ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Pacific Gold is engaged in the identification, acquisition, and development of mining prospects believed to have known gold and/or tungsten mineralizations. The main objective is to identify, and develop commercially viable mineralizations on prospects over which the company has rights that could produce revenues. These types of prospects may also contain mineralization of metals often found with gold and/or tungsten which also may be worth processing. Development of commercially viable mineralization of any metal includes a high degree of risk which careful evaluation, experience and factual knowledge may not eliminate, and therefore, we may never produce any significant revenues.
Pacific Gold Corp. owns 100% of four operating subsidiaries; Nevada Rae Gold, Inc., Fernley Gold, Inc., Pilot Mountain Resources Inc., and Pacific Metals Corp. through which it holds various prospects in Nevada and Colorado. The Company intends to acquire through staking, purchasing and/or leasing arrangements additional prospects, from time to time, in which there may be gold, tungsten and/or other mineral deposit potential.
Gold Orientation
Throughout history gold has been a desired metal for monetary purposes and for jewelry. Because there is an active market for gold and consistent demand and use, we believe that if we find a viable mineralization, we will be able to sell any gold we produce with little difficulty. Of course, there is no assurance that we will find any mineralization or one that is commercially viable. Whether or not a mineralization is viable depends on the cost of production versus the price at which we can sell the metal. We believe that alluvial and placer deposits are less expensive to operate to produce saleable product. We also believe that the required filings and permits are easier to obtain for these kinds of prospects than for underground mines.
We have obtained and in the future will seek prospects in areas where there have been previous mining operations. We believe that this gives some indication that there may be mineralizations within our prospects to justify the cost of staking, maintenance and development.
Tungsten Orientation
The word tungsten means “heavy stone” in Swedish. Tungsten is a grayish-white lustrous metal which exhibits many important physical properties including a high melting point and density, as well as good thermal and electrical conductivity, a low coefficient of expansion, excellent corrosion resistance, and exceptional strength at elevated temperatures.
Tungsten is an important strategic metal for which there is no known substitute. Tungsten is valued as the extremely hard carbide used in cutting and wear-resistant components, and as the metal or alloy for lamp and lighting filaments and electrodes, electrical and electronic contact surfaces, heat and radiation shielding in high temperature furnaces and x-ray equipment, and electrodes in certain welding methods.
Tungsten is an essential commodity and offers versatility in many everyday uses such as: light bulbs, television sets, microwave ovens, other electrical consumer products; metal cutting tools, drill bits, mining tools, military tools; and wear-resistance parts for industries such as automotive and construction.
Operating Subsidiaries
Nevada Rae Gold, Inc.
The prospects held by Nevada Rae Gold (“NRG”) are located among the Crescent Valley placer deposits, in the bullion mining district of Lander County, Nevada. They are about two miles from the town of Crescent Valley, and some 50 miles west of Elko, Nevada. The area is about 175 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada.
The property consists of federal mining claims and leased private land. The federal mining claims are managed by the BLM and require annual renewal payments prior to September 1st each year. The leased ground requires the Company to pay a royalty from production with a portion of the royalty paid in advance each year.
The area is accessible by state highway 306 an all-weather asphalt road and about 22 miles south from Interstate 80. The property where the prospects are located has an all weather gravel road established in the 1970’s for prior mining operations of barite. The prospects also have access to electricity and water sufficient for exploration, development and later extractive and milling activities if warranted and undertaken.
The climate is typically hot and semi-arid with temperatures rising to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to below freezing in the winter. Freezing temperatures are only sporadically encountered in the winter months of December and January and are not likely to have serious affect on operations. Precipitation is minimal and offers little or no operational problems.
The nearby towns appear to have a supply of skilled workers familiar with earthmoving equipment and surface mining experience. Equipment also appears to be available for purchase or lease. We have acquired 100% of two existing wells in the area which can supply the necessary amounts of water for the operation as we intend to employ re-circulation methodologies. We have also acquired 13.67 acres of fee land available adjacent to the wells which can accommodate the screening plant, tailings ponds, workshop and on-site office. The wells and adjacent land are approximately four miles from the mining claims.
Production History
Gold mineralization was first discovered in 1907 in the Crescent Valley area, and thereafter intermittent work was carried out up to World War II. In the 1930s an exploration program was carried out with a number of shafts sunk in the Mud Springs Gulch area. These studies identified quantities of gold mineralization situated close to the bedrock at the bottom of the alluvial areas. In the late 1970s there was barite mining and milling in the area using open pits. In the mid-1980s the barite mining operations were purchased and modified and there was some recovery of gold mineralization during the later 1980’s and 1990’s at low extractive rates.
History of Mining
Most of the historical work was carried out over a 3-4 mile section in Mud Springs Gulch, but there are older exploration pits throughout the company’s prospects. There appear to be about thirty exploration shafts sunk through the gravels to bedrock. This work was conducted in the 1930’s, but there are no detailed results available. Little work was done in the Black Rock Canyon during the historical period.
In 1978, Major Barite Inc. implemented an operation to mine and process barite from several small, open pits within the project area. In 1982 the barite market collapsed, and the company turned its attention to placer gold exploration and development. There was a program of bulk sampling in the drainages for gold. Trenches and pits were dug and processed from locations in Black Rock Canyon, Mud Springs Gulch, Tub Springs Gulch and Rosebud Gulch. A widespread occurrence of placer gold was discovered, but Major Barite Inc. ceased operations in 1984. In 1984, the area was taken over by Mr. John Uhalde who continued to explore and develop the placer gold resources in the project until his death in 2001. Mr. Uhalde operated his placer mine under a small miners permit.
Local Geology
The prospects are located among the easterly alluvial deposits of the Shoshone Mountain range and merge with the sediments of Crescent Valley. It is posited that this area is the remains of a large, ancient lakebed. The project consists of three main drainages: Black Rock Canyon, Mud Springs Gulch and Tub Springs Gulch. The alluvial deposits are typically 100 to 300 feet wide and with depths of up to 90 feet, but the alluvial - sedimentary material can reach thicknesses in excess of 500 feet thick in areas. The thickness of the gravels is judged to become progressively greater as one moves eastwards from the mountains. It is estimated that the gravels are between 16 and 90 feet below the surface with an average thickness of about 30 feet. The gravels are typically dry and light brown pebble and occasionally boulder gravels. Oversized material is rare. Compositionally, the coarse material is mainly rounded cherts and metavolcanics with occasional weathered and variable granodiorite. The uppermost layers, generally running about 6 to 8 feet in depth, will have to be removed to access the gravels likely to have the mineral deposits sought. It is believed that the gravels will have little clay and will present few processing problems.
There is no information on the vertical distribution of gold mineralization within the gravels. Through historical records from shaft-sinking suggests that the gravel becomes courser with depth, coinciding with an increase in the percentage of oversize boulders. It is believed that the best gold mineralization levels are obtained at the bedrock interface.
Prospects
NRG has staked prospects covering approximately 1,340 acres of the alluvial deposits among the Crescent Valley projects mentioned above. In addition, it has leased approximately 440 acres of land adjacent to its staked prospects from Bullion Monarch Mining, by lease dated October 1, 2003. The lease covers acreage in Section 9, Township 29 North, Range 47 East, Mount Diablo Meridian, Bullion Mining District, Lander County, Nevada. NRG has the right to the gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other precious and base metals within the placers and gravels of the leased premises, with exclusive right to prospect and explore for, mine by open pit methods, mill, prepare for market, store, sell and dispose of the same and use, occupy and disturb so much of the surface as Pacific Gold determines useful, desirable or convenient. The lease term is ten years, renewable for an additional ten years.
Operations
NRG has permitted the Black Rock Canyon Mine with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Nevada State Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). NRG built a gravel screening facility at the Black Rock Canyon Mine. The plant is in good physical condition. The plant consists of a 60 foot by 90 foot by 30 foot steel building with offices, plumbing, electrical and a sloped floor for drainage, additionally the site has fuel storage, settling ponds, security offices and the entire area is fenced in for security along with exterior lighting and security camera’s that allow management remote access viewing of the site from any internet access point in the world. The plant equipment primarily consists of a grizzly hopper, conveyors, trommels, high gravity bowls, and a variety of pumps, cyclones and small equipment. The Company currently plans to rent or lease earth moving equipment including, bull dozers, haul trucks, excavators, front end loaders and other smaller pieces. The plant is serviced via power lines provided by NV Energy and via two water wells that the Company owns.
