ITEM 1 - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Company History
The Company was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Idaho on November 9, 1935, under the name of Montgomery Mines, Inc. In April, 1978 controlling interest in the Montgomery Mines Corporation was obtained by a group of the Thunder Mountain property holders who then changed the corporate name to Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. with the primary goal to further develop their holdings in the Thunder Mountain Mining District, Valley County, Idaho.
Change in Situs and Authorized Capital
The Company moved its situs from Idaho to Nevada, but maintains its corporate offices in Garden City, Idaho. On December 10, 2007, articles of incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State in Nevada for Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc., a Nevada Corporation. The Directors of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (Nevada) were the same as for Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (Idaho).
On January 25, 2008, the shareholders approved the merger of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (Idaho) with Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (Nevada), which was completed by a share for share exchange of common stock. The terms of the merger were such that the Nevada Corporation was the surviving entity. The number of authorized shares for the Nevada Corporation is 200,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share.
The Company is structured as follows: The Company owns 100% of the outstanding stock of Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc., a Nevada Corporation. Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. owns 100% of the outstanding stock of South Mountain Mines, Inc., an Idaho Corporation.
We have no patents, licenses, franchises or concessions which are considered by the Company to be of importance. The business is not of a seasonal nature. Since the potential products are traded in the open market, we have no control over the competitive conditions in the industry. There is no backlog of orders.
There are numerous Federal and State laws and regulation related to environmental protection, which have direct application to mining and milling activities. The more significant of these laws deal with mined land reclamation and wastewater discharge from mines and milling operations. We do not believe that these laws and regulations as presently enacted will have a direct material adverse effect on our operations.
Subsidiary Companies
On May 21, 2007, the Company filed Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State in Nevada for Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. G. Peter Parsley was appointed as President, Secretary, Treasurer and sole Director. The financial information for the new subsidiary is included in the consolidated financial statements.
On September 27, 2007, Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc., completed the purchase of all the outstanding stock of South Mountain Mines, Inc., an Idaho corporation. The sole asset of South Mountain Mines, Inc. consists of seventeen patented mining claims, totaling approximately 326 acres, located in the South Mountain Mining District, Owyhee County, Idaho.
Current Operations
Thunder Mountain Gold is a mineral exploration stage company with no producing mines. The Company intends to remain in the business of exploring for mining properties that have the potential to produce gold, silver, base metals and other commodities.
Reports to Security Holders
The Registrant does not issue annual or quarterly reports to security holders other than the annual Form 10-K and quarterly Forms 10-Q as electronically filed with the SEC. Electronically filed reports may be accessed at www.sec.gov. Interested parties also may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information may be obtained on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1 (800) SEC-0330.
ITEM 1A
ITEM 1A - RISK FACTORS
Our business, operations, and financial condition are subject to various risks. This is particularly true since we are in the business of conducting exploration for mineral properties that have the potential for discovery of economic mineral resources. We urge you to consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
We have no income and resources and we expect losses to continue for at least the next three years.
Our only continuing source of funds is through sales of equity positions received from investors, which may not be sufficient to sustain our operations. Any additional funds required would have to come from the issuance of debt or the sale of our common stock. There is no guarantee that funds would be available from either source. If we are unsuccessful in raising additional funds, we will not be able to develop our properties and will be forced to liquidate assets.
We have no proven reserves.
We have no proven reserves at any of our properties. We only have indicated and inferred, along with assay samples at South Mountain; and assay samples at some of our other exploration properties.
We will likely need to raise additional capital to continue our operations, and if we fail to obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to continue our exploration efforts and may have to cease operations.
At December 31, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of $298,000. We are planning to raise additional funds in 2011 to meet our current operating and capital requirements for the next 12 months. However, we have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we cannot assure that estimates and assumptions will remain unchanged. For the year ended December 31, 2010 net cash used for operating activities was $1,100,000. Our future liquidity and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including timing, cost and progress of our exploration efforts, our evaluation of, and decisions with respect to, our strategic alternatives, and costs associated with the regulatory approvals. If it turns out that we do not have enough money to complete our exploration programs, we will try to raise additional funds from public offerings, private placements or loans.
We know that additional financing will be required in the future to fund our planned operations. We do not know whether additional financing will be available when needed or on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise additional financing when necessary, we may have to delay our exploration efforts or any property acquisitions or be forced to cease operations. Collaborative arrangements may require us to relinquish our rights to certain of our mining claims.
We believe that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern
We have never generated net income from our exploration efforts and we have incurred significant net losses in each year since inception. Our accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2010 was $3,112,695. We expect to continue to incur substantial additional losses for the foreseeable future, and we may never become profitable. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon our ability to locate and ultimately operate proven or probable precious metals reserves, our ability to generate positive net revenues and our ability to reduce our operating costs.
Based upon current plans, we expect to incur operating losses in future periods. This will happen because our exploration costs are greater than nonexistent revenue. Continued failure to generate revenues could cause us to go out of business.
Our financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2010, were audited by our independent registered public accountants, whose report includes an explanatory paragraph stating that the financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and that we have incurred operating losses since inception that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We believe that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern due to our total accumulated deficit of $3,112,695 as of December 31, 2010. Our plans for our continuation as a going concern include financing our operations through sales of unregistered common stock and the exercising of stock options by our officers, directors and originators. If we are not successful with our plans, equity holders could then lose all or a substantial portion of their investment.
Our exploration efforts may be adversely affected by metals price volatility causing us to cease exploration efforts.
We have no earnings. However, the success of any exploration efforts is derived from the price of metal prices that are affected by numerous factors including: 1) expectations for inflation; 2) investor speculative activities; 3) relative exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to other currencies; 4) global and regional demand and production; 5) global and regional political and economic conditions; and 6) production costs in major producing regions. These factors are beyond our control and are impossible for us to predict.
There is no guarantee that current favorable prices for metals and other commodities will be sustained. If the market prices for these commodities fall we will temporarily suspend or cease exploration efforts.
Our mineral exploration efforts may not be successful.
Mineral exploration is highly speculative. It involves many risks and often does not produce positive results. Even if we find a valuable mineral deposit, it may be three years or more before production is possible because of the need for additional detailed exploration, pre-production studies, permitting, financing, construction and start up.
During that time, it may become economically unfeasible to produce those minerals. Establishing ore reserves requires us to make substantial capital expenditures and, in the case of new properties, to construct mining and processing facilities. As a result of these costs and uncertainties, we will not be able to develop any potentially economic mineral deposits.
We face strong competition from other mining companies for the acquisition of new properties.
If we do find an economic mineral reserve, and it is put into production, it should be noted that mines have limited lives and as a result, we need to continually seek to find new properties. In addition, there is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available in the United States or elsewhere where we would consider conducting exploration activities. Because we face strong competition for new properties from other exploration and mining companies, some of whom have greater financial resources than we do, we may be unable to acquire attractive new mining properties on terms that we consider acceptable.
Mining operations may be adversely affected by risks and hazards associated with the mining industry.
Mining operations involve a number of risks and hazards including: 1) environmental hazards; 2) political and country risks; 3) industrial accidents; 4) labor disputes; 5) unusual or unexpected geologic formations; 6) high wall failures, cave-ins or explosive rock failures, and; 7) flooding and periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions. Such risks could result in: 1) damage to or destruction of mineral properties or producing facilities; 2) personal injury; 3) environmental damage; 4) delays in exploration efforts; 5) monetary losses, and; 6) legal liability.
We have no insurance against any of these risks. To the extent we are subject to environmental liabilities, we would have to pay for these liabilities. Moreover, in the event that we ever become an operator of a mine, and unable to fully pay for the cost of remedying an environmental problem, should they occur, we might be required to suspend operations or enter into other interim compliance measures.
Because we are small and do not have much capital, we must limit our exploration. This may prevent us from realizing any revenues, thus reducing the value of the stock and you may lose your investment as a result.
Because our Company is small and does not have much capital, we must limit the time and money we expend on exploration of interests in our properties. In particular, we may not be able to: 1) devote the time we would like to exploring our properties; 2) spend as much money as we would like to exploring our properties; 3) rent the quality of equipment or hire the contractors we would like to have for exploration; and 4) have the number of people working on our properties that we would like to have. By limiting our operations, it may take longer to explore our properties. There are other larger exploration companies that could and may spend more time and money exploring the properties that we have acquired.
We will have to suspend our exploration plans if we do not have access to all the supplies and materials we need.
Competition and unforeseen limited sources of supplies in the industry could result in occasional spot shortages of supplies, like dynamite, and equipment like bulldozers and excavators that we might need to conduct exploration. We have not attempted to locate or negotiate with any suppliers of products, equipment or
materials. We will attempt to locate products, equipment and materials after we have conducted preliminary exploration activities on our properties. If we cannot find the products and equipment we need in a timely manner, we will have to delay or suspend our exploration plans until we do find the products and equipment we need.
We face substantial governmental regulation and environmental risks, which could prevent us from exploring or developing our properties.
Our business is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations governing mining exploration development, production, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, use of toxic substances, environmental regulations, mine safety and other matters. New legislation and regulations may be adopted at any time that results in additional operating expense, capital expenditures or restrictions and delays in the exploration, mining, production or development of our properties.
At this time, we have no specific financial obligations for environmental costs. Various laws and permits require that financial assurances be in place for certain environmental and reclamation obligations and other potential liabilities. Once we undertake any trenching or drilling activities, a reclamation bond and a permit will be required under applicable laws. Currently, we have no obligations for financial assurances of any kind, and are unable to undertake any trenching, drilling, or development on any of our properties until we obtain financial assurances pursuant to applicable regulations to cover potential liabilities.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to detect fraud or report our financial results accurately, which could harm our business and we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 404”), we are required to perform an evaluation of our internal controls over financial reporting. In 2010 and future years we will be required to have our independent registered public accounting firm test and evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of such internal controls and publicly attest to such evaluation. We have prepared an internal plan of action for compliance with the requirements of Section 404, and have completed our effectiveness evaluation. We have reported two material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, and we cannot guarantee that we will not have any material weaknesses as reported by our independent registered public accounting firm. Continuing compliance with the requirements of Section 404 is expected to be expensive and time-consuming. If our independent registered public accounting firm cannot attest to our evaluation, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of public confidence in our internal controls. In addition, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations.
ITEM 1B
ITEM 1B - UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not required for smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 2
ITEM 2 - DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES
The Company, including its subsidiaries, owns rights to claims and properties in the mining areas of Nevada, Idaho and Arizona.
The Company owns 100% of the outstanding stock of Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc., a Nevada Corporation. Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. owns 100% of the outstanding stock of South Mountain Mines, Inc., an Idaho Corporation. South Mountain Mines, Inc. owns the South Mountain Project. Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. completed the direct purchase of 100% ownership of South Mountain Mines, Inc. on September 27, 2007.
South Mountain Project, Owyhee County, Idaho
The Company’s land package at South Mountain consists of a total of private land under lease of approximately 542 acres, the original 17 patented claims (326 acres) that the Company owns outright plus and 21 unpatented claims (290 acres) that it staked in 2008 for a total of approximately 1,158 acres. The Company is negotiating for additional private land surrounding the existing land package. We also have applied for leases on Idaho State Lands for approximately 3,100 acres, expected to be finalized during 2011. All holdings are located in the South Mountain Mining District, Owyhee County, Idaho.
The historic production peaked during World War II when, base on smelter receipts, the production of direct shipped ore totaled 53,653 tons containing 3,118 ounces of gold, 566,439 ounces of silver, 13,932 pounds of copper, 2,562,318 pounds of lead and 15,593,061 pounds of zinc. In addition to the direct-ship ore, a flotation mill was constructed and operated during the late-1940s and early-1950s. There is no production information available on the tons, grade and concentrate associated with that phase of the operation, but it is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 tons of ore were mined and process based on the estimated tonnage of mill tailings.
