PERPETUA RESOURCES CORP.
For the period ended Sep 30, 2025. Filed Nov 14, 2025.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 30, 2025 · Filed Nov 14, 2025
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
In addition to other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 which could materially affect our businesses, financial condition, or future results. Additional risks and uncertainties currently unknown to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Our largest shareholder has significant influence on us and may also affect the market price and liquidity of our securities.
Paulson holds in the aggregate 26.5% of the outstanding shares in Perpetua as of November 3, 2025. Accordingly, Paulson has significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations, and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets and other significant corporate actions. The concentration of ownership of the common shares by Paulson may: (i) delay or deter a change of control of the Company; (ii) deprive shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common shares as part of a sale of the Company; and (iii) affect the market price and liquidity of the common shares. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement dated March 17, 2020 between Paulson, Idaho Gold Resources Company, LLC (wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) and the Company (the “Paulson IRA”), Paulson has the right to designate two Board members so long as Paulson holds not less than 20% of our common shares and the right to designate one Board member so long as Paulson holds not less than 10% of our common shares. Marcelo Kim and Andrew Cole are Paulson’s nominees to the Board and Marcelo Kim was appointed Chairman of our Board in March of 2020. As long as Paulson maintains its shareholdings in the Company, Paulson will have significant influence in determining the members of the Board. Without the consent of Paulson, we could be prevented from entering into transactions that are otherwise beneficial to us. The interests of Paulson may differ from or be adverse to the interests of our other shareholders. The effect of these rights and Paulson’s influence may impact the price that investors are willing to pay for our shares. If Paulson or its affiliates sell a substantial number of our common shares in the public market, the market price of the common shares could fall. The perception among the public that these sales will occur could also contribute to a decline in the market price of our common shares.
Additionally, under the terms of the Paulson IRA, the Agnico Eagle IRA and the JPMorgan IRA, Paulson, Agnico Eagle and JPMorgan have the right to participate pro rata in any equity offering by the Company, subject to certain exceptions.
We do not currently have sufficient funds or committed financing necessary to fund the estimated capital cost of the Project, and we may be unable to raise the necessary funds. Financing that we enter into to fund the Project may subject us to restrictive covenants, significant debt service costs or otherwise affect the value of the Project.
On October 21, 2025, we announced that we broke ground on the Stibnite Gold Project after posting construction phase financial assurance for the Project as required by the agreement among the USFS, USACE and IDL and receiving clearance from those agencies to commence construction subject to the terms stated in those clearances. According to the Financial Update, as of December 31, 2024, the total initial capital cost estimate for the Project was approximately $2,215 million, excluding debt service and other financing costs.
We do not currently have sufficient funds or committed financing to fund the estimated capital cost of the Project and our ability to obtain sufficient funds or committed financing on acceptable terms, or at all, may be impacted by various factors, including, but not limited to, market conditions or commodity pricing; unfavorable interest rates; regulatory uncertainty; the incurrence of additional debt, which may be subject to certain restrictive covenants; and permitting delays, challenges to our existing permits, ability to post financial assurance for operations following completion of construction or other unforeseen issues relating to our existing or future permits. The cost and terms of such financing, if obtained, may significantly reduce the expected benefits from development of the Project and/or render such development uneconomic, including by imposing restrictive covenants; limiting our ability to control certain property or development decisions as a result of our entry into joint ventures or other similar arrangements; the loss of certain economic benefits of our property as a result of our entry into royalty or similar agreements; or dilution to existing shareholders resulting from additional equity financing.
As part of our previously announced, comprehensive financing package, in May 2025 we submitted a formal loan application to U.S. EXIM for debt financing in the amount of $2.0 billion to finance construction of the Project and received a preliminary, non-binding indicative financing term sheet in September. However, there can be no assurance that our application will be granted or that, if granted, any funding provided by U.S. EXIM will be sufficient for us to construct the Project. See*“— The issuance of a final financing commitment from U.S. EXIM is subject to U.S. EXIM’s underwriting criteria, authorization process, finalization and satisfaction of terms and conditions, and the amount and timing of such funding, if any, is uncertain and subject to conditions outside the Company’s control.*”. If our financing application is not approved or, if approved, such financing is not sufficient for us to construct the Project, we may need to incur debt from other financing sources to fund the estimated capital cost of the Project. The terms of any potential debt financing may impose operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries, which may limit our ability to respond to changing business and economic conditions. For example, any such debt financing may contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, make particular types of investments, incur certain types of liens, engage in fundamental corporate changes, enter into transactions with affiliates, make substantial asset sales, make certain restricted payments, enter into amendments or waivers to certain agreements, conduct certain sale leasebacks or enter into certain burdensome agreements. The terms of any such financing may also require the Company to put in place one or more secured accounts or facilities to fund cost overruns or other expenses during or after construction. Such conditions may require the Company to raise additional funds, enter into additional debt facilities, or restrict cash on hand. These covenants could adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs or to execute preferred business strategies. In addition, complying with these covenants may make it more difficult for us to successfully execute our business strategy and compete against companies who are not subject to such restrictions.
