UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 (Mark One)

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended      June 30, 2011      

OR

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

For the transition period from               to              

 

Commission File Number.   001-39278

 

 

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 4251 Kipling St. Suite 390, Wheat Ridge, CO (Address of principal executive offices) (303)  534-1030 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

84-1285791 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 80033 (Zip Code)

  

Indicate by checkmark 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    S

NO    £

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every

Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

YES    S

NO    £

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  £

Accelerated filer  £

Non-accelerated filer (do not check if a smaller reporting company) £

Smaller reporting company  S

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

YES    £

NO    S

          

 There were 34,137,458 shares of $0.01 par value common stock outstanding as of August 1, 2011.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION			Page
Item 1     Financial Statements			3
Item 2    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations			15
Item 3    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			25
Item 4    Controls and Procedures			25
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1    Legal Proceedings			25
Item 1A   Risk Factors			25
Item 2    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			32
Item 3    Defaults Upon Senior Securities			32
Item 4    (Removed and Reserved)			32
Item 5    Other Information			32
Item 6    Exhibits			32
SIGNATURES			33

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars,		June 30,				December 31,
except share and per share amounts)		2011				2010
		(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	4,905			$	478
Investments in marketable equity securities, at fair value			2,702				5,214
Prepaid expenses and other			375				421
Total current assets			7,982				6,113
Mineral properties, net			8,833				6,153
Investments in marketable equity securities, at fair value			12,049				14,557
Equity method investment			1,895				2,276
Other assets			677				509
Total assets		$	31,436			$	29,608
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	223			$	630
Short-term margin loan			2,017				2,823
Current portion long-term debt			700				481
Deferred income taxes			1,008				1,945
Other			100				100
Total current liabilities			4,048				5,979
Long-term debt			1,999				2,604
Deferred income taxes			4,161				4,474
Stock option liability			—				2,775
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Solitario shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000      shares (none issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011 and      December 31, 2010)			—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares       (34,137,458 and 29,750,242, respectively, shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2011and December 31, 2010)			341				297
Additional paid-in capital			48,552				36,799
Accumulated deficit			(37,014	)			(36,996	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			8,627				11,786
Total Solitario shareholders’ equity			20,506				11,886
Noncontrolling interest			912				1,890
Contra-noncontrolling interest			(190	)			—
Total shareholders’ equity			21,228				13,776
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	31,436			$	29,608

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

(in thousands except per share amounts)		Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Costs, expenses and other:
Exploration expense		$	921			$	953			$	1,762			$	1,728
Depreciation and amortization			10				20				21				44
General and administrative			689				1,082				1,645				1,560
Gain on derivative instruments			(17	)			(6	)			(71	)			(118	)
Interest expense			68				—				160				—
Asset write downs			—				39				—				39
Interest and dividend income			(7	)			—				(57	)			(53	)
Gain on sale of assets			—				—				—				(22	)
Total costs, expenses and other			1,664				2,088				3,460				3,178
Other Income
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities			302				553				1,870				553
Net loss of equity method investment			(160	)			—				(381	)			—
Total other income			142				553				1,489				553
Loss before income taxes			(1,522	)			(1,535	)			(1,971	)			(2,625	)
Income tax (expense) benefit			152				178				(93	)			293
Net loss			(1,370	)			(1,357	)			(2,064	)			(2,332	)
Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling   interest			521				65				1,054				135
Net loss attributable to Solitario shareholders		$	(849	)		$	(1,292	)		$	(1,010	)		$	(2,197	)
Loss per common share attributable to Solitario shareholders:
Basic and diluted		$	(0.03	)		$	(0.04	)		$	(0.03	)		$	(0.07	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted			33,027				29,750				31,380				29,750

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)		Six months ended             June 30,
		2011				2010
Operating activities:
Net loss		$	(2,064	)		$	(2,332	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in       operating activities:
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments			(71	)			(118	)
Depreciation and amortization			21				44
Loss on equity method investment			381				—
Employee stock option expense			349				645
Asset write down			—				39
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)			93				(293	)
Amortization of discount on long-term debt			114				—
(Gain) on asset and equity security sales			(1,870	)			(575	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(145	)			(26	)
Accounts payable and other current liabilities			(362	)			(479	)
Net cash used in operating activities			(3,554	)			(3,095	)
Investing activities:
Additions to mineral properties			(1,680	)			(5	)
Additions to other assets			(50	)			(8	)
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity securities			1,964				730
Proceeds from sale of other assets			—				22
Net cash provided by investing activities			234				739
Financing activities:
Short-term borrowing			1,075				600
Repayment of short-term borrowing			(1,926	)			—
Repayment of long-term debt			(500	)			—
Proceeds from common stock offering, net			8,937				—
Noncontrolling interest contribution			80				747
Proceeds on exercise of options			181				—
Payment to noncontrolling investor			(100	)			—
Net cash provided by financing activities			7,747				1,347
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			4,427				(1,009	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			478				1,946
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	4,905			$	937
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:
Reclassification of stock option liability to additional paid-in-capital		$	1,240			$	—
Reclassification of stock option liability to accumulated deficit,       net of deferred taxes of $543		$	992			$	—

 

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.       Business and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Business

 

Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (“Solitario”) is an exploration stage company with a focus on the acquisition of precious and base metal properties with exploration potential and the development or purchase of royalty interests. Solitario acquires and holds a portfolio of exploration properties for future sale, joint venture or to create a royalty prior to the establishment of proven and probable reserves. In August 2010, Solitario signed a Letter of Intent to earn up to an 80% interest in the Mt. Hamilton project located in Nevada from Ely Gold & Minerals, Inc. (“Ely”). Solitario has been working on the exploration and potential development of the Mt. Hamilton project. However, Solitario has never developed a mineral property. Solitario is exploring on other mineral properties that may be developed in the future by Solitario or through a joint venture. Solitario has been actively involved in mineral exploration since 1993. At June 30, 2011, Solitario's mineral properties are located in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. Solitario was incorporated in the state of Colorado on November 15, 1984.

 

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Solitario for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are unaudited and are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. They do not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements, but in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for a fair presentation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results, which may be achieved in the future or for the full year ending December 31, 2011.

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto which are included in Solitario’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The accounting policies set forth in those annual financial statements are the same as the accounting policies utilized in the preparation of these financial statements, except as modified for appropriate interim financial statement presentation.

 

Recent developments

 

Equity financing

On April 13, 2011, Solitario sold 3,400,000 shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering at a price to the public of $2.50 per share. In connection with the underwritten public offering, on May 9, 2011, the underwriter exercised its option to purchase an additional 510,000 shares at $2.50 per share to cover over-allotments. The total number of shares sold in the public offering and the over-allotment were 3,910,000 shares (the “Offering”) for net proceeds of approximately $8,937,000 after underwriter’s commission of six percent and offering costs. The Offering was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 18, 2011, which was declared effective on March 29, 2011. A prospectus supplement relating to the Offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov.

 

Stock option liability 

On January 1, 2011, Solitario changed its accounting for stock options to equity accounting from liability accounting in accordance with the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-13, “Effect of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Award in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Trades” (“ASU 2010-13”). ASU 2010-13 addresses the classification of a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which the underlying equity security trades. FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 was amended to clarify that a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trade shall not be considered to contain a market, performance or service condition. Therefore, such an award is not to be classified as a liability if it otherwise qualifies for equity classification. In accordance with ASU 2010-13,

this change has been made on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2011 with a reduction to stock option liability of $2,775,000, an increase to additional paid-in-capital of $1,240,000 and a reduction in accumulated deficit of $992,000, net of deferred taxes of $543,000. See “Employee stock compensation plans” below.

 

Investment in Ely and the Mt. Hamilton joint venture

On August 26, 2010, Solitario signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with Ely to make certain equity investments into Ely and to joint venture Ely’s Mt. Hamilton gold project, which was wholly-owned by DHI-Minerals (US) Ltd. (“DHI-US”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ely. On August 26, 2010 and October 19, 2010, Solitario made private placement investments of Cdn$250,000 each in Ely securities. Solitario received a total of 3,333,333 shares of Ely common stock and warrants to purchase a total of 1,666,667 shares of Ely common stock (the “Ely Warrants”) for an exercise price of Cdn$0.25 per share, which expire two years from the date of purchase. The private placements were pursuant to the LOI. On November 12, 2010 Solitario made an initial contribution of $300,000 for a 10% membership interest in, upon the formation of, Mt. Hamilton LLC (“MH-LLC”) which was formed in December 2010. The terms of the joint venture are set forth in the Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of MH-LLC between Solitario and DHI-US (the “MH Agreement”). MH-LLC owns 100% of the Mt. Hamilton Gold project. Pursuant to the MH Agreement, Solitario may earn up to an 80% interest in MH-LLC, and indirectly, the Mt. Hamilton project, by completing various staged commitments. See a more complete discussion of Ely and MH-LLC in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, “Ely Gold investment and the Mt. Hamilton Joint Venture” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Royalty buy-down