South Mountain Mines controlled the patented claims from 1975 to the time the Company purchased the entity in 2007. They conducted extensive exploration work including extending the Sonneman Level by approximately 1,500 feet to intercept the downdip extension of the Texas sulfide mineralization mined on the Laxey Level some 300 feet above the Sonneman. High grade sulfide mineralization was intercepted on the Sonneman Extension. In 1985 they did a feasibility study based on polygonal ore blocks exposed in the underground workings and drilling. This resulted in a historic resource of approximately 470,000 tons containing 23,500 ounces of gold, 3,530,000 ounces of silver, 8,339,000 pounds of copper, 13,157,000 pounds of lead and 91,817,000 lbs of zinc. Although they determined positive economics, the project was shut down and placed into care and maintenance.
In 2008, the Company engaged Kleinfelder West, Inc., a nationwide engineering and consulting firm, to complete a technical report “Resources Data Evaluation, South Mountain Property, South Mountain Mining District, Owyhee County, Idaho”. The technical report was commissioned by Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. to evaluate all the existing data available on the South Mountain property. Kleinfelder utilized a panel modeling method using this data to determine potential mineralized material remaining and to make a comparison with the resource determined by South Mountain Mines in the mid-1980s.
Additional drilling and sampling will be necessary before the resource can be classified as a mineable reserve, but Kleinfelder West’s calculations provided a potential resource number that is consistent with South Mountain Mines’ (Bowes 1985) reserve model.
During the 2008 field season two core drill holes were drilled to test the downdip extension of the sulfide mineralization in the main mine area, one on the DMEA2 ore shoot and one on the Texas ore shoot. The DMEA 2 target was successful, with two distinct sulfide zones totaling 30 feet being encountered in an overall altered and mineralized intercept of approximately 73 feet. The samples over the entire intercept were detail sampled over the entire 73 feet resulting in a total of 34 discrete sample intervals ranging from 0.5 to 3.7 feet. The samples cut at the Company’s office in Garden City, Idaho and Company personnel delivered the samples to ALS Chemex preparation lab in Elko, Nevada. The analytical results showed two distinct zones of strong mineralization.
Interval
Weighted Average
Gold
Fire Assay
(ounce per ton)
Silver
Fire Assay
(ounce per ton)
Zinc
(%)
Copper
( %)
Lead
( %)
657 - 669.5
(12.5 feet)
0.066
1.46
7.76
0.276
0.306
687 - 704.5
(17.5 feet)
0.129
1.89
2.18
0.183
0.152
These intercepts are down dip approximately 300 feet below of the DMEA 2 mineralized zone encountered in Sonneman Level tunnel, and 600 feet below the DMEA 2 zone on the Laxey Level tunnel. The tenor of mineralization the DMEA 2 on the Sonneman is similar to that intercepted in the core hole, including two distinct zones with differing grades.
The second drill hole, TX-1, was designed to test the Texas Ore Shoot approximately 300 feet down dip of the Sonneman Level. The small core hole achieved a depth of 1250 feet, but deviated parallel to the bedding and the targeted carbonate horizon was not intercepted.
Late in 2009, the Company contracted with Gregory P. Wittman (a Qualified Person under Canadian regulations) of Northwestern Groundwater & Geology to incorporate all the new drill and sampling data into a 43-101 Technical Report. This report was needed as part of the Company’s efforts to obtain a listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in 2010. The 43-101 showed the estimated indicated and inferred mineralization as follows:
Estimated Indicated Resources
Tons
Gold (oz)
Silver (oz)
Copper (lbs)
Lead (lbs)
Zinc (lbs)
Indicated Resources
895,451
36,886
2,978,747
16,326,048
4,426,102
75,557,257
Weighted Average Grade*
0.04 opt
3.33 opt
0.79%
0.25%
4.22%
Estimated Inferred Resources
Tons
Gold (oz)
Silver (oz)
Copper (lbs)
Lead (lbs)
Zinc (lbs)
Indicated Resources
2,517,057
24,768
1,948,040
30,630,750
4,339,697
45,687,709
Weighted Average Grade*
0.01 opt
0.78 opt
0.61%
0..09%
.91%
*. A weighted average was used for the grades instead of a simple average since the panel block sizes vary in size and volume. Weighted Average differs from a regular average because calculation of the average is affected by volume. In general, a weight is assigned to individual quantities to ensure an accurate average is calculated.
Location Map of South Mountain and Clover Mountain Projects
A multi-lithic intrusive breccia outcrop was identified and sampled in 2008 on property leased by the Company. This large area, approximately one mile long and one-half a mile wide, is located several thousand feet south of the main mine area. The intrusive breccia is composed of rounded to sub-rounded fragments of altered intrusive rock and silicified fragments of altered schist and marble. Initial rock chip samples from the
outcrop area ranged from 0.49 ppm to 1.70 ppm gold, and follow-up outcrop and float sampling in 2009 yielded gold values ranging from 0.047 ppm to 5.81 ppm. A first pass orientation soil survey completed in 2008 was conducted near the “discovery’ breccia outcrop at a spacing of 100 feet over a distance of 800 feet east/west and 1,000 feet north/south. The soil assays ranged from a trace to 0.31 ppm Gold. Surface mapping indicates that the intrusive breccia covers an area of approximately 5,000 feet x 1,500 feet.
The 2010 drilling focused primarily the breccia gold zone. Centra Consulting completed the storm water plan needed for the exploration road construction on private land, and it was accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Road construction started on August 1, 2010 by Warner Construction and a total of 3.2 miles of access and drill site roads were completed through the end of September.
A campaign of road cut sampling was undertaken on the new roads as they were completed. Three sets of samples were obtained along the cut bank of the road. Channel samples were taken on 25-foot, 50-foot or 100-foot intervals, depending upon the nature of the material cut by the road with the shorter spaced intervals being taken in areas of bedrock. A total of 197 samples were collected and sent to ALS Chemex labs in Elko, Nevada. A majority of the samples contained anomalous gold values and in addition to confirming the three anomalies identified by soils sampling, the road cuts added a fourth target that yielded a 350-foot long zone that averaged 378 parts per billion gold (0.011 ounce per ton). Follow up sampling on a road immediately adjacent to this zone yielded a 100-foot sample interval that ran 5.91 parts per million gold (0.173 ounce per ton).
Drilling on the intrusive breccia target commenced on October 1, 2010 with a Schramm reverse circulation rig contracted through Drill Tech of Winnemucca, Nevada. Five widely-spaced holes on the four significant gold anomalies in the intrusive breccia target were completed with the following results:
Intrusive Breccia 2010 Drill Results
Hole Number
Depth (ft)
Average Gold Value (opt) - Entire Hole
Highest Grade 5 ft Interval (opt)
Comments
LO-1
0.0034
0.015
All 5 foot intervals had detectable gold. Discovery outcrop area - highly altered intrusive breccia with sulfides.
LO-2
0.001
0.016
95% of the intervals had detectable gold. Highly altered intrusive breccia with sulfides.
LO-3
0.0033
0.038
95% of the intervals had detectable gold. Mixed altered intrusive breccia and skarn; abundant sulfides (15 to 20% locally). West end of anomaly.
LO-4
0.002
0.0086
Entire hole had detectable gold. Altered intrusive breccia with sulfides. East end of anomaly.
LO-5
0.0037
0.036
Entire hole had detectable gold. Altered intrusive breccia with sulfides. East end of anomaly.
Management believes that the “first-pass” drill results from the intrusive breccia target proves the existence of a significant gold system in an intrusive package that is related to the polymetallic mineralization in the carbonate in the historic mine area. Additional work is planned for 2011, including a draped aeromagnetic, resistivity and IP surveys to isolate potential feeder structures and to evaluate the contact between the metasediments and the gold-bearing intrusive.
In addition to the drilling completed in on the Intrusive Breccia target, two reverse circulation drill holes were completed targeting the down dip extension of the polymetallic zones in an effort to confirm continuity of the ore zones to a greater depth. Vertical drill hole LO 6 was placed to intercept the down dip extension of the DMEA 2 ore shoot exposed on both the Laxey and Sonneman levels of the underground workings, as well as the 2008 core hole drilled by the Company that extended the zone 300 feet down dip of the Sonneman level. Drillhole LO 6 cut a thick zone of skarn alteration and polymetallic mineralization at 760 feet to 790 feet. The intercept contained 30 feet of 3.55% zinc, 1.87 ounce per ton silver, and 0.271% copper. Internal to this zone was 15 feet of 0.060 OPT gold and 20 feet of 0.21% lead. Importantly, this intercept proves the continuity of
the ore zone an additional 115 feet down dip of the 2008 drill hole, or 415 feet below the Sonneman level. It remains open at depth.
Drill hole LO 7 was placed to test the down dip extension of the Laxey ore zone, the zone that produced a majority of the silver, zinc, copper, lead and gold during the World War II period. A portion of the ore zone was intercepted approximately 180 feet below the bottom of the Laxey Shaft which mined the zone over an 800-foot length. This hole intercepted 25 feet (600-625 feet) of 8.56% zinc and 1.15 ounce per ton (opt) silver. This intercept proves the extension of the Laxey ore zone approximately 120 feet below the maximum depth previously mined when over 51,000 tons of sulfide ore were mined and direct shipped to the Anaconda smelter in Utah. The grade of this ore mined over the 800 feet of shaft and stope mining was 15% zinc, 10 opt silver, 0.06 opt gold, 2.3% lead and 0.7% copper.
Management is encouraged by both of these intercepts as they prove the continuation of the replacement sulfide mineralized ore shoots at depth. Detailed follow-up core drilling will be needed to better define the potential of the ore shoots at depth.
Trout Creek Claim Group, Lander County, Nevada
The Trout Creek pediment exploration target is located in Lander County, Nevada in T.29N. R44E. The property consists of 60 unpatented mining claims totaling approximately 1,200 acres that are located along the western flank of the Shoshone Range in the Eureka-Battle Mountain mineral trend.
The claims are located along a northwest structural tend which projects into the Battle Mountain mining district to the northwest and into the Goat Ridge window and the Gold Acres, Pipeline, and Cortez area to the southeast. Northwest trending mineralized structures in the Battle Mountain mining district are characterized by elongated plutons, granodiorite porphyry dikes, magnetic lineaments, and regional alignment of mineralized areas. The Trout Creek target is located at the intersection of this northwest trending mineral belt and north-south trending extensional structures.
The Trout Creek target is based on a regional gravity anomaly on a well-defined northwest-southeast trending break in the alluvial fill thickness and underlying bedrock. Previous geophysical work in the 1980s revealed an airborne magnetic anomaly associated with the same structure, and this was further verified and outlined in 2008 by Company personnel using a ground magnetometer. The target is covered by alluvial fan deposits of unknown thickness shed from the adjacent Shoshone Range, a fault block mountain range composed of Paleozoic sediments of both upper and lower plate rocks of the Roberts Mountains thrust. The geophysical anomaly could define a prospective and unexplored target within a well mineralized region.
The Company is attempting to consolidate the land package to cover a larger area of the positive geophysical target in the pediment by acquiring and/or joint venturing adjoining mineral property.
Clover Mountain Claim Group, Owyhee County, Idaho
A geologic reconnaissance program in the fall of 2006 identified anomalous gold, silver, and other base metals in rock chips and soils at Clover Mountain. In February 2007 the Company located the Clover Mountain claim group consisting of 40 unpatented lode mining claims totaling approximately 800 acres. Mineralization appears to be associated with stockwork veining in a granitic stock which has been intruded by northeast and northwest-trending rhyolitic dikes. The property is overlain by locally silicified rhyolitic tuff.