Our failure to obtain sufficient financing could result in the delay or indefinite postponement of development, construction, or production at the Project. There can be no assurance that additional capital or other types of financing will be available when needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favorable. Our failure to obtain financing could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy and results of operations and financial condition.
The issuance of a final financing commitment from U.S. EXIM is subject to U.S. EXIM’s underwriting criteria, authorization process, completion of due diligence and loan documentation, finalization and satisfaction of terms and conditions, and the amount and timing of such funding, if any, is uncertain and subject to conditions outside the Company’s control.
On April 8, 2024, the Company announced that it received a non-binding and conditional LOI from U.S. EXIM for potential debt financing of up to $1.8 billion through U.S. EXIM’s MMIA initiative and the CTEP. On May 23, 2025, the Company announced that it had submitted its formal application to U.S. EXIM for potential debt financing of up to $2.0 billion. More recently, on September 8, 2025, the Company announced that it received a preliminary, non-binding indicative financing term sheet from U.S. EXIM, as part of a PPL conveying U.S. EXIM’s initial due diligence findings to the Company. The LOI, PPL and indicative term sheet are non-binding and conditional and do not represent a financing commitment. A funding commitment, if any, is conditional upon successfully
completing the due diligence and underwriting process, which may not be completed on the expected timeline, or at all. If the Company’s application is approved, there can be no assurance that the U.S. EXIM financing will be for the full amount indicated in the LOI or the increased amount requested in the application, or that the approved U.S. EXIM financing will be sufficient for the Company to construct the Project. Further, release of funding under any such commitment would be subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and covenants by the Company, which furthermore, as a condition to the closing of such financing, the Company may be required to put in place one or more secured accounts or facilities to fund cost overruns during the construction phase of the Project. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully satisfy any or all of such conditions on the expected timeline, or at all, and the amount and timing of such funding, if any, is uncertain and subject to conditions outside the Company’s control.
The application review process is controlled by U.S. EXIM and is subject to the procedures, priorities and staffing of the agency, including in connection with any shutdowns of the federal government. As a result, the Company’s application may not be reviewed or processed on the Company’s preferred or expected timeline, and funds may not be available when needed to commence construction. Furthermore, U.S. EXIM funding is subject to the priorities of the federal government, which may result in changes to the amount, timing or conditions of funding. Even if approved, the terms of any U.S. EXIM funding may not be on acceptable terms or may be subject to conditions that the Company is unable to satisfy. If the Company is unable to secure U.S. EXIM financing, it may be unsuccessful in obtaining other project financing when needed or to commence construction on the Project.
We require various permits to complete construction and commence operation of the Project and continue any future operations, and delays or a failure to obtain such permits, or a failure to comply with the terms of any such permits that we have obtained, could have a material adverse impact on us.
We have received all federal and state permits needed to advance the Project into the initial construction phase, and in October 2025 we received confirmation from the USFS, IDL and USACE that we satisfied the remaining conditions under such permits to commence such initial construction. However, our current and anticipated future operations, including further development and construction activities and commencement of operations on the Project, require additional authorizations from various federal, state and local governmental authorities in the United States that we will need to obtain in the future. For example, the Company’s current construction plans include certain activities for which financial assurance must be posted with the IDWR. The financial assurance instrument proposed by the Company remains under review by the IDWR. Also, in addition to providing construction phase financial assurance in favor of federal and state agencies to satisfy the requirements of applicable federal and state law and the requirements of various governmental approvals, it is expected that additional financial assurance in favor of federal and state agencies in respect of Project operations after construction is completed will be required by the relevant agencies when the Company moves from the construction phase to the operations phase of the Project. Further, certain additional permits, beyond those necessary to initiate construction, will be required from federal and state agencies as part of the Company’s full construction plan. There can be no assurance that such regulatory authorizations will be obtainable on reasonable terms, when expected or at all. Furthermore, permitting requirements can be costly to comply with and involve extended timelines. Permitting delays, failure to obtain such permits, or a failure to comply with the terms of any United States federal, state or local permits that we have obtained or successful legal challenges to the issuance of permits we have obtained, could have a material adverse impact on us.