On May 17, 2011, MH-LLC and Solitario entered into an agreement with an underlying royalty holder on its Mt. Hamilton property whereby Solitario delivered, for the benefit of MH-LLC, 344,116 shares of its common stock, with a fair market value of $1,000,000 based upon a 20-day weighted average quoted stock price, and $1,520,000 of cash, to reduce the future net smelter royalty (the “Royalty Buy-down”) from a maximum royalty of 8% to a maximum royalty of 6%. MH-LLC retains its existing right to further reduce the net smelter royalty at Mt. Hamilton by an additional 5%, to an ultimate royalty of 1%, as further discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, “Ely Gold investment and the Mt. Hamilton Joint Venture” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. As part of the Royalty Buy-down transaction, Solitario agreed to loan to DHI-US, the non-controlling member of MH-LLC, $504,000 for DHI-US’s mutually agreed 20% share of the total purchase price contributed by Solitario to MH-LLC to fund the Royalty Buy-down. This loan is unsecured; bears interest at 6% per annum and the loan and any accrued interest thereon will only be repaid from 80% of DHI-US share of distributions from MH-LLC, if any. Solitario has recorded the loan of $504,000 as an offset to the non-controlling interest in MH-LLC, as the loan represents a claim on DHI-US’s share of the future distributions from MH-LLC. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario accrued $4,000 of interest on the $504,000 loan as an offset to DHI-US’s noncontrolling interest in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Kinross common stock

 

Solitario has a significant investment in Kinross Gold Corporation (“Kinross”) at June 30, 2011, which consists of 855,000 shares of Kinross common stock. As of June 30, 2011, none of these shares are subject to the Kinross Collar, discussed below under "Derivative instruments." During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 Solitario sold 20,000 and 125,000 shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $316,000 and $1,964,000 and recorded a gain on sale of $302,000 and $1,870,000, respectively. Solitario sold 40,000 shares of Kinross common shares during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 for net proceeds of $730,000 and recorded a gain on sale of $553,000.. On April 12, 2011, the final tranche of the Kinross Collar due on that date expired, and the remaining 100,000 shares under the Kinross Collar were released. The Kinross Collar has expired as of that date and no shares are subject to the Kinross Collar. No shares were delivered to UBS under the Kinross Collar and no cash was paid or received upon termination of the Kinross Collar. As of August 1, 2011, we own 855,000 shares of Kinross, which have a value of approximately $14.2 million based upon the market price of $16.58 per Kinross share. Any significant fluctuation in the market value of Kinross common shares could have a material impact on Solitario's liquidity and capital resources.

 

Employee stock compensation plans

 

Solitario accounts for its stock options under the provisions of ASC 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation. Pursuant to ASC 718, as of January 1, 2011, Solitario classifies its stock options as equity options in accordance with ASU 2010-13. Previously, Solitario had classified its stock options as liabilities as they are priced in Canadian dollars and Solitario’s functional currency is United States dollars and Solitario’s common stock trades on both the NYSE Amex Equities (“NYSE-Amex”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”). Prior to January 1, 2011, Solitario recorded a liability for the fair value of the vested portion of outstanding options based upon a Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

Solitario’s outstanding options on the date of grant have a five year term, and vest 25% on date of grant and 25% on each of the next three anniversary dates. Solitario recognizes stock option compensation expense on the date of grant for 25% of the grant date fair value, and subsequently, based upon a straight line amortization of the unvested grant date fair value of each of its outstanding options. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 Solitario recorded $175,000 and $349,000 of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital.

 

Prior to January 1, 2011, Solitario recorded a stock option liability for the vested fair value of each option grant on the measurement date by multiplying the estimated fair value determined using the Black-Scholes model by the percent vesting of the option on the measurement date. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Solitario recognized $636,000 and $645,000, respectively, in stock option compensation expense.

 

On June 27, 2006 Solitario’s shareholders approved the 2006 Stock Option Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). Under the terms of the 2006 Plan, the Board of Directors may grant up to 2,800,000 options to Directors, officers and employees with exercise prices equal to the market price of Solitario’s common stock at the date of grant.

 

Solitario granted 2,065,000 options on May 5, 2010, with a grant fair value of $2,449,000 based upon a Black Scholes option pricing model resulting in a weighted average fair value of $1.19 per share.

 

At December 31, 2010, the fair value of $2,775,000 for Solitario’s outstanding options on that date, granted under the 2006 Plan, was determined utilizing the following assumptions and a Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate of 0.99994.

 

Fair Value at December 31, 2010

Grant Date		5/5/10				5/19/09
Plan		2006 Plan				2006 Plan
Option price (Cdn$)		$	2.40			$	1.55
Options outstanding			2,065,000				519,000
Expected Life			4.4 yrs				3.4 yrs
Expected volatility			62	%			66	%
Risk free interest rate			1.6	%			1.1	%
Weighted average fair value		$	2.24			$	2.54
Portion of vesting at measurement date			41.6	%			64.6	%
Fair value of outstanding vested options		$	1,924,000			$	851,000

 

There were no new options granted during the first three and six months of 2011. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, options for 90,000 and 100,000 shares, respectively, were exercised at a price of Cdn$1.55 per share for cash proceeds of $146,000 and $161,000. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, options for 8,100 shares were exercised at a price of Cdn$2.40 per share for cash proceeds of $20,000. No options were exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

 

The following table summarizes the activity for stock options outstanding under the 2006 Plan as of June 30, 2011, with exercise prices equal to the stock price, as defined, on the date of grant and no restrictions on exercisability after vesting:

 

		Shares issuable on   outstanding Options				Weighted average  exercise Price (Cdn$)				Weighted average remaining contractual term  in years				Aggregate intrinsic value(1)
2006 Plan
Outstanding, beginning of year			2,584,000			$	2.23
Granted			—
Exercised			(108,100	)		$	1.61
Forfeited			—
Outstanding at June 30, 2011			2,475,900			$	2.26				3.7			$	1,115,000
Exercisable at June 30, 2011			1,313,650			$	2.21				3.6			$	659,000

(1)The intrinsic value at June 30, 2011 based upon the quoted market price of Cdn$2.70 per share for our common stock on the TSX and an exchange ratio of 1.02379 Canadian dollars per United States dollar.

 

Earnings per share

 

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings and loss per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. Potentially dilutive shares are related to outstanding common stock options of 2,475,900 and 2,565,900 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because the effects were anti-dilutive.

 

Derivative instruments

 

Ely Warrants

 

In connection with the equity investment in Ely on August 30, 2010, Solitario acquired warrants to purchase 833,333 shares of Ely common stock at Cdn$0.25 per share for a period of two years. On October 19, 2010, Solitario acquired warrants to purchase an additional 833,333 shares of common stock for two years from that date. In accordance with ASC 815, at December 31, 2010 Solitario did not classify the warrants acquired on October 19, 2010 as derivative instruments until January 18, 2011, or 31 days prior to the underlying shares being readily convertible to cash. Prior to that time, any gains and losses on those warrants were recorded in other comprehensive income. On January 18, 2011, Solitario transferred an unrecognized gain on derivative instrument of $114,000 for the warrants acquired on October 19, 2010 to gain on derivative instrument. In addition, as of June 30, 2011 Solitario has recorded $325,000 for the fair value of the warrants received from Ely as a long-term asset. Including the $114,000 gain on derivative instrument recorded on January 18, 2011, discussed above, Solitario has recorded total unrealized gain on derivative instrument in the statement of operations for the net gain related to the Ely warrants of $17,000 and $73,000, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

Kinross Collar

 

On October 12, 2007 Solitario entered into a Zero-Premium Equity Collar (the "Kinross Collar") pursuant to a Master Agreement for Equity Collars and a Pledge and Security Agreement with UBS AG, London, England, an Affiliate of UBS Securities LLC (collectively "UBS"). Under the terms of the Kinross Collar, Solitario pledged 900,000 shares of Kinross common shares to be sold (or delivered back to Solitario with any differences settled in cash). On April 12, 2011, the remaining 100,000 shares under the Kinross Collar were released upon the expiration of the tranche of the Kinross Collar on that date. No shares were delivered to UBS under the Kinross Collar and no cash was paid or received upon termination of the final tranche of the Kinross Collar.

 

Solitario has not designated the Kinross Collar as a hedging instrument as described in ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging and any changes in the fair market value of the Kinross Collar are recognized in the statement of operations in the period of the change. As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, Solitario recorded no value and $2,000, respectively, for the fair market value of the Kinross Collar in other current assets. Solitario recorded an unrealized loss of $2,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Solitario recorded unrealized gains of $2,000 and $76,000, respectively, during the three and six months ending June 30, 2010 in gain on derivative instrument for the change in the fair market value of the Kinross Collar.

 

Covered Call Options

 

On November 13, 2009, Solitario sold a covered call option covering 40,000 shares of Kinross with a strike price of $22.00 expiring on May 22, 2010 (the “May 10 Kinross Call”) for $76,000. Solitario recorded a gain on derivative instrument of $4,000 and $42,000, respectively, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 for the change in the fair value of the May 10 Kinross Call. Solitario has not designated its covered calls as hedging instruments as described in ASC 815 and any changes in the fair market value of its covered calls are recognized in the statement of operations in the period of the change.

 

As of June 30, 2011, no shares of Kinross are subject to any hedging arrangements.

 

The following table provides a detail of the location and amount of the fair values of Solitario's derivative instruments presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

 

(thousands)	Derivative Instruments
Balance Sheet Location		June 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
Derivatives not designated as hedging   instruments under ASC 815
Ely warrants	Long-term other assets		$	325			$	366
Kinross Collar	Current assets			—				2

 

The following amounts are included in gain on derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

(thousands)		Three months ended June 30								Six months ended June 30
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Derivatives not designated as hedging   instruments under ASC 815		Gain(loss)				Gain(loss)				Gain(loss)				Gain(loss)
Ely warrants		$	17			$	—			$	73			$	—
Kinross Collar			—				2				(2	)			76
May10 Kinross Call			—				4				—				42
Total derivatives		$	17			$	6			$	71			$	118

 

Fair Value

 

For certain of Solitario’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, payables and short-term debt, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to their short term maturities. Solitario’s marketable equity securities and Ely warrants are carried at their estimated fair value primarily based on quoted market prices. The long-term debt associated with MH-LLC is carried at its estimated fair value based upon the discounted present value of the payments using an estimated discount rate and the Kinross Collar is carried at its estimated fair value based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

Solitario accounts for its financial instruments under ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements." ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. ASC 820 also requires disclosure about how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities and establishes a hierarchy for which these assets and liabilities must be grouped, based on significant levels of inputs as follows:

 

·         Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

·         Level 2: quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or

·         Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario reclassified its investment in 1,666,666 shares Ely common shares, which were subject to a hold period as of December 31, 2010 from Level 2 to Level 1 as the shares were no longer subject to a hold period as of June 30, 2011. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 there was no reclassification in financial assets or liabilities between Level 1, 2 or 3 categories.