Follow-up rock chip sampling within the area of the anomaly has identified quartz veining with gold values ranging from 3.6 part per million (ppm) to 16.5 ppm. A soil sample program consisting of 215 samples was conducted on 200’x 200’ grid spacing which defined two northeast tending soil anomalies with gold values ranging from 0.020 ppm to 0.873 ppm Au. The gold anomalies are approximately 1,000’ in length and approximately 300’ in width. The gold anomalies are associated with northeast trending structures with accompanying quartz stockwork veining in an exposure of Cretaceous/Tertiary granite. A 2,500’ base metal soil anomaly is observed trending northwest proximal to rhyolite and rhyodacitic dikes which intrude the granitic stock. No significant work was completed on the claim group in 2010, but additional field work is
warranted in the future that may include backhoe trenching and sampling in the significantly anomalous area followed by exploration drilling. During brief field work in 2010, the presence of visible free gold was noted by panning in the area of the strong soil anomaly.
West Tonopah Claim Group, Esmeralda County, Nevada
Eight unpatented lode mining claims totaling approximately 160 acres in the Tonopah Mining district of Esmeralda County, Nevada were located by the Company in 2007. The claims are situated on what has been interpreted to be the offset portion of the “West End” and “Ohio” Veins along the south limb of the Tonopah District West End Rhyolite intrusive dome. The target is projected to be 500 to 800 feet deep and could initially be tested by surface drilling. The typical veins historically mined in this area were 10-20 feet thick, with localized ore shoots up to 50 feet thick. Grades historically mined in the area were 15 to 20 ounces per ton (opt) silver and 0.15 to 0.20 ounce per ton (opt) gold. There is approximately 3,000 feet of relatively unexplored strike length.
Portland Claim Group, Mohave County, Arizona
In 2008 Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. located 19 unpatented mining claims totaling approximately 380 acres at the Portland property located approximately 30 miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona. The identified gold exploration target is along a detachment at the contact of basement Precambrian gneiss and overlying Tertiary volcanics. Surface samples of silicified rhyolite on the Portland Claim Group range from a trace to 1.35 ppm gold. The alteration and anomalous mineralization is interpreted to be leakage along vertical structures from a potentially mineralized detachment similar to the Portland 1980s open pit mine located approximately 7,500 feet east of the claim group.
Gold Hill Claim Group, La Paz County, Arizona
In 2008, Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. staked unpatented mining claims that total approximately 440 acres in the Ellsworth mining district in west central. The Gold Hill Project covers prospective geology for a detachment style precious metals deposit. Select and chip-channel samples of exposures in shallow workings adjacent to the main covered target are highly anomalous in gold with values ranging from 5.14 ppm to 26.8 ppm gold.
Much of the exposed outcrop in the project area consists of Proterozoic gneiss with numerous metamorphic quartz veins with minor copper and gold. Along the eastern edge of a small embayment of alluvial cover, numerous prospect pits expose mineralized gneisses and quartzites that have been sheared at a low angle dipping both to the east and west. Select samples of this material have assayed as high as 26.8 ppm gold, and vertical chip channel samples of the walls of some of the accessible pits have found gold values up to 4.6 ppm gold.
CAS Iron Creek Cobalt Gold Property, Lemhi County, Idaho
The Company purchased a first right on a prospective cobalt/gold property in the Idaho Cobalt Belt during the 4th quarter 2010. CAS claims are in the Iron Creek Mining District of the Idaho Cobalt Belt. It consists of 46 unpatented lode claims located on U.S. Forest Service managed lands. The property has had extensive geophysical and geochemical work completed from 2003 through 2006, plus 19 drill holes in some of the anomalous zones.
Selected assay results from previous drilling are shown below:
Drill Hole
Orientation
Interval (ft) Total Footage
Grade Gold (OPT)
Grade Cobalt (%/lb/t)
IC0302
N10E / -50 0
254.5 to 275.0 / 20.5
0.241
0.510 / 10.25
IC0303
N10E / -45 0
239.0 to 252.0 / 13.0
0.106
0.260 / 5.14
IC0304
N10E / -50 0
420.0 to 435.0 / 15.0
0.243
0.340 / 6.72
IC0307
N50W / -55 0
125.0 to 155.0 / 30.0
0.102
0.040 / 0.073
SRR6001
S20W / -55 0
151.0 to 161.0 / 10.0
N/A
0.470 / 9.33
The gold-cobalt present on the CAS claim group consists of exhalative style sulfide mineralization typical of the Cobalt Belt. The Company feels that this prospect has significant potential of high-grade underground gold-cobalt mineralization and will be conducting a geologic evaluation of the property once the snow melts in the late spring 2011 prior to finalizing and agreement with the claim owner.
Under the terms of the option, the Company has until July 31, 2011 to finalize an agreement on the property to acquire 100% interest in the property. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Competition
We are an exploration stage company. We compete with other mineral resource exploration and development companies for financing and for the acquisition of new mineral properties. Many of the mineral resource exploration and development companies with whom we compete have greater financial and technical resources than us. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on acquisitions of mineral properties of merit, on exploration of their mineral properties and on development of their mineral properties. In addition, they may be able to afford greater geological expertise in the targeting and exploration of mineral properties. This competition could result in competitors having mineral properties of greater quality and interest to prospective investors who may finance additional exploration and development. This competition could adversely impact on our ability to finance further exploration and to achieve the financing necessary for us to develop our mineral properties.
Employees
The Company had three employees during the year ended December 31, 2010; Jim Collard, President; Eric Jones, Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations; Pete Parsley, Vice President and Exploration Manager.
ITEM 3
ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company has no legal actions pending against it and it is not a party to any suits in any court of law, nor are the directors aware of any claims which could give rise to or investigations pending by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental agency. There are no pending legal proceedings to which any director, officer or affiliate of the Company, any owner of record or beneficiary of more than 5% of the common stock of the Company, or any security holder of the Company is a party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the Company.
ITEM 4
ITEM 4 - RESERVED
PART II
ITEM 5
ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information:
Our common stock is traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board (OTCBB) market operated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) under the symbol “THMG.OB.” The OTCBB quotations do not reflect inter-dealer prices, retail mark-ups, commissions or actual transactions.
On September 24, 2010, the Company’s common stock also began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX-V”) in Canada and is quoted under the trading symbol “THM”
The following table illustrates the average high/low price of our common stock for both the OTCBB and TSX-V for the last two (2) fiscal years 2010 and 2009:
(1) Our common stock began trading on the TSX-V on September 24, 2010.
(2) Quarters indicate calendar year quarters.
Holders:
As of March 1, 2011 there were 2,018 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock with an unknown number of additional shareholders who hold shares through brokerage firms.
Transfer Agent:
Our independent stock transfer agent in the United States is Computershare Shareholder Services, located at 350 Indiana Street Suite 750 Golden, CO 80401. In Canada, our Agent is Computershare, TORU - Toronto, University Ave, 100 University Ave, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 2Y1, CANADA
Dividends:
No dividends were paid by the Registrant in 2010 or 2009, and the Company has no plans to pay a dividend in the foreseeable future. Dividends undertaken by the Company are solely at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Securities Authorized For Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans:
On May 25, 2010, the Board of Directors, subject to shareholder ratification, approved a Stock Incentive Plan (the “SIP”). The SIP will be administered by the Compensation Committee or Board of Directors and provides for the grant of stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, and incentive awards to eligible individuals including directors, executive officers and advisors that have furnished bona fide services to the Company not related to the sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction.
The SIP has a fixed maximum percentage of 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares that are eligible for the plan pool, whereby the number of Shares under the SIP increase automatically with increases in the total number of shares. This “Evergreen” provision permits the reloading of shares that make up the available pool for the SIP, once the options granted have been exercised. The number of shares available for issuance under the SIP automatically increases as the total number of shares outstanding increase, including those shares issued upon exercise of options granted under the SIP, which become re-available for grant subsequent to exercise of option grants. The number of shares subject to the SIP and any outstanding awards under the SIP will be adjusted appropriately by the Board of Directors if the Company’s common stock is affected through a reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, restructuring, reclassification, dividend (other than quarterly cash dividends) or other distribution, stock split, spin-off or sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets.
The SIP also has terms and limitations, including without limitation that the exercise price for stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the SIP must equal the stock’s fair market value, based on the closing price per share of common stock, at the time the stock option or stock appreciation right is granted. The SIP is also subject to other limitation including; a limited exception for certain stock options assumed in corporate transactions; stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the SIP may not be “re-priced” without shareholder approval; stock-based awards under the SIP are subject to either three-year or one-year minimum vesting requirements, subject to exceptions for death, disability or termination of employment of an employee or upon a change of control; and shareholder approval is required for certain types of amendments to the SIP.
Subject to Shareholder ratification of the SIP, on August 24, 2010 the Board approved a grant of 2.0 million options under the SIP to Directors, Executive Officers and other non-employees consultants. The options have a strike price of $0.27, which approximates the fair market value of the Company’s common equity on the date of grant, based on the average of the bid/ask prices as quoted by the National Quotation Bureau on the day of grant. The option certificates will reflect the actual date of the grant upon approval of the SIP by shareholders. The Company has not recognized any compensation expense related to these options as of September 30, 2010.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities:
On September 24, 2010, we closed a private placement offering of 6,208,271 Units, with each unit consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, for net proceeds CDN $950,000. The warrants contain a ratchet provision where by the strike price increases each year over the term of the warrant. The warrants underlying the units are exercisable for a period of three years from the date of issuance at any time on or before the first anniversary of the issue date at a price of CDN$0.20 per common share, at any time thereafter on or before the second anniversary of the issue date at a price of CDN$0.25 per common share, and at any time thereafter on or before the third anniversary of the issue date at a price of CDN$0.30 per common share. In the event that the trading price of the common stock of the Company on the TSXV or the OTCBB closes above CDN$0.50 per share for 20 consecutive trading days in the period commencing on the date that is six months after the date of issue, the Company may accelerate the expiration date of the warrants to 4:00 p.m. (P.S.T.) on the date which is 30 days after notice is given to the holder via a press release of such accelerated expiration date. A finder’s fee equal to 10% of the gross proceeds plus common share purchase
warrants in an amount equal to 10% of the underlying units sold in the private placement was paid in respect of the sale of units attributable to finders.
On May 11, 2010, we closed a private offering of 1.25 million units at a rate of $0.20 per unit, for total proceeds of $250,000. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and one Series A warrant, which entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock and one-half Series B warrant (a “unit”) at price of $0.20 per unit. Each whole Series B warrant would be exercisable into one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.75 per share and have a term of 18 months from the date of initial registration. We have the option to call the Series A warrants in the event that our common stock trades at or above $0.25 per share for five consecutive trading days. The Series B warrants are also callable by us in the event that our common equity trades at or above $0.94 for five consecutive trading days. No Placement Agent was used, and no commissions were paid.
On August 7, 2009, we closed a private offering of securities solely to accredited investors. The offering consisted of 380,000 Units priced at $0.20 each; each Unit consisting of a share of common stock, $0.001 par value, and a warrant to purchase common stock for $0.30 per share. As a result of completion of the offering, a total of 380,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, and warrants to acquire 380,000 shares of common stock were issued. Included in the 380,000 units issued, were 5,000 units issued for services valued at $1,000. There were no registration rights granted in connection with the offering. No Placement Agent was used, and no commissions were paid.
