs will be reimbursed or will become a deduction from future
rental payments.
4. The Joint Venture will, when it is in production, employ all of
the 45 qualified members of the Cooperative, providing that there
is a need for their particular skill or service.
5. The Joint Venture will furnish medicine and first aid medical
assistance to all of its employees to the extent that such
benefits are not provided by the El Salvador Social Security
System.
6. An employee life insurance program is to be seriously considered
by the Joint Venture when production commences, providing that
the cost of such insurance is not excessive.
Modesto Mine
Modesto Mine Location
The Modesto Mine is located due north of the town of El Paisnal,
approximately 19 miles north of the Capital City, San Salvador. The
Joint Venture considers this property as a good gold mining prospect
and since August, 1993, it has proceeded with an exploration
program.
Modesto Mine Geology
From its geologist and from the records available to the Joint
Venture, the following information was obtained:
Two persistent veins "Paderon" and "Chicharron" outcrop along the
crests of two parallel hogback ridges 1,900 meters apart, and are
composed of thick flat-lying andesite flows capped by discontinuous
patches of rhyolite. These were examined in 1948-1950 by M. Buell
along strike (45 degrees) for 2,240 meters and 2,760 meters
respectively and down dip (60 degrees to 80 degrees southeast) a
maximum of 25 meters. The Paderon vein was barren but the
north-eastern 1,320 meters of the Chicharron returned the following
values:
1. "D" winze, five meters deep, northeast end: 0.46 ounces of
silver, 0.82 ounces of gold over 61 meters horizontally; 0.71
ounces of silver, 0.61 ounces of gold over 3.1 meters
vertically from quartz of undetermined orientation in rhyolite;
0.30 ounces of silver, 1.20 ounces of gold from a 15-ton dump
and a value of $14.653 per ton from a ten-ton dump. (The
market price of gold was pegged at $35 an ounce.)
2. "S" winze, 420 meters southwest of "D" winze: no values.
3. "5" winze, 882 meters southwest of "D" winze: 1.85 ounces of
silver, 0.65 ounces of gold over an average of 1.0 meter to a
depth of 11 meters below outcrop. A 30-ton dump ran 2.28
ounces of silver and 0.82 ounces of gold.
4. "14" winze, 1,320 meters southwest of "D": 0.78 ounces of
silver, 0.22 ounces of gold to 19 meters below outcrop. A
60-ton dump ran 0.15 ounces of silver, 1.14 ounces of gold;
average of six dump samples was 0.68 ounces of silver, 0.31
ounces of gold. A surface sample representing a ten-meter
width of vein structure gave 0.06 ounces of silver, 0.09 ounces
of gold, including 1.5 meters of 0.40 ounces of silver and 0.50
ounces of gold on the footwall.
A 155 meter crosscut, driven to intersect the vein 62 meters
vertically below surface and 80 meters northeast of "14" winze
encountered only weak quartz mineralization. Of 20 samples taken in
45 meters of drift, one returned 10.25 ounces of silver and 0.35
ounces of gold over 1.20 meters and the remaining 19 averaged less
than 0.40 ounces of silver and 0.05 ounces of gold.
On 30 meters of drifting up to seven meters below surface at "5"
winze, 1,095.6 tons grading 1.66 ounces of silver and 0.505 ounces
of gold were indicated.
The mineralization is the Potosi type, very finely banded, milky,
aphanitic, sulfide-free quartz, with a gold-silver ratio similar to
El Dorado's. No calcite was seen on the dumps. Wall rock
alteration is not noticeable on surface, however fine grained
silicification and pyritization of the andesite appears on the "5"
winze dumps.
Modesto Mine Ore Reserves and Exploration Results
The exploration through March 31, 1996, has accomplished the
following: Four bodies of gold ore have been blocked which contain
approximately 18,800 ounces of gold in 80,000 tons of ore with an
average grade of 0.235 ounces of gold per ton.
The Modesto Mine appears to be a very good gold prospect. Since
October 1993 through August 1995, three veins were discovered which
extend over a length of one and one-half miles and a width of about
one mile. The width of this area has a series of perpendicular and
oblique tiny veins well dispersed which is a desirable ore for an
open-pit operation.
There are three vein systems:
(1) In the Chicharron Vein, 59 surface channel trenches were hand
excavated in a one and one-half mile length and over 1,895
assay samples were taken. The vein width averages about 17
feet and the surface grade averaged 0.04 ounces of gold per
ton. In the land that the Company has purchased, the average
surface grade is 0.20 ounces of gold per ton, over a length of
1,250 feet. A preliminary ore reserve calculation of this
small area using a depth of 100 feet reflects a potential of
another 21,000 ounces of gold.
(2) The Intermidy Vein is located 1,170 feet south of the
Chicharron Vein. Ten channel trenches were hand excavated for
a distance of 1,065 feet. The vein widths ranged from four
feet to seven feet. Over 265 fire assay samples reflected an
average of 0.02 ounces of gold per ton. The gold in this area
is well distributed.
(3) The Paredon Vein is located about one mile from the Chicaharron
Vein. The eight trenches over a length of 1,881 feet and 68
assay samples reflected a grade of 0.02 ounces of gold per ton.
There are three underground workings:
(1) Adit No. 10 - the highest adit in 165 feet of workings is 4.29
feet in width. 310 assay samples showed an average of 0.03
ounces of gold per ton.
(2) Winze No. 5 is located 660 feet north of the Taladron Adit and
is about 44 feet in depth. About 28 feet from the surface, the
first crosscut was found and followed. The dump material
assayed from 327 samples averaged 0.35 ounces of gold per ton.
(3) Taladron Adit (597 feet area) was cleared with an average width
of about seven feet. A total of 60 assay samples were taken
mainly from the basalt area. Some of the stope fill material
proved a grade of gold ranging from 0.02 to 0.45 ounces of gold
per ton. At a depth of 150 vertical feet, the Chicharron Vein
was intercepted.
The Joint Venture employs from 22 to 28 employees to work at this
mine exploration program.
Modesto Mine Present and Proposed Exploration Program
After completing the necessary surveying, mapping and planning, the
Joint Venture proceeded to clean and trench the vein exposure.
Since August, 1993, 2,104 metric feet of surface channel trenching
(6,943 feet) and 345 meters (1,139 feet) of adit cleaning were
completed. In addition, four inclines have been completed. A
total of 3,400 fire assay samples were performed. The Joint Venture
will continue the channel trenching and the reopening of the former
adits as well as to formalize its own drilling program.
Modesto Mine Concession/Ownership
On or about September 2, 1993, the Joint Venture through one of its
employees, filed an application with the El Salvador Department of
Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons to explore the 4,000 hectares (9,800
acres) of property known as the Modesto Mine. The application,
together with the consent to explore this area from the property
owners owning more than 25% of total area, has been acknowledged as
being received by the Director of the El Salvador Agency. The Joint
Venture had submitted its original plan to the El Salvador Director
of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons on January 24, 1994, outlining its
exploration program.
Hormiguero Mine ("Hormiguero")
Hormiguero Location
The Hormiguero is located approximately five miles southeast from
SCMP off of the Pan American Highway in the Departments of San
Miguel and Morazan, Comacaran Jurisdiction, in the Republic of El
Salvador. The Joint Venture plans to survey, map, plat, plan and
develop an exploration program.
Hormiguero Current Status
The Joint Venture continues to develop an exploration program on the
5,000 acre site. An application for exploration has been filed on
September 6, 1993 with the Department of Energy, Mines and
Hydrocarbons, a division of the El Salvador Minister of Economy's
office.
The Hormiguero property continues to be in the stages of being
mapped geologically and topographically on a referenced grid in
order to provide a base to plan a drilling program with the
objective to prove that a commercial body of ore may extend below
the bottom of the former workings. This drilling activity would
also determine if the faulted north end of the Gallardo vein
continues. Further drilling would evidence the mineralization of
four explored veins: La Gloria, Victoria, Tecolote and El Dorado.
Hormiguero Geology and Historical Information
The following information was obtained from a report entitled,
"Mining in El Salvador-United Nations Development Programs
1968-1971,":
". . . From 1913 to 1918 the Comacaran Gold Mining Co. produced
607,062 ounces of silver and 72,142 ounces of gold from 208,096
tons. (Swanquist), and when this company liquidated in 1919 the El
Salvador Silver Mining Co., formed by some of the Butters Co.
personnel, continued operations on a small scale until 1921. In
1930 the mine was reopened by the original property owners, the
Gonzalez family, and functioned periodically until 1948, producing
during the last 3 years about 21,000 ounces of silver and 3700
ounces of gold. "Straight arithmetic averaging from the production
figures gives an overall recovered grade of 0.351 oz. gold and 2.92
oz. silver for the period 1913-1918, or assuming a 10% mill less, a
mill head of 0.386 oz. gold and 3.21 oz. silver. Mill records for
1917, the only surviving technical data, give a bullion production
of 139,369.36 ounces of silver and 17,193.84 ounces of gold from
61,890 tons. A mill head calculated from this, again at 10% mill
loss, was probably 0.30 ounces gold and 2.47 ounces silver."
"Although known locally . . . as `Hormiguero' the deposit is
actually a composite of three separate sections, the Gallardo,
Guadalupe and Hormiguero, all in coarse-grained andesite, grouped
about and formerly connected by aerial tramway to a central mill
situated immediately southwest of the Canton Hormiguero. The
Gallardo and Guadalupe veins are strong, persistent structures
striking 045 [degrees] and 020 [degrees] respectively and forming
thin ridges 500 feet east and 1,750 feet west of the central mill.
Both are composite and slightly braided structures composed of two
main parallel branches 70 feet apart, and several interconnecting
sub-branches, all dipping greater than 60 [degrees] west. Vein
material is banded and crustiform quartz-calcite, secondary
manganese oxides and probaly [sic] rhodochrosite, weakly mineralized
with pyrite, spalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Strong
proplylitization accompanied by considerable pyrite has attacked the
andesites outward for about ten feet from the walls resulting in the
formation of yellowish red, clayey oxidation products on surface.
"The Gallardo has been worked on six levels for 2050 feet along
strike and 400 feet vertically. Access was through the Benjamin
adit at the extreme southwest end and an inclined (61 [degrees])
shaft 350 feet from the northeast end. Two vertically plunging ore
shoots 300 and 600 long and 500 feet apart were stoped to the 5th
level where the larger bottomed, according to notations on a long
section made by the El Salvador Silver Mining Co. in 1920. Limited
stoping above the Benjamin adit suggests a third shoot in that area
and a possible unexplored prolongation of the vein towards the
southwest. An abrupt cut-off of the north (larger) ore shoot
coincident with the north end of the mine may be due to lateral
fault displacement; an undeveloped segment of the vein might
therefore be anticipated further north.
"Horizontal development of the Guadalupe vein opened a 1600 foot
strike length on both a hanging wall and footwall branch, but the
dip, exposed on five levels to 350 feet has been examined in an
unsystematic manner more suitable for exploration than exploitation.
Little ore has in fact been taken from underground; most of the
production appears to have come from open cuts. The only regular
mining has been confined to a 400 foot lens on the footwall branch,
150 feet south of the main three-compartment production shaft, which
was from surface 200 feet vertically to the third level, and from a
small irregular shoot directly opposite it in the footwall branch.
Outside of these, the underground layout leaves the general
impression that the distribution of ore grade mineralization is
highly erratic and randomly dispersed.
