EXPLANATORY NOTE
Eldorado Gold Corporation (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on Form 40-F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system of the Exchange Act. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. The equity securities of the Company are accordingly exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3 of the Exchange Act.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 40-F and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements concern the Company’s anticipated results and developments in the Company’s operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
Statements concerning reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if our properties are developed, and in the case of mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that a mineral deposit can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:
●
|
gold and other metal price volatility;
|
●
|
risks of not meeting production and cost targets;
|
●
|
discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries;
|
●
|
subjectability of estimating mineral resources and reserves and the reliance on available data and assumptions and judgements used in interpretation of such data;
|
●
|
development, mining and operational risks, including timing;
|
●
|
regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability, changes in law and regulatory requirements;
|
●
|
risks of sovereign investment and operating in foreign countries;
|
●
|
speculative nature of gold exploration;
|
●
|
infrastructure, energy and other commodity availability and costs;
|
●
|
prices for energy inputs, labour, material costs and supplies on services (including shipping) remaining consistent with expectations;
|
●
|
global and local economic climate;
|
●
|
share capital dilution;
|
●
|
share price volatility;
|
●
|
the risks that the integration of acquired businesses including European Goldfields Ltd. may take longer than expected, the anticipated benefits of the integration may be less than estimated and the costs of acquisition may be higher than anticipated;
|
●
|
the impact of the European Goldfields Ltd. acquisition, including the expanded portfolio of projects on our operations, capital requirements, and financial condition and ability to complete acquisitions;
|
●
|
ability to obtain financing;
|
●
|
title and permitting risks, including timing; and
|
●
|
community and non-governmental actions and regulatory risks.
|
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Some of the important risks and uncertainties that could affect forward-looking statements are described further in the exhibits attached to this annual report on Form 40-F, including those described in the Annual Information Form (“AIF”) of the Company filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F and incorporated by reference herein. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.
NOTE TO UNITED STATES READERS -
DIFFERENCES IN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN REPORTING PRACTICES
The Company is permitted, under the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), to prepare this annual report on Form 40-F in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which differ from those of the United States. The Company has prepared its financial statements, which are filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and they are not comparable to financial statements of United States companies.
RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATES
The Company’s AIF filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F and management’s discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this annual report on Form 40-F have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended. These definitions differ from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States
Securities Act of 1993, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.
In addition, the terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
Accordingly, information contained in this annual report and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain descriptions of our mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
CURRENCY
Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts in this annual report on Form 40-F are in United States dollars. The exchange rate of Canadian dollars into United States dollars, on December 30, 2011, based upon the noon rate of exchange as quoted by the Bank of Canada, was U.S.$1.00 = Cdn.$1.0170.
ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM
The Company’s AIF for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F, and is incorporated by reference herein.
AUDITED ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 and as at January 1, 2010, including the report of the independent auditor thereon, are filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F, and are incorporated by reference herein.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The Company’s management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”), is filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this annual report on Form 40-F, and is incorporated by reference herein.
TAX MATTERS
Purchasing, holding, or disposing of the Company’s securities may have tax consequences under the laws of the United States and Canada that are not described in this annual report on Form 40-F.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
At the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of, and the with the participation of, the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were designed and effective to give reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) gathered and reported to senior management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding public disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s management has employed a framework consistent with Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(c), to evaluate the Company’s internal control over financial reporting described below. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. It should be noted that a control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can only provide reasonable assurance, not absolute assurance, that the objectives of the control system are met. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Management, including the CEO and CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, and used the framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) to evaluate the effectiveness of our controls in 2011. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as at December 31, 2011 and provided a reasonable assurance of the reliability of our financial reporting and preparation of financial statements.
The Company is required to provide an auditor’s attestation report on its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011. In this annual report on Form 40-F, the Company’s independent registered auditor, KPMG LLP, states its opinion as to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011. KPMG LLP has audited the Company’s financial statements included in this annual report on Form 40-F and has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
The attestation report of KPMG LLP on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is included in the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, which are filed as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 40-F.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during its fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, except for the following: the Company implemented a new ERP system in our Chinese operations. Management used appropriate procedures to ensure internal controls were in place during and after the implementation.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) is responsible for the Company’s corporate governance and has a separately designated standing Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, established in accordance with Section 303A.04 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, and a Compensation Committee, established in accordance with Section 303A.05 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Board of Directors has determined that all the members of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are independent, based on the criteria for independence prescribed by Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
Compensation Committee
Compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers is recommended to the Board of Directors for determination by the Compensation Committee. The Company’s Compensation Committee is comprised of Wayne D. Lenton (chair), Robert R. Gilmore, Geoffrey A. Handley and Jonathan A, Rubenstein. The Compensation Committee is responsible for assisting management in developing the Company’s compensation structure, including the compensation policies and compensation programs for its directors and executives and assessing the performance of the Company’s CEO every year and recommending the compensation of the Company’s CEO and its other executive officers to the board for review and approval. The Compensation Committee conducts a thorough compensation review every year to assess the competitiveness of the Company’s cash and stock-based compensation for its directors and executives, whether overall executive compensation continues to support the Company’s goals of attracting, motivating and retaining executives with exceptional leadership and management skills and whether the components are applied appropriately. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves the terms of employment and evaluates the performance of the CEO for the prior year. The Company’s CEO cannot be present during the Compensation Committee’s deliberations or vote. The Company’s Compensation Committee’s Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.eldoradogold.com.