On August 10, 2009 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the re-pricing of warrants, including those issued in the August 7, 2009 private placement. The Warrants that were originally exercisable at $0.30 or $0.40 per share were reduced to an exercise price of $0.15 per share, with such re-pricing valid until November 23, 2009. As a result of completion of the offering, a total of 3,020,000 warrants were exercised for 3,020,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value. Commissions of $23,250 were paid to a placement agent, resulting in net cash proceeds of $429,750 to the Company. Additionally, 100,000 shares were issued for warrants with an exercise price of $0.05 per share, for net cash proceeds of $5,000. The net cash proceeds from the exercise of warrants were $434,750. An officer of the Company was issued 30,000 shares of common stock for warrants exercised at $0.15 per share in exchange for a loan reduction of $4,500. There were no registration rights granted in connection with any of these shares. No other commissions were paid, and a total of $450 in exemption fees were paid to the states of Idaho, California and Washington.
By the terms of a Consulting Agreement between the Company and R. Scott Barter, dated April 8, 2010, the Company was required to issue a stock option to R. Scott Barter, as Trustee of the R. Scott Barter 2005 Defined Contribution Plan, The option was for the acquisition of 250,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to the lesser of (x) $.0.20 per share, or (y) the price per share paid by investors for shares of the Company’s common stock in the first equity raise by the Company after the Option Grant Date.. On January 5, 2011, Mr. Barter exercised the option. . The Consulting Agreement between the Company and R. Scott Barter, dated April 8, 2010,, was subsequently amended by an agreement dated July 16, 2010. The consulting arrangement was not renewed and terminated on December 31, 2010.
The offering and the shares issued for services and option exercises are believed exempt from registration pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(2) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The securities offered, sold and issued in connection with the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company and Affiliated Purchasers
During the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, neither the Company nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act) purchased any shares of our common stock, the only class of our equity securities registered pursuant to section 12 of the Exchange Act.
ITEM 6
ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not required for smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 7
ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand our financial condition. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our financial statements and the accompanying integral notes (“Notes”) thereto. The following statements may be forward-looking in nature and actual results may differ materially.
Plan of Operation:
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: inability to locate property with mineralization, lack of financing for exploration efforts, competition to acquire mining properties; risks inherent in the mining industry, and risk factors that are listed in the Company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company maintains a corporate office in Boise, Idaho. This is the primary work area for the South Mountain Project and is utilized primarily by Pete Parsley and Eric Jones. Jim Collord has been working from a temporary residence in Boise Idaho at no additional charge to the Company. He will continue to work from his home office in Elko, Nevada as well as in the Boise office as the exploration program at South Mountain continues.
The financial condition of the Company was positive during 2010 and the metals commodity markets were favorable during most of the year. The Company underwent a reduced budget program during the first part of the year due while applying for a dual listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange - Venture Exchange (“TSX-V”).
The Company received their listing on the TSX-V in September, and was successful in raising sufficient capital to conduct their Phase 1 drilling program on the South Mountain Project. Operational focus was on defining the extent and quality of the gold-bearing intrusive breccia zone through additional rock chip and soil sampling, and mapping. The work on South Mountain was enhanced through the field work conducted previously by Kinross Gold Corp., and through valuable field work conducted by Newmont Mining. The results of this work further defined the gold mineralogy, which will aid in the exploration drilling planned in 2011. In the wake of this field work, additional State land leases were applied for by the Company in 2010.
The Company’s plan of operation for the next twelve months, subject to funding, and the availability of contractors, is as follows:
·
Continue the advanced exploration and pre-development program for the South Mountain Project. This work may include the following:
·
Initiate up to 10,000 feet of core drilling from the surface to better define the mineralization and to intercept the down-dip extensions of the Texas, DMEA-2, and Laxey ore zones.
·
Complete geophysical work on the Intrusive Breccia target. This will consist of an extensive helicopter draped aeromagnetic survey plus resistivity and IP work and will help define specific targets within and peripheral to the mineralized intrusive complex.
·
Conduct reverse circulation and core drilling on the Intrusive Breccia target once the geophysics have been completed and the targets have been defined.
·
Consider further rehabilitation of the Sonneman workings near the Texas ore zone will be initiated so that underground sampling and mapping can be completed.
·
Continue the baseline environmental work.
·
Continue to work with potential joint venture or capital partners to advance the project into the next phase of exploration and pre-production goals.
Work on the other five properties controlled by the Company will continue in 2011, although South Mountain will still remain the focus of our efforts. At the Trout Creek Project, the following is planned:
·
Complete negotiations with additional mineral rights holders in the target area.
·
Continue geophysical interpretation of the valley area, and conduct additional ground gravity surveys to supplement currently available data.
·
Define potential drill targets and develop a program for late 2011 or the 2012 field season.
The CAS Prospect will be evaluated when field conditions allow and a decision to drop or move ahead with the project will be made by the end of July, 2011.
Reconnaissance of favorable areas and review of submittals will continue.
Potential joint venture partners will be solicited on some of the properties in Nevada and Arizona.
Results of Operations:
The Company had no revenues and no production for 2010 or 2009. Total expenses for 2010 more than doubled from the prior year to $1.3 million, up 110% from 2009 total expenses of $617,000. The increase in total expenses is primarily the result of exploration activities under taken during the year. Exploration expense for the year end 2010 was $516,000 an increase of $417,000 over 2009 exploration expense of $99,000 as a result of the drilling program completed during the year at the Company’s South Mountain Property. Legal and accounting fees for 2010 increased $90,000 to $194,000, a 90% increase over 2009 legal and accounting expenses of $104,000, which was driven by the Company’s listing application on the TSX-V in Canada. 2010 management and administrative increased $171,000, or 46%, to $545,000 compared to 2009 expense of $374,000. The increase was a combination of expenses incurred related to the Company’s capital raising efforts and the reinstatement of salaries for executive officers.
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
The audit opinion and Notes that accompany our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, disclose a ‘going concern’ qualification to our ability to continue in business. The consolidated financial statements for the period then ended have been prepared under the assumption that we will continue as a going concern. Such assumption contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As shown in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, we incurred losses and negative cash flows from operating activities for the year then ended, and at December 31, 2010, did not have sufficient cash reserves to cover normal operating expenditures for the following 12 months. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Our continuation as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our obligations on a timely basis, to obtain additional financing as may be required, or ultimately to attain
profitability. Potential sources of cash, or relief of demand for cash, include additional external debt, the sale of shares of our stock or alternative methods such as mergers or sale of our assets. No assurances can be given, however, that we will be able to obtain any of these potential sources of cash. We currently require additional cash funding from outside sources to sustain existing operations and to meet current obligations and ongoing capital requirements.
Our plans for the long term continuation as a going concern include financing our future operations through sales of our common stock and/or debt and the eventual profitable exploitation of our mining properties. Our plans may also, at some future point, include the formation of mining joint ventures with senior mining company partners on specific mineral properties whereby the joint venture partner would provide the necessary financing in return for equity in the property.
While the Company does not currently have cash sufficient to support the currently planned aggressive exploration work at South Mountain, we believe that the survivability of Thunder Mountain Gold can be assured by the following:
·
At December 31, 2010, we had $298,232 cash in our bank accounts.
·
Management and the Board have not undertaken plans or commitments that exceed the cash available to the Company. We do not include in this consideration any additional investment funds mentioned below. Management is committed to manage expenses of all types so as to not exceed the on-hand cash resources of the Company at any point in time, now or in the future.
We firmly believe we can outlast the current disruptions in the investment markets and continue to attract investment dollars in coming months and years. The Company will also consider other sources of funding, including potential mergers or farm-out of some of its exploration properties.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, net cash used for operating activities was $1,127,142, consisting of our 2010 net operating loss reduced by non-cash expenses and net cash provided by changes in current assets and current liabilities. Cash used in investing activities for 2010 totaled $10,900 used to purchase and maintain mining claims, compared to cash of $29,530 used in 2009 to purchase and maintain mining claims and equipment.
Our future liquidity and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including timing, cost and progress of our exploration efforts, our evaluation of, and decisions with respect to, our strategic alternatives, and costs associated with the regulatory approvals. If it turns out that we do not have enough money to complete our exploration programs, we will try to raise additional funds from a second public offering, a private placement, mergers, farm-outs or loans.
We know that additional financing will be required in the future to fund our planned operations. We do not know whether additional financing will be available when needed or on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise additional financing when necessary, we may have to delay our exploration efforts or any property acquisitions or be forced to cease operations. Collaborative arrangements may require us to relinquish our rights to certain of our mining claims.
Private Placement
On September 24, 2010 (the “Closing Date”) the Company completed a private placement offering for the sale of 6,130,271 Units with proceeds of $995,737, net of $188,349 in deferred financing costs. The subscription agreements were denominated in Canadian dollars (Cdn$) at a price of Cdn $0.20 per Unit. Each Unit was comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock (a “Common Share”) and one share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional share of the Company’s common stock for a three year period at staggered prices as follows: CDN$0.20 per share at any time until one year from the Closing Date; Cdn$0.25 per share from one year until two years from the Closing Date; and Cdn$0.30 per share from two years until three years from the Closing Date. If the Company’s common stock trades at a closing price greater than Cdn$0.50 per share for 20 consecutive trading days after six months from the Closing
Date, the Company can accelerate the expiration of the Warrants by giving notice to the holders and in such case the Warrants will expire on the 30th day after the Company provides notice to the holders of the Warrants
On May 10, 2010, the Company issued 1.25 million Units at $0.20 per Unit in a private placement for net proceeds of $250,000. Each Unit consisted of one share of common stock and one Series A common stock purchase warrant. Each Series A warrant is exercisable at $0.20 for one-half Series B common stock purchase warrant. Each whole Series B warrant would be exercisable into one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The warrants are callable by the Company in the event that the Company’s stock trades above $0.25 in the case of the Series A warrants, and above $0.94 for the Series B warrants.
On August 7, 2009, the Company closed a private offering of securities solely to accredited investors. The offering consisted of 380,000 Units priced at $0.20 each. Each Unit consisted of a share of common stock, $0.001 par value, and a warrant to purchase common stock for $0.30 per share. As a result of completion of the offering, a total of 380,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, and warrants to acquire 380,000 shares of common stock were issued. Included in the 380,000 units issued, were 5,000 units issued for services valued at $1,000. There were no registration rights granted in connection with the offering. No Placement Agent was used, and no commissions were paid.
On August 10, 2009 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the re-pricing of warrants, including those issued in the August 7, 2009 private placement, originally exercisable at $0.30 or $0.40 per share, to an exercise price of $0.13 per share which was subsequently raised to $0.15 per share, with such re-pricing valid until November 23, 2009. As a result of completion of the offering, a total of 3,020,000 warrants were exercised for a like number of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value. Commissions of $23,250 were paid to a placement agent, resulting in net cash proceeds of $429,750 to the Company. Additionally, 100,000 shares were issued for warrants with an exercise price of $0.05 per share, for net cash proceeds of $5,000. The net cash proceeds from the exercise of warrants were $434,750. Finally, 30,000 shares were issued to an officer of the Company for warrants exercised at $0.15 in exchange for a reduction of $4,500 in a loan that the officer had previously extended to the Company. There were no registration rights granted in connection with any of these shares. No other commissions were paid, and a total of $450 in Blue Sky fees were paid to the states of Idaho, California and Washington.
The offering and the shares issued for services and option exercises are believed exempt from registration pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(2) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The securities offered, and to be sold and issued in connection with the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
Subsequent Events
None.
Off Balance-Sheet Arrangements:
During the 12 months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
Contractual Obligations
During 2008, two lease arrangements were made with land owners that own land parcels adjacent to the Company’s South Mountain patented and unpatented mining claims. The leases both were for a seven-year period, with options to renew, with annual payments (based on $20 per acre) listed in the following table. The leases have no work requirements.
*
Amounts shown are for the lease periods years 3 through 7, a total of 4 years that remain after 2010, the second year of the lease period.