"1100 feet, and north of the Gallardo and Guadalupe mines, five
steeply north (?) dipping, parallel, curving veins (Emilio, Oriente
Emilio, Hormiguero, San Francisco and 4 de Julio) evenly spaced over
a width of 200 feet, constitute the separate Hormiguero mine. They
lie between the hypothetical northward prolongation of the Gallardo
and Guadalupe structures and have been worked over an aggregate
strike length of 1200 feet starting from a point 700 feet west of
the Guadalupe projection first 500 feet east-west then through a 700
foot arc curving to the southwest into alignment width, and 900 feet
north of the north end of the Gallardo vein. At least 7 levels were
developed to a depth of over 400 feet from a vertical 2 compartment
shaft. The amount of stoping is unknown; the available data show
that irregular 100 to 200 foot long shoots were worked to depths of
300 and 400 feet on the east-west striking portions of the San
Francisco and 4 Julio veins.
"Four other virtually unexplored veins known as La Gloria or
Esperanza, Victoria or Tilden, Tecolote and El Dorado, occur 500 to
900 feet west of the Gallardo and Hormiguero mines. The Gloria and
Tecolote strike east-west; the remaing [sic} two are roughly
parallel to the Gallardo. In a letter dated 1919, a geologist named
Mr. Swanquist states that initial exploration and very limited
mining obtained `encouraging results' from the Tecolote and `fair
ore' from the El Dorado.
"The same letter mentions two additional prospects, the Consuelo
of unknown location but `700 feet from the plant and just being
opened up' and the La Posa, on the Las Garzas river, north of Canton
Hormiguero from which ore grading $10.92 per ton ($20.00 gold and
$1.11? [.385] silver), with values mainly in silver, was mined over
4 to 5 foot widths, in a 35 foot winze."
In 1921, i.e. during El Salvador Silver Mine's final year of
operation, the following ore reserves were blocked out:
Proven: (U.S. dollar values based on a $20.00 per ounce gold price
and a $0.385 per ounce silver price.)
Dollar Value
Tons Grade Per Ton
------ ----- -------
(a) Guadalupe Hanging Wall Vein 11,208 0.353 $7.06
Guadalupe Footwall Vein 7,528 0.319 $6.37
(b) Hormiguero and Gallardo 10,000 0.400 $8.00
------
Total 28,736
Probable:
(a) Guadalupe Hanging Wall Vein 21,900 0.295 $5.89
Guadalupe Footwall Vein 23,556 0.340 $6.80
------
Total 45,456
(Proven and probable gold and silver ore reserves total 74,192
tons.)
Exploration should center on the undeveloped veins, on the
possibility of extending the Hormiguero veins farther to the east
and west, and on the unexplored ground between the north end of the
Gallardo vein and the Hormiguero.
Hormiguero Ownership
The surface is owned by various individuals and families.
Montemayor Mine ("Montemayor")
Montemayor Location/Ownership
The Joint Venture has obtained permission from a number of property
owners which permits the Joint Venture to enter their property for
the purpose of exploring, exploiting and developing the property
and then, if feasible, to mine and extract minerals from this
property. The term of this permission is for an infinite period.
Montemayor is located about 14 miles northeast of the SCMP, six
miles northwest of the SSGM and about two miles east of the City of
San Francisco Gotera in the Department of Morazan, Republic of El
Salvador. Historical records evidence that the potential for the
Montemayor to become an exploration and development gold-producing
prospect is good.
Montemayor Geology and Historical Information
The following information was obtained from a report entitled,
"Mining in El Salvador-United Nations Development Program
1968-1971":
"Montemayor-Lola Area
"The eastern and northeastern limits of the Three Corners area are
defined by a scattering of three small mines and numerous prospects
distributed along the course of the south-flowing Rio Montemayor in
a system of parallel normal faults collectively known as the
`Montemayor lineament'. Consistent with the origin proposed under
`General Geology' these have been probably induced by subsidence
along the northern margin of the central graben, resulting in a
progressive tensional failure that has sliced the pyroclastic rocks
of the area into a series of tabular blocks stepped successively
upward to the northeast end culminating in the steep serrated ridges
of the Copetillos escarpment. This has resulted in the creation of
a 13,000 foot-wide regional `sheeted' zone composed of closely
spaced, northwest striking, west dipping parallel faults, stretching
for five miles northeast along the river and has imported to the
river gorge an assymetric cross section whose higher, northeast
slope is underlain by deeply dissected acid to basic tuffs and lower
southwest slope by the low rolling andesitic, Three Corners terrain.
"Extensive veining in the fragmentals has produced a lengthy
mineralized zone roughly coincident with the `sheating,' which
includes the Montemayor deposit near the headwaters of the river
and, arranged in en-echelon alignment downstream, the Tebanco, Lola,
and Tepeyac occurrences and the minor Salamanca, Jimerito, Mina
Grande, Copetilla and La Joya showings.
"The veins, which dip almost universally 50 degrees to 80 degrees
southwest, are normal quartz-calcite, sulfide-poor fracture
fillings, distinguished by their remarkable lateral persistence and
unfortunate paucity of workable ore shoots. Sporadically
distributed in lenses three to eight feet wide and up to 200 feet
long and separated by longer stretches of barren ground, these have
so far yielded enough tonnage to sustain mining operations only at
the marginal Mina Lola. On the whole, however, the area is little
explored.
"Montemayor
"The Montemayor property embraces a group of small mine openings and
prospects aligned along a series of parallel southeast striking
veins following the course of the Montemayor river for 16,000 feet,
from its headwaters to the beginning of the pronounced `S' bend
enclosing the old Tabanco mine. Some confusion over the names and
locations of these various workings has always existed; for the
purpose of this report, the following nomenclature, adapted from
early maps of the district, will be employed. Proceeding upstreams
[sic], the workings are:
"(a) Montemayor-comprises the Montemayor, Montanita and Santa
Gertrudis sections, extending for 2700 feet upstream from the
Caserio Montemayor.
"(b) Tempisque-4800 feet north of the Caserio Montemayor and 1200
feet up the east bank of the river.
"(c) Banadero-Carao-Carago-4500 to 8000 feet upstream from
Tempisque.
"Mining was confined to Montemayor; appreciable underground
exploration to Montemayor and Tempisque. No motor road reaches the
properties; access is either by five kms. of the mule trail along
the southwest bank of the river from the end of the Santa Rosa de
Lima-Caserio El Tabanco road or cross-country about the same
distance by mule trail from a north branch of the Gigante road.
Trails also lead into the headwater area from the town of Sociedad.
"Historical information is sketchy. The area was almost certainly
worked in conjunction with the Tabanco mine, first by the English
company until about 1855, then the Cia. Francesa de Minas de El
Salvador who operated it some time between 1856 and 1882 (Guzman).
Until 1914 (?) no information is forthcoming; then the mine was
comprehensively sampled by the Butters Co. and its successors
between 1915 and 1921 and by the R.W. Habard Co. and Central
American Mines around 1936. Apparently the only production from
1856 to 1936 was obtained by the English and French companies but
the figures are unknown.
"Roberts and Irving report that the mine was again functioning at 60
tons per day in 1945 under Sr. Benjamin Gonzalez, yielded a value of
$233,818 over a three year period. Grebe (1955) does not confirm
this and the data may refer to the Hormiguero mine which Sr.
Gonzalez had in production at that time. Finally in 1963 the
principal showings were taken up by a local enterprise, Minas
Montemayor, S.A. and received a little more attention up until 1967.
"The vein system is apparently controlled by a simple set of poorly
exposed, northwest striking faults paralleling the river and
outcropping occasionally in the river bed and rarely on the steep
east slope of the river gorge. Dips are to the southwest between 50
degrees and 60 degrees. Vein mineralization is quartz-calcite with
weak disseminated pyrite and a small quantity of chalcopyrite,
spalerite and galena. The host rocks are a succession of coarse
andesitic tuffs and agglomerates, fine acid tuffs and flows
propylitized along the veins, and locally silicified towards the
north end of the zone of mineralization.
"Formal mining was confined to three parallel veins spaced over a
500 foot interval up the east bank from the creek, at Montemayor.
The footwall Montanita vein was opened for 200 and 250 feet
respectively on two levels about 70 feet apart, served by a winze
and two crosscuts, and stoped over 100(?) feet on the upper level
and 200(?) feet on the lower. Two levels opened at 115 and 215 feet
off a 2 compartment shaft traced the middle (Montemayor) vein for
640 feet and disclosed a 200 foot long ore shoot, centered on the
shaft and partially stoped before 1917, that might have graded
around 12 ounces silver and 0.29 ounces gold. On this same
structure, 1250 feet north of the shaft in the separate Santa
Gertrudis section, perhaps 9000 tons grading $31.00 at gold and
silver $0.507 were extracted from a 90 by 220 foot area, averaging 7
feet wide, developed on four levels through a second vertical shaft.
"The hanging wall `sulfide' vein located 40 feet west of the
Montemayor is apparently more heavily mineralized but contained no
ore over 75 feet of drifting driven from the lower Montemayor level.
"On the Tempisque showing, two levels, 30 feet apart vertically and
served by two adits, have revealed 520 feet of the Tempisque vein
running 5.49 oz. silver and 0.14 oz gold over a 2.7 foot width,
according to sampling by the R.W. Hebard Co. in 1936. Check
sampling by the present owners in 1966 returned an indicated grade
of 3.68 oz. silver and 0.115 oz. gold over four feet, on the lower
level.
"Work on the Carago section has been purely exploratory; the only
surviving records (map MM-8) show an average width of 2.3 feet of
9.95 ounces silver and 0.16 ounces gold in a 60 foot shaft and a 160
foot long drift, spaced 280 feet apart."
Montemayor Current Status
From July 19, 1995 to March 31, 1996, the following exploration was
achieved: surface channel trenching was performed in an area of
over 270 meters (891 feet); and ten channel trenches were performed
in an area of over 97 meters (320 feet). From this trenching, 100
fire assay samples were shipped to the Joint Venture's laboratory.
A total of 48 samples of fire assays were completed. They varied
from 0.01 to 0.14 ounces of gold per ton with an over-all average of
0.035. The Joint Venture has 11 underground adits and workings in
the process of being cleaned. They are:
Polvorera Adit No. 1 56 meters (185 feet)
Polvorera Adit No. 2 100 meters (330 feet)
Lechuza Adit 60 meters (198 feet)
Cablote Adit 7 meters (23 feet)
Montanita Adit 75 meters (248 feet)
Guascanal Adit 19 meters (63 feet)
Sirena Adit 7 meters (23 feet)
El Indio Adit 29 meters (96 feet)
Tempisque Sub Level No. 2 9 meters (30 feet)
El Indio Winze 10 meters (33 feet)
Guaruma Winze 12 meters (40 feet)
Total 384 meters (1,269 feet)
A total of 309 samples of fire assays were taken. Only 48 samples
of fire assays were completed. Between 20 to 30 employees are
employed at this site.
Comseb Laboratories (Lab)
The Joint Venture has two laboratories: one located at the SCMP
facilities and the other on real estate owned by the Company near
the SSGM site. At the SSGM Lab, the Joint Venture employs five
employees for each eight-hour shift and it recently has been working
three shifts per day. A total of 51,165 samples of fire assays have
been completed through March 31, 1996. Approximately six employees
are working at the SCMP laboratory.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item 4(a). Executive Officers and Managers of the Company
Listed below are the names and ages of each of the present executive
officers and managers of the Company together with the principal
positions and offices held by each as of the end of the Company's
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.