 

The following is a listing of Solitario’s financial assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and where they are classified within the hierarchy as of June 30, 2011:

 

(thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Assets
Marketable equity securities		$	14,751			$	—			$	—			$	14,751
Other assets – Ely warrants			—				325				—				325

 

The following is a listing of Solitario’s financial assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and where they are classified within the hierarchy as of December 31, 2010:

 

(thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Assets
Marketable equity securities		$	18,771				—				—			$	18,771
Marketable equity securities – Ely common stock			500				500				—				1,000
Kinross Collar derivative instrument			—				2				—				2
Other assets – Ely warrants			—				366				—				366

Items measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

Marketable equity securities: At June 30, 2011 the fair value of Solitario’s investment in Kinross, TNR and Ely marketable equity securities are based upon quoted market prices and are classified as Level 1 inputs. At December 31, 2010, the fair value of Solitario’s investment in Ely common stock, subject to a hold period, which expired in January 2011 for the shares of Ely common stock from the October 19, 2010 Ely investment, are based upon quoted market prices, which Solitario has not adjusted for the hold period due to the short remaining time period of the hold. However, these are classified as Level 2 inputs as of December 31, 2010 due to the restriction. The remaining marketable equity securities are classified as Level 1 inputs at December 31, 2010.

 

Ely warrants: The Ely warrants are not traded on any public exchange. Solitario determines the fair value of the Ely warrants using a Black-Scholes pricing model, using inputs, including share price, volatility of Ely common stock and discount rates that include an assessment of performance risk, that are readily available from public markets and for the hold period discussed above, therefore they are classified as Level 2 inputs as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

 

Kinross Collar: The Kinross Collar between Solitario and UBS is a contractual hedge that is not traded on any public exchange. Solitario determines the fair value of the Kinross Collar using a Black-Scholes model using inputs, including the price of a share of Kinross common stock, volatility of Kinross common stock price that are readily available from public markets, and discount rates that include an assessment of performance risk, therefore, they are classified as Level 2 inputs. See Derivative instruments above.

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario did not change any of the valuation techniques used to measure its financial assets and liabilities at fair value.

 

Marketable equity securities

 

          Solitario's investments in marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, which is based upon quoted prices of the securities owned. The cost of marketable equity securities sold is determined by the specific identification method. Changes in market value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income within shareholders' equity, unless a decline in market value is considered other than temporary, in which case the decline is recognized as a loss in the consolidated statement of operations. Solitario had marketable equity securities with fair values of $14,751,000 and $19,771,000, respectively, and cost of $993,000 and $1,087,000, respectively, at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Solitario has accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized holding gains of $13,759,000 and $18,684,000, respectively, net of deferred taxes of $5,132,000 and $6,969,000, respectively, at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 related to our marketable equity securities. Solitario sold 20,000 shares and 125,000 shares, respectively, of Kinross stock during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 for proceeds of $316,000 and $1,964,000, respectively, and recorded a gain on sale of $302,000 and $1,870,000, respectively. Solitario has classified $2,702,000 and $5,214,000, respectively, of marketable equity securities as current, as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, which represents Solitario's estimate of the portion of marketable equity securities that will be liquidated within one year.

 

          The following table represents changes in marketable equity securities.

 

(in thousands)		Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Gross cash proceeds		$	316			$	730			$	1,964			$	730
Cost			14				177				94				177
Gross gain on sale included in earnings during the period			302				553				1,870				553
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period included  in other comprehensive income, net of tax of $18 and $1,199 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and $11 and $(517) for the three and six months ended    June 30, 2010			(31	)			19				(2,016	)			(869	)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Solitario records delay rent ts as revenue in the period received. Solitario did not receive any delay rental payments during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. Solitario received $747,000 of deferred noncontrolling shareholder payments from Anglo Platinum Limited (“Anglo) during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. Any payments received for the sale of property interests are recorded as a reduction of the related property’s capitalized cost. Proceeds which exceed the capitalized cost of the property are recognized as revenue.

 

Variable interest entity

 

Pursuant to the terms of the MH Agreement, Solitario has determined that MH-LLC is a variable interest entity in accordance with ASC 810. Solitario has also determined that it is the primary beneficiary of MH-LLC. Accordingly, Solitario consolidates MH-LLC in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with ASC 810. Solitario has determined no separate presentation of assets or liabilities is necessary per ASC 810, as MH-LLC does not have any assets that can only be used to settle specific obligations or liabilities for which creditors do not have recourse to Solitario.

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-13. ASU 2010-13 addresses the classification of a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which the underlying equity security trades. ASC Topic 718 was amended to clarify that a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity's equity securities trade shall not be considered to contain a market,

performance or service condition. Therefore, such an award is not to be classified as a liability if it otherwise qualifies for equity classification. In accordance with ASU 2010-13, this change has been made on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2011 with a reduction to stock option liability of $2,775,000, an increase to additional paid-in-capital of $1,240,000 and a reduction in accumulated deficit of $992,000, net of deferred taxes of $543,000. See “Employee stock compensation plans” above.

 

2.       Exploration Expense

 

          The following items comprised exploration expense:

 

(in thousands)		Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Geologic and field expenses		$	333			$	820			$	608			$	1,480
Administrative			81				133				134				248
Mt. Hamilton exploration			507				—				1,020				—
Total exploration costs		$	921			$	953			$	1,762			$	1,728

 

3.       Short term debt

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario had received certain short-term margin loans from RBC Capital Markets, LLC ("RBC"), using Solitario's investment in Kinross held at RBC as collateral for the short-term margin loans. On April 16, 2011, Solitario repaid $1,915,000, the entire balance of its short-term margin loan with RBC, including $10,000 of accrued interest, with proceeds from the Offering. At June 30, 2011, Solitario has no remaining short-term margin loan with RBC. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the loans carried interest at a margin loan rate of 4.25% per annum, which floats based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate. Interest expense related to the RBC short term margin loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 was $6,000 and $21,000, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2011, Solitario borrowed $2,000,000 from UBS Bank, USA ("UBS Bank") pursuant to a secured credit line agreement between Solitario and UBS Bank. As of June 30, 2011, Solitario recorded accrued unpaid interest of $17,000 on the secured line of credit included in short-term debt. The UBS Bank credit line carries an interest rate which floats, based upon a base rate of 2.25% plus the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), which is 0.20% as of June 30, 2011. The average base rate was approximately 2.5% for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. UBS Bank may change the base rate at any time. The UBS Bank credit line provides that Solitario may borrow up to $2 million and that Solitario maintain a minimum equity value percentage in its UBS brokerage account above 40%, based upon the value of its Kinross shares and any other assets held in Solitario's UBS brokerage account, less the value of its UBS Bank credit line and any other balances owed to UBS Bank. UBS Bank may modify the minimum equity value percentage of the loan at any time. In addition, if the equity value in Solitario's UBS brokerage account falls below the minimum equity value, UBS Bank may sell enough Kinross shares held in Solitario's UBS brokerage account or liquidate any other assets to restore the minimum equity value. At June 30, 2011, the equity value in Solitario's UBS brokerage account was 76%. Solitario recorded interest expense related to the UBS credit line of $13,000 and $23,000, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

4.       Long-term debt

 

In connection with the formation of MH-LLC, the Mt. Hamilton properties contributed by DHI-US to MH-LLC were subject to a security interest granted to Augusta Resources Corporation ("Augusta") related to Ely's acquisition of the Mt. Hamilton properties. Pursuant to the MH Agreement, as part of its earn-in, Solitario has agreed to make payments totaling $3,750,000, of which $1,250,000 will be paid in cash to DHI-US and $2,500,000 are to be made as private placement investments in Ely common stock, all to provide Ely with the funds necessary for Ely to make the loan payments due to Augusta. The payments due to Augusta are non-interest bearing. Accordingly, upon formation and the contribution of

the mineral properties by DHI-US, MH-LLC recorded $3,066,000 for the discounted fair value of the payments due to Augusta, discounted at 7.5%, which was Solitario's estimated cost of similar credit as of the formation of MH-LLC.

 

          During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario made a $500,000 payment of principal on the long-term debt to DHI-US, which in turn was paid to Augusta and recorded $50,000 and $114,000, respectively, for accretion of interest expense related to MH-LLC long-term debt due to Augusta. As of June 30, 2011 the outstanding long-term debt balance was $2,699,000, of which Solitario has recorded $700,000 as current for the discounted fair value of the $750,000 payment due to Augusta on June 1, 2012.