Although the Project was included on the United States’ FAST-41 list of priority projects, such inclusion may be reconsidered based on updated information and does not imply endorsement of or support for the Project by the federal government, or create a presumption that the Project will receive any required outstanding regulatory approvals or favorably reviewed by any agency, or receive federal funding.
The duration and success of efforts to obtain, maintain, and renew permits are contingent upon many variables not within our control. Shortage of qualified and experienced personnel in the various levels of government could result in delays or inefficiencies. Backlog within the permitting agencies could affect the permitting timeline of the various projects. Other factors that could affect the permitting timeline include (i) the number of other large-scale projects currently in a more advanced stage of development which could slow down the review process, (ii) significant public response regarding the Project or any future projects the Company undertakes, and (iii) the initiation and disposition of legal proceedings challenging the Project or any regulatory approvals required for it. Additionally, to the extent that we are granted necessary permits, we may be subject to a number of Project requirements or conditions, including, but not limited, to the installation or undertaking of programs to protect air and water quality and to safeguard protected species and their habitat, sites, or otherwise limit the impacts of our operations. Various permits will require the Company to provide bonding or other financial assurance to federal and state agencies to assure the Company complies with Project requirements, including requirements relating to reclamation of disturbances or impacts to the environment caused by the Project. Previously obtained permits may be suspended or revoked for a variety of reasons. While we strive to obtain and comply with all necessary permits and approvals, any failure to do so may have negative impacts upon our business or financial condition, such as increased delays, curtailment of our
operations, increased costs, implementation of mitigation or remediation requirements, the potential for litigation or regulatory action, and damage to our reputation.
Mine closure and reclamation regulations and certain permits required to construct and operate mines include requirements that we provide financial assurance supporting our future reclamation obligations. The costs of providing financial assurance could significantly increase and we might not be able to provide financial assurance in the future.
We are required by United States federal and state laws and regulations to reclaim our mining properties. The specific requirements may change and vary among jurisdictions, but they are similar in that they aim to minimize long term effects of exploration and mining disturbance by requiring the control of pollutants and other possible deleterious substances, re-establishment to some degree of pre-disturbance landforms and vegetation, and restoration of natural resources. The Company’s approved mine plans also include certain commitments to address legacy conditions at the Project site created by historical mining operations of other mining companies and to restore to some degree natural and environmental resources to conditions existing before those historical mining operations. Such commitments in the approved mine plans are included within the Company’s financial assurance obligations. We are currently required, and may in the future be subject to additional requirements, to provide bonding or other financial assurance as security for reclamation costs, which may exceed our estimates for such costs. In addition, we may enter into various financial agreements to satisfy financial assurance requirements, and the terms of such agreements may impose certain restrictions on us or require us to post cash collateral. For example, we posted a reclamation surety bond in the approximate amount of $139 million in construction phase financial assurance to satisfy joint requirements of USFS, IDL, USACE, and IDEQ under applicable federal and state law prior to commencing construction of the Project. The Company also posted approximately $4 million in financial assurance via a letter of credit in favor of the USACE to satisfy separate financial assurance requirements for off-site mitigation under the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit. Also, pursuant to approvals from the IDWR, the Company is negotiating a letter of credit in the approximate amount of $16 million to satisfy a separate financial assurance of that agency. To facilitate satisfaction of these construction phase financial assurance requirements, in October 2025 we entered into multiple related financial agreements consisting of the above-mentioned surety bond and a related indemnity agreement with the surety provider; a credit facility and a standby letter of credit in favor of the surety provider; and additional arrangements to support letters of credit in favor of the USACE and, when needed, IDWR for the separate financial assurance requirements. The terms and conditions of the current financial assurance package with the surety provider require us to, among other things, maintain at least $200 million in aggregate collateral, cash and marketable securities, satisfy other collateral maintenance requirements and maintain compliance with reporting requirements and certain other covenants. The agreements with the bank providing the letters of credit also have customary credit facility requirements. Compliance with the collateral maintenance requirements of the current financial assurance package may strain our financial resources or otherwise reduce liquidity that would otherwise be available for other uses and, therefore, may have an adverse impact on our financial condition. Furthermore, a claim on the surety bond or a breach of our covenants in favor of the surety provider under or our failure to fulfill our obligations under the related indemnity agreement entitles the surety to demand collateral up to 125% of the aggregate penal sum of all outstanding bonds, plus associated costs and expenses. Similarly, a breach of our covenants or other obligations under the credit facility supporting the lenders of credit constituting an event of default enables the bank to accelerate repayment and enforce collateral rights. Any such collateral demand or acceleration would adversely affect our financial condition and may have the effect of delaying the progress of development of the Project.