Executive
Age as of Offices Held Period Served
Name March 31, 1996 With Company(1) In Office (2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward L. Machulak 69 President, Chief
Executive Officer,
and Operating and
Financial Officer 9/19/62 to present
Treasurer 06/78 to present
Edward A. Machulak 44 Executive Vice
(Son of the President) President 10/16/92 to present
Secretary 1/12/87 to present
Assistant Secretary 4/15/86 to 1/12/87
Luis A. Limay 54 Project and Mine
Manager 10/86 to 1995
Manager of El
Salvador Operations 03/95 to present
(1) Neither have there been nor are there any arrangements nor
understandings between any Executive Officer and any other
person pursuant to which any Executive Officer was elected as
an Executive Officer.
(2) Executive Officers are elected by the Directors for a term
expiring at the Directors' Annual Meeting and/or hold such
positions until their successors have been elected and have
qualified.
Family relationships
Edward A. Machulak, presently a Director, Member of the
Directors' Executive Committee, Executive Vice President, and
Secretary, is the son of Edward L. Machulak, the Company's
Chairman of the Board of Directors who is also a Member of the
Directors' Executive Committee, and is the President and
Treasurer of the Company. Attorney John E. Machulak (son of
Edward L. Machulak) of the law firm of Machulak, Hutchinson,
Robertson, Dwyer & O'Dess, S.C. is the legal counsel for the
Company.
Directors', Officers', and Key Management's Experience
The business experience of each of the Directors, Officers, and
Key Management is as follows:
Edward L. Machulak has been employed by the Company since
September, 1962. Mr. Machulak has served as the President,
Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company
since 1962, Treasurer since 1978, and on March 11, 1991, he was
elected as a Member of the Directors' Executive Committee.
He is a Director and the President for each of the Company's
subsidiaries: Homespan Realty Co., Inc.; Piccadilly Advertising
Agency, Inc.; San Luis Estates, Inc.; San Sebastian Gold Mines,
Inc.; and Universal Developers, Inc. He is the authorized
representative of the Commerce/Sanseb Joint Venture. He is a
Director and Treasurer of Mineral San Sebastian S.A. de C.V.
Also he is involved in various capacities with the following
companies: General Lumber & Supply Co., Inc., Director; Edjo,
Ltd., Director and Secretary; and Landpak, Inc., Director and
Secretary.
Edward A. Machulak was elected and holds the following Company
positions: Director as of October 28, 1985; a member of the
Directors' Executive Committee as of March 11, 1991; Executive
Vice President as of October 16, 1992; Secretary as of January
12, 1987; and he was the Assistant Secretary from April 15, 1986
through January 12, 1987. His business experience is as follows:
Director and Corporate Secretary of General Lumber & Supply Co.,
Inc., a building material wholesale and retail distribution yard
from April 1, 1970 to November 1983; Director and President of
Gamco, Inc., a marketing and advertising company, from November
1983 to present; Director and President of Circular Marketing,
Inc., an advertising and marketing business, from March 1986 to
present; Director and President of Edjo, Ltd., a company involved
in the development, subdividing and sale of land and real estate
from June 7, 1973 to present; Director and President of Landpak,
Inc., a corporation which owns, operates, manages and sells real
estate from September 1985 to present; Partner of WEEM
Investments, a real estate oriented business from May 1976
through 1995; and he was involved in other corporate real estate
ventures and activities since 1976.
Clayton H. Tebo has been a Director of the Company since March
11, 1991. Mr. Tebo had been a Director of the Company from the
Company's inception, September, 1962, through March 1, 1969. Mr.
Tebo has been retired since March 6, 1969, however, he has been
retained from time to time by the Company as a consultant for
special projects. He also was the special assistant to the
President prior to and after his 1969 retirement.
Luis Alfonso Limay was appointed to the position of Project and
Mine Manager since October 1986 and is responsible for managing
the daily affairs of the Joint Venture. During March, 1995, Mr.
Limay was appointed to the position of Manager of El Salvador
operations which now supersedes his position as Project and Mine
Manager. Mr. Limay was employed by Sanseb from 1977 through
March 1978 as its chief geologist. He obtained degrees in geology
and engineering from the National University of San Marlos, Lima,
Peru, and the University of Toronto. He was employed as chief
geologist by Rosario Resources in a Honduran underground mining
operation and he held the same position with Canadian Javelin in
El Salvador.
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Company's Common Stock and Related
Stockholders' Matters
(a) Principal Market and Common Stock Price
The Company's common shares are traded on the Boston Stock Exchange
under the symbol "CMG" or "CMG.BN," since November 29, 1974, and on
the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System Small-Cap Issue (NASDAQ) under the symbol "CGCO" since March
23, 1987, and the shares are listed daily in the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, a Wisconsin newspaper, under "Wisconsin Stocks," under the
name of "Commerce Group." The common shares are also listed in many
nationwide newspapers.
The following table sets forth the range of high ask and low bid
prices of the common shares as reported by NASDAQ for the periods
indicated. Such quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without
retail mark-up, mark-down or commission, and may not necessarily
represent actual transactions.
For the period ended March 31, 1996 March 31, 1995
High Low High Low
----- ----- ----- -----
First quarter ending June 30 $4.63 $3.75 $2.75 $1.63
Second quarter ending September 30 $3.75 $3.00 $3.50 $2.63
Third quarter ending December 31 $3.25 $2.63 $3.13 $2.38
Fourth quarter ending March 31 $3.25 $2.75 $4.50 $3.50
(b) Approximate Number of Holders of Common Shares
As of March 31, 1996, the common shares were held by approximately
3,000 shareholders of which a high percentage are United States'
residents.
(c) Dividend History
Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding series of
preferred shares to receive preferential dividends, and to other
applicable restrictions and limitations, holders of shares of common
shares are entitled to receive dividends if and when declared by the
Board of Directors out of funds legally available. No dividends
were payable during the last fiscal year ended March 31, 1996. The
declaration of future dividends will be determined by the Board of
Directors in light of the Company's earnings, cash requirements and
other relevant considerations.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth certain consolidated financial data
for the respective periods presented and should be read with the
Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto, and
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Year ended March 31:
Total revenue $ 1,345,260 $ 823,181 $ 507,964 $ 403,242 $ 364,747
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Income from
continuing
operations $ 787,802 $ 274,747 $ 66,852 $ 41,970 $ 22,583
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Income (loss) from
continuing operations
per share:
Primary $ 0.11 $ 0.046 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Fully diluted $ 0.11 $ 0.045 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.00
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Cash dividends
declared per common
share $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
At year end:
Total assets $20,513,115 $17,617,423 $14,204,563 $13,568,374 $12,156,852
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Long-term notes
payable $ 20,259 $ 120,000 $ 245,000 $ 245,000 $ 0
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Convertible preferred
stock 0 0 0 0 250,000
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Total long-term
obligations and
convertible preferred
stock $ 20,259 $ 120,000 $ 245,000 $ 245,000 $ 250,000
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
The following discussion provides information on the results of
operations for the three years ended March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
and the financial condition, liquidity and capital resources for the
same three-year period. The financial statements of the Company and
the notes thereto contain detailed information that should be
referred to in conjunction with this discussion.
Introduction
The Joint Venture is in the pre-production stage at the SSGM and it
simultaneously is performing four separate programs. First, it has
commenced a limited production of gold by processing the SSGM
tailings at its SCMP facility which is located approximately 15
miles from the SSGM site. Second, it is installing a pilot
open-pit, heap-leaching gold process on the SSGM site. Third, it is
continuing its SSGM site preparation, the expansion of its
exploration and exploitation targets, and the enlargement and
development of its gold ore reserves. Fourth, it is exploring the
potential of the four gold mine prospects identified as the San
Felipe-El Potosi Mine, and its extension, the El Capulin Mine, the
Hormiguero Mine, the Montemayor Mine, and the Modesto Mine, all
located in El Salvador, Central America. Concurrently, it also is
in the process of obtaining the necessary funding for each of these
separate programs while it continues its limited production of gold
and the exploration, exploitation and development of its mining
prospects. The more than twelve-year El Salvador war and the
general disbelief that peace will prevail had been a material
deterrent in obtaining funding for the resumption of the SSGM
operations and for the restoration of the SCMP. On December 15,
1992, through the auspices of the United Nations, the end of the war
was declared contingent upon a three-year term to comply with all of
the conditions of this pact. Peace prevails.
Current Status
The Company, on February 23, 1993, through its Joint Venture
acquired the SCMP, a precious metals' leaching mill and plant which
has the capacity of processing 200 tons of virgin gold ore and
precious metals' ore per day. While the Joint Venture did achieve at
times to operate the mill to its full capacity, it encountered
inconsistencies which compelled it to operate the mill at a lower
production rate. Considerable time and capital was consumed to
bring the SCMP to a favorable operating condition. A new labor force
had to be trained to operate the SCMP; metallurgical differences had
to be resolved; the rainy season was unusually severe; the head
grade variances; and problems were encountered with the handling of
the separation of the coarse material in the tailings. Taking into
account all of the factors affecting the SCMP, if the Joint Venture
had not offset all of the revenues ($1,238,612) from the gold sales
by reducing the advances to the Joint Venture, it would have earned
a nominal profit.
This production of gold broadens the Company's objectives and now
enables the Company to commence a complementary operation while
continuing its endeavor to obtain sufficient funds for the SSGM
which is its major and original goal and presently is in the
developmental stage. The Company's main objective and plan, through
the Joint Venture, is to operate at the SSGM site, a moderate
tonnage, low-grade open-pit, heap-leaching, gold-producing mine and
it intends to commence this major gold-mining operation as soon as
adequate funding is in place. Dependent on the grade of ore
processed, it then anticipates producing approximately 12,000 ounces
of gold from the SCMP operation and 40,000 ounces of gold from its
SSGM open-pit, heap-leaching operation during the first twelve full
operating months. The Joint Venture continues to conduct an
exploration program to develop additional gold ore reserves at the
SSGM and at the following four other mines: the San Felipe-El
Potosi, and its extension, the El Capulin Mine, the Modesto Mine,
the Hormiguero Mine, and the Montemayor Mine; all located in El
Salvador.
Since the Joint Venture commenced producing gold at the SCMP, albeit
a very exiguous operation, and a forerunner of its greater goals,
the Company's revenues, profitability and cash flow will be greatly
influenced by the price of gold. Gold prices fluctuate widely and
are affected by numerous factors which will be beyond the Company's
control, such as, expectations for inflation, the strength of the
U.S. dollar, overproduction of gold, global and regional demand, or
political and economic conditions. The combined effect of these
factors is difficult; perhaps impossible to predict. Should the
market price of gold fall below the Company's production costs and
remain at such level for any sustained period, the Company could
experience losses. Under these circumstances, the Company could
choose to suspend operations in order to minimize losses.
The Company believes that neither it, nor any other competitor, has
a material effect on the precious metal markets and that the price
it will receive for its production is dependent upon world market
conditions over which it has no control.
Results of Operation Fiscal Years March 31, 1996 Compared to March
31, 1995
The Company had a net gain of $787,802 or $.11 per share for its
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 compared to a net gain of $274,747
or $.046 per share for the previous fiscal year or an increase of
287%. This increase was attributable primarily to the additional
interest income earned from the advances to the Joint Venture. This
fiscal year the interest earned was $1,286,739 compared to the prior
fiscal year's interest earnings of $751,389. This gain results
primarily from a charge of interest due to the increase of advances
to the Joint Venture of $11,799,074 for this period or a net
increase of $3,122,766 (36%) from the last fiscal period which
amounted to $8,676,308. The total advances to the Joint Venture
during this fiscal period amounted to $13,037,686 but were reduced
by the $1,238,612 revenues received from the gold sales.