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
Nominees for the election to the Board of Directors are recommended by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is comprised of K. Ross Cory (chair), Jonathan A. Rubenstein and Donald M. Shumka. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee’s responsibilities include: reviewing the Company’s corporate governance policies and practices; monitoring the Company's risk management program; reviewing annually the size and composition of the Board of Directors; facilitating the succession and nomination of directors to the board; identifying new directors and managing the board’s nomination process, board committee appointment and assessment process; and evaluating the board’s competencies and defining the skills and experience necessary for an effective board. The Company’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.eldoradogold.com.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Company’s Board of Directors has a separately designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and Section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Company’s Audit Committee is comprised of Robert R. Gilmore (chair), K. Ross Cory, Michael Price and Donald M. Shumka, all of whom, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, are independent (as determined under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual). All four members of the Audit Committee are financially literate, meaning they are able to read and understand the Company’s financial statements and to understand the breadth and level of complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements. The Audit Committee meets the composition requirements set forth by Section 303A.07 of NYSE Listed Company Manual.
The members of the Audit Committee do not have fixed terms and are appointed and replaced from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
The Audit Committee meets with the President and CEO and the CFO of the Company and the Company’s independent auditors to review and inquire into matters affecting financial reporting, the system of internal accounting and financial controls, as well as audit procedures and audit plans. The Audit Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors which independent registered public auditing firm should be appointed by the Company. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors for approval the annual financial statements, the MD&A, and undertakes other activities required by exchanges on which the Company’s securities are listed and by regulatory authorities to which the Company is held responsible.
The full text of the Audit Committee Charter is attached as Schedule A to the Company’s AIF, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Robert R. Gilmore qualifies as a financial expert (as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) and is independent (as determined under Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 and Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual).
PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES PROVIDED BY
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be provided to the Company by its independent auditor. Non-audit services that are prohibited to be provided to the Company by its independent auditors may not be pre-approved. In addition, prior to the granting of any pre-approval, the Audit Committee
must be satisfied that the performance of the services in question will not compromise the independence of the independent auditor. Since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all non-audit services performed by the Company’s auditor have been pre-approved by the Audit Committee of the Company. In 2005, the Company’s Audit Committee determined that non-audit services can only be provided by the Company’s independent registered public auditing firm if it has been pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Generally, these services are provided by other firms and management has established agreements with other service providers for such non-audit services.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES – INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
The required tabular disclosure is included under the heading “Governance – Auditor’s Fees” in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F and incorporated herein by reference.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET TRANSACTIONS
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or relationships with unconsolidated special purpose entities.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) for all its directors, executive officers and employees, which is posted on the Company’s website, www.eldoradogold.com. The Code is also available to any person, without charge, by written request to the Company at its principal executive office, located at Suite 1188 – 550, Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2B5. The Code meets the requirements for a “code of ethics” within the meaning of that term in Form 40-F.
All amendments to the Code, and all waivers of the Code with respect to any of the officers covered by it, will be posted on the Company’s website, www.eldoradogold.com within five business days of the amendment or waiver and provided in print to any shareholder who requests them. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, the Company did not substantively amend, waive or implicitly waive any provision of the Code with respect to any of the directors, executive officers or employees subject to it.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The required tabular disclosure is included under the heading “Capital Resources – Contractual Obligations” in the Company’s MD&A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this annual report on Form 40-F and is incorporated herein by reference.
NOTICES PURSUANT TO REGULATION BTR
There were no notices required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR that the Company sent during the year ended December 31, 2011 concerning any equity security subject to a blackout period under Rule 101 of Regulation BTR.
NYSE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE. Section 303A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual permits foreign private issuers to follow home country practices in lieu of certain provisions of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. A foreign private issuer that follows home country practices in lieu of certain provisions of the NYSE Listed Company Manual must disclose any significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies either on its
website or in the annual report that it distributes to shareholders in the United States. A description of the significant ways in which the Company’s governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies pursuant to NYSE standards is set forth on the Company’s website at www.eldoradogold.com.
In addition, the Company may from time-to-time seek relief from NYSE corporate governance requirements on specific transactions under Section 303A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, in which case, the Company shall make the disclosure of such transactions available on its website at www.eldoradogold.com. Information contained on the Company’s website is not part of this annual report on Form 40-F.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
UNDERTAKING
The Company undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the SEC staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the SEC staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.
CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
The Company filed an Appointment of Agent for Service of Process and Undertaking on Form F-X with the SEC on March 30, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference, with respect to the class of securities in relation to which the obligation to file this annual report on Form 40-F arises.