In 2010 the Company continued work on preparing the Black Rock Canyon Mine for production.
In general, the operations will require the excavation of the gravel within the prospect. Typically, the vegetation and minor soil cover will be stripped and side cast for future reclamation. The mineralization bearing gravel will be dug with an excavator until bedrock is reached, and material will be prescreened and then hauled to the mill site. The mill area will be about three miles away from the mine site. The mill site is equipped with two functioning wells for process water and is connected to the power grid. The mill and trommel unit are set up on the private, fee land owned by the company.
Through December 31, 2010 the Company has invested approximately $7,900,000 into NRG.
Fernley Gold, Inc.
Fernley Gold, Inc. entered into a lease agreement in 2004 for the right to mine the property and claims known as Butcher Boy and Teddy. The area known for placer gold mineralizations, and commonly referred to as the Olinghouse Placers, has a rich mining history. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. The Company is required to make monthly lease payments to the property owner and annual BLM fees in order to keep the project in good standing.
Location
The property is accessible from the junction of paved State Route 34 (447) approximately 1.5 miles north-west of the town of Wadsworth, Nevada, onto a county-maintained gravel road which runs several miles west into the Olinghouse Canyon. The mine access road begins at the midpoint of the Olinghouse road heading north approximately two miles to the site.
Regional Geology
The area is dominated by the Pah Rah mountain range which has reliefs of 6,000 feet above sea level. Frankfree Canyon drains the portion of the range immediately to the west of the mine site. Frankfree Canyon opens into an alluvial fan which spreads to the east and extends down slope for about two miles to the mine site, and then it continues to the Truckee River some five miles below the mine site. The mine is located at 4,600 feet above sea level.
The district lies within the Walker Lake structural zone, a major right-lateral shear zone that extends for several hundred miles from Southern California to southern Oregon, and is several miles wide. The Walker Lake represents the western margin of the Basin and Range structural province. Large alluvial fans including Frankfree Canyon were shed off the fault-block ranges as they were uplifted.
The Butcher Boy placer mine is hosted by a distinctive conglomerate sequence of pliopleistocene age. This conglomerate sequence was derived from erosion of the Olinghouse mining district where free gold occurs in quartz veins in prophylitized volcanic rocks.
The mine unit that hosts the gold ore was deposited on a bedrock of clay-altered volcanic rocks similar to those exposed in the lower foothills above the mine. Drilling and mining have shown the bedrock to be clay-altered almost everywhere in the mine area; occasional areas of silicification of the bedrock occur.
The mine unit is overlain by an overburden sequence that varies from 12-30’ in thickness.
Exploration
Previous Drilling: During the late 1930’s Goldhill Dredging, and in the 1980’s Southern Pacific completed extensive drilling and very accurate testing of the deposit. The purpose of this drilling was to delineate the placer gold reserves present. About ½ of the holes penetrated the gravel to the bedrock. The maximum hole depths were on the order of 120 feet below the surface. Drill holes within the area of the deposit were located on the least 100’ centers and 100’ line spacings.
In the 1960’s Watts, Griffith, and McQuat, a Canadian consulting firm, drilled several 30” diameter holes in the central orebody.
The most recent drilling was performed by New Gold and American Resources by Vaughn Construction in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
In 2006 The Company dug and sampled trenches on the property to confirm the gold grade of the reports from drilling in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Resource Estimates
Mining of the deposit has exposed the ore gravels allowing a more accurate interpretation of the cuttings returned from drilling than before. For instance, there is a coarse boulder layer of gravel in the middle of the deposit that the results from the drilling showed low values, but when processed, this gravel was the highest grade in the zone, likely caused by the presence of nuggets.
Mining to-date has confirmed that the highest grades (0.021-0.026 ounces per cubic yard) are controlled by: 1) bends in the channels which controlled the deposition of the pay gravels; 2) bedrock faults which act as mega-riffles to concentrate gold in topographic breaks caused by the faults; and 3) intersections of bedrock channels and the bedrock faults.
The bedrock topography can predict where high grade zones will occur. These zones occur regularly throughout the deposit’s location, which is now known to be almost continuous over an area of 5,000 feet x 1,200 feet, and which (based on widely spaced drilling) may be 50% larger. Overburden depths are variable from 12’ to about 25’, yielding a lifetime waste/ore stripping ratio of 0.5/1.0.
Pilot Mountain Resources Inc.
In August 2005, Pacific Gold Corp. established a subsidiary called Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. Pilot Mountain acquired Project W. Project W is primarily a tungsten project located in Mineral County, Nevada. Elevated tungsten values occur throughout the area. The property is located approximately 21 miles east of the town of Mina with access through an all-weather, county-maintained gravel road and a network of further trails. Mina is 168 miles south-east of Reno on Route 95. The claims are located at an average elevation of 6,500 feet.
Resource calculations from a 1981 pre-feasibility study completed by Kaiser Engineers place the size of Project W at 9,061,600 tons, grading 0.386% Tungsten Tri-oxide (WO 3 ) of mineralized material, or approximately 35,000 tons of WO 3 .
The terms of the acquisition of Project W call for Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. to pay to Platoro West a 2% gross royalty on all mineral sales from Project W. In addition to the claims, Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. received copies of previously prepared working documents and reports regarding Project W.
Overview
Project W is primarily a tungsten project located in Mineral County, Nevada. Elevated tungsten values occur throughout this area, and there are known mineral resources within the claim area. The claims are located at an average elevation of 6,500 feet.
The property is located approximately 21 miles east of the town of Mina with access through an all-weather, county-maintained gravel road and a network of further trails. Mina is 168 miles southeast of Reno on Route 95.
The company has claims within the project area covering approximately 900 acres.
History
Project W encompasses three distinct occurrences of tungsten mineralization - Desert Scheelite, Gunmetal and Garnet. During the 1970's and early 1980's, diamond drilling conducted by both the Duval Corporation and Union Carbide Corporation resulted in these three principal areas being delineated. Reports addressing the occurrences of tungsten mineralization and estimates of resources of Project W have been written by personnel of Duval Corporation, Union Carbide Corporation and independent consultants including Kaiser Engineers, Inc. and David S. Robertson and Associates. Pilot Mountain Resources Inc. has access to these reports through its agreement with Platoro West Incorporated.
In 1981, the project was the subject of a feasibility study undertaken by Kaiser Engineers Inc. While the study concluded that a combination of open-pit and underground mining would return an acceptable profit, the tungsten market collapsed shortly thereafter and the project remained idle until the demise of the Metals and Mining Division of Union Carbide during the late 1980's.
Geology
The tungsten ore occurs principally in the form of the mineral scheelite within garnetiferous tactites adjacent to contacts of quartz monzonite and granodiorite intrusions. The tactites are genetically related to the intrusives and are products of metasomatically altered carbonate rocks of the upper Luning Formation which locally contain potentially important amounts of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite and argentiferous galena.
Project W is composed essentially of layered rocks of the Permian to Lower Jurassic ages which have a combined maximum thickness of over 20,000 feet. The oldest unit exposed on the property is the Mina Formation which consists principally of chert, sandy argillite and a number of tuffaceous units which are exposed as high, jagged cliffs to the south of the Desert Scheelite tungsten occurrence across a prominent fault scarp. The Mina Formation is overlain by the Luning Formation, the host unit for the tungsten mineralization on the property. The Luning Formation is made up of three, equally thick members with a collective thickness of approximately 8,000 feet. The upper member consists predominantly of limestone and to a much lesser extent, fine grained clastic sediments. The middle member is composed of a uniform sequence of conglomerates, quartzites and mudstones and the lower member consists of carbonate and clastic sediments. Most of the known tungsten occurrences and deposits on the property are confined to the upper member of the Luning Formation.
The tactites, metasomatic replacement bodies which host the tungsten occurrences on the property, are stratigraphically controlled and generally are proximal to quartz monzonite and/or granodiorite intrusives. Two groups of tactites are recognized: a dark-colored, iron-rich, brown garnet group, which hosts most of the tungsten mineralization, and a light-colored, low-iron group which contains tan-colored garnets. The tactites generally occur in a number of parallel horizons. Scheelite is the only significant tungsten-bearing mineral on the property. It is yellow in color and can contain minor amounts of molybdenum.
