Titanium Corporation Inc. (the “Company” or “Titanium”)
(TSX-V: TIC) today released its results for the three and
nine month periods ended September 30, 2021.
During the first nine months of 2021, the joint
Titanium and Canadian Natural Resources Limited (“Canadian
Natural”) project team completed critical milestones related to the
CVW™ Horizon Project (“Project”) related to the Class 3 cost
estimate update for the Project, including engineering validation,
optimization, and economics, which remains under review. The
on-going review includes Project costs, environmental and
operational benefits and overall Project economics. Also, during
the period, the Company submitted government milestone reports,
collected over $3.0 million of non-repayable government funding
contributions and filed additional grant applications.
Even with some positive signs of economic
recovery and a strong oil price recovery, uncertainty remains as
new projects and capital spending programs are reviewed. Announced
industry priorities during 2021 have been on debt repayment,
returning cash to shareholders through dividends and share buy
backs, plus annual sustaining capital expenditures. Early
indications are that these priorities will continue into 2022. The
COVID-19 pandemic also continued in the third quarter of 2021 with
the “fourth wave”. Canada, and particularly Alberta, experienced
worsening infection numbers, hospitalizations and new restrictions.
Throughout 2021, new projects and capital spending have been
constrained by related pandemic health concerns, public health
restrictions and economic volatility. Given these factors, the
Company expects a delay in decisions on the next steps for the
Project.
The pandemic and economic impacts of the last
two years have resulted in delayed timelines and increased costs
for the Project. Delays are also affecting Government funding that
has been awarded to our Project. Certain of the Government funding
programs have time limitations and will expire before our Project
can be completed. The Company is in discussions regarding potential
extensions. The Company is also applying to new Government funding
programs for the Project which have potential for significant
funding. The application, review and award processes for new
funding programs will continue well into 2022.
During the third quarter of 2021, the Company
and Canadian Natural’s joint project team continued to review and
refine the Project costs, and the economic, environmental and
operational benefits. These activities included developing various
economic modeling scenarios, reviews of engineering details on
operational improvements and cost savings, and assessment of the
potential value of addressing environmental mitigation
opportunities. Further technical studies are being undertaken in
certain of these areas to identify and quantify the additional
potential benefits and value for the Project. This work will extend
into 2022 and potentially result in modifications and additions to
the process and associated engineering changes. Completing
continuing technical work and new government funding applications
are important in connection with evaluating the Project prior to
determining next steps.
“Our Project timing continues to be impacted by
the industry priorities, economic uncertainties and the COVID-19
pandemic” commented Scott Nelson, Titanium’s President and CEO. “We
are continuing to assess and apply for potential funding from
several government programs toward the next phases of the
Project.”
Highlights for the quarter ended
September 30, 2021
- During the third quarter, the
Company continued ongoing Project engineering activities and
pursuing government funding for the Project. The Company continues
to focus on minimizing expenses.
- In August 2021, the Company
announced the deferral of its annual general and special meeting of
shareholders of Titanium, which had been rescheduled for August
2021, after initially being scheduled for June 2021. The Company
was granted an extension by the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta
permitting the Company to hold its annual general and special
meeting at any time on or before December 30, 2021. The delay was
necessary to allow for ongoing discussions between Titanium’s
key shareholders and the Board of Directors focused on potential
financing options for the Company. Depending on the evaluation and
outcome of these discussions, certain directors of Titanium may
remove their names for re-election and the Board of Directors may
choose to nominate alternative directors. While the Board of
Directors will endeavor to hold the shareholder meeting as soon as
possible, these discussions and the evaluation are ongoing, and a
new date for the shareholder meeting will be announced as soon as
possible.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
The Company is focused on achieving long-term
financial success by implementing its CVW™ technologies in
commercial operations at oil sands sites. The Company is working
with Canadian Natural to review and plan for a potential
implementation at Canadian Natural’s Horizon site. However, until
these Project activities are completed to the satisfaction of the
parties, commercial arrangements and investment decisions are made
and facilities constructed and operating, the Company expects to
continue to incur losses. Currently, quarterly losses are comprised
of Project engineering costs and general and administrative
(“G&A”) expenditures. Changes in quarterly results are
dependent on Project activity and the timing of payments related to
Project cost recovery.
