U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Form 40-F
[ ] Registration statement pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or
[X] Annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 |
Commission File Number 1-6138 |
Northgate Minerals Corporation |
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) |
(Translation of Registrant's name into English (if applicable)) |
British Columbia, Canada |
(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
1040 Gold and Silver Ores |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number (if applicable)) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number (if applicable)) |
815 Hornby Street, Suite 404 |
Vancouver, British Columbia |
Canada V6Z 2E6 |
(604) 681-4004 |
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices) |
JGB Service Corporation |
600 University Street, Suite 3600 |
Seattle, Washington 98101 |
(206) 624-0900 |
(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of |
agent for service in the United States) |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class | Name of each exchange |
on which registered | |
Common Shares without | American Stock |
par value | Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
(Title of Class) |
(Title of Class) |
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act. |
(Title of Class) |
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:
[X] Annual information form | [X] Audited annual financial statements |
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
214,011,246 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2005
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by filing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). If "Yes" is marked, indicate the filing number assigned to the Registrant in connection with such Rule.
Yes _______ |
82- _______ |
No X |
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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 X |
No _______ |
Certifications The certifications required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule
15d-14(a) under the Exchange Act are attached as Exhibit 5 to this report. The certifications required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule
15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of
the United States Code are attached as Exhibit 6 to this report. Disclosure Controls and Procedures An evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and
with the participation of the Registrant's management, including the Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the
Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation, the
Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers each concluded that the
Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of the end of
the period covered by this report, in timely alerting them to material
information required to be included in the Registrant's periodic SEC reports.
The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions
about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any
design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future
conditions, regardless of how remote. Audit Committee The Registrant has a separately-designated standing audit
committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange
Act. The Registrant's audit committee is comprised of three members: Conrad A. Pinette, Keith C. Hendrick and Patrick D. Downey. Patrick D. Downey is chair of
the audit committee. The Registrant's board of directors has determined that
Patrick D. Downey is an "audit committee financial expert" as that term is
defined in SEC regulations and that Mr. Downey is independent under SEC and
American Stock Exchange rules. All members of the audit committee are
financially literate and independent. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics The Registrant has a code of business conduct and ethics that
applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions. The Registrant's code of business conduct and ethics can be found on
the Registrant's website at www.northgateminerals.com. Principal Accountant Fees and Services KPMG LLP served as the Registrant's independent public
accountants for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 The Registrant
paid the following fees to KPMG for professional and other services rendered by
them during fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2004: Audit Fees: Fees in the amount of US $270,156 and US $215,315
in 2005 and 2004, respectively, related to the audits of the Registrant's annual
financial statements, consultation with respect to the implementation of new
accounting and reporting guidance and other accounting and reporting issues,
assistance with the quarterly interim financial statements, and the review of
documents filed with securities regulatory bodies (such as the British Columbia
Securities Commission and the SEC) or issued in connection with securities
offerings.
Audit-Related Fees: Fees in the amount of US $47,808 and US
$27,896 in 2005 and 2004, respectively, related to accounting consultations and
guidance with respect to documentation and testing of internal controls and due
diligence assistance. Tax Fees: Fees in the amount of US $59,113 and US $42,967 in
2005 and in 2004, respectively, related to Canadian tax compliance and tax
planning and advisory services. All Other Fees: The Registrant did not pay KPMG for any other
services related to fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2004. The Registrant's Audit Committee Charter requires
pre-approval of all services to be rendered by the independent public
accountants. All fees paid or committed to the independent public accountants
for the last two years were reviewed and pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements Information on the Registrant's off-balance sheet
arrangements is included on Pages 26 and 45 of the Registrant's 2005 Annual
Report which is attached as Exhibit 3 to, and incorporated by reference in, this
report. Contractual Obligations Information on the Registrant's contractual obligations is
included on Pages 23 and 41 of the Registrant's 2005 Annual Report which is
attached as Exhibit 3 to, and incorporated by reference in, this report. Undertaking Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by
telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff,
and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff,
information relating to the securities in relation to which the obligation to
file an annual report on Form 40-F arises, or transactions in said securities.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Registrant: |
Northgate Minerals Corporation |
|
|
By: (Signature) |
/s/ JON A. DOUGLAS |
Name and Title: |
Jon A. Douglas, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: |
March 29, 2006 |