 

5.     Income Taxes

 

          Solitario accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under ASC 740, income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related to certain income and expenses recognized in different periods for financial and income tax reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for operating losses and tax credits that are available to offset future taxable income and income taxes, respectively. A valuation allowance is provided if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

Primarily as a result of increases in the value of Solitario's holdings of Kinross common stock recognized as other comprehensive income, Solitario estimated that its deferred tax liabilities exceeded its realizable deferred tax assets by $5,169,000 and $6,419,000 at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

 

          During the three months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario recorded deferred tax benefit of $152,000 and during the six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario recorded a deferred tax expense of $93,000. During the three months ended June 30 2011, Solitario recorded deferred tax benefit of $69,000 to other comprehensive income related to net unrealized losses of $185,000 on marketable equity securities. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario recorded a deferred tax benefit of $1,880,000 related to net unrealized losses of $5,039,000 on marketable equity securities. In addition, on January 1, 2011, Solitario recorded deferred tax expense of $543,000 to retained earnings related to the prospective adjustment of $1,535,000 to retained earnings for the change in accounting principle upon the adoption of ASU 2010-13 discussed in Note 1 above. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, Solitario recorded deferred tax benefit of $178,000 and $293,000, respectively, in the statement of operations. Solitario recorded a deferred tax benefit during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 of $195,000 and $723,000, respectively, to other comprehensive income related to net unrealized losses of $523,000 and $1,939,000, respectively, on marketable equity securities.

 

6. Stockholders' Equity, comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interest

 

          The following provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of Solitario Shareholders' equity, comprehensive loss and noncontrolling interest for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011

 

		Solitario Shareholders Equity
(in thousands, except																		Accumulated				Total								Contra
Share amounts)										Additional								Other				Solitario				Non-				Non-				Total
		Common Stock								Paid-in				Accumulated				Comprehensive				Shareholder				Controlling				Controlling				Shareholders
		Shares				Amount				Capital				Deficit				Income				Equity				Interest				Interest				Equity
Balance at December 31, 2010			29,750,242			$	297			$	36,799			$	(36,996	)		$	11,786			$	11,886			$	1,890			$	—			$	13,776
Change in accounting principle			—				—				1,240				—				—				1,240				—				—				1,240
Change in accounting principle, net of      deferred tax of $543			—				—				—				992				—				992				—				—				992
Issuance of shares on exercise of     stock options			18,100				—				36				—				—				36				—				—				36
Issuance of shares to noncontrolling     shareholder for future earn-in			25,000				1				89				—				—				90				—				(90	)			—
Payment in cash to noncontrolling     shareholder for future earn-in			—				—				—				—				—				—				—				(100	)			(100	)
Stock option expense											174												174				—				—				174
Noncontrolling interest contribution			—				—				—				—				—				—				80				—				80
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			—				—				—				(161	)			—				(161	)			(533	)			—				(694	)
Net unrealized loss on marketable      equity securities (net of tax of      $1,811)			—				—				—				—				(3,043	)			(3,043	)			—				—				(3,043	)
Comprehensive loss			—				—				—				—				—				(3,204	)			(533	)			—				(3,737	)
Balance at March 31, 2011			29,793,342			$	298			$	38,338			$	(36,165	)		$	8,743			$	11,214			$	1,437			$	(190	)		$	12,461
Issuance of shares for cash in public    Offering, net of issuance costs of    $838			3,910,000				39				8,898												8,937												8,937
Issuance of shares on exercise of     stock options			90,000				1				144				—				—				145				—				—				145
Issuance of shares for Royalty buy-     down			344,116				3				997												1,000												1,000
Stock option expense											175												175				—				—				175
Accrued interest on advance to noncontrolling interest			—				—				—				—				—				—				(4	)			—				(4	)
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			—				—				—				(849	)			—				(849	)			(521	)			—				(1,370	)
Net unrealized loss on marketable      equity securities (net of tax of      $69)			—				—				—				—				(116	)			(116	)			—				—				(116	)
Comprehensive loss			—				—				—				—				—				(965	)			(521	)			—				(1,486	)
Balance at June 30, 2011			34,137,458			$	341			$	48,552			$	(37,014	)		$	8,627			$	20,506			$	912			$	(190	)		$	21,228

 

 

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010

 

		Solitario Shareholders’ Equity
(in thousands, except																		Accumulated				Total								Contra
Share amounts)										Additional								Other				Solitario				Non-				Non-				Total
		Common Stock								Paid-in				Accumulated				Comprehensive				Shareholder				Controlling				Controlling				Shareholders
		Shares				Amount				Capital				Deficit				Income				Equity				Interest				Interest				Equity
Balance at December 31, 2009			29,750,242			$	297			$	35,611			$	(32,930	)		$	11,722			$	14,700			$	414			$	—			$	15,114
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			—				—				—				(905	)							(905	)			(70	)			—				(975	)
Net unrealized loss on marketable       Equity securities (net of tax       of $528)			—				—				—				—				(888	)			(888	)			—				—				(888	)
Comprehensive loss			—				—				—				—				—				(1,793	)			(70	)			—				(1,863	)
Balance at March 31, 2010			29,750,242			$	297			$	35,611			$	(33,835	)		$	10,834			$	12,907			$	344			$	—			$	13,251
Comprehensive income:
Net loss			—				—				—				(1,292	)							(1,292	)			(64	)			—				(1,356	)
Net unrealized loss on marketable       Equity securities (net of tax       of $195)			—				—				—				—				(328	)			(328	)			—				—				(328	)
Comprehensive loss			—				—				—				—				—				(1,620	)			(64	)			—				(1,684	)
Balance at June 30, 2010			29,750,242			$	297			$	35,611			$	(35,127	)		$	10,506			$	11,287			$	280			$	—			$	11,567

 

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the consolidated financial statements of Solitario for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis contained in Solitario’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Solitario's financial condition and results of operations are not necessarily indicative of what may be expected in future periods. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to dollars are to U.S. dollars.

 

(a) Business Overview and Summary

 

We are an exploration stage company with a focus on the acquisition of precious and base metal properties with exploration potential and the development or purchase of royalty interests. We acquire and hold a portfolio of exploration properties for future sale, joint venture, or to create a royalty prior to the establishment of proven and probable reserves. Although our mineral properties may be developed in the future by us or through a joint venture, and we currently intend to develop the Mt. Hamilton project, we have never developed a mineral property. We may also evaluate mineral properties to potentially buy a royalty. At June 30, 2011 we had 12 exploration properties in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru and two royalty properties in Peru and one royalty property in Brazil. We are conducting exploration activities in all of those countries.

 

(b) Recent Developments

 

Equity financing

On April 13, 2011, we sold 3,400,000 shares of our common stock in the Offering at a price to the public of $2.50 per share and on May 9, 2011 we sold an additional 510,000 shares at $2.50 per share, upon the exercise of the underwriter’s option to cover over-allotments. The net proceeds from the Offering were $8,937,000 after the underwriter’s commission of six percent totaling $587,000 and offering costs of $251,000. The Offering was made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the SEC on March 18, 2011, which was declared effective on March 29, 2011. A prospectus supplement relating to the Offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov.

 

Stock option liability 

On January 1, 2011, we changed our accounting for stock options to equity accounting from liability accounting in accordance with ASU 2010-13. In accordance with ASU 2010-13, this change has been made on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2011 with a reduction to stock option liability of $2,775,000, an increase to additional paid-in-capital of $1,240,000 and a reduction in accumulated deficit of $992,000, net of deferred taxes of $543,000. See “Employee stock compensation plans” in Note 1 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 “Financial Statements” above.

 

Investment in Ely and the Mt. Hamilton joint venture

On August 26, 2010, we signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with Ely Gold & Minerals, Inc., (“Ely”) to make certain equity investments into Ely and to joint venture Ely’s Mt. Hamilton gold project, which was wholly-owned by DHI-Minerals (US) Ltd. (“DHI-US”). DHI-US is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ely. The LOI and the joint venture terms and equity investments, described below were subject to the approval (the “Approval”) by Ely shareholders and regulatory approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”), which was received on October 18, 2010. Pursuant to the LOI, on August 26, 2010 and October 19, 2010, we made private placements of Cdn$250,000 each in Ely. The terms of the joint venture are set forth in the Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Mt. Hamilton LLC (MH-LLC) between us and DHI-US (the “MH Agreement). Pursuant to the MH Agreement, we may earn up to an 80% interest in MH-LLC by completing various staged commitments. See a more complete discussion of Ely and MH-LLC in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, “Ely Gold investment and the Mt. Hamilton Joint Venture” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Royalty buy-down

On May 17, 2011, we entered into an agreement, along with our subsidiary MH-LLC, with an underlying royalty holder on our Mt. Hamilton property whereby we delivered, for the benefit of MH-LLC, 344,116 shares of our common stock, with a fair market value of $1,000,000 based upon a 20-day weighted average quoted stock price, and $1,520,000 of cash, to reduce the future net smelter royalty (the “Royalty Buy-down”) from a maximum royalty of 8% to a maximum royalty of 6%. MH-LLC retains its existing right to further reduce the net smelter royalty at Mt. Hamilton by an additional 5%, to an ultimate royalty of 1%, as further discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, “Ely Gold investment and the Mt. Hamilton Joint Venture” in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. As part of the Royalty Buy-down transaction, we agreed to loan $504,000 to DHI-US, the non-controlling member of MH-LLC, for its mutually agreed 20% of the total purchase price contributed by us to MH-LLC to fund the Royalty Buy-down. This loan is unsecured; bears interest at 6% per annum and the loan and any accrued interest thereon will only be repaid from 80% of DHI-US share of distributions from MH-LLC, if any. We have recorded the loan of $504,000 as an offset to the non-controlling interest in MH-LLC, as the loan represents a claim on DHI-US’s share of the future distributions from MH-LLC. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, we accrued $4,000 of interest on the $504,000 loan as an offset to DHI-US’s minority interest in the equity section of our consolidated balance sheet.