In addition to its ongoing working capital
requirements, the Company must secure sufficient funding for
continued work on the Project and commercialization of its
technology. The Company may be constrained in its ability to meet
its obligations as they come due. The Company expects its current
cash position will not be adequate to cover expected ongoing
operating expenses over the next 12-month period and the Company is
reviewing further funding and financing opportunities. The
Company’s financial statements are reported with a going concern
assumption and disclosure regarding such going concern uncertainty
is disclosed in the Company’s financial statements.
Cash Flow - The Company’s
aggregate cash position was $1.0 million as at September 30, 2021,
as compared to $2.7 million as at December 31, 2020. The decrease
in cash of $2.7 million is the result of funding the Company’s
engineering programs and G&A expenses during the quarter. The
Company did not report any activities from investing or financing.
Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended
September 30, 2021 was $0.6 million, compared to a use of cash of
$0.4 million for three-month ended September 30, 2020.
Net Loss – For the three months
ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $0.1
million or $0.01 loss per share, comparable to the net loss for the
comparable quarter ended September 30, 2020, of $0.8 million or
$0.01 loss per share. The net loss for the current quarter
consisted of G&A expenses of $0.4 million, partially offset by
a recovery of research and development (“R&D”) expenses of $0.2
million in the current period.
Research & Development –
Gross and net R&D expenses for the three months ending
September 30, 2021 were lower, as compared to comparative three
months ended September 30, 2020. Gross R&D expenses for the
current quarter were $0.2 million as compared to $0.4 million for
the prior quarter ended September 30, 2020. R&D spending in the
current quarter consisted primarily of compensation for technical
staff, on-going minerals testing and evaluations, optimization
engineering work and updating cost estimates. The R&D spending
is offset by recoveries of Project costs, related to government
grant funding received during the quarter, reported at $0.5
million, as compared to the prior quarter ended September 30, 2020,
where no government grants were received. The timing of government
grants is not tied directly to the actual spending and only
recorded when received.
General & Administrative -
G&A expenses for the three months ending September 30, 2021
were consistent at $0.3 million, as compared to $0.3 million for
the comparative three months ended September 30, 2020. G&A
expenses consist primarily of compensation and benefits, and
consulting and professional costs.
To view the Company’s management discussion and
analysis and interim unaudited financial statements for the three
and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021, please visit our
website at www.titaniumcorporation.com or SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
MANAGEMENT CHANGE
Effective November 1, 2021, Ingrid Meger will be
joining Titanium as the VP Finance and CFO and Hansine Ullberg will
be departing to pursue a new opportunity. Ms. Meger is a CPA.CA
with seven years of public accounting experience followed by six
years as a consulting CFO to energy industry clients. Ms. Meger's
appointment is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture
Exchange.
About Titanium Corporation
Inc.
Titanium is a clean technology innovator focused
on providing solutions to the mining sector of Canada’s oil sands
industry. Titanium Corporation’s CVW™ technology provides
sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of the
oil sands industry. Our technology reduces the environmental impact
of oil sands froth treatment tailings, while economically
recovering valuable products that would otherwise be lost. CVW™
recovers bitumen, solvents, heavy minerals and water from tailings,
preventing these commodities from entering tailings ponds and the
atmosphere: volatile organic compound and greenhouse gas emissions
are materially reduced; hot tailings water is improved in quality
for recycling; and residual tailings can be thickened more readily.
A new minerals industry would be created with the production and
export of zircon and titanium, essential ingredients in the
ceramics and pigment industries.
The Company’s shares trade on the TSX-V under
the symbol “TIC”. For more information, please visit the Company’s
website at www.titaniumcorporation.com.