Other Projects
Through its other subsidiaries the company has other federal mining claims that at this point in time the Company has deemed to be non-material for the purposes of this report. Once such claims have been thoroughly examined and detailed reports prepared, if the projects are deemed to be material, the Company will add descriptions of the properties to future reports and filings.
Regulation
The exploration and development of a mining prospect is subject to regulation by a number of federal and state government authorities. These include the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau of Land Management as well as the various state environmental protection agencies. The regulations address many environmental issues relating to air, soil and water contamination and apply to many mining related activities including exploration, mine construction, mineral extraction, ore milling, water use, waste disposal and use of toxic substances. In addition, we are subject to regulations relating to labor standards, occupational health and safety, mine safety, general land use, export of minerals and taxation. Many of the regulations require permits or licenses to be obtained and the filing of Notices of Intent and Plans of Operations, the absence of which or inability to obtain will adversely affect the ability for us to conduct our exploration, development and operation activities. The failure to comply with the regulations and terms of permits and licenses may result in fines or other penalties or in revocation of a permit or license or loss of a prospect.
We must comply with the annual staking and patent maintenance requirements of the States of Nevada and Oregon and the United States Bureau of Land Management. We must also comply with the filing requirements of our proposed exploration and development, including Notices of Intent and Plans of Operations. In connection with our exploration and assessment activities, we have pursued necessary permits where exemptions have not been available although, to date, most of these activities have been done under various exemptions. We will need to file for water use and other extractive-related permits in the future.
Competition
We expect to compete with many mining and exploration companies in identifying and acquiring claims with gold mineralization. We believe that most of our competitors have greater resources than us. We also expect to compete for qualified geological and environmental experts to assist us in our exploration of mining prospects, as well as any other consultants, employees and equipment that we may require in order to conduct our operations. We cannot give any assurances that we will be able to compete without adequate financial resources.
Employees
Pacific Gold has two employees who are the executive officers and NRG has one employee, who is on-site management. From time to time we hire heavy machinery operators, geological experts, engineers and other operations consultants and independent contractors and laborers, for differing periods to facilitate the implementation of our business plan.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
N/A
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
N/A
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
All mining claims owned or leased by Pacific Gold Corp. and its subsidiaries are federal mining claims under the jurisdiction of the BLM and/or the U.S. Forest Service. The claims are valid for one year and require a renewal prior to September 1st of each year.
Pacific Gold Corp.
The head office of Pacific Gold is located at 555 Richmond Street West Suite 602, Toronto Ontario, M5V3B1. Pacific Gold is using office space provided by its CEO on a gratis basis.
Nevada Rae Gold, Inc.
Nevada Rae Gold, Inc. has staked 67 placer claims and 13 lode claims (BLM file no. NMC851395 and NMC0927489) covering approximately 1,340 acres in Lander County, Nevada. The Company also owns 13.67 acres of land in Lander County, Nevada.
In addition, the Company has leased approximately 440 acres of privately owned land adjacent to its staked prospects from Bullion Monarch Mining, by lease dated October 1, 2003. Nevada Rae paid an advance royalty of $7,500 for the first year, which amount is increased by $2,500 in each of the next five years to be $20,000 in the sixth year. For the last four years of the lease, the advance royalty is $20,000 per year. If the lease is renewed, the annual advance royalty is $20,000. The advance royalty is credited to and recoverable from the production rental amounts. The royalty is the greater of a 4% net smelter royalty or $0.50 per yard of material processed. The lease is for 10 years with a renewal option for another 10 years.
Fernley Gold, Inc.
Fernley Gold leased 640 acres, including 35 placer claims (BLM file no. NMC48238 and NMC242196), with the exclusive right to mine for placer, lode and other minerals and metals, located 34 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The lease includes two water wells and water rights. The initial agreement is for a period of five years, with Fernley Gold having the exclusive right to renew the lease on the existing terms. Fernley Gold made a one-time payment of $10,000 to acquire the lease, followed by two quarterly payments of $500, and currently makes payments of $1,000 each month. The monthly payments are applied towards the royalty fees that will become due to the Lessor. According to the royalty fee structure, the Company will pay 6% of the gross value of the recovered ore, less smelter expenses, when the price of spot gold is below $400 per ounce on the world market. When gold is above the $400 threshold, the Company will pay a 10% royalty.
Pilot Mountain Resources, Inc.
The company owns 45 lode claims (BLM file no. NMC 111111) that were purchased in August 2005, within the project area covering approximately 900 acres. In connection with its acquisition of the claims, Pacific Gold and Pilot Mountain are required to pay Platoro West Incorporated a 2% gross royalty on all mineral sales from the project.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Perry Crane initiated a Statement of Claim against the Company on August 7, 2007, for the amount of $149,087. The Company has settled this claim with Perry Crane by a payment of $130,000 plus interest which was due on March 15, 2011. The Settlement amount plus interest for a total of $145,209 were paid out by March 10, 2011.
On April 30, 2008 Komatsu Equipment (“Komatsu”) filed an action against the Company in connection with repair work done on the Company’s trucks. All invoices submitted to the Company have been accrued in its trade payables on the financial statements. The Company has settled this claim with Komatsu and has agreed to make a series of payments to Komatsu in 2011.
From time to time the Company is involved in minor trade, employment and other operational disputes, none of which have or are expected to have a material impact on the current or future financial statements or operations.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. (RESERVED)
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market for Common Stock
The common stock is traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol "PCFG".
Our common shares are designated as “penny stock”. The SEC has adopted rules (Rules 15g-2 through l5g-6 of the Exchange Act), which regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in “penny stocks.” Penny stocks generally are any non-NASDAQ equity securities with a price of less than $5.00, subject to certain exceptions. The penny stock rules require a broker-­dealer to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC, to provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account, to make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity, if any, in the secondary market for a stock that is subject to the penny stock rules. Since our common shares are subject to the penny stock rules, persons holding or receiving such shares may find it more difficult to sell their shares. The market liquidity for the shares could be severely and adversely affected by limiting the ability of broker-dealers to sell the shares and the ability of shareholders to sell their stock in any secondary market.
The trading volume in the common stock has been and is extremely limited. The limited nature of the trading market can create the potential for significant changes in the trading price for the common stock as a result of relatively minor changes in the supply and demand for common stock and perhaps without regard to our business activities.
The market price of our common stock may be subject to significant fluctuations in response to numerous factors, including: variations in our annual or quarterly financial results or those of our competitors; conditions in the economy in general; announcements of key developments by competitors; loss of key personnel; unfavorable publicity affecting our industry or us; adverse legal events affecting us; and sales of our common stock by existing stockholders.
Subject to the above limitations, we believe that during the eight fiscal quarters preceding the date of this filing, the high and low sales prices for the common stock during each quarter are as set forth in the table below (such prices are without retail mark-up, mark-down, or commissions):
Holders
As of July 6, 2011 the Company believes that there are well over 5,000 shareholders of record and beneficial holders of our common stock who hold through brokerage and similar accounts.
Dividends
We have not paid any dividends to date. We can give no assurance that our proposed operations will result in sufficient revenues to enable profitable operations or to generate positive cash flow. For the foreseeable future, we anticipate that we will use any funds available to finance the growth of our operations and that we will not pay cash dividends to stockholders. The payment of dividends, if any, in the future is within the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, capital requirements, restrictions imposed by lenders and financial condition and other relevant factors.
Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the fourth quarter of 2010 upon conversion of outstanding promissory notes, Pacific Gold issued from time to time an aggregate of 22,222,222 shares of common stock at a conversion price of to $0.005 in transactions qualifying under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act to accredited investors.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
N/A
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION
Forward Looking Statements
From time to time, we or our representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Such forward-looking statements may be included in, but not limited to, press releases, oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer or in various filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Words or phrases "will likely result", "are expected to", "will continue", "is anticipated", "estimate", "project or projected", or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements". Such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to and are accompanied by the above discussion of certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements.