Likewise the Company's borrowings have increased from $2,725,014
(1995) to $3,583,480 (1996) or approximately 32% and the interest
expense for 1996 has increased slightly from $466,604 to $470,710
for the last year.
Almost all of the costs and expenses incurred by the Company are
allocated and charged to the Joint Venture. The Joint Venture
capitalizes all of these costs and expenses and will continue to do
so until such time as it resumes its gold mine operation. At the
time production commences, these capitalized costs will be charged
as an expense based on a per unit basis. If the prospect of gold
production becomes unlikely, all of these costs will be written off
in the year that this occurs.
Results of Operation Fiscal Years March 31, 1995 Compared to March
31, 1994
The Company had a net gain of $274,747 or $0.046 per share earnings
for its fiscal year ended March 31, 1995, compared to a net gain of
$66,852 for the year ended March 31, 1994, an increase of over 400%.
The basic reason for an increase in income was due to the additional
interest income earned from the Joint Venture $751,389 (1995)
compared to $451,180 (1994). This increase of interest income was
attributable to an increase of advances to Joint Venture from
$5,792,230 in 1994 to $8,676,308 in 1995 (50% increase).
Furthermore, the interest expense, due to an increase in interest
rates, was increased to $466,604 (1995) compared to $357,391 (1994).
The general administrative and campground expenses of $80,505 in
1995 compared to $83,721 in 1994 was slightly lower due to a
decrease in the cost associated with the repair and maintenance of
campground buildings. The increase in interest expense of $109,213
in 1995 was primarily attributable to the increase of the prime
interest rate which is the basis for the interest rate charged.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company continues to be cognizant of its cash liquidity until it
is able to produce adequate profits from its gold production. It
will attempt to obtain sufficient funds to assist the Joint Venture
in placing the SSGM into production as the anticipated SCMP profits
(unless accumulated over a period of time) will not be sufficient to
meet the SSGM capital and the other mining exploration needs. In
order to continue obtaining funds to conduct the Joint Venture's
exploration, exploitation, development, expansion programs, and the
production of gold from the SSGM open-pit, heap-leaching operation,
it may be necessary for the Company to obtain funds from other
sources. The Company may be required to borrow funds by issuing
open-ended, secured, on-demand or unsecured promissory notes or by
selling its shares to its directors, officers and other interested
investors.
During the past, the Joint Venture was engaged in exploration,
exploitation and development programs designed to increase its gold
ore reserves. The prospects of expanding the gold reserves are
positive. The funds needed by the Joint Venture were obtained from
the Company via net advances: $3,122,761 in fiscal 1996. The
Company believes that these advances significantly contributed to
the value of the SSGM and to the value of its other mining
prospects as the results of the exploratory efforts evidence a
potential substantial increase of gold ore reserves, which add value
to the Joint Venture and to the Company. The Company was able to
obtain sufficient funds to complete the retrofitting of the SCMP, to
purchase consumable inventory, to purchase certain hauling and
loading equipment and for working capital use. The Company has been
able to obtain the funds required for its and the Joint Venture's
undertaking via a debt and equity structure of funding. Since
September, 1987, the Company and three of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries advanced a sum of $11,799,074 to the Joint Venture,
exclusive of gold sale proceeds.
Advances to the Joint Venture
Advances to the Joint Venture during the Company's fiscal year ended
March 31, 1996 were derived from the various sources including
related parties as follows:
Funding Sources From
Related Other
Parties Sources Total
----------- ----------- -----------
Accounts payable &
accruals etc. $ (2,074) $ (357,936) $ (360,010)
Notes payable 827,536 30,930 858,466
Equity 774,306 572,488 1,346,794
Net income 787,802 787,802
----------- ----------- -----------
Totals $1,599,768 $1,033,284 $2,633,052
Increase in cash &
cash equivalents 489,714 489,714
----------- ----------- -----------
Advances to
the Joint Venture $1,599,768 $1,522,998 $3,122,766
=========== =========== ===========
Therefore, the Company continues to rely on its directors, officers,
related parties and others for its funding needs. The Company
believes that it will be able to obtain such short-term funds as are
required from the same sources as it has in the past. In turn, then
it can advance the funds required by the Joint Venture to continue
the exploration, exploitation and development of the SSGM, and the
other exploration prospects, for the operation of SCMP and for
other necessary Company expenditures. Anticipated profits from the
SCMP gold production provide a limited amount of cash for corporate
purposes. It further believes that the funding needed to proceed
with the continued exploration of the five exploration targets for
the purpose of increasing its gold ore reserves should be $10
million.
These programs will involve airborne geophysics, stream chemistry,
geological mapping trenching and drilling. The Joint Venture
believes that it may be able to joint venture these exploration
costs with other mining companies. From September, 1987 through
March 31, 1996, the Company has advanced to the Joint Venture, the
sum of $11,208,809 and three of the Company's wholly-owned
subsidiaries have advanced the sum of $590,265, for a total of
$11,799,074. The funds advanced to the Joint Venture were used
primarily for the exploration, exploitation, and development of the
SSGM, for the construction of the Joint Venture laboratory
facilities on real estate owned by the Company near the SSGM site,
for the operation of the laboratory, for the purchase of a 200-ton
per day used SCMP precious metals' cyanide leaching mill and plant,
for the retrofitting, repair and modernization of its SCMP
facilities, for consumable inventory, for working capital to
commence the production of gold, for exploration costs for the San
Felipe-El Potosi Mine, and its extension, the El Capulin Mine, the
Modesto Mine, the Hormiguero Mine, and the Montemayor Mine, for SSGM
infrastructure, including rewiring and repairing about two miles of
the Company's electric lines to provide electrical service, for the
purchase of equipment, laboratory chemicals, and supplies, for parts
and supply inventory, for the maintenance of the Company-owned dam
and reservoir, for extensive road extension and preservation, for
its participation in the construction of a bridge, for community
telephone building and facilities, for the purchase and advance
lease payment of the real estate on the Modesto Mine, and many other
related needs.
SCMP Operations, SSGM & Other Mine Exploration
Items 1 and 2 of this report describe the Company's current
activities and status. The Company, through its Joint Venture, has
reduced its advances to the Company from its sale of gold,
therefore, the advances reported are after deducting these gold sale
proceeds. Presently the Company believes that the technical SCMP
problems will be resolved to permit it to reach its goal of
processing 400 tons of tailings each day of operation. In the event
the Joint Venture's goals are reached, then the profits and cash
flow should provide funds that could be used to commence the SSGM
open-pit, heap-leaching operation. The Company estimates that it
will need at least U.S. $13 million to start a 2,000 ton per day
heap-leaching operation and over time to increase the production
capacity to 6,000 tons per day at the SSGM. The profit and cash
flow projections reflect that the invested capital could be
recovered during the first 18 months of full production. It further
believes that it should be able to raise adequate funds to proceed
with its goals which include the SCMP expansion and the acquirement
of a crushing system.
Employees
The Joint Venture employs approximately 304 full-time persons from
El Salvador (up to 325 persons, including part-time employees) to
perform its exploration, exploitation, and development programs; to
produce gold from its SCMP facilities; and to handle the
administration of its activities. None of these employees are
covered by any collective bargaining agreements. It has developed a
continuous harmonious relationship with its employees. It believes
that the Joint Venture is the largest single non-agricultural
employer in El Salvador's Eastern Zone. Also, the Company employs
approximately four persons (plus part-time help) in the United
States.
Insurance
The Joint Venture has in existence insurance through an El Salvador
insurance company with the following general coverage: general
liability, vehicle liability and extended coverage, fire, explosion,
hurricane, cyclone, tornado, windstorm, hail, flood, storm,
earthquake, tremor or volcanic eruption, politically-motivated
violence, terrorism, strikes, work stoppages, riots, uprisings,
malicious acts, vandalism, and related acts. As additional
equipment and assets are acquired or improvements are made, the
insurance coverage will be increased accordingly.
Related Party Loans, Obligations and Transactions
The related party transactions are included in detail in the Notes
to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Company Advances to the Joint Venture
Since September 1987 through March 31, 1996, the Company, and three
of its subsidiaries, have advanced to the Joint Venture $11,799,074.
Included in the total advances is the interest charged to the Joint
Venture by the Company and this charge amounts to $3,667,420 through
March 31, 1996. The Company furnishes all of the funds required by
the Joint Venture.
Efforts to Obtain Capital
Since the concession was granted, and through the present time,
substantial effort is exercised in securing funding through various
sources, all with the purpose to resume operations of the SCMP and
SSGM and to continue the exploration of its other mining prospects.
The Company, Sanseb, and the Joint Venture consider the past
political situation in the Republic of El Salvador to have been
unstable, and believe that the final peace declaration on December
16, 1992, has put an end to war. Presently, interested investors
continue to be apprehensive and skeptical about the political status
of the Republic of El Salvador and therefore continue to be
hesitant to invest the funds required. However, during the past
fiscal year, the Company was able to invest a sum of $3,122,766, net
of the additional $1,238,612 received from the sale of gold.
Therefore, a total of $4,361,378 has been reinvested into the El
Salvador operations. This includes allocation of the Company's
expenditures. The Company believes that it will be able to obtain
adequate financing to conduct the present operations during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
And Supplementary Financial Data
Page
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants . . . . . . . . 51
Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets, Years Ended
March 31, 1996 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Consolidated Statements of Income, Years Ended
March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
Years Ended March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,
Years Ended March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 . . .. . . . . . . . . 55
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Supplementary Financial Data:
Report of Independent Accountants on the Financial
Statements Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Financial statements schedules other than those listed herein have
been omitted since they are either not required, are not applicable,
or the required information is included in the financial statements
and related notes.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Commerce Group Corp.