Disclosure regarding forward-looking
information
This news release includes forward-looking
statements about expected future events, including, but not limited
to, the occurrence and timing of future steps with respect to the
Project and the Company's expectation that there may be delays in
decisions on the next steps for the Project; the discussion of
Titanium’s research and development and commercialization plans,
the advantages of the Company's technology and the creation of a
mineral sands industry; the timing expectations for completion of
the engineering project activities; the scope of activities that
will be undertaken; the timing expectation for making an investment
decision and proceeding with detailed engineering and construction
of facilities; the Company's ongoing engagement with stakeholders;
the Company's continuing cash conservation program and expectations
regarding the Company's current cash position and the ability to
continue as a going concern; the Company's ongoing evaluation of
financing opportunities, including grant and financing
opportunities from applicable government programs and entering into
funding agreements related thereto and the continued ability of the
Company to do the same; the expected next steps for the Company;
the advantages of the Company's technology in assisting with
sustainability of the energy industry in Alberta and Canada; the
effect of market conditions on the Company, and the anticipated
timing of holding Titanium's annual meeting and potential changes
to the matters coming before the annual and special meeting of the
shareholders, including the election of directors. This
forward-looking information generally can be identified by use of
forward-looking words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “estimate”,
“anticipate”, “believe”, “project”, “should” or “continue” or the
negative thereof or similar variations.
These forward-looking statements are based on
various assumptions including, but not limited to, the condition of
the global economy, including trade, public health (including the
ongoing impact of COVID-19) and other geopolitical risks, including
the fact that any estimates of project next steps, as well as the
detailed engineering and construction period may be affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic, the condition of the global economy and
commodity prices, in particular crude oil prices; the stability of
the economic and political environment in which the Company
operates; the success of the validation and optimization
engineering project activities, including the expected assessment
of engineering reviews for next steps as part of the project
activities, including the costs and economic and environmental
benefits of the Project, the ability of the Company to enter into
commercial contracts with oil sands producers and to achieve
commercialization of the CVW™ technology, including the anticipated
scope of such commercial contracts; the focus on optimization of
the concentrator facility and design and engineering of a tailings
thickener and associated facilities, including the expected timing
of completion thereof and commencement of optimization of the
minerals facility; the ability of the Company to enter into
commercial contracts with other strategic partners in relation to
building and operating facilities, as required; the ability of the
Company to continue with its cost reduction initiatives and to be
supported by its current cash position; the ability of the Company
to retain qualified staff; the ability of the Company to obtain
financing on acceptable terms, including available grant and
financing opportunities from government programs and finalizing
funding agreements for such government programs, as well as any
additional funding requirements required to complete the detailed
engineering phase; the translation of the results from the
Company's research, pilot programs, front-end engineering design
(“FEED”) project activities, validation and optimization
engineering project activities and studies into the results
expected on a commercial scale; the belief that the Company's
technology will provide important environmental and economic
benefits that will assist with the recovery of a resilient and
sustainable energy industry in Alberta and Canada; the anticipated
timing for the commencement and completion of detailed engineering
and construction once all validation and optimization engineering
project activities are completed and a final decision to proceed
with the project has been made; expectations regarding the
discussions ongoing with key shareholders and the transactions that
may result therefrom; the estimated timing of the annual and
special meeting of the shareholders; the timing, location and
extent of changes to the matters coming before the annual and
special meeting of the shareholders, including the election of
directors; future oil and minerals prices and the impact of lower
prices on activity levels and cost savings of oil sands producers;
the impact of increasing competition; the ability to protect and
maintain the Company's intellectual property; currency, exchange
and interest rates; the regulatory framework regarding royalties,
taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the
Company operates; and the ability of the Company to successfully
market its CVW™ technology. While the Company considers these
assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently
available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Titanium cautions
that future events may be affected by a number of factors, many of
which are beyond its control and results may vary substantially
from what Titanium currently foresees.
The Company has not commercially demonstrated
its technologies and there can be no assurance that such research,
pilot programs, FEED project activities, validation and
optimization, engineering project activities and related studies
will prove to be accurate nor that such commercialization efforts
will be successful, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those expected or estimated in such
forward-looking information. As a result, the Company cannot
guarantee that any forward-looking information will materialize and
cautions you against relying on any of this forward-looking
information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance
on forward-looking information.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of
factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements contained
in this news release are made as of the date of this news release
and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update
publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities
law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
For further information, contact:
Scott Nelson |
President & CEO |
Tel: (403) 561-0439 |
Email: snelson@titaniumcorporation.com |
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