Management is currently unaware of any trends or conditions other than those mentioned in this management's discussion and analysis that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, future results of operations, or liquidity. However, investors should also be aware of factors that could have a negative impact on the Company's prospects and the consistency of progress in the areas of revenue generation, liquidity, and generation of capital resources. These include: (i) variations in revenue, (ii) possible inability to attract investors for its equity securities or otherwise raise adequate funds from any source should the Company seek to do so, (iii) increased governmental regulation, (iv) increased competition, (v) unfavorable outcomes to litigation involving the Company or to which the Company may become a party in the future and (vi) a very competitive and rapidly changing operating environment.
The risks identified here are not all inclusive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results.
The financial information set forth in the following discussion should be read with the financial statements of Pacific Gold included elsewhere herein.
Financial Condition and Changes in Financial Condition
Overall Operating Results:
The Company had revenues from the sale of gold for the year ended December 31, 2010 of $ 5,836 with a negative gross margin of $228,222. The revenues were generated from the screening of approximately 10% of the Company’s existing stockpile or approximately 1,000 yards of lower grade sand filled material to test the Geotextile tube filtration system.
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 totaled $556,207. The Company incurred labor costs associated with the various mining activities. Labor costs were $138,864 for the year. Equipment operating costs, tools and materials of $37,924 were incurred primarily to prepare the plant and equipment at Black Rock Canyon for operations. Legal and professional fees of $102,342 were incurred for services performed with respect to acquisitions and mining prospect evaluation, as well as SEC reporting compliance and accounting fees. The Company also incurred expenses related to geological studies, fieldwork, site visits, preparation of mining permit applications and consulting fees of $24,314. Advertising and public relations expenses totaled $9,989. Interest expense totaled $203,932 for the year; of this amount, $5,123 was a non-cash expense that included amounts for accelerated interest and interest on the Series E Convertible Debentures that were not paid out in cash. The remaining expenses relate to office, general administrative and stock transfer agent fees. We believe we will incur substantial expenses for the near term as we resume operations at Black Rock Canyon and progress with our evaluations of future mining prospects.
The Company had no revenues from the sale of gold for the year ended December 31, 2009 with a negative gross margin of $342,259.
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 totaled $764,359. The Company incurred labor costs associated with the various mining activities. Labor costs were $77,956 for the year. Equipment operating costs, tools and materials of $10,887 were incurred primarily to prepare the plant and equipment at Black Rock Canyon for operations. Legal and professional fees of $106,915 were incurred for services performed with respect to acquisitions and mining prospect evaluation, as well as SEC reporting compliance and accounting fees. The Company also incurred expenses related to geological studies, fieldwork, site visits, preparation of mining permit applications and consulting fees of $139,453. Advertising and public relations expenses totaled $9,537. Interest expense totaled $289,459 for the year and was a non-cash expense that included amounts for accelerated interest and interest on the Series C, D and E Convertible Debentures that were not paid out in cash. The remaining expenses relate to office, general administrative and stock transfer agent fees. We believe we will incur substantial expenses for the near term as we resume operations at Black Rock Canyon and progress with our evaluations of future mining prospects.
Liquidity and Capital Resources:
Since inception to December 31, 2010, we have funded our operations from the sale of securities, issuance of debt and loans from a shareholder. At December 31, 2010, we had unsecured loans from a shareholder in an aggregate amount of $2,070,031 including accrued interest. The note bears interest at the rate of 10% .The note was due on January 02, 2011, and then extended to January 02, 2013.
As of December 31, 2010, our assets totaled $1,387,611, which consisted primarily of mineral rights, land and water rights, and related equipment. Our total liabilities were $3,907,310 which primarily consisted of note payable to a shareholder of $1,881,846, accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1,472,559, notes payable to related parties of $274,720, and promissory notes of $90,000. We had an accumulated deficit of $25,802,906 and a working capital deficit of $1,691,650 at December 31, 2010.
On October 5, 2007 the Company sold $450,000 in principal amount of convertible debentures and warrants. The debentures were due on October 5, 2010, and were paid in full with issuance of shares for conversion. The debentures and warrants were sold, and the common stock issued on conversion and exercise was sold, under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on a private placement basis, to an institutional, accredited investor. The Company received $300,000 which was used for working capital. During 2009 the Company issued 12,121,212 shares on conversion. For the year ended December 31, 2010 the company issued an additional 53,535,353 shares on conversion.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company has issued an additional $274,720 in short term notes due to related parties. The notes are due on demand and are interest free.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company issued a promissory note to a non - related party for a total amount of $65,000. The promissory note is due on December 31, 2013. Interest expense on the promissory notes is accrued at a rate of 10% per annum.
Our independent auditors, in their report on the financial statements, have indicated that the Company has experienced recurring losses from operations and may not have enough cash and working capital to fund its operations beyond the very near term, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Management has made a similar note in the financial statements. As indicated herein, we have need of capital for the implementation of our business plan, and we will need additional capital for continuing our operations. We do not have sufficient revenues to pay our expenses of operations. Unless the company is able to raise working capital, it is likely that the Company either will have to cease operations or substantially change its methods of operations or change its business plan.
New Accounting Pronouncements
Pacific Gold does not expect the adoption of recently issued accounting pronouncements to have a significant impact on Pacific Gold’s results of operations, financial position, or cash flow.
Critical Accounting Principals
The Company accounts for its convertible debentures under the guidelines established by APB Opinion No. 14 “Accounting for Convertible Debt and Debt issued with Stock Purchase Warrants”. The Company records a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) related to the issuance of convertible debt that have conversion features at fixed or adjustable rates and records the fair value of warrants issued with those instruments. The BCF for the convertible instruments is recognized and measured by allocating a portion of the proceeds to warrants and as a reduction to the carrying amount of the convertible instrument equal to the intrinsic value of the conversion features, both of which are credited to paid-in-capital. The Company calculates fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation method using assumptions pertinent to the warrants or convertible note.
The derivative liability related to convertible notes and warrants arises because the conversion price of the Company’s convertible notes is discounted from the market price of the Company’s common stock. Thus, the number of shares that may be issued upon conversion of such notes is indeterminate, which gives rise to the possibility that the Company may not be able to fully settle its convertible note and warrant obligations by the issuance of common stock. The Company has adjusted the derivative liability to fair value at each date that a note is converted and at each reporting date using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Adjustments in fair value arising because of changes in the market conditions are recorded as a gain or loss. To the extent the derivative liability is reduced as a consequence of the conversion of notes or the exercise of warrants, such reduction is recognized as additional paid-in-capital.
The Company records stock-based compensation according to the provisions of SFAS 123(R) which requires fair value compensation cost relating to share based payments be recognized in the financial statements. Fair value is measured at the grant date and recorded at the fair value of the award. Stock options are measured using the Black-Scholes valuation model.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
N/A
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Silberstein Ungar, PLLC CPAs and Business Advisors
Phone (248) 203-0080
Fax (248) 281-0940
30600 Telegraph Road, Suite 2175
Bingham Farms, MI 48025-4586
www.sucpas.com
To the Board of Directors
Pacific Gold Corp.
Las Vegas, Nevada
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pacific Gold Corp., as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ 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 financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company has determined that it is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the 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 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Pacific Gold Corp., as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the results of its operations and 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 Pacific Gold Corp. will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 14 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred losses from operations, has negative working capital and is in need of additional capital to grow its operations so that it can become profitable. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans with regard to these matters are described in Note 14. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Silberstein Ungar, PLLC
Silberstein Ungar, PLLC
Bingham Farms, Michigan
July 8, 2011
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
Pacific Gold Corp.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010 and 2009
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Pacific Gold Corp. (“Pacific Gold”) was originally incorporated in Nevada on December 31, 1996 under the name of Demand Financial International, Ltd. On October 3, 2002, Demand Financial International, Ltd. changed its name to Blue Fish Entertainment, Inc. On August 5, 2003, the name was changed to Pacific Gold Corp. Pacific Gold is engaged in the identification, acquisition, and development of prospects believed to have gold mineralization. Pacific Gold through its subsidiaries currently owns claims, property and leases in Nevada, and Colorado.