 

Investment in Kinross

We have a significant investment in Kinross at June 30, 2011, which consists of 855,000 shares of Kinross common stock. As of June 30, 2011, none of these shares are subject to the Kinross Collar discussed in “Derivative instruments” in Note 1 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 “Financial Statements” above. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 we sold 20,000 and 125,000, respectively, shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $316,000 and $1,964,000, respectively , and recorded a gain on sale of $302,000 and $1,870,000, respectively. We sold 40,000 shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $730,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and recorded a gain on sale of $553,000. On April 12, 2011, the final tranche of the Kinross Collar due on that date expired, and 100,000 shares under the Kinross Collar were released. The Kinross Collar has expired as of that date and no shares are subject to the Kinross Collar. No shares were delivered to UBS under the Kinross Collar and no cash was paid or received upon termination of the Kinross Collar. As of August 1, 2011, we own 855,000 shares of Kinross, which have a value of approximately $14.2 million based upon the market price of $16.58 per Kinross share. Any significant fluctuation in the market value of Kinross common shares could have a material impact on our liquidity and capital resources.

 

Mineral property

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, we capitalized a total of $160,000 related to the acquisition of certain leases located near the Mt. Hamilton project, owned by MH-LLC. In addition, we capitalized $2,520,000 for the Royalty-buy-down discussed above. All exploration costs on our properties, including any additional costs incurred for subsequent lease payments or exploration activities related to our projects, are expensed as incurred.

 

(c) Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2011 to the three months ended June 30, 2010

 

          We had a net loss of $849,000 or $0.03 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a loss of $1,292,000 or $0.04 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2010. As explained in more detail below, the primary reason for the decrease in the loss in the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the loss in the same period of 2010 was a reduction in general and administrative expense to $689,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to general and administrative expense of $1,082,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2010 primarily as a result of a reduction in stock option expense, discussed below; and an increase in the noncontrolling interest share of our losses related to our activities at Mt. Hamilton of $521,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2011, compared to a non-controlling interest in the loss of our PBM subsidiary of $65,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2010. These decreases to our net loss were partially offset by the net loss on our equity method investment in Pedra Branca Mineracao, Ltd. (“PBM”), which was deconsolidated in July 2010 and a reduction in our gain on sale of marketable equity securities to $302,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a gain of $553,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2010. Each of these items is discussed in more detail below.

 

          Our net exploration expense decreased to $921,000 during the second quarter of 2011 compared to $953,000 in the second quarter of 2010. During the three months ended June 30, 2011 we spent $507,000 for exploration at our Mt. Hamilton project. The remaining spending at our Brazil, Peru and Mexican exploration projects was reduced to $414,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $953,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2010. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 we were consolidating our Pedra Branca Mineracao, Ltd, (“PBM”) subsidiary and included $141,000 of exploration expenditures on our Pedra Branca project in that period. In July 2010, we deconsolidated PBM upon our joint venture partner earning a majority interest in PBM as discussed in Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. As a result of no longer consolidating PBM, our consolidated exploration expense for the three months ended June 30, 2011 related to Pedra Branca consists of a credit for management fees of $16,000 we earned from PBM during the period. Our remaining activities were primarily related to reconnaissance exploration during the three months ending June 30, 2011 of $366,000 compared to $318,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2010. The price of an ounce of gold has been trading upward during 2010 and 2011, and has traded between approximately $1,428 and $1,565 during the three months ended June 30, 2011, and recently hit a record high of over $1,600 per ounce, compared to an average price of approximately $1,224 per ounce of gold for 2010. This has caused us to increase our focus on the Mt. Hamilton project and to selectively increase our exploration efforts to capitalize on the recent increase in commodity prices. We anticipate our future exploration activities will continue to follow the broad commodity pricing but will be most affected by the property-by-property results of our exploration efforts and assumed potential of our currently owned properties and any properties we may acquire. We anticipate continuing to acquire mineral properties, either through staking, joint venture or lease, in Latin America during 2011 and our 2011 full-year exploration expenditure budget is approximately $4,676,000. This budget includes approximately $1,581,000 for exploration at our Mt Hamilton project, for which we also have budgeted approximately an additional $1,165,000 for leasehold acquisition and earn-in payments for Mt. Hamilton during 2011.

 

Exploration expense (in thousands) by project for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

 

		Three months ended								Six months ended
		June 30,				June 30,				June 30,				June 30,
Project Name		2011				2010				2011				2010
Mt. Hamilton		$	507			$	—			$	1,020			$	—
Pedra Branca, net			(16	)			141				(35	)			335
Cerro Azul			34				6				35				7
Espanola			5				—				19				16
La Promessa			11				35				13				40
Mercurio			3				18				7				32
Cajatambo			7				265				7				293
Excelsior			3				20				3				23
Pachuca			1				27				2				34
La Noria			—				20				—				139
Palmira			—				72				—				164
Atico			—				20				—				20
Paria Cruz			—				9				—				11
Chonta			—				1				—				2
Triunfo			—				—				—				1
Bongará			—				1				—				1
Reconnaissance			366				318				691				610
Total exploration expense		$	921			$	953			$	1,762			$	1,728

 

As a result of controlling MH-LLC, we consolidate MH-LLC in our financial statements, however because DHI-US currently owns a 90% interest in MH-LLC, we recorded a noncontrolling interest credit of $521000 for DHI-US’s share of the losses at MH-LLC during the three months ended June 30, 2011. During the three months ended June 30, 2010, we recorded a noncontrolling interest credit of $65,000 for Anglo Platinum Ltd. share of the losses of PBM during that period, prior to the deconsolidation of PBM. See Note 11, to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

General and administrative costs, excluding stock option compensation costs discussed below, were $514,000 during the second quarter of 2011 compared to $446,000 in the second quarter of 2010. A major portion of the increase in costs related to our legal and accounting expenditures, which increased to $73,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2011, as a result of activities related to Mt. Hamilton and corporate regulatory activities, compared to $45,000 in the same period of 2010. In addition, our travel and shareholder relation costs increased to $141,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $112,000 in the same period of 2010 as a result of additional efforts to inform the investment community of our recent acquisition of the Mt. Hamilton project. We anticipate our full year general and administrative costs will be increased during 2011 compared to 2010 primarily as a result of additional regulatory costs and additional travel and shareholder relations costs.

 

We account for our employee stock options under the provisions of ASC 718. Beginning January 1, 2011, we recognize stock option compensation expense on the date of grant for 25% of the grant date fair value, and subsequently, based upon a straight line amortization of the grant date fair value of each of its outstanding options. During the three months ended June 30, 2011 Solitario recorded $175,000 of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital. Prior to January 1, 2011, Solitario recorded a stock option liability for the vested fair value of each option grant on the measurement date by multiplying the estimated fair value determined using the Black-Scholes model by the percentage vested on the measurement date. During the three months ended June 30, 2010, Solitario recognized $636,000 in stock option compensation expense. See “Employee stock compensation plans” in Note 1 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 “Financial Statements” above.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2011 we sold 20,000 shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $316,000 and recorded a gain on sale of $302,000. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 we sold 40,000 shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $730,000 and recorded a gain on sale of $553,000. Partially as a result of the availability of funds from the Offering, discussed above, we have estimated we will sell approximately 171,000 shares of Kinross over the next year for anticipated proceeds of approximately $2,702,000, which are recorded as a current asset. See also "Liquidity and Capital Resources," below.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2011, depreciation and amortization expense was $10,000 compared to $20,000 in the second quarter of 2010. We do not expect a significant change in our depreciation and amortization costs during the remainder of 2011 as compared to 2010.

 

During the second quarter of 2011, we recorded interest and dividend income of $7,000. We did not have any interest and dividend income during the same period in 2010. The income during the three months ended June 30, 2011 is primarily related to interest on funds received in the Offering. We anticipate our dividend income will be reduced in the full year of 2011 compared to 2010 as we continue to liquidate our holdings of Kinross. See also “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” below.

 

We regularly perform evaluations of our mineral property assets to assess the recoverability of our investments in these assets. All long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances change which indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable utilizing guidelines based upon future net cash flows from the asset as well as our estimates of the geological potential of early stage mineral property and its related value for future sale, joint venture or development by us or others. During the three months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded no property impairments. During the three months ended June 30, 2010 we recorded mineral property write-downs of $39,000 related to our Cajatambo, La Noria and Palmira projects based upon the results from drilling on these three properties.

 

We recorded a deferred tax benefit of $152,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a deferred tax benefit of $178,000 during the same period of 2010. The tax benefit during 2011 is primarily related to the tax deductible expenditures at Mt. Hamilton incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2011, discussed above. The decrease in gain on sale during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010 also contributed to the deferred tax benefit. This was mitigated by the reduction in United States general and administrative costs during the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. As a result of the Offering, discussed above, we

anticipate we will not have currently payable income taxes during 2011 as we will utilize a portion of the proceeds from the Offering for ongoing exploration expenditures and anticipate we will be able to limit the sales of Kinross for the remainder of the year so that the gain on sale from those sales will be less than our anticipated 2011United States tax deductible expenditures. We provide a valuation allowance for our foreign net operating losses, which are primarily related to our exploration activities in Peru, Mexico, Bolivia and Brazil. We anticipate we will continue to provide a valuation allowance for these net operating losses until we are in a net tax liability position with regards to those countries where we operate or until it is more likely than not that we will be able to realize those net operating losses in the future.

 

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2011 to the six months ended June 30, 2010

 

          We had a net loss of $1,010,000 or $0.03 per basic and diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a loss of $2,197,000 or $0.07 per basic and diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2010. As explained in more detail below, the primary reason for the decrease in the loss in the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the loss in the same period of 2010 was an increase in shares of Kinross sold during the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 resulting in a gain on sale of Kinross of $1,870,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a gain on sale of Kinross of $553,000 during the same period of 2010. In addition, we recorded a credit for the loss attributable to DHI-US on our Mt. Hamilton project of $1,054,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a credit of $135,000, related to PBM during the six months ended June 30, 2010. Each of these items is discussed in more detail below.