and Consolidated Subsidiaries:
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Commerce Group
Corp. ("Company"), a Delaware Corporation, and its subsidiaries, as
of March 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements
of operations, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows, for
each of the three fiscal years in the periods ended March 31, 1996,
1995, and 1994. These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of Commerce Group Corp. and its subsidiaries as
of March 31, 1996 and 1995, and the consolidated results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years
in the periods ended March 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
REDLIN AND ASSOCIATES
Certified Public Accountants
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 13, 1996
COMMERCE GROUP CORP. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets--March 31
1996 1995
ASSETS ----------- -----------
Current Assets
Cash $ 55,653 $ 545,367
Investments 198,982 198,982
Accounts receivable 143,476 0
Inventories 118,748 0
Prepaid items 986 620
----------- -----------
Total current assets 517,845 744,969
Real estate (Note 4) 1,179,836 1,179,836
Advances to Joint Venture
Net of Gold Sale Proceeds (Note 3) 11,799,074 8,676,308
Investment in Joint Venture (Note 3) 7,016,360 7,016,360
----------- -----------
Total assets $20,513,115 $17,617,473
=========== ===========
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $ 148,051 $ 222,423
Notes and accrued interest
payable to related parties
(Note 5) 3,084,370 2,256,834
Notes and accrued interest
payable to others (Note 5) 499,110 468,180
Accrued salaries 1,204,140 1,257,190
Accrued directors' fees 0 47,950
Accrued legal fees 76,883 166,355
Other accrued expenses 341,054 173,630
---------- ----------
Total liabilities 5,353,608 4,592,562
Commitments and contingencies
(Notes 3, 5, 6, 7 & 14)
SHAREHOLDERS'EQUITY
Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock, $0.10 par
value
Authorized 250,000 shares:
Issued and outstanding
1996-none; 1995-none (Note 10) $ 0 $ 0
Common stock, $0.10 par value:
Authorized 15,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding:
1996 - 7,792,209 779,221
1995 - 7,294,719 729,472
Additional paid in capital 12,973,006 11,675,961
Retained earnings (deficit) 1,407,280 619,478
----------- -----------
Total shareholders' equity 15,159,507 13,024,911
----------- -----------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $20,513,115 $17,617,473
=========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income--March 31
1996 1995 1994
---------- ---------- ----------
Revenues:
Campground income $ 55,692 $ 54,600 $ 54,804
Land Sales 0 9,000 0
Interest income 2,669 6,172 1,980
Interest income-Joint
Venture (Notes 3 & 13) 1,286,739 751,389 451,180
Miscellaneous Income 160 2,020 0
---------- ---------- ----------
Total revenue 1,345,260 823,181 507,964
Expenses:
Cost of Land Sales 0 1,325 0
General and administrative
and campground expenses 86,748 80,505 83,721
Interest expense 470,710 466,604 357,391
---------- ---------- ----------
Total expenses 557,458 548,434 441,112
---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (Loss) 787,802 274,747 66,852
Credit (charges) for
income taxes 0 0 0
---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss) after
income tax credit
(charge) $ 787,802 $ 274,747 $ 66,852
========== ========== ==========
Net income (loss) per
shares (Note 2) $.11 $.046 $.01
========== ========== ==========
Weighted av. shares
outstanding (Note 2) 7,368,058 5,941,950 4,828,496
========== ========== ==========
Fully diluted income
per common share $.11 $.045 $.01
========== ========== ==========
Weighted average diluted
number of shares and
assuming all rights and
options were exercised
on March 31, 1996 (Note 2) 7,465,898 6,101,006 5,808,274
========== ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements Of Change in Shareholders'
Equity For the Years Ended March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
Common Stock
---------------------------------------------
Capital in Retained
Number Excess of Earnings
of Shares Par Value Par Value (Deficit)
---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Balance March 31, 1993 4,773,253 $477,325 $ 8,173,387 $ 277,879
Net income for FY
March 31, 1994 66,852
Common shares issued
Cash 145,000 14,500 130,500
Cancellation of debt 168,707 16,871 208,556
---------- -------- ----------- ---------
Balance March 31, 1994 5,086,960 508,696 8,512,443 344,731
Net income for FY
March 31, 1995 274,747
Common shares issued
Dir./off./employee/
services comp. 101,800 10,180 141,890
Payment of debt 859,076 85,908 1,543,359
Stock options/rights 978,066 97,807 1,005,151
Cash/equipment
lease/purchase 268,817 26,881 473,118
---------- -------- ----------- ---------
Balance March 31, 1995 7,294,719 729,472 11,675,961 619,478
Net income for FY
March 31, 1996 787,802
Common shares issued
Dir./off./employee/
services comp. 45,384 4,538 110,069
Payment of debt 248,468 24,847 739,090
Stock options/rights 60,260 6,026 139,624
Cash/equipment lease/
purchase 143,378 14,338 308,262
---------- -------- ----------- ----------
Balance March 31, 1996 7,792,209 $779,221 $12,973,006 $1,407,280
========== ======== =========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows For the Years Ended March 31,
1996 1995 1994
---------- ---------- ----------
Operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ 787,802 $ 274,747 $ 66,852
Changes in other
operating assets and
liabilities (net):
Accounts receivable
and inventory (262,224) 0 0
Other assets (366) 973 (268)
Accounts payable (74,372) 116,241 48,764
Accrued salaries (53,050) 267,550 129,750
Accrued directors' fees (47,950) (6,850) 7,860
Accrued legal fees (89,473) (113,257) 14,562
Accrued liabilities 167,425 (1,260) 49,451
---------- ---------- -----------
Cash provided (used)
by operating activities 427,792 538,144 316,971
---------- ---------- -----------
Investing activities:
Advances to Joint Venture
(Net-Gold Sale Proceeds) (3,122,766) (2,884,078) (1,155,549)
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash provided (used) by
investing activities (3,122,766) (2,884,078) (1,155,549)
----------- ----------- -----------
Financing activities:
Net borrowings 858,466 (508,555) 358,523
Issuance of common stock 1,346,794 3,384,294 370,427
----------- ----------- ----------
Cash provided (used)
by financing activities 2,205,260 2,875,739 728,950
----------- ----------- ----------
Increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents (489,714) 529,805 (109,628)
Cash - beg. of year 545,367 15,562 125,190
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash - end of year $ 55,653 $ 545,367 $ 15,562
=========== =========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 1996
(1) The Company and Basis of Presentation of Financial Statements
(a) Commerce Group Corp. ("Commerce," the "Company" and/or
"Registrant") and its 82 1/2% owned subsidiary, San Sebastian
Gold Mines, Inc. ("Sanseb") have formed the Commerce/Sanseb
Joint Venture ("Joint Venture") for the purpose of performing
gold mining and related activities, including, but not limited
to, exploration, extraction and processing of gold in the
Republic of El Salvador, Central America. Gold bullion, the
Joint Venture's principal product, is produced in El Salvador
and sold in the United States. Exploration is taking place at
the San Sebastian Gold Mine ("SSGM") which is located near the
City of Santa Rosa de Lima. Exploration is also taking place
at four other mining properties, all located in the Republic
of El Salvador, Central America.
Presently, the Joint Venture is in the pre-production stage at
the SSGM and it simultaneously is performing four separate
programs: it has started to produce gold on a start up (not
full production) basis at its San Cristobal Mill and Plant
("SCMP") which is located approximately 15 miles from the SSGM
site; the second program is to begin its open-pit,
heap-leaching process on the SSGM site; the third program is
to continue its SSGM site preparation, the expansion of its
exploration and exploitation targets, and the enlargement and
development of its gold ore reserves; and the fourth program
is to explore the potential of four gold mine exploration
prospects identified as the San Felipe-El Potosi Mine, and its
extension, the El Capulin Mine, the Hormiguero Mine, the
Modesto Mine, and the Montemayor Mine, all located in El
Salvador, Central America. Concurrently, it also is in the
process of obtaining the necessary funding for each of these
separate programs while its Joint Venture continues its gold
production, exploration, exploitation and development
operations.
(b) The Company, a United States' corporation (incorporated as a
Wisconsin corporation in 1962 and consolidated with a Delaware
corporation in 1971), presents its consolidated financial
statements in U.S. dollars.
(c) The preparation of the financial statements, in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
(d) Accounts receivable consist of gold bullion shipped to the
refinery pending the settlement date.
(e) Inventories consist of gold on hand at the El Salvador mill
site.
(2) Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the operations of the
Company and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries: Homespan Realty
Co., Inc. ("Homespan"); Piccadilly Advertising Agency, Inc.
("Piccadilly"); San Luis Estates, Inc. ("SLE"); Universal
Developers, Inc. ("UDI"); San Sebastian Gold Mines, Inc. ("Sanseb");
and Mineral San Sebastian, S.A. de C.V. ("Misanse"). The Company
does not include in its financial statements the operations of the
Joint Venture. Other than the Joint Venture, all significant
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. For
further information regarding consolidated subsidiaries see Note 8.
Income Taxes
The Company files a consolidated Federal Income Tax return with its
subsidiaries (See Note 9).
Income (Loss) Per Common Share
Net income per share is calculated based on the weighted average
number of common shares issued and outstanding during this fiscal
year. The Company does not include in this calculation any common
stock equivalent, rights or contingent issuances of common stock.
In computing the shares on a fully diluted basis, the net income per
share is based on the assumption that all rights and options were
exercised on the last day of the period that is being reported.
If on March 31, 1996, 97,840 option shares would be added assuming
that all of the stock options would be exercised, and if these
shares would be added on the last day of this fiscal year period to
the weighted average calculated number of shares which amounts to
7,368,058, the total number of shares would be 7,465,898, and the
profit per share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, would be
approximately the same. The same assumptions were used for the same
1995 fiscal period.
Foreign Currency
The Company itself is not involved in any foreign currency
transactions as it deposits U.S. funds primarily through bank wire
transfer of funds from its U.S. bank account into the Joint
Venture's El Salvador bank accounts. The Joint Venture is obligated
to repay the Company for funds advanced in U.S. dollars.
Major Customer
The Joint Venture produces gold and silver. It sells its gold to a
refinery located in the United States. Given the nature of the
precious metals that are sold, and because many potential purchasers
of gold and silver exist, it is not believed that the loss of any
customer would adversely affect either the Company or the Joint
Venture (Note 3).
(3) Commerce/Sanseb Joint Venture ("Joint Venture")
The Company is in a joint venture with and owns 82 1/2% of the total
common stock (2,002,037 shares) of Sanseb, a U.S. State of Nevada
chartered (1968) corporation. The balance of Sanseb's stock is held
by approximately 180 non-related shareholders, including the
President of the Company who owns 2,073 common shares. Sanseb was
formed to explore, exploit, research, and develop adequate gold
reserves and then it produced gold from SSGM from 1972 through
February 1978.
On September 22, 1987, the Company and Sanseb entered into a joint
venture agreement to formalize their relationship with respect to
the mining venture and to account for the Company's substantial
investment in Sanseb. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company
is authorized to supervise and control all of the business affairs
of the Joint Venture and has the authority to do all that is
necessary to resume mining operations at the SSGM on behalf of the
Joint Venture. The net pre-tax profits of the Joint Venture will be
distributed as follows: Company 90%; and Sanseb 10%.
The joint venture agreement further provides that the Company has
the right to be compensated for its general and administrative
expenses in connection with managing the Joint Venture.
Under the joint venture agreement, agreements signed by the Company
for the benefit of the Joint Venture create obligations binding upon
the Joint Venture.
The Joint Venture is registered to do business in the State of
Wisconsin and in the Republic of El Salvador, Central America.
Accounting Matters
The Joint Venture records all costs and expenses as capital items
which is reduced by the gold sale proceeds and it will write off
these cumulative costs on a unit of production method at such time
as it begins producing gold derived from the virgin gold ore. If
the prospect of gold production, due to different conditions and
circumstances becomes unlikely, all of these costs may be written
off in the year that this occurs.
Advances to Joint Venture
As of March 31, 1996, the Company's advances were $11,208,809, and
three of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries' advances were
$590,265 for a total of $11,799,074.
Investment in El Salvador Mining Projects
During the fiscal year, the Company has advanced funds, performed
services, and allocated its general and administration costs to the
Joint Venture.
As of March 31, 1996, the Company, Sanseb and three of the Company's
wholly-owned subsidiaries have invested (including carrying costs)
the following in its Joint Venture:
The Company's advances since 09/22/87;
net of gold sale proceeds $11,208,809
The Company's initial investment 3,508,180
Sanseb's investment in the Joint Venture 3,508,180
Sanseb's investment in the mining projects
and amount due to the Company 17,503,414
-----------
Total: 35,728,583
Advances by the Company's three subsidiaries 590,265
-----------
Combined total investment $36,318,848
===========
SSGM Activity
The Company had no significant activity at the SSGM site from
February, 1978 through January, 1987. The present status is that,
the Company, since January, 1987, and thereafter, the Joint Venture,
since September, 1987, has completed certain of the required mining
pre-production preliminary stages in the minable proven gold ore
reserve area, and the Company is active in attempting to obtain
adequate financing for the proposed open-pit, heap-leaching
operations on this site. The Joint Venture is also engaged in the
exploration and the expansion program to develop additional gold ore
reserves in the area surrounding the minable gold ore reserves and
at four other El Salvador mining prospects.