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements are expressed in U.S dollars. The Company’s fiscal year-end is December 31. Financial statements and related notes are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and
Principle of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include all of the accounts of Pacific Gold Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Nevada Rae Gold, Inc., Fernley Gold, Inc., Pilot Mountain Resources, Inc. and Pacific Metals Corp. The consolidated financial statements include the accumulated loss of Oregon Gold Inc. up to the date of its disposal, August 27, 2009. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Reclassification of Accounts
Certain accounts in the prior period have been reclassified to conform to December 31, 2010 financial statements presentation.
Significant Accounting Principles
Use of Estimates and Assumptions.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, (ii) the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the financial statements are published, and (iii) the reported amount of net sales, expenses and costs recognized during the periods presented. Adjustments made with respect to the use of estimates often relate to improved information not previously available. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of financial statements; accordingly, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents.
For purposes of the statement of cash flows, The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company has no cash in excess of FDIC federally insured limits as of December 31, 2010.
Revenue Recognition.
The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of gold when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured, which is determined when it places a sale order of gold from its inventory on hand with the refinery.
Accounts Receivable/Bad Debt.
The allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained at a level sufficient to provide for estimated credit losses based on evaluating known and inherent risks in the receivables portfolio. Management evaluates various factors including expected losses and economic conditions to predict the estimated realization on outstanding receivables. As of December 31, 2010, and 2009 there were no accounts receivable.
Inventories.
Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Costs included are limited to those directly related to mining.
The major classes of inventories as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 were:
Property and Equipment.
Property and equipment are valued at cost. Additions are capitalized and maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on dispositions of equipment are reflected in operations. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are 2 to 10 years.
Mineral Rights
All mine-related costs, other than acquisition costs, are expensed prior to the establishment of proven or probable reserves. Reserves designated as proven and probable are supported by a final feasibility study, indicating that the reserves have had the requisite geologic, technical and economic work performed and are legally extractable at the time of reserve determination. Once proven or probable reserves are established, all development and other site-specific costs are capitalized.
Capitalized development costs and production facilities are depleted using the units-of-production method based on the estimated gold which can be recovered from the ore reserves processed. There has been no change to the estimate of proven and probable reserves. Lease development costs for non-producing properties are amortized over their remaining lease term if limited. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
We were not in mining in 2010 and thus we did not amortize any of our mineral rights.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.
The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the historical cost-carrying value of an asset may no longer be appropriate. Pacific Gold assesses recoverability of the carrying value of the asset by estimating the undiscounted future net cash flows, which depend on estimates of metals to be recovered from proven and probable ore reserves, and also identified resources beyond proven and probable reserves, future production costs and future metals prices over the estimated remaining mine life. If undiscounted cash flows are less that the carrying value of a property, an impairment loss is recognized based upon the estimated expected future net cash flows from the property discounted at an interest rate commensurate with the risk involved. If the future net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the asset’s carrying value and fair value.
The fair value of an asset retirement obligation is recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The present value of the estimated asset retirement costs is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. For Pacific Gold, asset retirement obligations primarily relate to the abandonment of ore-producing property and facilities.
We review the carrying value of our interest in each mineral claim on a quarterly basis to determine whether impairment has incurred in accordance with ASC 360 (formerly SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”)
Where information and conditions suggest impairment, we write-down these properties to net recoverable amount, based on estimated discounted future cash flows. Our estimate of gold price, mineralized materials, operating capital, and reclamation costs are subject to risks and uncertainties affecting the recoverability of our investment in property, plant, and equipment. Although we have made our best estimate of these factors based on current conditions, it is possible that changes could occur in the near term that could adversely affect our estimate of net cash flows expected to be generated from our operating properties and the need for possible asset impairment write-downs.
Where estimates of future net operating cash flows are not available and where other conditions suggest impairment, we assess if carrying value can be recovered from net cash flows generated by the sale of the asset or other means.
Income taxes.
Pacific Gold recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to be recovered. Pacific Gold provides a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets for which it does not consider realization of such assets to be more likely than not.
In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN No. 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This interpretation requires recognition and measurement of uncertain income tax positions using a “more-likely-than-not” approach. FIN No. 48 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48, on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 requires the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. This interpretation is now found under ASC Topic 740, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Tax Positions”.
Loss per Share.
The basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss adjusted on an "as if converted" basis, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potential dilutive securities. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, potential dilutive securities had an anti-dilutive effect and were not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had 6,750,000 and 37,995,657, respectively potentially dilutive common stock equivalents.
Advertising.
The Company’s policy is to expense advertising costs as incurred. The Company incurred costs of $9,989 and $9,537 for the years ended 2010 and 2009 respectively.
Environmental Remediation Liability.
The Company has posted a bond with the State of Nevada in the amount required by the State of Nevada equal to the maximum cost to reclaim land disturbed in its mining process. The bond requires a quarterly premium to be paid to the State of Nevada Division of Minerals. The Company is current on all payments. Due to its investment in the bond and the close monitoring of the State of Nevada, the Company believes that it has adequately mitigated any liability that could be incurred by the Company to reclaim lands disturbed in its mining process.
Financial Instruments.
The Company’s financial instruments, when valued using market interest rates, would not be materially different from the amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements.
Convertible Debentures.
Convertible debt is accounted for under the guidelines established by APB Opinion No. 14 “Accounting for Convertible Debt and Debt issued with Stock Purchase Warrants” under the direction of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios, EITF 00-27 Application of Issue No 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments and EITF 05-8 Income Tax Consequences of Issuing Convertible Debt with Beneficial Conversion Features. The Company records a beneficial conversion feature (BCF) related to the issuance of convertible debt that have conversion features at fixed or adjustable rates that are in-the-money when issued and records the fair value of warrants issued with those instruments. The BCF for the convertible instruments is recognized and measured by allocating a portion of the proceeds to warrants and as a reduction to the carrying amount of the convertible instrument equal to the intrinsic value of the conversion features, both of which are credited to paid-in-capital. The Company calculates the fair value of warrants issued with the convertible instruments using the Black-Scholes valuation method, using the same assumptions used for valuing employee options for purposes of SFAS No. 123R, (now ASC Topic 718), except that the contractual life of the warrant is used. Under these guidelines, the Company allocates the value of the proceeds received from a convertible debt transaction between the conversion feature and any other detachable instruments (such as warrants) on a relative fair value basis. The allocated fair value is recorded as a debt discount or premium and is amortized over the expected term of the convertible debt to interest expense. For a conversion price change of a convertible debt issue, the additional intrinsic value of the debt conversion feature, calculated as the number of additional shares issuable due to a conversion price change multiplied by the previous conversion price, is recorded as additional debt discount and amortized over the remaining life of the debt.
The Company accounts for modifications of its Embedded Conversion Features (ECF’s) in accordance with EITF 06-6 which requires the modification of a convertible debt instrument that changes the fair value of an embedded conversion feature and the subsequent recognition of interest expense or the associated debt instrument when the modification does not result in a debt extinguishment pursuant to EITF 96-19.”Debtor’s Accounting for a Modification or Exchange of Debt Instruments”.
Equity Instruments Issued with Registration Rights Agreement
The Company accounts for these penalties as contingent liabilities, applying the accounting guidance of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (Now ASC Topic 450). This accounting is consistent with views established by FASB Staff Positions FSP EITF 00-19-2 “Accounting for Registration Payment Arrangements”, which was issued December 21, 2006. Accordingly, the Company recognizes a liability when it becomes probable that they will be incurred and amounts are reasonably estimable.
In connection with the issuance of convertible note financing for gross proceeds of $2,440,000 in February 2007 and the $450,000 in October 2007, the Company was required to file a registration statement on Form SB-2 with the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to register the resale of the common stock under the Securities Act. The Company filed that registration statement on April 9, 2007 and October 31, 2007 and those statements have been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Deferred Financing Fees
Deferred financing fees represent debt issuance costs withheld from the proceeds by the purchasers of the Company’s convertible notes payable. These fees are capitalized and then amortized to interest and financing expense over the lives of the related convertible notes.
Derivative Liability Related to Convertible Notes and Warrants
The derivative liability related to convertible notes and warrants arises because the conversion price of the Company’s convertible notes is discounted from the market price of the Company’s common stock. Thus, the number of shares that may be issued upon conversion of such notes is indeterminate, which gives rise to the possibility that the Company may not be able to fully settle its convertible note and warrant obligations by the issuance of common stock.