**
The Lowry lease has an early buy-out provision for 50% of the remaining amounts owed in the event the Company desires to drop the lease prior to the end of the first seven-year period.
Critical Accounting Policies
We have identified our critical accounting policies, the application of which may materially affect the financial statements, either because of the significance of the financials statement item to which they relate, or because they require management’s judgment in making estimates and assumptions in measuring, at a specific point in time, events which will be settled in the future. The critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates which management believes have the most significant effect on the financial statements are set forth below:
a)
Estimates. Our management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the future resolution of the uncertainties increase, these judgments become even more subjective and complex. Although we believe that our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in estimates and assumptions based upon actual results may have a material impact on our results of operation and/or financial condition.
b)
Stock-based Compensation. The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” using the fair value method. All transactions in which goods or services are the consideration received for the issuance of equity instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument issued, whichever is more reliably measurable.
c)
Income Taxes. We have current income tax assets recorded in our financial statements that are based on our estimates relating to federal and state income tax benefits. Our judgments regarding federal and state income tax rates, items that may or may not be deductible for income tax purposes and income tax regulations themselves are critical to the Company’s financial statement income tax items.
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the ASC guidance for fair value measurements was updated to require additional disclosures related to movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy. Also, a reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements of anything valued with a Level 3 method is required. Disclosure regarding fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities will be required. The updated guidance was adopted by the Company in its quarter ended March 31, 2010, except for disclosures about the activity in Level 3 fair value measurements which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Adoption of this updated guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 7A
ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not required for smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 8
ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2009
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (loss)
for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for
the period of exploration stage from 1991 through December 31, 2010 (unaudited)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009,
and for the period of exploration stage from 1991 through
December 31, 2010 (unaudited)
28-29
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended
December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for the period of exploration stage
from 1991 through December 31, 2010 (unaudited)
30-34
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
35-45
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (An Exploration Stage Company) (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred substantial losses, has no recurring source of revenue, and has an accumulated deficit. These factors raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
DeCoria, Maichel & Teague P.S.
Spokane, Washington
March 22, 2011
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2010 and 2009
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 298,232
$ 266,207
Prepaid expenses and other assets
23,118
61,067
Total current assets
321,350
327,274
Property, plant, equipment and mining claims:
South Mountain Mines property
357,497
357,497
Plant and equipment, net
23,109
35,536
Mining properties and claims
59,930
49,030
Total property, plant, equipment and mining claims
440,536
442,063
Other assets:
Deferred financing costs
172,653
-
Total assets
$ 934,539
$ 769,337
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFECIT)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
$ 52,617
$ 53,895
Accounts payable and interest - related party
-
13,408
Deferred salaries
-
21,000
Convertible related party note payable, net
-
32,300
Note payable
-
50,000
Total current liabilities
52,617
170,603
Long-term liabilities:
Warrant liabilities (Note 5)
1,589,171
-
Total liabilities
1,641,788
170,603
Commitments and Contingency (Note 6)
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred stock; $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000
shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
-
-
Common stock; $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares
authorized; 27,001,740 and 18,583,469 shares issued
and outstanding, respectively
27,002
18,584
Additional paid-in capital
2,452,644
2,115,523
Less: 11,700 shares of treasury stock, at cost
(24,200)
(24,200)
Deficit accumulated prior to 1991
(212,793)
(212,793)
Accumulated deficit during the exploration stage
(2,949,902)
(1,298,380)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
(707,249)
598,734
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)
$ 934,539
$ 769,337
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Business Operations
Business Operations
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. (“Thunder Mountain” or “the Company”) was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Idaho on November 9, 1935, under the name of Montgomery Mines, Inc. In April 1978, the Montgomery Mines Corporation was obtained by a group of the Thunder Mountain property holders and changed its name to Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc., with the primary goal to further develop their holdings in the Thunder Mountain Mining District, located in Valley County, Idaho. Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. takes its name from the Thunder Mountain Mining District, where its principal lode mining claims were located. For several years, the Company’s activities were restricted to maintaining its property position and exploration activities. During 2005, the Company sold its holdings in the Thunder Mountain Mining District. During 2007, the Company acquired the South Mountain Mines property in southwest Idaho and initiated exploration activities on that property, which continue today.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company is an exploration stage company and has incurred losses since its inception and does not have sufficient cash at December 31, 2010 to fund normal operations for the next 12 months. The Company has no recurring source of revenue and its ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company’s ability to raise capital to fund its future exploration and working capital requirements. The Company’s plans for the long-term return to and continuation as a going concern include financing the Company’s future operations through sales of its common stock and/or debt and the eventual profitable exploitation of its mining properties. Additionally, the current capital markets and general economic conditions in the United States are significant obstacles to raising the required funds. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company is currently investigating a number of alternatives for raising additional capital with potential investors, lessees and joint venture partners.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. If the going concern basis was not appropriate for these financial statements, adjustments would be necessary in the carrying value of assets and liabilities, the reported expenses and the balance sheet classifications used.
Deferred Financing Costs
Costs associated with financing are deferred and charged to expense over the life of the related financing agreements. Remaining costs and the future period over which they would be charged to expense are reassessed when amendments to the related financing agreements or prepayments occur.
Exploration Stage Enterprise
The Company’s financial statements are prepared using the accrual method of accounting and according to, “Accounting for Development Stage Enterprises,” as it devotes substantially all of its efforts to acquiring and exploring mining interests that will eventually provide sufficient net profits to sustain the Company’s existence. Until such interests are engaged in commercial production, the Company will continue to prepare its financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with entities in the exploration stage.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Business Operations, continued
Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated and any significant related party transactions have been disclosed.
Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions include the carrying value of exploration properties and mineral claims, environmental remediation liabilities, deferred tax assets and the fair value and accounting treatment of financial and derivative instruments. Management`s estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to conform prior year’s data to the current presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the results of reported operations or stockholders’ equity.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers cash in banks and highly liquid short term investments with original maturities when acquired of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s cash was held in a Merrill Lynch money market fund on December 31, 2010, and is not covered by insurance of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).
Fair Value Measures
ASC 820 requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used to measure fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. ASC prioritizes the inputs into three levels that may be used to measure fair value:
·
Level 1: Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
·
Level 2: Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or
infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.
·
Level 3: Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Business Operations, continued
Fair Value Measures, continued
Our financial instruments consist principally of cash and warrant liabilities. The table below sets forth our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level that we have determined applies to each asset and liability category.
Balance
December 31, 2010
Balance
December 31, 2009
Input
Hierarchy level
Cash
$ 298,232
$ 266,207
Level 1
Warrants
$ (1,589,171)
-
Level 2
There were no transfer of assets or liabilities between fair value levels during the year ended December 31, 2010 or 2009. Level 2 financial instruments are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model which uses the current market price, exercise price, term, risk free interest rate and the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock to estimate the fair value of the warrants at the balance sheet date.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is computed using straight line depreciation methods with useful lives of three to seven years. Major additions and improvements are capitalized. Costs of maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the life of the associated assets are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. When there is a disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in net income.
Mining Properties and Claims
Exploration costs are expensed in the period in which they occur. The Company capitalizes costs for acquiring and leasing mineral properties and expenses costs to maintain mineral rights as incurred. Should a property reach the production stage, these capitalized costs would be amortized using the units-of-production method on the basis of periodic estimates of ore reserves. Mineral properties are periodically assessed for impairment of value, and any subsequent losses are charged to operations at the time of impairment. If a property is abandoned or sold, its capitalized costs are charged to operations.
Reclamation and Remediation
The Company’s operations have been, and are subject to, standards for mine reclamation that have been established by various governmental agencies. The Company would record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which the Company incurred a legal obligation for the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. A corresponding asset would also be recorded and depreciated over the life of the asset. After the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the liability was
adjusted at the end of each reporting period to reflect changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation.
Determination of any amounts recognized upon adoption is based upon numerous estimates and assumptions, including future retirement costs, future inflation rates and the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Business Operations, continued
For non-operating properties, the Company accrues costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when it is probable that such costs will be incurred and they are reasonably estimable. Such costs are based on management’s estimate of amounts expected to be incurred when the remediation work is performed.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred income tax liabilities or assets at the end of each period using the tax rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are actually paid or recovered. A valuation allowance is recognized on deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company has evaluated all tax positions for open years and has concluded that it has no material unrecognized tax benefits.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company requires all share-based payments to employees and directors, including grants of employee stock options, be measured at fair value and expensed in the statement of operations over the service period.
Net Loss Per Share
The Company is required to have dual presentation of basic earnings per share (“EPS”) and diluted EPS on the face of all income statements issued after December 15, 1997, for all entities with complex capital structures. Basic EPS is computed as net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants, and other convertible securities. The dilutive effect of convertible and exercisable securities would be:
December 31,
December 31,
For years ended
Warrants
7,313,271
15,000
Total possible dilution
7,313,271
15,000
For the periods ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the effect of the Company’s outstanding options and common stock equivalents would have been anti-dilutive. Accordingly, only basic EPS is presented.
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the ASC guidance for fair value measurements was updated to require additional disclosures related to movements of assets among Levels 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy. Also, a reconciliation of purchases, sales, issuance, and settlements of anything valued with a Level 3 method is required. Disclosure regarding fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities will be required. The updated guidance was adopted by the Company in its quarter ended March 31, 2010, except for disclosures about the activity in Level 3 fair value measurements which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Adoption of this updated guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2.
Property, plant, equipment and mining claims
The following is a summary of equipment and accumulated depreciation as December 31, 2010 and 2009:
Expected
Useful Lives (years)
South Mountain Mines property
-
$ 357,497
$ 357,497
Plant and equipment
94,185
94,185
Office equipment and furniture
17,389
17,389
Mining claims
-
59,930
49,030
Total vehicles and equipment
529,001
111,574
Less accumulated depreciation
(88,465)
(76,038)
Property, equipment and vehicles, net
$ 440,536
-
$ 442,063
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $12,427 and $22,315, respectively
3.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company does not have an approved stock option plan, but its Board of Directors has ratified a Stock Option Plan to be approved by a vote of the shareholders during 2011.
A summary of the status of outstanding and exercisable stock options as of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
(per share)
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Options outstanding and exercisable at
January 1, 2008
155,000
$ 0.10
4.3
$31,000
Forfeited or Exercised
(155,000)
$ 0.10
1.7
$18,000
Options outstanding and exercisable
at December 31, 2009
-
-
-
-
Options outstanding and exercisable at
December 31, 2010
-
-
-
-
The Company granted 2 million stock options in August 2010 to certain officers, directors and outside consultant’s contingent upon approval of the Stock Options Plan by shareholders. No share-based compensation was recognized related to the grants given that the stock options plan has not received shareholder approval. If the plan is approved by shareholders, the Company will recognize stock compensation expense equal to the fair market value of the options granted on the date the plan is approved.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
There were no options granted during 2009 and there were no options outstanding at December 31, 2010. The options granted in prior periods contained an anti-dilution clause whereby, upon written request the holders of the options, an adjustment to the number of shares could be required to increase the number of shares issued in connection with the exercise of options. The holders requested such a dilution adjustment in 2009. The Company issued 283,889 shares of its common stock for 155,000 options exercised. Accordingly, the Company recognized share-based compensation for an officer and nonemployee director of $8,000 and $17,550, respectively in 2009, in management and administration expense. The expense recognized represented the fair value of stock calculated by comparing the fair value of the options pre and post modification to determine the incremental value resulting from the anti-dilution provision. The income tax effect of the anti-dilution compensation is immaterial. The Company received $15,550 in cash from the options exercised in 2009. There were no options outstanding at December 31, 2009.
4.