We expect to replace the current financial assurance package with other non-cash financial assurance arrangements prior to or in connection with finalizing the full financing package for the Project. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to replace the current financial assurance package on acceptable terms and on the anticipated timeline, or at all. Additionally, our future reclamation costs, whether in the construction phase or operations phase of the Project, may exceed the financial assurances we post, which may require additional financial assurance to be provided to federal and state agencies, and those assurances may ultimately be unavailable to us.
We have no history of commercially producing precious metals from our mineral properties and there can be no assurance that we will successfully establish mining operations or profitably produce precious metals.
We have only recently commenced construction of the Project, and we have no ongoing mining operations or revenue from mining operations. Mineral development and mine construction have a high degree of risk and few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. The successful development of the Project will require obtaining committed financing, the completion of a multi-year construction process and operation of mining areas, processing facilities and related infrastructure, as well as ongoing compliance with and maintenance of federal, local and state permits and financial assurance requirements. As a result, we are subject to all of the risks associated with establishing new mining operations and business enterprises, including, among others:
| ● | The need to obtain and maintain environmental and other governmental approvals and permits, the timing and conditions of those approvals and permits, and challenges, including litigation, to the issuance of such approvals and permits; |
| ● | The need to maintain financial assurance in favor of federal and state agencies required under applicable statutes, regulations and permits for the construction phase of the Project and to obtain additional financial assurance for the operations phase of the Project; |
| ● | The potential that future exploration and development of mineral claims on or near the Project site may be impacted by litigation and/or consent decrees entered into by previous owners of mineral rights; |
| ● | The availability and cost of funds necessary to finance construction and development activities; |
| ● | The timing and cost, which can be considerable, of the construction of mining and processing facilities, as well as other related infrastructure; |
| ● | Opposition from Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, environmental groups or local groups, including the initiation of legal proceedings in courts or before administrative bodies, which may delay or prevent permitting, development, exploration, and construction and operation activities; |
| ● | Potential increases in construction and operating costs due to changes in the cost of labor, fuel, power, materials and supplies, services, and foreign exchange rates; |
| ● | The availability and cost of skilled labor and mining equipment; and |
| ● | The availability and cost of appropriate smelting and/or refining arrangements |
The costs, timing and complexities of mine construction and development are increased by the remote location of the Project, with additional challenges related thereto, including access, water and power supply, and other support infrastructure. The lack of availability of such infrastructure on acceptable terms or the delay in the availability of any one or more of these items could prevent or delay further development of the Project. Cost estimates have in the past and may in the future increase significantly as more detailed engineering work and studies are completed and as construction activities progress. We do not have an operating history upon which we can base estimates of future operating costs; thus, actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those we have anticipated and there are no assurances that any current or future development activities will result in profitable mining operations. New mining operations commonly experience unexpected costs, problems and delays during development, construction, and mine start-up. In addition, delays in the commencement of mineral production often occur. Furthermore, a significant drop in commodity prices over a sustained period of time could render the Project not economically viable or limit our ability to maintain operations. Accordingly, there are no assurances that our activities will result in profitable mining operations, that we will successfully establish mining operations, or that we will profitably produce precious metals at the Project.
In addition, there is no assurance that our mineral exploration activities will result in any discoveries of new ore bodies. If further mineralization is discovered, there is also no assurance that the commercial production of the mineralized material would be economical. Discovery of mineral deposits is dependent upon a number of factors and significantly influenced by the technical skill of the exploration personnel involved. The commercial viability of a mineral deposit is also dependent upon a number of factors which are beyond our control, including the attributes of the deposit, commodity prices, government policies and regulation, and environmental protection requirements.
Construction of mine facilities is subject to all of the risks inherent in construction and start-up, including delays and costs of construction in excess of our projections.