The derivative liability related to convertible notes and warrants is adjusted to fair value as of each date that a note is converted or a warrant is exercised, as well as at each reporting date, using the Black-Scholes pricing model. Any change in fair value between reporting dates that arises because of changes in market conditions is recognized as a gain or loss. To the extent the derivative liability is reduced as a consequence of the conversion of notes or the exercise of warrants, such reduction is recognized as additional paid-in capital as of the conversion or exercise date.
Stock based compensation.
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123(R), Share-Based Payment, (“SFAS 123(R)”). SFAS 123(R) requires that the fair value compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements. Under the provisions of SFAS 123(R), share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized over the employee’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The fair value of the Company’s stock options is estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method. Under this transition method, stock-based compensation cost is recognized beginning January 1, 2006, for all options granted after the date of adoption as well as the unvested portion of previously granted options based on the estimated fair value. The impact of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) resulted in additional compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2007 of $35,000. There were no stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2010 or 2009. SFAS No. 123(R) is now found as ASC Topic 718.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
On January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of SFAS No. 161 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 161 is now found as ASC Topic 815.
In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued its final Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles a Replacement of FASB Statement No. 162”. SFAS No. 168 made the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the Codification) the single source of U.S. GAAP used by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements, except for rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under authority of federal securities laws, which are sources of authoritative accounting guidance for SEC registrants. The Codification is meant to simplify user access to all authoritative accounting guidance by reorganizing U.S. GAAP pronouncements into roughly 90 accounting topics within a consistent structure; its purpose is not to create new accounting and reporting guidance. The Codification supersedes all existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards and was effective for the Company beginning July 1, 2009. Following SFAS No. 168, the Board will not issue new standards in the form of Statements, FASB Staff Positions, or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts; instead, it will issue Accounting Standards Updates (ASU). The FASB will not consider ASUs as authoritative in their own right; these updates will serve only to update the Codification, provide background information about the guidance, and provide the bases for conclusions on the change(s) in the Codification. SFAS No. 168 is now found as ASC Topic 105.
In August 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-05 which includes amendments to Subtopic 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures-Overall”. The update provides clarification that in circumstances, in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using one or more of the techniques provided for in this update. The amendments in this ASU clarify that a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability and also clarifies that both a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability at the measurement date and the quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market when no adjustments to the quoted price of the asset are required are Level 1 fair value measurements. The guidance provided in this ASU is effective for the first reporting period, including interim periods, beginning after issuance. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations
In September 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-06, Income Taxes (Topic 740), ”Implementation Guidance on Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes and Disclosure Amendments for Nonpublic Entities”, which provides implementation guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, as well as eliminates certain disclosure requirements for nonpublic entities. For entities that are currently applying the standards for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, this update shall be effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. For those entities that have deferred the application of accounting for uncertainty in income taxes in accordance with paragraph 740-10-65-1(e), this update shall be effective upon adoption of those standards. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations since this accounting standard update provides only implementation and disclosure amendments.
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-06 which is intended to improve disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance requires entities to disclose significant transfers in and out of fair value hierarchy levels, the reasons for the transfers and to present information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements separately in the reconciliation of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). Additionally, the guidance clarifies that a reporting entity should provide fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities and disclose the inputs and valuation techniques used for fair value measurements using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Company has applied the new disclosure requirements as of January 1, 2010, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation, which will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-09 which requires that an SEC filer, as defined, evaluate subsequent events through the date that the financial statements are issued. The update also removed the requirement for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated in originally issued and revised financial statements. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2010 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In March 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2010-11 “Derivatives and Hedging” (Topic 815). ASU No. 2010-11 update provides amendments to subtopic 815-15, Derivatives and hedging. The amendments clarify about the scope exception in paragraph 815-10-15-11 and section 815-15-25 as applicable to the embedded credit derivatives. The ASU is effective on the first day of the first fiscal quarter beginning after June 15, 2010. Therefore, for a calendar-year-end entity, the ASU becomes effective on July 1, 2010. Early application is permitted at the beginning of the first fiscal quarter beginning after March 5, 2010. The adoption of this guidance has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2010-12. “Income Taxes” (Topic 740). ASU No.2010-12 amends FASB Accounting Standard Codification subtopic 740-10 Income Taxes to include paragraph 740-10-S99-4. On March 30, 2010 The President signed the Health Care & Education Affordable Care Act reconciliation bill that amends its previous Act signed on March 23, 2010. FASB Codification topic 740, Income Taxes, requires the measurement of current and deferred tax liabilities and assets to be based on provisions of enacted tax law. The effects of future changes in tax laws are not anticipated.” Therefore, the different enactment dates of the Act and reconciliation measure may affect registrants with a period-end that falls between March 23, 2010 (enactment date of the Act), and March 30, 2010 (enactment date of the reconciliation measure). However, the announcement states that the SEC would not object if such registrants were to account for the enactment of both the Act and the reconciliation measure in a period ending on or after March 23, 2010, but notes that the SEC staff “does not believe that it would be appropriate for registrants to analogize to this view in any other fact patterns.” The adoption of this guidance has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2010-13 “Stock Compensation” (Topic 718). ASU No.2010-13 provides amendments to Topic 718 to clarify that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity's equity securities trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would not classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The amendments in this Update should be applied by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The cumulative-effect adjustment should be calculated for all awards outstanding as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the amendments are initially applied, as if the amendments had been applied consistently since the inception of the award. The cumulative-effect adjustment should be presented separately. Earlier application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No.2010-14, “Accounting for Extractive Activities - Oil & Gas” (Topic 932). ASU No. 2010-14 amends FASB accounting Standard paragraph 932-10-S99-1 due to SEC release no. 33-8995 [FR 78], Modernization of Oil and Gas Reporting and provides update as to amendments to SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10. The adoption of this guidance has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In July 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2010-20 (ASU No. 2010-20) “Receivables” (Topic 310). ASU No. 2010-20 provides financial statement users with greater transparency about an entity’s allowance for credit losses and the credit quality of its financing receivables. This update is intended to provide additional information to assist financial statement users in assessing an entity’s credit risk exposures and evaluating the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses. The amendments in this update apply to both public and nonpublic entities with financing receivables, excluding short-term trade accounts receivable or receivables measured at fair value or lower of cost or fair value. The objective of the amendments in ASU No. 2010-20 is for an entity to provide disclosures that facilitate financial statement users’ evaluation of (1) the nature of credit risk inherent in the entity’s portfolio of financing receivables, (2) How that risk is analyzed and assessed in arriving at the allowance for credit losses and (3) The changes and reasons for those changes in the allowance for credit losses. The entity must provide disclosures about its financing receivables on a disaggregated basis. For public entities ASU No. 2010-20 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. For nonpublic entities ASU No. 2010-20 will become effective for annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance has not had and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In August 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Updates No. 2010-21 (ASU No. 2010-21) “Accounting for Technical Amendments to Various SEC Rules and Schedules” and No. 2010-22 (ASU No. 2010-22) “ Accounting for Various Topics - Technical Corrections to SEC Paragraphs ”. ASU No 2010-21 amends various SEC paragraphs pursuant to the issuance of Release no. 33-9026: Technical Amendments to Rules, Forms, Schedules and Codification of Financial Reporting Policies. ASU No. 2010-22 amends various SEC paragraphs based on external comments received and the issuance of SAB 112, which amends or rescinds portions of certain SAB topics. Both ASU No. 2010-21 and ASU No. 2010-22 are effective upon issuance. The amendments in ASU No. 2010-21 and No. 2010-22 will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
A variety of proposed or otherwise potential accounting standards are currently under study by standard-setting organizations and various regulatory agencies. Because of the tentative and preliminary nature of these proposed standards, Pacific Gold has not determined whether implementation of such proposed standards would be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 2 - PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
During 2010 the Company reviewed its equipment requirements and modified its plant, sold redundant assets and sold some of its vehicles. The gross proceeds from the sale of assets in 2010 was $127,000.
During 2009 the Company reviewed its equipment requirements and modified its plant, sold redundant assets and sold some of its vehicles. The gross proceeds from the sale of assets was approximately $142,300.
These assets are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over 2 to 10 years depending on the estimated useful life of the asset.