Mineral San Sebastian S.A. de C.V. ("Misanse")
(a) Misanse Corporate Structure
The SSGM real estate is owned by and leased to the Joint Venture by
Misanse, a Salvadoran chartered corporation. The Company owns 52%
of the total of Misanse's issued and outstanding shares. The
balance is owned by approximately one hundred El Salvador, Central
American, and United States' citizens. The Company has the right to
select six of Misanse's ten directors. (Note 6)
(b) SSGM Mining Lease
On July 28, 1975, an amended lease agreement between Misanse as
lessor and Sanseb as tenant was signed by the parties giving the
tenant all the possessions and mining rights that pertain to the
SSGM as well as other claims to mineral rights that may already have
or could be claimed in the future within the 595 hectares (1,470
acres) plat of land encompassing the SSGM. The 25-year lease, which
begins on the date gold production begins, was further amended to
run concurrently with the concession described herein and may be
extended for an additional 25 years by the tenant as long as the
tenant has paid the rent and has complied with other obligations
under the lease and the concession. The lease further provides that
the tenant will pay rent equivalent to 5% of the gross gold
production revenue obtained from the leased SSGM and further commits
itself to maintain production taking into consideration market and
other conditions. In no case will the rent be less than eighteen
hundred "colones" per month (approximately $206 per month at the
current rate of exchange). The lease further provides that, in the
event the lessor wishes to sell the property, it must first give
preference to the tenant; the lease further provides that the tenant
must give preference to employ former mining employees and Misanse
shareholders, providing they qualify for the available position.
The lease agreement was assigned on January 29, 1987 to the Company
and Sanseb together with the mining concession application.
The lease is freely assignable by the Joint Venture without notice
to Misanse. The lease may also be canceled by the Joint Venture on
thirty day's notice to Misanse, and thereafter, all legal
responsibilities thereunder shall cease.
In the event that additional gold ore is discovered, Misanse is
required to make proper claim for it under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Economy of El Salvador's Director of Energy, Mines, and
Hydrocarbons, and include it in the present concession. Such
addition to the lease is required to be made without any changes to
the rental payment, except that the expenses for expanding the
concession shall be borne by the Joint Venture.
(c) Mineral Concession
On January 27, 1987, the Government granted a right to the mining
concession ("concession") to Misanse which was subject to the
performance of the El Salvador Mining law requirements. These
rights were simultaneously assigned to the Company and Sanseb.
On July 23, 1987, the Government of El Salvador delivered and
granted to the Company's 52% owned subsidiary, Misanse, possession
of the mining concession. This is the right to extract and export
minerals for a term of 25 years (plus a 25-year renewal option)
beginning on the first day of production from the real estate which
encompasses the SSGM owned by Misanse. Misanse assigned this
concession to the Joint Venture. Under the concession and
applicable El Salvador law, the Joint Venture has the right to
export said mineral for five years beginning with the first day of
production without imposition of mineral or export taxes. It also
has the right to import free of duty, equipment and all other items
necessary to operate SSGM. (Reference is made to (h) in this
category.)
Effective February 1, 1996, the Government of El Salvador passed a
law which will require mining companies to pay to it three percent
of its gold sale receipts and an additional one percent is to be
paid to the El Salvador municipality which has jurisdiction of the
mine site.
Under the terms of the concession and agreements referred to in the
concession, the Joint Venture has agreed to the following:
(1) The Joint Venture will pay to 270 former El Salvador
employees pursuant to a settlement agreement dated June,
1985, as follows: A sum of approximately 500,000 colones
(approximately U.S. $57,208 at the current rate of exchange)
in three (3) installments contingent upon the production and
sale of gold, to wit: one-third is to be paid from the sale
of the first production of gold; one-third is to be paid one
(1) year thereafter; and one-third is to be paid two (2)
years after the first payment. The sum of 205,214 colones
has been paid which reduces the total amount due as of March
31, 1996, to 294,786 colones or U.S. $33,728.
(2) Preference is to be given to the former Sanseb employees and
Misanse shareholders in filling any job vacancies, providing
that there is a need for their skills or services;
(3) From the profits earned, 5% of the gross wages paid to the
full-time employees shall be paid into a pension fund;
(4) From the profits earned, a sum of 500,000 colones annually
(equivalent to $57,208 at the present rate of exchange) will
be paid by the Joint Venture as a social tax for the benefit
of the community in the SSGM area which said funds are to be
used for social, economic, educational, recreational,
health, welfare, medical or for such other beneficial
community services as determined by the Joint Venture;
(5) At such time as the Government of El Salvador forms a
cooperative for the benefit of the employees, the Joint
Venture has agreed to contribute from its annual pre-tax
earnings, the sum of 5% of its pre-tax profits, but, in any
event, not less than a minimum amount equal to 5% of 8% of
the total assets;
(6) Pursuant to an agreement with the El Salvador Minister of
Economy, at the request of the Company or the Joint Venture
to the El Salvador Central Reserve Bank and/or office of the
El Salvador Minister of Foreign Commerce, it will be able to
convert the El Salvador currency into United States'
currency for the payment of its loans, interest, and any
other obligations, including the payment of dividends.
Presently, there are no restrictions into converting the El
Salvador colones into United States' currency.
On November 30, 1987, the El Salvador Minister of Foreign Commerce
issued a project approval for the gold mining operation which was
ratified on April 15, 1988.
In consideration for the obligations agreed to by the Joint Venture
the Government of El Salvador agreed to exempt the Joint Venture
from the payment of all import duty, fiscal or municipal taxes
whatsoever. The El Salvador Department of Customs refused to
recognize this exemption. On November 15, 1993, the Joint Venture's
attorneys filed a declaratory proceeding with the El Salvador
Constitutional Supreme Court ("Court") informing the Court that the
Joint Venture's rights were being violated and that the Court should
restrain the Department of Customs from attempting to collect any
duty.
On May 18, 1994, the El Salvador Constitutional Supreme Court of
Justice declared that the Joint Venture is entitled to be
temporarily exempt from the payment of all import duty, fiscal and
municipal taxes on the import of any item relating to the needs of
the SSGM pending its review of the petition filed on November 15,
1993, and that the Company's constitutional rights are to be
preserved. The El Salvador Department of Customs takes a position
that the Supreme Court could deny the exemption, therefore, in lieu
of paying the Custom's duty, it is accepting a payment guarantee
bond in an amount of the Custom's duty until a final decision is
made. It is charging the Company a 10% added value tax prior to
June 30, 1995, and 13% thereafter which is refundable to the extent
of 6% of the value of the Joint Venture's exports. The Joint
Venture intends to export all of its gold.
Gold Reserves
The Joint Venture's geologists have determined that the minable and
estimated gold reserves are approximately 15,875,000 tons which
should contain 1,680,500 ounces of gold. The value of this gold ore
reserve is not reflected in the balance sheet and since gold
production has commenced on a limited start-up basis these gold ore
reserves will have a significant impact on future earnings.
SCMP Land and Building Lease
On November 12, 1993, the Joint Venture entered into an agreement
with Corporacion Salvadorena de Inversiones ("Corsain"), a
governmental agency of El Salvador, to lease for a period of ten
years, approximately 166 acres of land and buildings on which its
gold processing mill, plant and related equipment (the SCMP) are
located, and which is approximately 15 miles east of the SSGM site.
The annual lease payment is U.S. $11,500 (payable in El Salvador
colones at the then current rate of exchange), payable annually in
advance, and subject to an annual increase based on the annual
United States' inflation rate. As agreed, a security deposit of
U.S. $11,500 was paid on the same date and this deposit will be
subject to increases based on any United States' inflationary rate
adjustments.
Modesto Mine
(a) Real Estate Lease
On August 26, 1994, the Company entered into a fifteen-year lease
agreement to lease approximately 30 acres of key vacant land located
at the Modesto Mine site, near the City of El Paisnal, El Salvador,
at a cost of one thousand colones per manzana per year or
approximately U.S. $67 per acre. A condition of the lease was a
five-year prepayment provision of 87,500 colones or approximately
U.S. $10,011. Also, the Company has a first right of refusal to
purchase this land.
(b) Real Estate Ownership
On November 27, 1994, the Company entered into an agreement to
purchase approximately 22 acres of land which abuts the land leased
at the Modesto Mine site.
(c) Concession
The Joint Venture has acquired an extendible exploration concession
from the El Salvador Director of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons
effective April 5, 1994, and thereafter extended.
San Felipe-El Potosi Mine ("Potosi")
(a) Real Estate Lease Agreement
The Joint Venture entered into a lease agreement with the San
Felipe-El Potosi Cooperative ("Cooperative") of the City of Potosi,
El Salvador on July 6, 1993, to lease the real estate encompassing
the San Felipe-El Potosi Mine for a period of 30 years and with an
option to renew the lease for an additional 25 years, for the
purpose of mining and extracting minerals and under the following
basic terms and conditions:
1. The lease payment will be 5% of the gross receipts derived from
the production of precious metals from this site which will be
payable monthly.
2. The Joint Venture will advance to the Cooperative the funds
required to obtain the mining concession from the El Salvador
Department of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons and all related
costs which will be reimbursed or will become a deduction from
future rental payments.
3. The Joint Venture will, when it is in production, employ all of
the 45 qualified members of the Cooperative providing that there
is a need for their particular skill or service.
4. The Joint Venture will furnish medicine and first aid medical
assistance to all of its employees to the extent that such
benefits are not provided by the Salvadoran Social Security
System.
5. An employee life insurance program is to be seriously considered
by the Joint Venture when production commences, providing that
the cost of such insurance is not excessive.
(b) Exploration Concession
The exploration concession application was filed on September 6,
1993, with the Department of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons, a
division of the El Salvador Minister of Economy's office, by the
owners of the real estate, the Cooperative San Felipe-El Potosi.
The concession consists of approximately 6,100 acres.
(4) Real Estate Ownership
The Company and its subsidiaries own a 331-acre campground located
on the Lake of the Ozarks, Camden County, Missouri; 40 lots in the
San Luis North Estate Subdivision, Costilla County, Colorado; and 12
lots in the City of Fort Garland, Costilla County, Colorado.
Misanse owns the 1,470 acre SSGM site located near the City of Santa
Rosa de Lima in the Department of La Union, El Salvador. Other real
estate in El Salvador is as follows: the Joint Venture leases the
SCMP land and buildings on which its mill, plant and equipment are
located. In addition the Joint Venture has entered into lease
arrangements based on the production of gold payable in the form of
royalties with one of the three other mining prospects in the
Republic of El Salvador. Reference is made to Note 3 for other real
estate ownership or leases.