 

Our net exploration expense increased to $1,762,000 during the first six months of 2011 compared to $1,728,000 in the first six months of 2010. During the six months ended June 30, 2011 we spent $1,020,000 for exploration at our Mt. Hamilton project. The remaining spending at our Brazil, Peru and Mexican exploration projects was reduced to $742,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $1,728,000 during the six months June 30, 2010. During 2010 we were consolidating our Pedra Branca Mineracao, Ltd, (“PBM”) subsidiary and included $335,000 of net exploration expenditures on our Pedra Branca project in that period. In July 2010, we deconsolidated PBM upon our joint venture partner earning a majority interest in PBM as discussed in Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. As a result of no longer consolidating PBM, our consolidated exploration expense for the six months ended June 30, 2011 related to Pedra Branca consists of a credit for management fees of $35,000 we earned from PBM during the period. Our remaining activities were primarily related to reconnaissance exploration during the six months ending June 30, 2011 of $691,000 compared to $610,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2010. As discussed above, with the increase in the price of an ounce of gold, we have increased our focus on the Mt. Hamilton project in 2011, and reduced our emphasis on exploration of certain other projects in South America. However, we expect our South American expenditures will be relatively higher in the second half of 2011, as certain drilling projects planned for the first part of 2011 have been delayed to the second half of 2011. As discussed above, our full-year budget for exploration during 2011 is $4,676,000, which includes $1,581,000 at our Mt. Hamilton project. We anticipate continuing to acquire mineral properties, either through staking, joint venture or lease, and perform exploration activities in Latin America during 2011 more in line with our 2011 full-year budget.

 

As a result of controlling MH-LLC, we consolidate MH-LLC in our financial statements, however because DHI-US currently owns a 90% interest in MH-LLC, we recorded a noncontrolling interest credit of $1,054,000 for DHI-US’s share of the losses at MH-LLC during the six months ended June 30, 2011. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we recorded a noncontrolling interest credit of $135,000 for Anglo Platinum Ltd’s. share of the losses of PBM during that period, prior to the deconsolidation of PBM. See Note 11, to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

General and administrative costs, excluding stock option compensation costs discussed below, were $1,296,000 during the first six months of 2011 compared to $915,000 in the first six months of 2010. The major portion of the increase in costs related to an increase in salaries and benefit expense during the first six months of 2011 to $733,000 compared to salaries and benefit expense of $493,000 in the same period of 2010 as a result of the payment of $214,000 of bonuses in 2011 and no similar payments in 2010. In addition our legal and accounting expenditures increased to $159,000 in the first six months of 2011 compared to $101,000 in the same period of 2010 primarily related to new costs related to the Mt. Hamilton project and to certain costs associated with regulatory activities incurred during 2011. Finally our travel and shareholder relation costs increased to $298,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $228,000 in the

same period of 2010 as a result of additional efforts to inform the investment community of our recent acquisition of the Mt. Hamilton project. We anticipate our full year general and administrative costs will be increased during 2011 compared to 2010 primarily as a result of increased activities related to Mt. Hamilton and regulatory and investor relations-related costs.

 

We account for our employee stock options under the provisions of ASC 718. Beginning January 1, 2011, we recognize stock option compensation expense on the date of grant for 25% of the grant date fair value, and subsequently, based upon a straight line amortization of the grant date fair value of each of its outstanding options. During the six months ended June 30, 2011 Solitario recorded $349,000 of stock option expense for the amortization of grant date fair value with a credit to additional paid-in-capital. Prior to January 1, 2011, Solitario recorded a stock option liability for the vested fair value of each option grant on the measurement date by multiplying the estimated fair value determined using the Black-Scholes model by a vesting percentage, of 25% vesting from the grant date plus a portion of the remaining 75% recognized over three years on a straight line basis. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, Solitario recognized $645,000 in stock option compensation expense. See “Employee stock compensation plans” in Note 1 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 “Financial Statements” above.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2011 we sold 125,000 shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $1,964,000 and recorded a gain on sale of $1,870,000. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 we sold 40,000 shares of Kinross for net proceeds of $730,000 and recorded a gain on sale of $553,000. See also "Liquidity and Capital Resources," below.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, depreciation and amortization expense was $21,000 compared to $44,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2010. We do not expect a significant change in our depreciation and amortization costs during the remainder of 2011 as compared to 2010.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded interest and dividend income of $57,000 compared to interest and dividend income of $53,000 during the same period in 2010. This income is primarily related to the dividends on our Kinross common stock, as well as interest earned on cash balances remaining from the Offering. We anticipate this income will be reduced in the full year of 2011 compared to 2010 as we continue to liquidate our holdings of Kinross. See also “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” below.

 

We regularly perform evaluations of our mineral property assets to assess the recoverability of our investments in these assets. All long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances change which indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable utilizing guidelines based upon future net cash flows from the asset as well as our estimates of the geological potential of early stage mineral property and its related value for future sale, joint venture or development by us or others. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded no property impairments. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 we recorded mineral property write-downs of $39,000 related to our Cajatambo, La Noria and Palmira projects based upon the results from drilling on these three properties.

 

We recorded a deferred tax expense of $93,000 during the first six months of 2011 compared to a deferred tax benefit of $293,000 during the first six months of 2010. The tax expense is primarily related to higher United States deferred taxes related to the gain on sale of $1,870,000 from the sale of 125,000 shares of Kinross common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2011. This United States taxable income was partially offset by an increase in United States administrative expenses, discussed above, and by the portion of Mt. Hamilton exploration expenses incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2011 that may be used to currently offset United States income. As a result of the Offering, discussed above, we anticipate we will not have currently payable income taxes during 2011 as we will utilize a portion of the proceeds from the Offering for ongoing exploration expenditures and anticipate we will be able to limit the sales of Kinross for the remainder of the year so that the gain on sale from those sales will be less than our anticipated 2011 United States tax deductible expenditures. We provide a valuation allowance for our foreign net operating losses, which are primarily related to our exploration activities in Peru, Mexico, Bolivia and Brazil. We anticipate we will continue to provide a valuation allowance for these net operating losses until we are in a net tax liability position with regards to those countries where we operate or until it is more likely than not that we will be able to realize those net operating losses in the future.

 

(d) Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Equity financing

 

On April 13, 2011, we sold 3,400,000 shares of our common stock in the Offering and on May 9, 2011 we sold an additional 510,000 shares at $2.50 per share, upon the exercise of the underwriter’s option to cover over-allotments. The net proceeds from the Offering were $8,937,000 after the underwriter’s commission of six percent and offering costs. We used the proceeds from the Offering to repay $1,905,000 of short-term margin loans to RBC, discussed below. We also used $1,520,000 of the proceeds for the purchase of the Royalty buy-down discussed above. In addition, we intend to use the remaining proceeds from the Offering to pay ongoing exploration costs at our Mt. Hamilton project, mineral property acquisitions and for general corporate needs. As a result of the Offering, we anticipate we will reduce the number of shares of Kinross we would otherwise sell to fund our ongoing exploration activities and we do not anticipate we will incur any additional short-term margin debt during the remainder of 2011.

 

Short term debt

 

As of June 30, 2011, we have repaid all short-term margin loans previously borrowed from RBC Capital Markets, LLC ("RBC") and have no loan balance with RBC. Interest expense related to the short term margin loans for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 was $6,000 and $21,000, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2011, we have borrowed $2,000,000 from UBS Bank, USA ("UBS Bank") pursuant to a secured credit line agreement between us and UBS Bank and have accrued $17,000 of unpaid interest on this debt. The UBS Bank credit line carries an interest rate which floats, based upon a base rate of 2.25% plus the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), which is 0.20% as of June 30, 2011. We recorded $13,000 and $23,000, respectively in interest expense related to the UBS credit line for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

 We have used this short-term debt as an alternative source of capital to selling our Kinross stock. As a result of the Offering, we do not anticipate we will be borrowing any additional money under short term margin loans for the remainder of 2011. However we will borrow money using short term margin loans as necessary, if our funding needs change, using our Kinross common stock as collateral to defer potential current United States income taxes if we were to sell our Kinross common stock in excess of our anticipated United States tax deductible expenses for the entire year of 2011. Our United States tax deductible expenses consist primarily of United States general and administrative costs and a portion of our costs to develop the Mt. Hamilton project in Nevada. We anticipate the proceeds from the sale of Kinross common stock sold during 2011 will not exceed our anticipated United States tax deductible expenses, and accordingly, we do not anticipate having any currently payable United States income taxes for 2011.

 

We anticipate proceeds from the Offering from the sale of shares of Kinross common stock and from any loans against our investment in Kinross stock will provide adequate funds for our operations through the end of 2011. Our use of short-term borrowing is not considered critical to our liquidity, capital resources or credit risk strategies. We consider the use of short-term borrowing as a component of our overall strategy to potentially maximize our after-tax returns on the sale of our investment in Kinross stock. Our maximum amount of short-term borrowing was $3,920,000, including accrued interest, during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Our average short term borrowing during the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $3,576,000.