Plant and Equipment at December 31, 2010 and 2009 consisted of the following:
For the year ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 Depreciation expense was $230,012 and $342,226, respectively.
NOTE 3 - MINERAL RIGHTS
Mineral rights at December 31, 2010 and 2009 consisted of the following:
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009 the amount allocated to undeveloped mineral rights was $10,000.
NOTE 4 - SHAREHOLDER NOTE PAYABLE/RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As of December 31, 2010 Pacific Gold owes $1,881,846 in principal to a company owned by the Chief Executive Officer. The amount due is represented by a promissory note accruing interest at 10% per year. The note was originally due on December 31, 2009, then extended to January 02, 2011 and subsequently extended to January 02, 2013. Interest expense on the loan for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $188,185 and $139,500, respectively. Including interest the balance on the loan at December 31, 2010 was $2,070,031.
Pacific Gold owes its executives $136,636 and $140,209 in short term notes payable reflected in the accrued expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, and 2009, respectively. These short term notes are interest free and due on demand.
Pacific Gold owes $274,720 to related parties in short term notes payable. These short term notes are interest free and due on demand.
NOTE 5 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
On August 27, 2009 Pacific Gold Corp sold 100% of its equity interest in Oregon Gold comprising of 8,002,389 shares to an individual, Yinfang Yang. The Sale agreement calls for sale of 8,002,389 shares of Oregon Gold held by the Company and its Intercompany note receivable from Oregon Gold of $526,912 for a total consideration of $210,020.
* Investment account of Oregon Gold had a negative balance due to accumulated loss.
NOTE 6 - INCOME TAXES
Pacific Gold uses the asset/liability method, where deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting purposes. During 2010 and 2009, Pacific Gold incurred net losses and, therefore, has no tax liability. The net deferred tax asset generated by the loss carry-forward has been fully reserved. The cumulative net operating loss carry-forward is $27,222,439 at December 31, 2010, and will expire in the years 2011 through 2030.
At December 31, 2010, deferred taxes consisted of the following:
A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Because of the lack of taxable earnings history, the Company has established a valuation allowance for all future deductible net operating loss carry forwards. The valuation allowance has increased $334,995, from December 31, 2009.
Net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards expire according to the following:
A reconciliation between income taxes at statutory tax rates (34%) and the actual income tax provision for continuing operations as of December 31, 2010 follows:
The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 (now known as ASC Topic 740) on January 1, 2007. As a result of this adoption, we have not made any adjustments to deferred tax assets or liabilities. We did not identify any material uncertain tax positions of the Company on returns that have been filed or that will be filed. The Company continues to incur large net operating losses as disclosed above. Since it is not thought that these net operating loss carryforwards will ever produce a tax benefit, even if examined by taxing authorities and disallowed entirely, there would be no effect on the financial statements. A reconciliation of our unrecognized tax benefits for 2010 is presented as follows:
The Company has filed income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction.
The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. During the years ended December 31, 2010, and 2009, the Company recognized no interest and penalties. The Company had no payments of interest and penalties accrued at December 31, 2010, and 2009, respectively.
NOTE 7 - FINANCING
Series E Note
On October 5, 2007 the Company sold a $450,000 in principal amount of discounted convertible debenture (“Debenture”) and a warrant to purchase common stock (“Warrant”) for an aggregate payment to the Company of $300,000, after deduction for the interest discount. The Debenture is due October 5, 2010, and has an effective simple interest rate of 16.7%, prepaid by original issue discount, with an effective interest rate of 14.47%. The principal amount due may be converted into shares of common stock at any time by the holder at an initial conversion rate of $0.18 per share. The amount of principal that may be converted at any one time by the investor is limited to 9.99% of the outstanding number of shares of common stock of the Company immediately after the conversion. The Company has agreed to liquidated damages and other damages for failure to effect the conversion or to deliver the certificates. The conversion price will be subject to adjustment for regular corporate events and reduced to equal the selling price of, or exercise - conversion price for, common stock sold or issuable after October 5, 2007, at less than $0.18. The conversion price also may be adjusted in the future based on the average of the last three conversions of the currently outstanding debentures issued in the February 2007 debenture offering, if the average is less than $.18. During 2008 the conversion price was readjusted to $0.0099 and the note was revalued at this time.
The Warrant may be exercised for an aggregate of 450,000 shares of common stock until October 5, 2010, at $0.18 per share. The warrants may be exercised by a holder at any one time for up to a maximum of 9.99% of the outstanding number of shares of common stock of the Company immediately after exercise. The exercise price may be paid on a cashless basis in certain limited circumstances, and it will be subject to adjustment for regular corporate events and reduced to equal the selling price of, or exercise - conversion price for, common stock sold or issuable after October 5, 2007, at less than $0.18.
The proceeds from the notes have been discounted for the relative fair value of the warrants. All discounts will be amortized over the life of the notes.
A summary of the carrying value of the notes is as follows:
1 Fair value was calculated using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions: Expected life in years: 3; Estimated volatility: 90.6%; Risk-free interest rate: 2%; Dividend yield of 0%.
Note 8 - COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK
In 2010, 53,535,353 common shares were issued for conversion of Series E convertible notes.
In 2010, 322,728 total of the company’s preferred shares were converted into 322,728,000 common shares.
In 2010, 2,000,000 common stock shares were issued as a royalty payment of $20,000 for rent on behalf of the Company’s subsidiary, Nevada Rae Gold.
In 2009, 9,700,000 common shares were issued for conversion of Series C convertible notes.
In 2009, 172,948,690 common shares were issued for monthly installment payments due on the Series D convertible notes.
In 2009, 12,121,212 common shares were issued for conversion of Series E convertible notes.
In 2009, 10,000,000 common shares were issued for services to employees and consultants at a price of $0.01 per share.
In 2009, 322,728 preferred shares were issues for accrued liabilities to employees, and a related party at a price of $2.20 per share.
NOTE 9 - EQUITY PLANS
On April 15, 2007 Pacific Gold adopted the 2007 Equity Performance Plan (“the 2007 Plan”). The 2007 Plan provides for the granting of up to 20,000,000 shares and/or stock option to purchase shares to employees and consultants. Pacific Gold has reserved 20,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2007 Plan. The Plan was approved by a majority of the stockholders on July 10, 2007.
On December 29, 2005 Pacific Gold adopted the 2006 Equity Performance Plan (“the 2006 Plan”). The 2006 Plan provides for the granting of up to 10,000,000 shares and/or stock options to purchase shares to employees and consultants. Pacific Gold has reserved 10,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2006 Plan. The Plan was approved by a majority of the stockholders on December 29, 2005.
In 2002 Pacific Gold adopted the 2002 Performance Equity Plan (“the 2002 Plan”). The 2002 Plan provides for the granting of shares and/or stock options to purchase shares to employees and consultants. Pacific Gold has reserved 3,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2002 Plan.
Options under all Plans may be granted for periods of up to ten years and at an exercise price equal to the estimated fair value of the shares on the date of grant as determined by the Board of Directors. To date, options granted generally are exercisable immediately as of the effective date of the option agreement.
Summary information regarding options is as follows:
NOTE 10 - WARRANTS
In connection with the Series D convertible debenture issued on February 26, 2007, 6,000,000 warrants were issued with an exercise price of $0.216 and expire on February 26, 2012. In October 2007 the exercise price of these warrants were adjusted to $0.18.
In connection with the Series E convertible debentures issued on October 5, 2007, the Company issued 450,000 warrants exercisable into common stock at $0.18 each expired on October 5, 2010.
In connection with the Series C convertible debentures issued on April 12, 2006, the Company issued 6,400,000 warrants exercisable into common stock at $0.30 each. During 2007, the exercise price of 800,000 of these warrants were adjusted to $0.20 and exercised for $160,000 in cash to the Company and another 800,000 of the warrants had their exercise price adjusted to $.18 and expired on April 12, 2009.
The following table summarizes warrant activity of the Company:
NOTE 11 - OPERATING LEASES
The Company has leased approximately 440 acres of privately owned land adjacent to its staked prospects from Bullion Monarch Mining, by lease dated October 1, 2003. The Company paid an advance royalty of $7,500 for the first year, which amount is increased by $2,500 in each of the next five years to be $20,000 in the sixth year. For the last four years of the lease, the advance royalty is $20,000 per year. If the lease is renewed, the annual advance royalty is $20,000. The advance royalty is credited to and recoverable from the production rental amounts. The royalty is the greater of a 4% net smelter royalty or $0.50 per yard of material processed. The lease is for 10 years with a renewal option for another 10 years.
