Share-based payment charges were $20,268 during the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $29,224 during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease of $8,956 was mainly the result of the stock options for common shares of the Company issued to its employees and consultants on May 27, 2020 being fully vested during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Other items amounted to total other income of $14,793 during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to total other expense of $80,534 during the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. As a result of the impact of exchange rates on certain of the Company’s U.S. dollar cash balances, the Company had a foreign exchange loss of $6,773 during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to a loss of $94,755 during the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. The average exchange rate during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 was C$1 to $0.7394, compared to C$1 to $0.7898 during the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. Interest income was $21,566 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to $1,569 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. The increase of $19,997 was primarily due to short-term investment certificates being re-invested upon maturity at a higher interest rate. Other income was $Nil for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, compared to $12,652 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has no revenue generating operations from which it can internally generate funds. To date, the Company has predominantly financed its ongoing operations through the sale of its equity securities by way of public offerings and private placements and the subsequent exercise of share purchase and broker warrants and options issued in connection with such private placements.
As at March 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4,231,301 compared to $4,847,429 at December 31, 2022. The decrease of approximately $0.6 million resulted mainly from expenditures on operating activities. Foreign currency transaction impact was $Nil.
The Company had no cash flows from financing activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023.
Financing activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 included the exercise of stock options. Proceeds of $290,290 were received on the issuance of 405,000 common shares.
The Company had no cash flows from investing activities during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
As at March 31, 2023, the Company had working capital of $4,228,962 compared to working capital of $4,711,616 at December 31, 2022. The Company expects that it will operate at a loss for the foreseeable future, but believes the current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to cover the anticipated 2023 work plan at the Livengood Gold Project and satisfy its currently anticipated general and administrative costs through at least the next 12 months.
The Company will require significant additional financing to continue its operations (including general and administrative expenses) in connection with advancing activities at the Livengood Gold Project and the development of any mine that may be built at the Livengood Gold Project, and there is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the additional financing required on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, any significant delays in the issuance of required permits for the ongoing work at the Livengood Gold Project, or unexpected results in connection with the ongoing work, could result in the Company being required to raise additional funds to advance permitting efforts. The Company’s review of its financing options includes considering a future strategic alliance to assist in further development, permitting and future construction costs, although there can be no assurance that any such strategic alliance will, in fact, be pursued or realized.
Despite the Company’s success to date in raising significant equity financing to fund its operations, there is significant uncertainty that the Company will be able to secure any additional financing in the current or future equity markets. See “Risk Factors – We will require additional financing to fund exploration and, if warranted, development and production. Failure to obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation and could cast uncertainty on our ability to continue as a going concern” included in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Other than cash held by its subsidiaries for their immediate operating needs in the United States, all of the Company’s cash reserves are on deposit with a major Canadian chartered bank. The Company does not believe that the credit, liquidity or market risks with respect thereto have increased as a result of current market conditions.