(5) Notes Payable and Accrued Interest
March 31
Notes payable consist of the following: 1996 1995
---------- ----------
Mortgage and promissory notes
to related parties, interest
ranging from 1% to 4% over
prime rate, but not less than
16%, payable monthly, due on
demand, using the undeveloped
land, real estate and all other
assets owned by the Company,
its subsidiaries and the Joint
Venture as collateral (Note 6) $3,084,370 $2,256,834
Other (consists primarily of
short-term notes and accrued
1996 interest of $262,955
(1995, $242,988.21) issued to
trade creditors and others,
interest of varying amounts,
in lieu of actual cash payments) 499,110 468,180
---------- ----------
Total: $3,583,480 $2,725,014
========== ==========
(6) Related Party Transactions
The Company, in an attempt to preserve cash, had prevailed on its
President to accrue his salary for the past 15 years: 11 years at
$67,740 annually ($745,140); and four years at $114,750 annually
($459,000) for a total of $1,204,140.
In addition, with the consent and approval of the Directors, the
President of the Company, as an individual and not as a Director or
Officer of the Company, entered into the following financial
transactions with the Company, the status of which is reflected as
of March 31, 1996:
The amount of funds which the Company has borrowed from its
President from time to time, together with accrued interest, amounts
to $1,346,304. To evidence this debt, the Company has issued its
President a series of open-ended, secured, on-demand promissory
notes, with interest payable monthly at the prime rate plus 2%, but
not less than 16% per annum.
The Company had borrowed, as of March 31, 1996, an aggregate of
$342,002, including accrued interest, from the Company's President's
Rollover Individual Retirement Account (RIRA). These loans are
evidenced by the Company's open-ended, secured, on-demand promissory
note, with interest payable monthly at the prime rate plus 4% per
annum, but not less than 16% per annum.
In order to satisfy the Company's cash requirements from time to
time, the Company's President has sold or pledged as collateral for
loans, shares of the Company's common stock owned by him. In order
to compensate its President for selling or pledging his shares on
behalf of the Company, the Company has made a practice of issuing
him the number of restricted shares of common stock equivalent to
the number of shares sold or pledged, plus an additional number of
shares equivalent to the amount of accrued interest calculated at
the prime rate plus 3% per annum. The Company received all of the
net cash proceeds from the sale or from the pledge of these shares.
The Company returned all of the shares (70,100) borrowed from him
during this fiscal period and it issued 24,096 of its common shares
for the payment of interest for the shares loaned or pledged as
collateral for the benefit of the Company. It may owe additional
common shares for such shares loaned or pledged by him for
collateral purposes to others for the benefit of the Company, all in
accordance with the terms and conditions of Director approved
open-ended loan agreements dated June 20, 1988, October 14, 1988,
May 17, 1989, and April 1, 1990.
On February 15, 1987, the Company granted its President, by
unanimous consent of the Board of Directors compensation in the form
of a bonus in the amount of 2% of the pre-tax profits realized by
the Company from its gold mining operations in El Salvador, payable
annually over a period of twenty years commencing on the first day
of the month following the month in which gold production commences.
Prior financial statements have detailed that the President has
acquired on December 10, 1993, the ownership of 203 Misanse common
shares. In addition, effective as of June, 1995, he personally, for
his own account, purchased an additional 264 Misanse common shares
from a Misanse shareholder in an arms-length transaction.
Therefore, he presently owns a total of 467 Misanse common shares.
There are a total of 2,600 Misanse shares issued and outstanding.
Also with the consent and approval of the Directors, a company in
which the President has a 55% ownership entered into the following
agreements, and the status is reflected as of March 31, 1996.
The Company leased approximately 3,100 square feet on a
month-to-month basis for its corporate headquarters office; the
monthly rental charge was $2,145, and beginning on December 1, 1995,
the Company increased the amount of space it rents to 4,032 square
feet and the monthly rental charge was increased accordingly to
$2,789. The annual amount charged for the past three fiscal years
is as follows: 1996, $28,316; 1995, $25,740; and 1994, $25,740.
The same related company provides consulting, administrative
services, use of data processing equipment, use of its vehicles and
other property as required by the Company. Total charges for these
services were as follows: 1996, $7,920; 1995, $7,620; and 1994,
$4,320.
In lieu of cash payments for the office space rental and for the
consulting, administrative services, etc., these amounts due are
added each month to this related company's open-ended, secured,
on-demand promissory note issued by the Company.
In addition, this related company does use its credit facilities to
purchase items needed for the Joint Venture's mining needs.
This related company has been issued an open-ended, secured,
on-demand promissory note which at March 31, 1996, amounts to
$1,175,984; the annual interest rate is 4% plus the prime rate, but
not less than 16%, and it is payable monthly.
The Company's Directors have consented and approved the following
transactions which status are reflected as of March 31, 1996:
The President's wife's Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") has the
Company's open-ended, secured, on-demand promissory note in the sum
$176,985 which bears interest at an annual rate of prime plus 3%,
but not less than 16% and the interest is payable monthly.
The Law Firm which represents the Company in which a son of the
President is a principal is owed the sum of $76,883 for legal
services rendered. Also, the son of the President and his son's
wife have the Company's open-ended, on-demand promissory note in the
sum of $43,095 which bears interest at an annual rate of 16% payable
monthly.
The Directors, by their agreement, have deferred cash payment of
their Director fees beginning on January 1, 1981, until such time as
the Company's operations are profitable. The Director fees are
$750 for each quarterly meeting and $250 for attendance at any other
Directors' meeting. The Executive Director fees are fixed at $250
for each meeting. The Directors and Officers have a right to
exchange the amount due to them for the Company's common shares.
On September 16, 1994, the Directors adopted a resolution offering
the Directors and Officers of the Company a right to exchange the
compensation due to them for the Company's common shares valued at
the lowest bid quote reflected in the NASDAQ Monthly Statistical
Summaries during a twelve-month period preceding the exercise of
this right. As of March 31, 1996, pursuant to the S.E.C. Form 8
Registration Statement effective as of April 4, 1994, the
Directors/Officers exercised their rights to purchase 5,048 shares
at a price of $2.625 per share in payment of all compensation due to
them as of March 31, 1996.
The Company advances funds, allocates and charges its expenses to
the Joint Venture. The Joint Venture in turn capitalizes all of
these advances, costs and expenses until such time as it resumes its
gold mine operation. When full production commences, these
capitalized costs will be charged as an expense based on a per ton
production basis. The Company also charges interest for its
advances to the Joint Venture which interest rate is established to
be the prime rate quoted on the first day of each month plus four
percent and said interest is payable monthly.
Company Advances to the Joint Venture
Total Interest
Advances Charges
----------- ----------
Balance April 1, 1990 $ 1,625,163 $ 252,060
Year Ended March 31, 1991 718,843 266,107
Year Ended March 31, 1992 698,793 312,004
Year Ended March 31, 1993 1,003,617 347,941
Year Ended March 31, 1994 1,155,549 451,180
Year Ended March 31, 1995 2,884,078 751,389
Year Ended March 31, 1996 3,122,766 1,286,739
----------- ----------
Balance March 31, 1996 $11,208,809 $3,667,420
Advances by three of the Company's
wholly-owned subsidiaries 590,265 0
----------- ----------
Total Advances March 31, 1996 $11,799,074 $3,667,420
=========== ==========
(7) Commitments
Reference is made to Notes (3), (5), (6) and (14).
(8) Consolidated Subsidiaries
The following subsidiaries, all majority-owned by the Company, are
included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Percentage of Ownership
-----------------------
Homespan Realty Co., Inc. 100.0%
Mineral San Sebastian, S.A. de C.V. 52.0%
Piccadilly Advertising Agency, Inc. 100.0%
San Luis Estates, Inc. 100.0%
San Sebastian Gold Mines, Inc. 82.5%
Universal Developers, Inc. 100.0%
(9) Income Taxes
At March 31, 1996, the Company and its subsidiaries have estimated
net operating losses remaining in a sum of approximately $5,400,000
which may be carried forward to offset future taxable income; the
net operating losses expire at various times to the year of 2011.
(10) Stock Options, Rights, Preferred Stock, and Stock Loans
The following stock options are in existence:
Expiration Term with Option Price Option
Issue Date Date Extensions Per Share Shares
- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ------
05/27/94 05/27/97 3 years $2.00 30,000
05/31/94 05/31/96 2 years $3.00 10,880
05/31/94 05/31/97 3 years $2.00 30,000
06/02/94 06/02/96 2 years $3.00 2,000
06/02/94 06/02/96 2 years $3.00 1,000
03/22/95 09/22/97 30 months $4.00 20,710
03/30/96 03/29/98 2 years $5.00 1,375
03/30/96 03/29/98 2 years $5.00 1,875
-------
Total Options issued and outstanding $97,840
=======
To the President - Stock Rights
Reference is made to Note 6, Related Party Transactions, of the
Company's financial statements which disclose the terms and
conditions of the share loans to the Company by the President and
the interest which is payable to him by the Company's issuance of
its common shares.
Said interest payable is for shares loaned to the Company and/or for
such shares loaned or pledged for collateral purposes, or for unpaid
interest, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of
Director approved open-ended loan agreements dated June 20, 1988,
October 14, 1988, May 17, 1989 and April 1, 1990.
Share Loans - Others
A series of borrowings of the Company's common shares were made
under the provision that the owners would sell said shares as the
Company's designee, with the proceeds payable to the Company. In
exchange, the Company agreed to pay these shares loaned within 31
days or less by issuing its restricted common shares, together with
interest payable in restricted common shares at a rate of 6% per
annum in advance for a minimum period of two years: a total of
74,300 shares were borrowed through March 31, 1996, and 74,300
restricted common shares were issued in payment. In addition, a
total of 8,916 restricted common shares were earned for the interest
due.
Preferred Stock
The Directors of the Company have the authority to issue an
unlimited number of preferred shares. There are 250,000 shares
$0.10 par value of authorized shares; none were issued or
outstanding during the two fiscal years ended March 31, 1996 and
1995.
The preferred shares are issuable in one or more series. The Board
of Directors is authorized to fix or alter the dividend rate,
conversion rights (if any), voting rights, rights and terms of
redemption (including any sinking fund provisions), redemption price
or prices, liquidation preferences and number of shares constituting
any wholly unissued series of preferred shares.
S.E.C. Form 8 Registration
On April 4, 1994, the Company filed its Securities and Exchange
Commission Form 8 Registration Statement No. 33-77226 under the
Securities Act of 1933, to register 500,000 of the Company's $.10
par value common stock for the purpose of distributing shares
pursuant to the guidelines of the Company's 1994 Services and
Consulting Compensation Plan. From the 500,000 shares registered,
192,184 were issued and 307,816 shares are authorized to be issued.
(11) Interest Income on Advances to the Joint Venture
From time to time the Company advances funds, services, etc. to the
Joint Venture. The interest rate charged is the prime interest rate
fixed on the first day of each month plus 4%. The interest is
payable monthly. (Note 6)
(12) Litigation
There is no litigation.
(13) Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following is a tabulation of unaudited selected quarterly
operating results for March 31, 1996, and March 31, 1995:
Net Income
Net Income (Loss) Per
Revenues(a) (Loss)(b) Share
---------- --------- ------
First quarter 06/30/95 $ 299,687 $ 173,459 $ .02
Second quarter 09/30/95 329,240 207,139 .03
Third quarter 12/31/95 355,729 206,487 .03
Fourth quarter 03/31/96 360,604 200,717 .03
---------- --------- -----
Total as of 03/31/96 $1,345,260 $ 787,802 $ .11
========== ========= =====
First quarter 06/30/94 $ 174,708 $ 31,636 $.005
Second quarter 09/30/94 183,895 42,214 .007
Third quarter 12/31/94 223,475 74,837 .013
Fourth quarter 03/31/95 241,103 126,060 .021
---------- --------- -----
Total as of 03/31/95 $ 823,181 $ 274,747 $.046
========== ========= =====
(a) Includes interest income from Joint Venture
(b) Includes interest expense incurred on funds borrowed and
then advanced to the Joint Venture.