 

Long-term debt

 

In connection with the formation of MH-LLC, the Mt. Hamilton properties contributed by DHI-US to MH-LLC are subject to a security interest granted to Augusta to secure a debt obligation related to Ely's acquisition of the Mt. Hamilton project. Pursuant to the MH Agreement, as part of our earn-in, as of June 30, 2011, we have agreed to make remaining payments totaling $3,250,000, of which $750,000 are to be paid in cash to DHI-US and of which $2,500,000 are to be in the form of private placement investments in Ely common stock, detailed below, all to provide Ely with the funds necessary for Ely to make the loan payments due to Augusta, which loan payment obligations are secured by the mining claims currently owned by MH-LLC. Failure to make any of the payments or investments necessary to provide Ely with the funds necessary for Ely to make the required payments due to Augusta may result in the loss of all of our interest in the Mt. Hamilton project. The payments due to Augusta are non-interest bearing. Accordingly, upon the contribution of the mineral properties by DHI-

US to MH-LLC, MH-LLC recorded $3,066,000 for the discounted fair value of the payments due to Augusta, discounted at 7.5%, which was based on our estimated cost of similar credit as of the formation of MH-LLC. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, we paid $500,000 to DHI-US, which was paid to Augusta on the long-term debt. As of June 30, 2011, we have recorded $2,699,000 for the Augusta debt obligation, of which $1,999,000 is recorded as a noncurrent liability and $700,000 is recorded in current liability for the payment due on this loan in June of 2012. Pursuant to the terms of the MH Agreement, we have the right to opt-out of these payments in the event we determine the Mt. Hamilton property is not economic, in which case we would record mineral property impairment for the capitalized costs of the Mt. Hamilton property and reduce any recorded liability for this associated long-term debt. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Solitario recorded $50,000 and $114,000, respectively for accretion of interest expense related to MH-LLC long-term debt due to Augusta.

 

Investment in Marketable Equity Securities

 

Our marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value, which is based upon market quotes of the underlying securities. At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we owned 855,000 and 980,000 shares of Kinross common stock, respectively. The Kinross shares are recorded at their fair market value of $13,509,000 and $18,581,000 at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. At June 30, 2011, none of these 855,000 shares are subject to the Kinross Collar. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, we sold 20,000 and 125,000 shares, respectively, of Kinross stock for proceeds of $316,000 and $1,964,000, respectively, resulting in a gain of $302,000 and $1,870,000, respectively, which was transferred, less related deferred tax expense of $113,000 and $698,000, respectively, from previously unrealized gain on marketable equity securities in other comprehensive income. As of August 1,2011, we own 855,000 shares of Kinross. Any change in the market value of the shares of Kinross common stock could have a material impact on our liquidity and capital resources. The price of shares of Kinross common stock has varied from a high of $18.72 per share to a low of $14.27 per share during the six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

In addition we own other marketable equity securities with a fair value of $1,242,000 and $1,190,000 as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. We own 1,000,000 shares of TNR that are classified as marketable equity securities available for sale and are recorded at their fair market value of $82,000 as of June 30, 2011. During 2010 we acquired 3,333,333 shares of Ely that are classified as marketable equity securities available for sale and are recorded at their fair market value at June 30, 2011 of $1,160,000.

 

At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we have classified $2,702,000 and $5,214,000, respectively, of our marketable equity securities as a short-term asset. Changes in the fair value of marketable equity securities are recorded as gains and losses in other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded a net loss in other comprehensive income for changes in our marketable equity securities of $185,000 and $5,040,000, respectively, less related deferred tax expense of $70,000 and 1,880,000, respectively.

 

Ely Warrants

 

We also acquired Ely warrants for 1,666,666 shares that have an exercise price of Cdn$0.25 per share and are recorded at their fair value of $325,000 and $366,000, respectively, as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, as determined using a Black Scholes option pricing model. As of June 30, 2011, these warrants are classified as derivative instruments in other assets. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 we recorded an unrealized gain on derivative instruments of $17,000 and $73,000, respectively, related to these warrants in the statement of operations.

 

Working Capital

 

We had working capital of $3,934,000 at June 30, 2011 compared to working capital of $134,000 as of December 31, 2010. Our working capital at June 30, 2011 consists primarily of our cash and cash equivalents and the current portion of our marketable equity securities of $2,702,000, less our short-term margin loans of $2,017,000, current deferred income taxes of $1,008,000 related to our planned sales of Kinross common stock during the next year and the current portion of our long-term debt of $700,000.

 

We intend to utilize the proceeds from the Offering and from the liquidation of a portion of our Kinross shares to fund our operations over the next year. We will continue to monitor our exposure to a single asset, taking into consideration our cash and liquidity requirements, tax implications, the market price of gold and the market price of Kinross stock. We have budgeted the anticipated sale of 171,000 shares of Kinross stock during the next year for assumed proceeds of $2,702,000. Any funds received from the sale of our Kinross shares or from the Offering would be used primarily to fund exploration and development on our existing properties, for the acquisition and exploration of new properties and general working capital.

 

Cash and cash equivalents were $4,905,000 as of June 30, 2011 compared to $478,000 at December 31, 2010. As of June 30, 2011, our cash balances along with our investment in marketable equity securities are considered adequate to fund our expected expenditures over the next year.

 

The nature of the mining business requires significant sources of capital to fund exploration, development and operation of mining projects. We will need additional resources to develop our Mt. Hamilton project or any of our other mineral deposits on our own. We anticipate that we would finance these activities through the use of joint venture arrangements, the issuance of debt or equity, the sale of interests in our properties or the sale of our shares of Kinross common stock. There can be no assurance that such sources of funds will be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

 

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, options for 90,000 and 108,100 shares, respectively, were exercised from the 2006 Plan for net proceeds of $145,000 and $181,000, respectively. None of our outstanding options from the 2006 Plan expire during 2011. We do not anticipate the exercise of options will be a material source of funds during the remainder of 2011. The activity for stock options outstanding under the 2006 Plan as of June 30, 2011 and 2010 can be found in Note 1, "Employee stock compensation plans" to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 “Financial Statements”above.

 

(e) Cash Flows

 

Net cash used in operations during the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased to $3,554,000 compared to $3,095,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 primarily as a result of the added exploration effort at our Mt. Hamilton project and an increase in our general and administrative costs, discussed above. These increases in use of cash were partially offset by a decrease in exploration expense at our other South American operations during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Based upon projected expenditures in our 2011 budget, we anticipate continued use of funds from operations through the remainder of 2011. See “Results of Operations” discussed above for further explanation of some of these variances.

 

We provided $234,000 in cash from investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to providing $739,000 in cash from investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increased use in cash is primarily related to the purchase of the Royalty buy down for $1,520,000 in cash during the first six months of 2011, which was partially offset by the increase in proceeds related to the sale of 125,000 shares of Kinross during the six months of 2011 for net proceeds of $1,964,000 during the first six months of 2011 compared to proceeds of $730,000 during the first six months of 2010. We anticipate continued sales of shares of Kinross during the remainder of 2011, albeit at a slower pace, as a result of the ability to use funds from the Offering, discussed above under “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Net cash provided from financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2011was $7,747,000 primarily related to the net proceeds from the Offering of $8,937,000. In addition we received non-controlling interest contributions of $80,000 during 2011 compared to $747,000 during 2010. These proceeds were partially offset by the net repayment of short-term debt of $851,000, and the payment of $500,000 principal on the Augusta Note payable. We anticipate the cash provided from financing activities will be the significant source of our funds for the remainder of 2011 as a result of the Offering, discussed above under “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

(f) Off-balance sheet arrangements

 

As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 we have no off-balance sheet obligations.

 

(g) Exploration Activities, Environmental Compliance and Contractual Obligations

 

Exploration Activities

 

A significant part of our business involves the review of potential property acquisitions, and continuing review and analysis of properties in which we have an interest, to determine the exploration and development potential of the properties. In analyzing expected levels of expenditures for work commitments and property payments, our obligations to make such payments fluctuate greatly depending on whether, among other things, we make a decision to sell a property interest, convey a property interest to a joint venture, or allow our interest in a property to lapse by not making the work commitment or payment required. In acquiring our interests in mining claims and leases, we have entered into agreements, which generally may be canceled at our option. We are required to make minimum rental and option payments in order to maintain our interest in certain claims and leases. In 2011 we estimate exploration property rentals and option payments for properties we own or operate, excluding the Mt. Hamilton project, to be approximately $874,000, assuming that our joint ventures continue in their current status and that we do not appreciably change our property positions on existing properties. Approximately $734,000 of these annual payments is reimbursable to us by our joint venture partners. In addition, we may be required to make further payments in the future if we elect to exercise our options under those agreements or if we enter into new agreements.

 

Environmental Compliance

 

We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations in the countries where we operate. We are required to obtain permits in advance of completing certain of our exploration activities, to monitor and report on certain activities to appropriate authorities, and to perform remediation of environmental disturbance as a result of certain of our activities. Historically, the nature of our activities of review, acquisition and exploration of properties prior to the establishment of reserves, which may include mapping, sampling, geochemistry and geophysical studies, as well as some limited exploration drilling, has not resulted in significant environmental impacts in the past. We have historically carried on our required environmental remediation expenditures and activities, if any, concurrently with our exploration activities and expenditures. The expenditures to comply with our environmental obligations are included in our exploration expenditures in the statement of operations and have not been material to our capital or exploration expenditures, and have not had a material effect on our competitive position. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, we have not capitalized any costs related to environmental control facilities. We anticipate that any potential development activities will increase our environmental expenditures in the event we begin mining development activities, including building a mine, building and operating an open pit, an ore processing plant and leach pads and other similar activities. These mining development activities are dependent on, among other things, receiving a positive feasibility study, receiving required permits and obtaining necessary financing, none of which are currently in place for any of our projects. Accordingly, we do not expect any of these additional environmental expenditures within the next year.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information in Item 303(a)(5) of Regulation S-K.