Income Taxes
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had deferred tax assets which were fully reserved by valuation allowances due to the likelihood of expiration of these deferred tax benefits prior to the Company generating future taxable income sufficient to utilize the deferred tax benefits to reduce tax expense from those future periods. The deferred tax assets were calculated based on an expected future tax rate of 34%. Following are the components of such assets and allowances at December 31, 2010 and 2009:
Deferred tax assets arising from:
Charitable contribution
$ -
$2,682,000
Non-deductible share based compensation
81,000
34,000
Net operating loss carryforwards
990,000
475,000
1,071,000
3,191,000
Less valuation allowance
(1,071,000)
(3,191,000)
Net deferred tax assets
$ -
$ -
The Company has approximately $3.1 million of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards that expire through 2029 and 2030. The Company had approximately $7.9 million of charitable contribution carryforwards that expired in 2010 resulting in a decrease of $2.7 million in deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance.
The income tax benefit shown in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, differs from the federal statutory rate as follows:
Amount
Rate
Amount
Rate
Benefit at federal statutory rate
$ 562,000
34%
$ 182,000
34%
Increase in valuation allowance
(562,000)
34%
(122,159)
34%
Total
$ -
-
$ 59,841
34%
The Company has analyzed its filing positions in all jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns and found no positions that would require a liability for unrecognized income tax benefits to be recognized. The Company is subject to possible tax examinations for the years 2008 through 2010. The Company will deduct interest and penalties as interest expense on the financial statements.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
5.
Stockholders’ Equity
The Company’s common stock is at $0.001 par value with 200,000,000 shares authorized. The Company also has 5,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.001. No preferred shares have been issued.
On September 24, 2010 (the “Closing Date”) the Company completed a private placement offering for the sale of 6,130,271 Units with proceeds of $1,001,867, which are net of $188,349 in deferred financing costs. The subscription agreements were denominated in Canadian dollars (Cdn$) at a prices of Cdn $0.20 per Unit. Each Unit was comprised of one share of the Company’s common stock (a “Common Share”) and one share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional share of Company’s common stock for a three year period at staggered prices as follows: CDN$0.20 per share at any time until one year from the Closing Date; Cdn$0.25 per share from one year until two years from the Closing Date; and Cdn$0.30 per share from two years until three years from the Closing Date. If the Company’s common stock trades at a closing price greater than Cdn$0.50 per share for 20 consecutive trading days after six months from the Closing Date, the Company can accelerate the expiration of the
Warrants by giving notice to the holders and in such case the Warrants will expire on the 30th day after the Company provides notice to the holders of the Warrants. The Company concluded that the warrants issued in the private placement and to Haywood Securities Inc., a Canadian broker dealer, meet the definition of a derivative instrument as defined in ASC 815 Derivative and Hedging which requires that the derivative instrument be separated and accounted for separately from the common equity issued in the offering unit.
Based on the guidance of ASC 815, management concluded that the warrants should be classified as a liability and recorded at fair value. The Company determined the fair value of the 6,130,271 warrants issued in the offering using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company determined the fair value of the warrants to be $1,434,702 along with the $6,130 par value of the common stock on the date the offering which exceeded the gross offering proceeds of $1,190,216 by $250,617. The amount by which the par value of the common stock and fair value of the warrants exceeded the offering proceed issued in the placement represents an additional offering expense incurred in the placement and is recorded as a loss on issuance of common stock and warrants in the statement of operations. The Company recognized a $38,054 gain on the change in the fair value of warrants as of December 31, 2010, the difference between the fair value on the placement date and year end.
The Company recorded a long term asset for the deferred financing costs related to the offering of $188,349. The deferred financing costs include listing and legal fees along with a finder’s fee paid to Haywood Securities Inc. and Bolder Investment Partners, Ltd, both Canadian broker dealers, equal to 10% of the funds received as part of the second and third tranches. The deferred financing costs are being amortized to the statement of operations over the life of the warrants using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest rate method. For the year ended December 31, 2010 the Company recognized $15,696 in amortization of deferred financings costs.
In conjunction with the private placement, the Board approved the issuance of 78,000 units under the placement in full satisfaction of $21,000 in deferred compensation owed to the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Eric T. Jones. Using the Black-Scholes option pricing model the Company recorded a liability related to the 78,000 warrants of $16,941. The Company recognized a $448 gain on the change in the fair value of the warrants as of December 31, 2010, the difference between the fair value on the placement date and year end.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
5.
Stockholders’ Equity, continued
On July 30, 2010 we entered in to an agreement with Cameron & Associates to provide investor relation services to the Company. As part of the consideration for the agreement the Company issued Cameron 200,000 shares of stock on August 11, 2010, that were valued at $0.25 per share, the market price on the date of issuance. We recognized $50,000 in management & administrative cost related to the stock issuance. In addition to the shares issued to Cameron the Company will pay a monthly fee of $5,000 to Cameron for services provided under the proposal plus all expenses incurred by Cameron.
On May 10, 2010, the Company issued 1.25 million Units at $0.20 per Unit in a private placement for net proceeds of $250,000. Each Unit consisted of one share of common stock and one Series A common stock purchase warrant. Each Series A warrant is exercisable at $0.20 for one-half Series B common stock purchase warrant. Each whole Series B warrant would be exercisable into one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.75 per share. The warrants are callable by the Company in the event that the Company’s stock trades above $0.25 in the case of the Series A warrants, and above $0.94 for the Series B warrants. The Company has accounted for the warrants as a derivative liability based the full ratchet and anti dilution provisions contained in the Series B warrants. The Company has allocated $145,316 of the proceeds from the private placement as a long term warrant liability and has recognized $30,715 loss on the warrants at December 31, 2010, as a result of an increase in fair value between the placement date and the end of the quarter.
As consideration for a sponsorship agreement, Haywood Securities, Inc. was issued 200,000 shares of stock on January 6, 2010, that were valued at $0.22 per share, the market price on the issue date for a total cost of $44,000. This amount was expensed in management and administrative costs for Haywood Securities’ sponsorship of the Company on the TSX-V Exchange.
As authorized by Board Resolution on March 30, 2010, a total of 450,000 shares of common stock were issued to the Company’s executive officers and directors. The issuance was for Board service in 2008 and 2009. The stock was valued based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the day of the awards and expense of $76,500 was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company also issued 100,000 shares of common stock to outside consultants for services rendered and recorded $17,000 in expense for the grant.
On August 10, 2009 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the re-pricing of warrants, originally exercisable at $0.30 or $0.40 per share, to an exercise price of $0.15 per share, with such re-pricing valid until November 23, 2009. As a result of completion of the offering, a total of 3,020,000 warrants were exercised at $0.15 for a like number of shares of common stock. Commissions of $23,250 were paid to a placement agent, resulting in net cash proceeds of $429,750 to the Company. Additionally, 100,000 shares were issued for warrants with an exercise price of $0.05 per share, for net cash proceeds of
$5,000. The net cash proceeds from the exercise of warrants were $434,750. Finally, 30,000 shares were issued to an officer of the Company for warrants exercised at $0.15 in exchange for a reduction of $4,500
in a loan that the officer had previously extended to the Company. There were no registration rights granted in connection with any of these shares, and no other commissions were paid. Holders of 100,000 warrants priced returned their warrants to the Company unexercised.
On August 7, 2009, the Company closed a private offering of securities solely to accredited investors. The offering consisted of 380,000 Units priced at $0.20 each; each Unit consisting of a share of common stock, $0.001 par value, and a warrant to purchase common stock for $0.30 per share. As a result of completion of the offering, a total of 380,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, and warrants to acquire 380,000 shares of common stock were issued. Included in the 380,000 units issued, were 5,000 units issued for
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
5.
Stockholders’ Equity, continued
services valued at $1,000. There were no registration rights granted in connection with the offering. No Placement Agent was used, and no commissions were paid.
For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the fair value of warrants was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected volatility of the stock price, which may be difficult to estimate for small reporting companies traded on micro-cap stock exchanges. The fair value of each warrant grant was estimated on the grant date using the following weighted average assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate
0.29% to 1.02%
--
Expected dividend
yield
--
--
Expected term
1 to 3 years
--
Expected volatility
209.1% to 279.5%
--
The risk-free interest rates are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve for maturities with similar terms at the time of the grant. The expected term of warrants granted is from the date of the grant. The expected volatility is based on historical volatility.
The following is a summary of warrants as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.
Share Equivalent Warrants
Exercise Price
Expiration Date
Warrants:
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2008
2,885,000
Warrants issued
380,000
0.30
Warrants exercised
(3,150,000)
0.15
Warrants forfeited
(100,000)
0.40
Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2009
15,000
$ 0.05
August 20, 2011
Warrants exercised
(10,000)
$ 0.05
August 20, 2011
Warrants issued May 10, 2010
625,000
0.20
Three years from exercise of
Series A Warrant (1)
Warrants issued September 24, 2010
6,683,271
0.19
September 30, 2013
Total warrants outstanding at December 31, 2010
7,313,271
$ 0.19
(1) The Company has 1,250,000 Series A Warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2010. Each Series A Warrant is exercisable at $0.20 for one half of a Series B Warrant, which is exercisable into one share of common stock..
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6.
Commitments and Contingency
The Company’s management believes that the Company is currently in substantial compliance with environmental regulatory requirements. Remediation requirements for the Company are limited to minor activities related to drill pad reclamation and the like, and that no material environmental remediation costs exist as of December 31, 2010. Such costs are accrued at the time the expenditure becomes probable and
the costs can reasonably be estimated. The Company recognizes, however, that in some cases future environmental expenditures cannot be reliably determined due to the uncertainty of specific remediation methods, conflicts between regulating agencies relating to remediation methods and environmental law interpretations, and changes in environmental laws and regulations. Any changes to the Company’s remediation plans as a result of these factors could have an adverse affect on the Company’s operations. The range of possible losses in excess of the amounts accrued cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Our management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the future resolution of the uncertainties increase, these judgments become even more subjective and complex. Although we believe that our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in estimates and assumptions based upon actual results may have a material impact on our results of operation and/or financial condition.
7.
Related Party Transactions
Of the 6,130,271 Units issued in connection with the private placement that closed on September 24, 2010, 104,000 shares were issued to related parties.
In addition 78,000 units were issued to Eric T. Jones in full satisfaction of $21,000 in deferred compensation owed to Mr. Jones by the Company, see note 5 “Shareholder’s Equity” for further discussion on the offering.
On March 31, 2010 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a bridge loan from E. James Collord, the Company’s CEO and a director, and his wife Leta Mae Collord, Mr. Collord’s wife, in the amount of $50,000 at an interest rate of 1% per month with the first payment due in thirty days. On May 12, 2010 the Board unanimously approved to increase the loan amount to $65,000. On August 13, 2010, the Collord’s advanced the Company an additional $25,000 under the bridge loan. The purpose of the bridge loan was to provide the Company operational capital to meet its day-to-day operational needs. These funds were repaid during the year with proceeds received from the September 2010 private placement.
The Collord’s had the option that any portion or the amount loaned could be converted to shares of Company common stock at the lower of the market price on the date of conversion, or $0.15 per share. The price for the Company’s common stock exceeded the $0.15 conversion price stated in the loan on the days funds were advanced under the loan. Management determined that the favorable exercise price represents a beneficial conversion feature. Using the intrinsic value method at the loan dates, a total discount of $42,666 was recognized on the loan. The discount was amortized over the loan term using the straight-line method, which approximated the effective interest method. The Company recorded $42,666 in interest expense related to the amortization of the discount for the year ended December 31, 2010. The outstanding loan balance and accrued interest there on was zero at year end.
On March 30, 2010 the Board of Directors granted 450,000 shares of common stock to certain Executive Officers, Directors and outside consultants for services rendered in 2008 and 2009, see note 5 “Stockholder’s Equity” for further discussion of the awards.
Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Related Party Transactions, continued
On June 26, 2009 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a bridge loan from E. James Collord, the Company’s CEO and a director, and his wife Leta Mae Collord in the amount of $40,000 for operational capital to meet the Company’s day to day operational needs. The entire balance of the loan including interest at 12% is due in full no later than February 28, 2010. As of December 31, 2009 the Company had borrowed $40,000 against the bridge loan and repaid $3,200 in cash and $4,500 in stock, resulting in a balance owing of $32,300 with interest payments paid through December 2009.
On August 10, 2009 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a second bridge loan from E. James Collord, the Company’s CEO and a director, and his wife Leta Mae Collord in the amount of $50,000 for operational capital to meet the Company’s day to day operational needs. The entire balance of the loan including interest at 12% was due upon receipt of the IRS refund. As of December 31, 2009 the loan, together with all interest, had been paid in full.
On June 1, 2009 the Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a voluntary temporary reduction in salary for Eric Jones, the Company’s CFO and a director, from $75,000 to $12,000 per year in order to facilitate this season’s exploration goals and growth of the Company. As of December 31, 2009 the Company had recorded $21,000 in deferred salaries in relation to the temporary reduction in salary for Eric Jones.
Of the 380,000 shares of stock issued in connection with the August 7, 2009 placement, 310,000 shares were issued to related parties.
On October 9, 2009 Jim Collord converted 30,000 warrants purchased in the private placement which closed August 7, 2009 to 30,000 shares of common stock at the re-priced rate of $0.15 per share for a total cost of $4,500 which was used to reduce the amount of his and Leta Mae’s $50,000 bridge loan.
On October 27, 2009 Jerritt Collord, the son of the Company’s President Jim Collord, performed consulting services for data compilation and manipulation for the South Mountain Breccia Target for fees of $1,000.
ITEM 9
ITEM 9 - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
During the year ended December 31, 2010, there were no changes in independent audit firms or consulting firms who provide accounting assistance.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, there were no disagreements between the Company and its independent certified public accountants concerning accounting and financial disclosure.
ITEM 9A
ITEM 9A - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
At the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of, and with the participation of, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a - 15(e) and Rule 15d - 15(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequately designed and effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in applicable rules and forms.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have also determined that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow for accurate required disclosure to be made on a timely basis.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external reporting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.* Management evaluates the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - “Integrated Framework.” Management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 and concluded that it is ineffective in assuring that the financial reports of the Company are free from material errors or misstatements.
*This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Management has identified two material weaknesses and is taking action to remedy and remove the weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting:
·
Lack of an independent board of directors, including an independent financial expert. In June 2008, the Company added one independent director, and subsequent to December 31, 2009, added another independent director, the latter of which has been designated the Company’s independent financial expert. The current board of directors is evaluating expanding the board of directors to include additional independent directors. The current board is composed of seven members and
may be expanded to as many as nine members as permitted under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws.
·
Inappropriate Segregation of Duties, as the same Officer and Director was responsible for initiating and recording transactions, thereby creating segregation of duties weakness.
Management’s Remediation Initiatives.
Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. The design of any system of controls is based in part on 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. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks.
The Company clearly recognizes, and continues to recognize, the importance of implementing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting and is working to implement an effective system of controls. Management is currently evaluating avenues for mitigating our internal controls weaknesses, but mitigating controls that are practical and cost effective may not be found based on the size, structure, and future existence of our organization, Since the Company has not generated any significant revenues, the Company is limited in its options for remediation efforts. Management, within the confines of its budgetary resources, will engage its outside accounting firm to assist with an assessment of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011.
Changes in internal controls over financial reporting
During the quarter ended December 31, 2010, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Subsequent to the close of the quarter an additional independent director was added to help alleviate the material weakness identified above.
ITEM 9B
ITEM 9B - OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10
ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
This section sets forth certain information with respect to the Company’s current directors and executive officers, as well as information about appointments subsequent to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Directors and Executive Officers:
Name
Age
Office with the Company
Appointed to Office
E. James Collord
President, Chief Executive
Since 1978
Officer, Director
Pete Parsley
Vice President, Director
Since 1999
Exploration Manager
Eric T. Jones
Chief Financial Officer,
Since March 2006
Investor Relations
Dr. Robin S. McRae
Director
Since 1978
Edward D. Fields
Director
Since March 2006
Douglas J. Glaspey
Director
Since June 2008
R. Llee Chapman
Director, Chairman of Audit
Since January 2010
Committee
Background and experience:
E. James Collord has a MS degree in exploration geology from the Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno (1980). He has been a mining professional for 37 years, employed in a variety of capacities, including mill construction superintendent, exploration geologist, mine construction and reclamation manager, and in environmental and lands management. During the period 1975 through 1997, Jim worked for Freeport Exploration where he worked with a successful exploration team that discovered several Nevada mines. Later in his Freeport career, he managed mining operations and lead permitting efforts. For the period 1997 through 2005, Jim was Environmental and Lands Superintendent at Cortez Gold Mines, a large Nevada mine that was a joint venture between Placer Dome and Kennecott Minerals. After retirement from Cortez, and until his employment by Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. in April 2007, he managed the Elko offices for environmental and hydrogeologic consulting groups. He is the grandson of Daniel C. McRae, the original locator of the gold prospects in the Thunder Mountain Gold Mining District in the early 1900s.
G. Peter Parsley has a Masters in Science degree in geology from the University of Idaho. He has been a mining professional since 1985 and has experience in gold exploration, mine development, construction, reclamation, and environmental compliance and permitting. He was associated with the Thunder Mountain Project starting in1985 when he was project manager for the exploration program by USMX/Dakota Mining that defined the Dewey mineralization. After that, he served as President and Exploration Manager for Triumph Gold Corporation that had interests in the United States, China and South America. Mr. Parsley was appointed Vice President and Exploration Manager for Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. on April 1, 2006, and was appointed as President of Thunder Mountain Resources in early 2007.
Eric T. Jones has over 18 years of varied mining, financial and entrepreneurial experience. He has held project management positions for Hecla Mining at their Yellow Pine Mine, Stibnite, Idaho, and Environmental Manager at their Rosebud Mine, Lovelock, Nevada. For Dakota Mining, Mr. Jones was General Mine Manager for the Stibnite, Idaho gold heap leach operation in central Idaho. He was also engaged as a manager of a successful Boise, Idaho-based private investment fund during the period 1997-2002. Due to Eric’s varied business experience, in 2006 the Board appointed him to the position of Secretary/Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. In February 2008 Eric went to work for Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. as Vice President of Investor Relations and Business Development, as well as Chief Financial Officer.
Dr. Robin S. McRae is a graduate of the Pacific College of Optometry and is a retired Boise optometrist. He is also the grandson of Daniel C. McRae, and is the son of Robert J. McRae, author of numerous geological reports concerning the Thunder Mountain Mining District. His knowledge of mining and related exploratory activities is derived from three generations of ownership of the Sunnyside group of claims that the Registrant previously owned.
Edward D. Fields is a professional mineral resource geologist with over 40 years of experience. He was Manager of Mineral Resources for Boise Cascade Corporation (1983-1999), and was responsible for the discovery of a significant underground gold resource in Washington State. He also worked for Kennecott Copper Company at their Ok Tedi Mine in Papua New Guinea and as Chief Geologist for the Duval Corporation at the Battle Mountain, Nevada copper-gold mine. Mr. Fields has a MS degree in geology from the University of Wyoming.
Douglas J. Glaspey is currently Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Geothermal, Inc. Mr. Glaspey has 29 years of operating and management experience with experience in production management, planning and directing resource exploration programs, preparing feasibility studies and environmental permitting. He formed and served as an executive officer of several private resources companies in the U.S., including Drumlummon Gold Mines Corporation and Black Diamond Corporation. He holds a BS degree in Mineral Processing and an Associate of Science in Engineering Science.
R. Llee Chapman was appointed as Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee on January 28, 2010, subsequent to the close of 2009. He is the former Regional Vice President for Newmont Mining Corporation - North America. His many years of mining experience also includes public company CFO level management in positions with Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Apollo Gold Inc., Knight Piesold & Co., Idaho General Mines (now General Moly). Mr. Chapman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Idaho State University, and is a licensed CPA in Idaho and Montana.
Directorships in reporting companies:
Doug Glaspey is the only director of the Registrant that is a director of another corporation subject to the requirements of Section 12 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934.
Significant Employees:
Peter Parsley remained a full-time employee for the Company during 2010. Jim Collord commenced working for the Company in April 2007 when work on evaluation of South Mountain intensified. In order to preserve assets to advance exploration, in June 2008, Mr. Collord voluntarily reduced his salary to $1,000 per month. Eric Jones became an employee in February 2008 (as discussed above). Mr. Jones is also a part-time employee. In June through September 2009, Mr. Jones voluntarily reduced his salary to $1,000 per month, which was then increased to a full annual salary of $100,000 on October 1, 2009.
Family Relationships:
Dr. Robin S. McRae is the cousin of E. James Collord, the President of the Registrant. Both are grandsons of the original locator of the Thunder Mountain Mining District, Valley County, Idaho.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings:
None of the officers and directors of the Registrant have been involved in any bankruptcy, insolvency, or receivership proceedings as an individual or member of any partnership or corporation; none have ever been convicted in a criminal proceeding or is the subject of a criminal proceeding presently pending. None have been involved in proceedings concerning his ability to act as an investment advisor, underwriter, broker, or dealer in securities, or to act in a responsible capacity for an investment company, bank savings and loan association, or insurance company or limiting his activity in connection with the purchase and sale of any security or engaging in any type business practice. None have been enjoined from engaging in any activity in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws nor been involved in a civil action regarding the violation of such laws.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance:
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and persons who beneficially owns more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of change in ownership of common stock and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, no persons failed to file on a timely basis, the identified reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Audit Committee:
The Company’s Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight and management of the Company. On January 28, 2010, an Audit Committee was designated from members of the Board and consists of R. Llee Chapman as Chairman, with Douglas Glaspey and Edward Fields as independent members of the committee. The Board of Directors has specified Mr. Chapman as its "financial expert".
Compensation Committee:
There is currently no Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Compensation of employees is reviewed and approved by the Board.
Code of Ethics:
The Board of Directors has formally adopted a Code of Ethics in 2010. This Code of Ethics is published on the Company`s website.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers:
The Company’s By-Laws address indemnification of Directors and Officers. Nevada law provides that Nevada corporations may include within their articles of incorporation provisions eliminating or limiting the personal liability of their directors and officers in shareholder actions brought to obtain damages for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, as long as the alleged acts or omissions did not involve intentional misconduct, fraud, a knowing violation of law or payment of dividends in violation of the Nevada statutes. Nevada law also allows Nevada corporations to include in their Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws provisions to the effect that expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action must be paid by the corporation as they are incurred, subject to an undertaking on behalf of the officer or director that he or she will repay such expenses if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation because such officer or director did not act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
The Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide that a director or officer is not personally liable to the Company or its shareholders for damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for liability for: (i) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, or (ii) the payment of distributions in violation of Nevada Revised Statutes, §78.300. In addition, Nevada Revised Statutes §78.751 and Article VII of the Company’s Bylaws, under certain circumstances, provide for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company against liabilities which they may incur in such capacities.
ITEM 11
ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Pete Parsley continued his full-time position as Vice President and Exploration Manager during 2010 at a salary of $105,000 per year from January to August 2010. In September his annual salary was increased to $113,000 per year.
Jim Collord voluntarily reduced his salary to $12,000 per year commencing in June 2008 which continued throughout 2009 to maximize financial resources available for exploration efforts. His salary was reinstated at rate of 60,000 per year from January to August 2010. In September 2010 his salary was increased to $110,000 per year.