Construction of mine facilities is inherently risky and subject to many risks, many of which are beyond our control, that could delay or prevent the completion of, or significantly increase the costs of construction of, the Stibnite Gold Project, including:
| ● | Design, engineering, procurement and construction difficulties or delays, including unusual or unexpected geologic formations and conditions; |
| ● | Availability of materials, equipment and labor; |
| ● | Cost overruns, including due to inflation or tariffs; |
| ● | Our failure or delay in obtaining necessary legal, regulatory and other approvals and permits; |
| ● | Failure to obtain or delays in obtaining project construction financing; |
| ● | Interruptions in the supply of the necessary equipment, construction materials or labor, or an increase in their price; |
| ● | Injuries to persons and property; |
| ● | Opposition of local and or non-governmental-organization interests, including litigation and/or contested administrative proceedings; and |
| ● | Natural disasters, inclement weather, accidents, political unrest, or unforeseen events. |
If any of the foregoing events or other unforeseen events were to occur, our financial condition could be adversely affected and we may be required to seek additional capital, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to complete construction of the Project, we may not be able to recover any costs already incurred. Even if construction of the Project is completed on the expected timeline, the costs could significantly exceed our expectations and result in a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Our operations, including permits, currently are and in the future may be subject to legal challenges, which could result in adverse impacts to our business and financial condition.
Our mining, exploration, and development operations, including Project construction and operations and the regulatory authorizations required for such activities, may be subject to legal challenges at the international, federal, state, and local level by various parties. Such legal challenges may allege non-compliance with laws and regulations by regulatory agencies or the Company and may seek to invalidate permits or regulatory actions regarding the Project or future projects undertaken by the Company. For example, on February 18, 2025, following the USFS’ publication of its ROD and FEIS authorizing the Project, subject to conditions such as approval of the mine plan of operations and other plans and posting of required financial assurance, claims were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against the USFS and other federal agencies by a number of claimants. The claims allege, among other things, violations of NEPA and other federal laws in the regulatory process and seeks to vacate key governmental permits and Project approvals and enjoin any further implementation of the Project. On August 29, 2025, the Nez Perce Tribe filed similar claims against the USFS and other federal agencies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho challenging the USFS ROD and other federal authorizations relating to the Project. The Court has granted PRII’s motion to intervene in both lawsuits. Other legal challenges in federal or state judicial or legal proceedings have been instituted, including a lawsuit in Idaho state court appealing from the issuance of an air permit to the Company for the Project by the IDEQ and a state administrative contested case proceeding challenging the IDEQ’s Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification. While the Company believes the federal and state regulatory processes in respect of the Project have been conducted thoroughly and completely by the relevant regulatory agencies, there can be no assurance that the USFS ROD, FEIS and other Project approvals will be upheld upon administrative or judicial review or that such proceedings will be resolved in a timely manner. Also, timing with respect to the decisions in these legal challenges is uncertain.
Additionally, our Project is located in a mining district with significant impacts from legacy mining operations of other mine operators prior to our acquisition of legal interests in certain properties. Pursuant to CERCLA and other statutes, there is a risk that we may be subject to liability and remediation responsibilities with respect to these sites under applicable law, consent decrees or similar agreements. The Company is currently party to an Administrative Settlement and Order on Consent (“ASAOC”) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture issued pursuant to CERCLA. In the ASAOC, the Company agreed voluntarily to undertake specified response actions under an approved scope of work with respect to certain impacts from legacy mining operations. The response actions performed to date by the Company do not address all legacy conditions at the Project site, and it is uncertain whether the Company and the federal agencies will agree on additional scopes of work and if not, what, if any, regulatory or legal actions may be taken by the federal agencies. Also, the Company is subject to certain restrictions on the use of the Project mine site under the ASAOC and certain other consent decrees and agreements previously entered into by third parties and governmental authorities related to legacy mining impacts at the Project site.
Lawsuits and legal challenges to governmental permits and Project approvals, such as those described above and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as legal proceedings or administrative challenges that may be brought in the future, may result in adverse impacts to our planned operations such as increased defense costs (to the extent we are a party to such challenges), the performance of additional mitigation and remedial activities, loss or modification permits for the Project, significant delays to our Project or increases to the construction or operating costs of the Project. We may also be subject to national or more localized opposition, including efforts by environmental groups, which could attract negative publicity or have an adverse impact on our reputation. Additionally, due to the nature of our business and our status as a publicly traded company, we may be subject to regulatory investigations, claims, lawsuits and other proceedings, including proceedings related to claims
brought pursuant to federal securities laws, in the ordinary course of our business. The results of these or other legal proceedings that may arise cannot be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, including the effects of discovery of new evidence or advancement of new legal theories, the difficulty of predicting decisions of judges and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. There can be no assurances that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business.