 

(h) Joint Ventures, Royalty and the Strategic Alliance Properties

 

Mt Hamilton

 

Our focus for 2011 is completion of a bankable feasibility study and a plan of operations that will be filed with the US Department of Agriculture - Forest Service. Feasibility field work began in November 2010 and consisted of feasibility-level geotechnical, metallurgical, and hydro-geologic drilling, and a limited amount of drilling to provide additional resource information. An eleven-hole, 6,250-foot core drilling program was completed in January 2011. Auger drilling was completed in July 2011 for the proposed leach pad area for geotechnical design purposes. We also began additional metallurgical testing during the first quarter of 2011 to test several areas within the Centennial gold deposit. Heap and waste rock geochemical

characterization also began in the first quarter of 2011. During 2011, we intend to continue our feasibility level economic evaluation utilizing an independent engineering firm and will continue until the feasibility study is completed. We have budgeted approximately $2,800,000 for exploration, planned development, land and earn-in payments for 2011 at Mt. Hamilton.

 

Bongará

 

The Bongará project is an advanced-stage project in which we are exploring for primarily zinc, with lesser amounts of lead and silver. Our joint venture partner, Votorantim Metais ("Votorantim"), is funding and managing all work conducted on the project. During 2011, Votorantim will continue road construction to the project area, tunneling to access the San Jorge zone of the Florida Canyon deposit, metallurgical testing, and other pre-feasibility activities in preparation for potentially completing a full feasibility report in 2012. Drilling to further define mineralization will also be conducted from both the surface and underground workings that are currently being driven. The planned road construction will ultimately consist of approximately 23 kilometers of new road alignment to the deposit when all required permits and permissions are in place. To date, access to the deposit has occurred via helicopter and foot-trails. Permitting and social development activities with surrounding communities will also continue throughout 2011. See the discussion of the Framework Agreement in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Pedra Branca

 

The Pedra Branca project is an advanced-stage project in which PBM is exploring for platinum and palladium in Brazil. Our joint venture partner, Anglo Platinum ("Anglo"), currently owns 51% of PBM and is funding, through PBM, all work conducted on the project. We deconsolidated PBM during 2010 and will record our share of any exploration expense as our equity interest in the gains and losses of PBM against our investment in PBM. As part of the Shareholders Agreement with Anglo, we entered into a Services Agreement with Anglo whereby we receive a 5% management fee for operating the project based upon total expenditures. PBM completed its planned 25-hole, 2,000-meter core drilling program in April 2011. We were recently informed that Anglo will fund, through PBM, a detailed, property-wide helicopter-borne magnetic survey and geologic re-logging of drill core. These activities will be carried out during the remainder of 2011.

 

Pachuca Real

 

On April 28, 2010, we signed a definitive venture agreement with Compania De Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. ("Buenaventura") on our Pachuca Real silver-gold project in central Mexico. The Pachuca Real project (the "Pachuca Project") encompasses approximately 31,300 hectares of mineral rights in and around the Pachuca silver-gold mining district. Through our joint venture partner, Buenaventura, we are exploring for silver and gold on the early-staged Pachuca Real project in central Mexico. Buenaventura has the right to terminate the agreement at anytime following an initial 18-month work commitment. Buenaventura initiated a drilling program in the first quarter of 2011 and plans to continue drilling during the remainder of the year. We are expecting to receive drilling results from Buenaventura during the third and fourth quarters of 2011.

 

Newmont Alliance

 

On January 18, 2005, we signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement (the "Alliance Agreement") with Newmont Overseas Exploration Limited (“Newmont”), to explore for gold in South America (the "Strategic Alliance"). As of June 30, 2011, we have four property positions which fall within the currently defined Strategic Alliance areas and are subject to the provisions of the Newmont Alliance. These are the La Promesa, Paria Cruz, Excelsior and Cerro Azul properties. Our budget for 2011 includes funds for planned exploration on these properties including permitting, surface sampling, geophysical and geotechnical work. We received permits to drill at our Cerro Azul project during the second quarter of 2011 and plan to drill this property beginning in the third quarter. See the discussion of the Alliance Agreement in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Yanacocha Royalty Property

 

On January 18, 2005, we signed a letter of intent (the “Letter of Intent”) with Newmont Peru, Ltd. ("Newmont Peru"), to amend our net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on a 61,000-hectare property located immediately north of the Newmont Mining-Buenaventura's Minera Yanacocha Mine, the largest gold mine in South America. In addition to amending the NSR royalty schedule, the Letter of Intent committed Newmont Peru to a long-term US$4.0 million work commitment on our royalty property and provides us access to Newmont Peru's future exploration results on an annual basis. In January 2005, the Yanacocha royalty amendment and work commitment Letter of Intent was subsequently replaced by a definitive agreement with the same terms. Newmont continues to conduct annual exploration work on our royalty property, and we see this work continuing for the foreseeable future. See the discussion of the Yanacocha royalty agreement in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

(i) Wholly-owned Exploration Properties

 

We have budgeted approximately $3,100,000 in 2011 for exploration on our wholly owned projects, our Newmont Strategic Alliance projects, and reconnaissance exploration activities for 2011. This amount includes approximately $800,000 for drilling related expenditures in 2011. These activities include mapping, sampling, geophysical and geochemical analysis in addition to our drilling activities. Our significant wholly owned projects include Triunfo and Espanola in Bolivia, Atico in Peru and Norcan in Mexico.

 

(j) Discontinued Projects

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2011 we did not abandon any projects. During the six months ended June 30, 2010 we abandoned our Cajatambo, La Noria and Palmira projects and recorded a mineral property write-down of $39,000.

 

(k) Critical Accounting Estimates

 

          Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, describe the significant accounting estimates and policies used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Actual results in these areas could differ from management’s estimates. With the exception of the adoption of ASU 2010-13, discussed above under “Recent Developments,” during the six months ended June 30, 2011, we have not adopted any additional accounting policies.

 

(l) Related Party Transactions

 

As of June 30, 2011, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, we have no related party transactions or balances.

 

(m) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

          Please see “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” in Note 1 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Item 1 “Financial Statements” above.

 

(n) Forward Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to our financial condition, results of operations, business prospects, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, capital expenditures, and exploration and development efforts. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the restated Risk Factors associated with our business disclosed in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, which disclosed material changes to and superseded the description of the Risk Factors associated with our business previously disclosed in

Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the risks described in Item 1A of Part II in this report. These forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this report and include statements with respect to, among other things:

 

·         Our estimates of future exploration, general and administrative and other costs;

·         Our estimates of fair value of our investment in shares of Kinross, our investment in Ely Warrants, and our Augusta long term debt;

·         Our expectations regarding exploration of our properties, including those subject to joint venture and shareholder agreements;

• the impact of political and regulatory developments;
• our future financial condition or results of operations and our future revenues and expenses; and

·         our business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations

 

Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that these statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in the statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Smaller reporting companies are not required to provide the information required by this item.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

The management of Solitario is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")). During the fiscal period covered by this report, Solitario's management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of Solitario's internal control over financial reporting and the design and operation of Solitario's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). This evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting was based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on such evaluation, Solitario's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of June 30, 2011, Solitario's internal control over financial reporting is effective and that its disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Solitario in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports is accumulated and communicated to Solitario's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There are no material changes to the restated Risk Factors associated with our business disclosed in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, which disclosed material changes to and superseded the description of the Risk Factors associated with our business previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

On April 13, 2011, we sold 3,400,000 shares of our common stock in the Offering and on May 9, 2011 we sold an additional 510,000 shares at $2.50 per share, upon the exercise of the underwriter’s option to cover over-allotments, for an aggregate offering price of $9,775,000. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, in addition to a commission of 6% totaling $587,000, we incurred indirect costs related to legal, accounting and other costs related to the Offering of $251,000, all of which have been charged to additional paid-in-capital, in arriving at the net proceeds from the offering of $8,937,000 as of June 30, 2011. None of these costs were paid to officers, directors or their associates, to persons holding ten percent or more of any class of our equity securities or to our affiliates. Roth Capital Partners was the sole underwriter of the Offering. The Offering was made pursuant to a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the SEC on March 18, 2011, which was declared effective on March 29, 2011 (File Number 333-172929). A prospectus supplement relating to the Offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov.

 

The proceeds, from the date of the Offering (including the proceeds from the over allotment) through June 30, 2011 were used for the following:

 

Repayment of short-term borrowing		$	1,915,000
Purchase of Royalty Buy-down			1,520,000
Exploration expenses at Mt. Hamilton			501,000
Other exploration and general working capital *			564,000
Total use of proceeds		$	4,500,000

* Based upon a reasonable estimate of use of proceeds between cash available from the Offering and cash available from cash on hand prior to the Offering, cash from sales of Kinross and cash proceeds from option exercises during the period.

 

None of the proceeds of the Offering were used for direct or indirect payments to officers, directors or their associates, or persons owning ten percent or more of any class of our equity securities or to our affiliates. The Royalty Buy-down had not been entered into at the time of the prospectus supplement, discussed above, and therefore was not specifically identified in the use of proceeds at that time, but was generally included under the caption “general corporate purposes, including possible acquisition and exploration of new mining properties.”

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None

 

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)

 

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a)     The exhibits to this report are listed in the Exhibit Index.

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

SOLITARIO EXPLORATION & ROYALTY CORP.

 

August 3, 2011 Date	By:	/s/ James R. Maronick James R. Maronick Chief Financial Officer

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

3.1	Articles of Incorporation of Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp., as Amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Solitario’s Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008)
3.2	Amended and Restated By-laws of Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Solitario’s Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008)
4.1	Form of Common Stock Certificate of Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Solitario’s Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2008)
31.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to SEC Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101*	The following financial statements, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended June 30, and 2010, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended June 30,  and 2010; and (iv) Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.  In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the information in these exhibits is furnished and deemed not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by the specific reference in such filing
*	Filed herewith