Eric Jones commenced working for the Company in February 2008 at a 75% of a full-time rate of $100,000 per year, or $75,000 per year which was further reduced to a temporary rate of $12,000 per year starting June 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009. His salary was returned to the 100% full-time rate of $100,000 starting in October 2009. In September 2010 his salary was increased to $110,000 per year.
As authorized by Board Resolution on March 30, 2010, a total of 550,000 shares of common stock were issued, of which 450,000 were issued to the Company’s Executive Officers and Directors. The stock was valued based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the day of the awards. See Note 5 “Stockholder’s Equity” for further discussion of the award.
On August 24, 2010 the Board approved, subject to Shareholder approval of its SIP, a grant of 2.0 million options under the SIP to Directors, Executive Officers and other non-employees consultants. The options have a strike price of $0.27, which approximates the fair market value of the Company’s common equity on the date of grant, based on the average of the bid/ask prices as quoted by the National Quotation Bureau on the day of grant. The option certificates will reflect the actual date of the grant upon approval of the SIP by shareholders.
Summary Compensation Table
Compensation to directors also included reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses that are incurred in connection with the Directors’ duties associated with the Company's business. There is currently no other compensation arrangements for the Company’s Directors. The following table provides certain summary information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 concerning compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and three other highest paid executive officers, including the Directors of the Company:
Name & Position
Year
Salary
(US$)
Bonus
(US$)
Stock
Awards
(US$)
Option
Awards
(US$)
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
(US$)
Change in
Pension Value &
Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
(US$)
All Other
Compensation/
Directors Fee
(US$)
Total
(US$)
Jim Collord,
President & CEO
$76,668
$12,000
-
-
$17,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$93,668
$12,000
Eric T. Jones,
CFO, Sec/Treasurer
$103,335
$60,270
-
-
$17,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$120,335
$60,270
Pete Parsley,
V.P. & Director
$107,668
$103,000
-
-
$17,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$124,668
$103,000
Doug Glaspey
Director
-
-
-
-
$8,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$8,500
-
Robin S. McRae,
Director
-
-
-
-
$8,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$8,500
-
Edward Field,
Director
-
-
-
-
$8,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$8,500
-
R. Llee Chapman
Director
-
n/a
-
n/a
-
n/a
-
n/a
-
n/a
-
n/a
-
n/a
-
n/a
There are no compensatory plans or arrangements for compensation of any Director in the event of his termination of office, resignation or retirement.
Exercise of Options:
There were no stock options exercised in 2010.
Long-term Incentives:
On May 25, 2010, the Board of Directors, subject to shareholder ratification, approved a Stock Incentive Plan (the “SIP”). The SIP will be administered by the Compensation Committee or Board of Directors and provides for the grant of stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, and incentive awards to eligible individuals including directors, executive officers and advisors that have furnished bona fide services to the Company not related to the sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction.
The SIP has a fixed maximum percentage of 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares that are eligible for the plan pool, whereby the number of Shares under the SIP increase automatically with increases in the total number of shares. This “Evergreen” provision permits the reloading of shares that make up the available pool for the SIP, once the options granted have been exercised. The number of shares available for issuance under the SIP automatically increases as the total number of shares outstanding increase, including those shares issued upon exercise of options granted under the SIP, which become re-available for grant subsequent to exercise of option grants. The number of shares subject to the SIP and any outstanding awards under the SIP will be adjusted appropriately by the Board of Directors if the Company’s common stock is affected through a reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, restructuring, reclassification, dividend (other than quarterly cash dividends) or other distribution, stock split, spin-off or sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets.
The SIP also has terms and limitations, including that the exercise price for stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the SIP must equal the stock’s fair market value, based on the closing price per share of common stock, at the time the stock option or stock appreciation right is granted. The SIP is also subject to other limitation including; a limited exception for certain stock options assumed in corporate transactions; stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the SIP may not be “re-priced” without shareholder approval; stock-based awards under the SIP are subject to either three-year or one-year minimum vesting requirements, subject to exceptions for death, disability or termination of employment of an employee or upon a change of control; and shareholder approval is required for certain types of amendments to the SIP.
Employment Contracts:
At the end of 2010, there were three paid Company employees, Pete Parsley, Eric Jones and Jim Collord. They were employed per resolution of the Board and other than a monthly salary, plus normal burden, there are no other contractual understandings in the resolutions. Each is reimbursed for the use of personal office equipment and phones, and Jim and Eric are reimbursed for health insurance and related costs up to a set maximum amount. A salary service located in Elko, Nevada was used to pay employee’s salary and ensuring all appropriate taxes and employment-related state insurance was collected and paid.
2010 Share-Based Payments:
The Board of Directors granted 2 million options to officers, directors and outside consultants in August 2010 subject to approval of the SIP by shareholders. Since the options are subject to shareholder approval the Company did not recognize any stock compensation related to the grant by the Board. If and when the shareholders approve the SIP the Company will recognize stock compensation expense equal to the fair value of the options granted on the date of approval. No retirement benefit, bonus, stock option or other remuneration plans are in effect with respect to the Company’s officers and directors.
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment or Change of Control
We have no plans or arrangements in respect of remuneration received or that may be received by our executive officers to compensate such officers in the event of termination of employment (as a result of resignation or retirement) or change of control transaction.
ITEM 12
ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2010 by:
·
the Company’s named executive officers;
·
the Company’s directors at December 31, 2010;
·
all of the Company’s executive officers and directors as a group; and each person who is known to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
As of December 31, 2010, the number of shares of common stock that can be sold by officers, directors, principal shareholders, and others pursuant to Rule 144 was 887,247. However, as a condition to our listing on the TSX-V, our officers and directors were required to deposit their common stock totaling 4,799,239 shares, into an escrow account with Computershare Investor Services, Inc. Those escrowed shares are subject to the TSX-V’s Tier 1 escrow requirement. Those requirements provide for an 18 month escrow release mechanism with 25% of the escrowed securities being released on September 24, 2010 (the date our common shares commenced trading on the TSX-V), and 25% of the escrowed securities to be released every 6 months thereafter. No officer or director
has requested release of any of their escrowed shares, and no current officer or director has ever sold any of their shares.
Changes in Control:
The Board of Directors is aware of no circumstances which may result in a change of control of the Company.
ITEM 13
ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Transactions with Management and Others:
During the year ended December 31, 2010, we had the following transactions with related parties:
As authorized by Board Resolution on March 30, 2010, a total of 550,000 shares of common stock were issued, of which 450,000 shares were issued to the Company’s Executive Officers and Directors. The stock was valued based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the awards. The Company recognized $76,500 in stock compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The following table summarized the awards to Executive Officers & Directors:
Name and Relation
Shares Awarded
Price$/
Share
Percent of Class(1)
E. James Collord, - President and Director
100,000
$.17
$17,000
Eric T. Jones - CFO, Sec/Treasurer and Director
100,000
$.17
$17,000
G. Peter Parsley, Vice-President and Directors
100,000
$.17
$17,000
Robin S. McRae, Director
50,000
$.17
$ 8,500
Edward Fields, Director
50,000
$.17
$ 8,500
Doug Glaspey, Director
50,000
$.17
$ 8,500
Total
450,000
$.17
$76,500
On August 24, 2010 the Board approved a grant of 2.0 million options under the SIP to Directors, Executive Officers and other non-employees consultants. The options have a strike price of $0.27, which approximates the fair market value of the Company’s common equity on the date of grant, based on the average of the bid/ask prices as quoted by the National Quotation Bureau on the day of grant. The option certificates will reflect the actual date of the grant upon approval of the SIP by shareholders. The Company did not recognize any stock compensation expense related to the option grant as the awards are contingent upon approval of the SIP by shareholders.
Certain Business Relationships:
There have been no unusual business relationships during the last fiscal year of the Registrant between the Registrant and affiliates as described in Item 404 (b) (1-6) of the Regulation S-K.
Indebtedness of Management:
No Director or executive officer or nominee for Director, or any member of the immediate family of such has been indebted to the Company during the past year.
Directors’ Stock Purchases
Certain Directors of the Company purchased common stock in 2010. Mr. Jones participated in the private placement that closed on September 24, 2010, receiving a total of 130,000 units in the placement. Mr. Jones purchased 52,000 units at Cdn$0.20 per unit, each unit consisting of one common share, and one warrant to purchase a share of common stock. Mr. Jones also received 78,000 units in full satisfaction of $21,000 in
deferred compensation owed by the Company to Mr. Jones at the date of the placement. Mr. Chapman also participated in the same private placement that closed on September 24, 2010, purchasing a total of 52,000 units at Cdn$0.20 per unit, each unit consisting of one common share, and one warrant to purchase a share of common stock. Stock transactions for directors and officers were reported on Form 4 and are available on the SEC website.
Director Independence
Douglas Glaspey, Edward Fields, and R. Llee Chapman are independent non-employee members of the Board of Directors, as defined in FINRA Marketplace Rule 4200.
ITEM 14
ITEM 14 - PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Audit and Non-Audit Fees
The following table presents fees billed to the Company relating to the audit of the Financial Statements at December 31, 2010, as provided by DeCoria, Maichel and Teague, P.S. We expect that DeCoria, Maichel and Teague, P.S. will serve as our auditors for fiscal year 2011.
The Company’s Board of Directors reviewed the audit services rendered by DeCoria, Maichel and Teague, P.S. and concluded that such services were compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence. All audit, non-audit, tax services, and other services performed by the independent accountants are pre-approved by the Board of Directors to assure that such services do not impair the auditors’ independence from the Company. The Company does not use DeCoria, Maichel and Teague, P.S. for financial information system design and implementation. We do not engage DeCoria, Maichel and Teague, P.S to provide compliance outsourcing services.
PART IV
ITEM 15
ITEM 15 - EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Documents filed as part of this report on Form 10-K or incorporated by reference:
(1)
Our financial statements can be found in Item 8 of this report.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules (omitted because they are either not required, are not applicable, or the required information is disclosed in the notes to the financial statements or related notes).
(3)
The following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated by reference:
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibits
3.1*
Articles of Incorporation of Montgomery Mines Inc, October 30, 1935
3.2*
Articles of Amendment, Montgomery Mines Inc., April 12, 1948
3.3*
Articles of Amendment, Montgomery Mines Inc., February 6, 1970
3.4*
Articles of Amendment, Montgomery Mines Inc., April 10, 1978
3.5*
Articles of Amendment, Thunder Mountain Gold, August 26, 1985
3.6*
Articles of Amendment, Thunder Mountain Gold, October 17, 1985
3.7*
Articles of Incorporation, Thunder Mountain Gold Inc. (Nevada), December 11, 2007
3.8*
Bylaws, Montgomery Mines Inc.
3.9*
Bylaws, Thunder Mountain Gold Inc. (Nevada)
10.1*
Agreement and Plan of Merger, Thunder Mountain Gold (Nevada)
22.1**
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
31.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Periodic Report pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)(Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002).
31.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Periodic Report pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)(Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002).
32.1**
Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
32.2**
Certificate of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
*
Previously filed as an exhibit to Form 10-KSB, filed on April 16, 2008, SEC File No. 001-08429.
**
Filed herewith.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 143 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THUNDER MOUNTAIN GOLD, INC.
/s/ E. James Collord
By __________________________________
E. James Collord
President, Director and Chief Executive Officer
Date: March 25, 2011
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934 this report signed below by the following person on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities on the date indicated.
/s/ Eric T. Jones
By ____________________________________
Eric T. Jones
Secretary/Treasurer and Director and Chief Financial Accounting Officer
Date: March 25, 2011