We depend on key personnel for critical management decisions and to manage our business effectively.
We are dependent on the services of a relatively small number of key personnel, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other highly skilled and experienced executives and personnel focused on managing our interests and the advancement of the Stibnite Gold Project, in addition to the identification of new opportunities for growth and funding. The loss of any of these key personnel, through incapacity, resignation or otherwise, and the process of onboarding and integration of replacement personnel could divert management’s attention, disrupt or otherwise compromise the pace and success of our construction and development activities or otherwise have an adverse effect on our operations.
Additionally, to successfully develop and construct the Project, we will need to significantly expand our team of employees and operational and support staff and hire additional contractors, and it may be difficult to attract or retain individuals with the appropriate background and expertise in a timely manner and without incurring significant additional costs. The expansion of our team may also have the effect of diverting management’s attention. If we are not able to hire, retain and integrate these new team members or if they do not perform adequately, our business may be harmed.
A prolonged United States federal government shutdown could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
Any disruption in the operations of the United States federal government, including as a result of the recent prolonged shutdown or any future temporary or prolonged shutdowns resulting from the failure of Congress to enact appropriations bills, raise the federal debt ceiling or otherwise, could materially and adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition. Recently, beginning on October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government shut down, during which time certain regulatory agencies, such as the USFS and the SEC, furloughed large numbers of employees and stopped routine activities and operations. Additionally, on October 10, 2025, the U.S. federal government implemented substantial layoffs and workforce reductions in connection with the federal government shutdown, which resulted in the suspension or delay of various government-funded programs. While we continue to monitor developments, there is no assurance that affected government employees or contractors will be reinstated as expected and that all government-funded programs will resume as normal. Furthermore, the recent federal government shutdown has resulted, and may continue for a prolonged period of time to result, in reduced availability of government services, and suspension or delay of activities by key agencies that regulate, provide services to or otherwise interact with our business, including the SEC, USFS, U.S. EXIM, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine and Safety Health Administration. As a result, review and approval of our filings, applications, and submissions could be delayed, and we may be unable to access or rely upon certain government data or systems. In particular, it may lead to disruptions and delays in completing early construction activities. Additionally, it could delay or disrupt U.S. EXIM’s ongoing review of our loan application and the timing of any final funding commitment that may be issued if our application is approved, which could in turn impact our broader plans for financing construction and development activities of the Project. Furthermore, the recent shutdown affected the federal courts, which has resulted in certain delays to date, and could cause future delays, with respect to the administration of the legal proceedings pending in the U.S. District Court in Idaho that challenge various federal approvals of the Project. Delays in the administration of the pending legal proceedings in federal court delay the final disposition of those cases, which in turn could delay or disrupt implementation of the Project.
In addition, any federal government shutdown or prolonged budget negotiation uncertainty may adversely affect the broader U.S. economy, investor confidence, and capital markets. Such conditions could negatively impact the liquidity or trading volume of our securities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and stock price. Accordingly, the recent and any future federal government shutdown, lapse in federal funding or protracted budget impasse could materially and adversely affect our operations, financing capabilities and overall financial condition.
For as long as we are an “emerging growth company,” or a “smaller reporting company” we have not been required to comply with certain reporting requirements that apply to some other public companies. Once we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company, our regulatory compliance costs and the demands placed upon our management are expected to increase.
Since we became a reporting issuer in the United States, we have been an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined under U.S. securities reporting rules and, as such, we were exempt from certain disclosure requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies. Based on our market capitalization and public float as of June 30, 2025, we expect to lose our smaller reporting company status in the first quarter of 2026 and our emerging
growth company status as of December 31, 2026. Therefore, once we lose our status as an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company and after the expiration of the transition period available to issuers who have lost such status, we will no longer be able to take advantage of the reduced disclosure requirements currently available to us. Specifically, starting in 2027 we will be required to, among other things:
| ● | Have an auditor report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley; |
| ● | Comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards without an extended transition period; |
| ● | Provide expanded disclosure in our SEC filings, including, among other things, providing three, rather than two, years of audited financial statements in annual reports; |
| ● | Include more detailed compensation discussion and analysis in our filings under the Exchange Act; and |
| ● | Hold a non-binding stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any “golden parachute” payments not previously approved. |
In connection with the expected loss of our emerging growth company and smaller reporting company status, we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with expanded disclosure requirements and the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If an independent assessment of our internal controls detects material weaknesses, or if we are unable to assert that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected, and we could become subject to litigation or investigations by Nasdaq, SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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