(14) Contingent Liabilities
In the event the El Salvador Constitutional Supreme Court should
decide that the Joint Venture is subject to the payment of custom
duty taxes, then the Company would have contingent liability as it
has, on behalf of the Joint Venture, agreed to reimburse an El
Salvador Insurance Company the funds that may be disbursed to the El
Salvador customs' office in connection with the payment of guarantee
bonds it has issued in lieu of cash payment for the import duties.
The total sum of payment guarantee bonds issued by the Insurance
Company through March 31, 1996, amounts to approximately $20,000.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
and Financial Disclosure
None
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The information called for by Item 10 is incorporated by reference
from information under the caption "Election of Directors" in the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to
Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after the close of its fiscal
year. The information on Executive Officers is contained in Part I,
Item 4(a) of this Form 10-K.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information called for by Item 11 is incorporated by reference
from information under the caption "Executive Compensation" in the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to
Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after the close of its fiscal
year.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management
The information called for by Item 12 is incorporated by reference
from information under the caption "Voting Securities" and
"Principal Shareholders and Ownership by Management" in the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to
Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after the close of its fiscal
year.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the
Company's executive officers and directors and persons beneficially
owning greater than ten percent of the outstanding shares, to file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Based solely on a review of the copies of
such forms furnished to the Company or representations that no Form
5 was required, the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing
requirements were complied with as required.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The information called for by Item 13 is incorporated by reference
from information under the caption "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions" in the Company's definitive proxy statement to
be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A no later than 120 days after the
close of its fiscal year.
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on
Form 8-K
(a) Financial Statements and Schedules
See index to Consolidated Financial Statements, Supplementary Data,
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant and its
subsidiaries and Financial Schedules in Part II, Item 8 of this
report.
Report of Independent Accountants on the
Financial Statement Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Schedule IV (1) Indebtedness of Related Parties. . . . . . . . . 79
Schedule IV (2) Indebtedness to Related Parties. . . . . . . . . 80
Schedule X (1) Supplementary Income Statement Information
March 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
None.
(c) Exhibits
The exhibit numbers in the following list correspond to the numbers
assigned to such exhibits in Item 601 of Regulation S-K. The
exhibit numbers noted by an asterisk (*) indicate exhibits actually
filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All other exhibits are
incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit Page
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the
Company (Incorporated by reference to
the Company's Registration Statement
No. 2-66932 on Form S-I filed on April
22, 1980.)
3.2 By-laws of the Company. (Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1993.)
4 Instruments defining the rights of
security holders, including indentures.
4.1 Subscription Agreement, and Two-Year
Stock Option (10,000 shares), Robert C.
Skeen, both dated July 10, 1992
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.10 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.) Option was
exercised on July 10, 1995.
4.2 Two-Year Stock Option, Machulak,
Hutchinson, Robertson, Dwyer & O'Dess,
S.C., May 11,1992 (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the
Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1993.)
4.2(a) Agreement dated May 13, 1994, to extend
the Machulak, Hutchinson, Robertson,
Dwyer & O'Dess, S.C. Stock Option
expiration date to expire November 11,
1995. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.11(a) of the Company's Form
10-K for the year ended March 31,
1994.)
4.2(b) Agreement dated March 14, 1995, to
extend the Machulak, Hutchinson,
Robertson, Dwyer & O'Dess, S.C. Stock
Option expiration date to expire
February 11, 1996. 50,000 partial
option exercised, February 27, 1995
remaining option shares, 50,260 were
exercised on February 8, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.8(b) of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
4.3 Three-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
May 27, 1994, (30,000 Shares).
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.14 of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1994.)
4.4 Three-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
May 31, 1994, (30,000 Shares).
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.15 of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1994.)
4.5 Two-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
May 31, 1994, (10,880 Shares).
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.16 of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1994.)
4.6 Two-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
June 2, 1994 (2,000 Shares).
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.12 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1995.)
4.7 Two-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
June 2, 1994 (1,000 Shares).
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.13 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1995.)
4.8 30-Month Stock Option Agreement dated
March 22, 1995 (20,710 Shares).
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.14 of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
4.9* Two-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
March 30, 1996 (1,375 Shares). 83
4.10* Two-Year Stock Option Agreement dated
March 30, 1996 (1,875 Shares). 87
9 Voting Trust Agreement--not applicable.
10 Material contracts regarding sale of
assets and deferred compensation.
10.1 Bonus compensation, Edward L. Machulak,
February 16, 1987 (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 7 of the Company's
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31,
1987.)
10.2 Loan Agreement and Promissory Note,
Edward L. Machulak, June 20, 1988
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.)
10.3 Loan Agreement and Promissory Note,
Edward L. Machulak, October 14, 1988
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.3 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.)
10.4 Loan Agreement and Promissory Note,
Edward L. Machulak, May 17, 1989
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.4 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.)
10.5 Loan Agreement and Promissory Note,
Edward L. Machulak, April 1, 1990
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.5 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.)
10.6 Letter Agreement, Edward L. Machulak,
October 10, 1989 (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the
Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1993.)
10.7 Michael J. Dwyer: Subscription
Agreement, February 18, 1993, Security
Agreement, February 23, 1993,
Promissory Note, February 23, 1993,
Two-Year Stock Option, March 26, 1993
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.7 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.) Option was
exercised on December 12, 1994.
10.8 Edward L. Machulak: Subscription
Agreement, February 18, 1993, Security
Agreement, February 23, 1993,
Promissory Note, February 23, 1993
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.8 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.) This
promissory note was converted into
restricted common shares on March 22,
1996.
10.9 John E. Machulak: Subscription
Agreement, February 22, 1993, Security
Agreement, February 23, 1993,
Promissory Note, February 23, 1993,
Two-Year Stock Option, March 26, 1993
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.9 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1993.) Option was
exercised on December 12, 1994. This
promissory note was converted into
restricted common shares on March 22,
1996.
10.10 Loan Agreement and Promissory Note
dated January 19, 1994. (Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the
Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1995.)
10.11 Robert C. Skeen and Lillian M. Skeen:
Loan Agreement and Promissory Note
dated February 23, 1994. (Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the
Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1994.)
10.11(a) Robert C. Skeen and Lillian M. Skeen:
February 23, 1994 Loan Agreement
Amendment #1 dated May 27, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.12(a) of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1994.)
10.11(b) Robert C. Skeen and Lillian M. Skeen:
February 23, 1994 Loan Agreement
Amendment #2 dated July 6, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.11(b) of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
10.11(c) Robert C. Skeen and Lillian M. Skeen:
February 23, 1994 Loan Agreement
Amendment #3 dated August 11, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.11(c) of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
10.11(d) Robert C. Skeen and Lillian M. Skeen:
February 23, 1994 Loan Agreement
Amendment #4 dated March 16, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.11(d) of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
10.11(e) Robert C. Skeen and Lillian M. Skeen:
February 23, 1994 Loan Agreement
Amendment #5 dated March 22, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.11(e) of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
10.12 John A. O'Brien, Loan Agreement and
Promissory Note dated May 10, 1994.
This exhibit was inadvertently omitted
in the March 31, 1994, U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission Form 10-K
filing. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.12 of the Company's Form
10-K for the year ended March 31,
1995.)
10.13 Paul E. Machulak, Loan Agreement and
Promissory Note dated June 3, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.13 of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
10.13(a) Paul E. Machulak, June 3, 1994 Loan
Agreement Amendment #1 dated March 27,
1995. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.13(a) of the Company's Form
10-K for the year ended March 31,
1995.)
10.14 John E. Machulak and Susan R.
Robertson, Loan Agreement and
Promissory Note dated June 3, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.14 of the Company's Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1995.)
10.15 Anthony J. Strigenz, Loan Agreement
and Promissory Note dated August 11,
1994. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.15 of the Company's Form
10-K for the year ended March 31,
1995.)
10.16 Elizabeth Ann Strigenz, Loan Agreement
and Promissory Note dated March 24,
1995. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.16 of the Company's Form
10-K for the year ended March 31,
1995.)
11* Schedule of Computation of Net Income
Per Share. 91
13 Annual Report to security holders, Form
10-Q or Quarterly Report to security
holders:
Annual Report for the period ended
March 31, 1996, will include the Form
10-K and will be submitted 120 days
within the fiscal year end.
21* Subsidiaries of the Company. 92
23.1* Consent of the independent auditors of
the Company. 93
99.0 Additional Exhibits
99.1* Confirmation agreement, General Lumber
& Supply Co., Inc., April 5, 1996. 94
99.2* Confirmation Agreement, Edward L.
Machulak, April 5, 1996. 106
99.3* Confirmation Agreement, Edward L.
Machulak Rollover Individual Retirement
Account, April 5, 1996. 118
99.4* Confirmation Agreement, Sylvia Machulak
Rollover Individual Retirement Account,
April 5, 1996. 124
99.5 Concession Agreement Assignment to the
Company by Misanse (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 1 of the Company's
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31,
1988.)
99.6 Other Material Information:
Restatement of prior period financial
statements (Incorporated by reference
to Item 7 of the Company's Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 1989.)
99.7 The El Salvador Constitutional Supreme
Court of Justice order issued on May
12, 1994, suspending immediately any
charges to the Joint Venture for import
duty taxes of any kind and dated May
18, 1994 (English and Spanish.)
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
28.6 of the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended March 31, 1994.)
99.8 Form S-8 Registration Statement
effective date April 4, 1994, File No.
33-77226. (Incorporated by Reference
as this S-8 Registration has been
filed.)
99.9(d)(1)* Certified financial statements
Commerce/Sanseb Joint Venture for the
fiscal year ending March 31, 1996. 134
99.10(d)(2) Individual financial statements of
majority-owned companies have been
omitted because these companies do not
constitute a significant or material
contribution to the Company.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP. FORM 10-K - MARCH 31, 1996
PART IV
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this
Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized on April 30, 1996.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP.
(Company)
By: /s/Edward L. Machulak
-------------------------------
Edward L. Machulak Director,
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Member of Executive Committee,
Director-Emeritus, President,
Treasurer, Chief Executive,
Operating and Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this Report has been signed below by the following persons, on
behalf of the Company and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated:
Name Office Date
/s/ Edward L. Machulak Director, Chairman of April 30, 1996
- ---------------------- the Board of Directors --------------
Edward L. Machulak Member of Executive Committee,
Director-Emeritus, President
and Treasurer
/s/ Edward A. Machulak Director, Member of April 30, 1996
- ---------------------- Executive Committee, --------------
Edward A. Machulak Executive Vice President
and Secretary
/s/ Clayton H. Tebo Director April 30, 1996
- ---------------------- --------------
Clayton H. Tebo
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES
Our report on the consolidated financial statements of Commerce
Group Corp. for its fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, 1995, 1994,
1993 and 1992, is included in this Form 10-K. In connection with
our audits of such financial statements, we have also audited the
following: supplementary income statement information, selected
financial data report, and the related financial statement schedules
listed in Item 14(a) of this Form 10-K.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statement information and
schedules referred to above, when considered in relation to the
basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all
material respects, the information required to be included therein,
all in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States.
REDLIN AND ASSOCIATES
Certified Public Accountants
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 13, 1996