The following is a schedule by years of future minimum lease payments required under operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancellable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2010:
NOTE 12 - MAJOR CUSTOMERS
In 2010 gold sales were made to one vendor. In 2009 there were no gold sales. In prior years, all gold sales were made to two refineries. Many refineries are available with similar pricing and the refineries were chosen for convenience.
Revenue is derived primarily from the sale of only one product - gold. Should the market for gold become unavailable and or the value of gold becomes significantly decreased, the Company could experience severe negative impact.
NOTE 13 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Perry Crane initiated a Statement of Claim against the Company on August 7, 2007, for the amount of $149,087. The Company has settled this claim with Perry Crane by a payment of $130,000 plus interest which was due on March 15, 2011. The Settlement amount plus interest for a total of $145,209 were paid out by March 10, 2011.
On April 30, 2008 Komatsu Equipment (“Komatsu”) filed an action against the Company in connection with repair work done on the Company’s trucks. All invoices submitted to the Company have been accrued in its trade payables on the financial statements. The Company has settled this claim with Komatsu and has agreed to make a series of payments to Komatsu in 2011.
From time to time the Company is involved in minor trade, employment and other operational disputes, none of which have or are expected to have a material impact on the current or future financial statements or operations.
NOTE 14 - GOING CONCERN
The Company’s financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had an accumulated deficit of ($25,802,906) negative working capital of ($1,691,650) and negative cash flows from operations of ($395,827) raising substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company financed its operations through the sale of securities and issuance of debt.
Management’s plan to address the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern includes: obtaining additional funding from the sale of the Company’s securities and establishing revenues. Although management believes that it will be able to obtain the necessary funding to allow the Company to remain a going concern through the methods discussed above, there can be no assurances that such methods will prove successful. Should we be unsuccessful, the Company may need to discontinue its operations.
NOTE 15 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On February 10, 2011, the Company’s subsidiary, Pilot Mountain Resources Inc (“PMR”), entered into an Option and Asset Sale Agreement ("Agreement") with Pilot Metals Inc., a subsidiary of Black Fire Minerals of Australia, whereby Pilot Metals has secured an option on the Project W Tungsten claims owned by PMR. Details of the agreement were disclosed in the 8-K filed February 10, 2011.
On April 1, 2011 the Company issued promissory notes to investors for $587,540.
On June 3, 2011 the Company sold some redundant equipment for total proceeds of $14,500.
Subsequent to year end, the Company issued 2,000,000 common stock shares, and made payments of $40,000 as part of the settlement agreement with Komatsu Equipment.
Subsequent to year end, the Company made payments of $140,209 as part of the settlement agreement with Perry Crane.
On June 2, 2011 the Company’s subsidiary, Nevada Rae Gold (“NRG”) entered into a lease agreement to lease a 75% interest in 45 mining claims in Lander County, Nevada. NRG has 45 days to perform due diligence on the claims and then must pay an annual advance royalty of $15,000. The advance royalty is credited to and recoverable from the production rental amounts. The royalty on production of gold is the greater of a 4% net smelter royalty or $0.50 per yard of material processed. The lease is for 10 years with a renewal option for another 10 years.
The company evaluated subsequent events through July 08, 2011, the date the financial statements were issued.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
On or about June 1, 2009, Pacific Gold Corp. notified M&K CPA’s PLLC (“M&K”), that it was dismissing them as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
On October 22, 2010, the Company engaged Jewett Schwartz Wolfe & Associates, 200 South Park Road, Suite 150, Hollywood, Florida 33021 as its new independent registered public accounting firm.
On April 13, 2011, the Company dismissed Jewett Schwartz Wolfe & Associates and engaged Silberstein Ungar, PLLC, 30600 Telegraph Road, Suite 2175, Bingham Farms, MI 48025-4586 as its new independent registered public accounting firm.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the “Certifying Officers”), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, the Certifying Officers carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2010. Their evaluation was carried out with the participation of other members of the Company’s management. Based on an evaluation conducted by management, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of December 31, 2010. Our disclosure controls and procedures did not ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act was (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC rules, and (ii) the necessary information was not accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure as specified by the SEC rules and forms.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company's principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company's board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and includes those policies and procedures that:
(a) Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
(b) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and
(c) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Because of the inherent limitations of internal control, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce this risk.
Based on its assessment, management has concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are ineffective, based in part on the absence of separation of duties with respect to internal financial controls of the Company and the lack of funds to engage staff and accountants to timely file reports.
The Board of Directors has undertaken to effect the short-term and long-term improvement of our internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s initial focus is to become current in its SEC filings, and the board has engaged the services of a new independent registered public accounting firm which will be reviewing our financial statements that are included in the 2010 annual and first quarter 2011 delinquent filings. Additionally, the Board of Directors will consider and work with management to devise a remediation program for the currently identified deficiencies within our internal controls over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures.
No Attestation Report Required
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the SEC that permit only management’s report in this annual report.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
There is no information to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of the year covered by this Form 10-K that has not been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE;
The following table sets forth information concerning the directors and executive officers of Pacific Gold Corp. and their ages and positions. Each director holds office until the next annual stockholders' meeting and thereafter until the individual's successor is elected and qualified. Officers serve at the pleasure of the board of directors.
NAME
AGE
POSITIONS
Robert Landau
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman
Mitchell Geisler
Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
Mr. Robert Landau has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April 2005. Mr. Landau's experience includes the founding and financing of development stage businesses. Previously, he was an Actuarial Consultant with a large multi-national consulting firm. He has a Bachelor of Commerce - Actuarial Science and Finance degree from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mr. Mitchell Geisler was the President and Chairman of the Board from January 2001 to April 2005 when he became the Chief Operating Officer upon the appointment of Mr. Landau as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Geisler has been the Treasurer and Secretary of the company since October 2002. Mr. Geisler has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality and services industry. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Geisler was president and operator of the Toronto-based 52 Restaurants Inc. Mr. Geisler is a graduate of Toronto’s York University in Toronto, and also studied at the University of Tel Aviv. Since January 2010, Mr. Geisler has been a Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diagnostic Imaging International Corp. (OTC “DIIG”).
During the last five years, no officers or directors have been involved in any legal proceedings, bankruptcy proceedings, criminal proceedings or violated any federal or state securities or commodities laws or engaged in any activity that would limit their involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, to file initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock with the Commission. Such persons are required by Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely upon a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company during the year ended December 31, 2010, and upon a review of Forms 5 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company with respect to the year ended December 31, 2010, or upon written representations received by the Company from certain reporting persons that no Forms 5 were required for those persons, to its knowledge all the Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such persons with respect to fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 were complied with by late filings.
AUDIT COMMITTEE AND FINANCIAL EXPERT
We are not required to have and we do not have an Audit Committee. The Company's directors perform some of the same functions of an Audit Committee, such as; recommending a firm of independent certified public accountants to audit the financial statements; reviewing the auditors' independence, the financial statements and their audit report; and reviewing management's administration of the system of internal accounting controls. The Company does not currently have a written audit committee charter or similar document.
We have no audit committee financial expert. Our directors have financial statement preparation and interpretation ability obtained over the years from past business experience and education. We believe the cost related to retaining a financial expert at this time is prohibitive. Further, because of the nature of our current limited operations, we believe the services of a financial expert are not warranted.
CODE OF ETHICS
A code of ethics relates to written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
1)
Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships.
2)
Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that are filed with, or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Company.
3)
Compliance with applicable government laws, rules and regulations.
4)
The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and,
5)
Accountability for adherence to the code.
We have not adopted a formal code of ethics statement. The board of directors evaluated the business of the Company and the number of employees and determined that since the business is operated by a small number of persons who are also the officers and directors and many of the persons employed by the Company are independent contractors, general rules of fiduciary duty and federal and state criminal, business conduct and securities laws are adequate ethical guidelines.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table reflects compensation paid to our officers and directors for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
______________
(1) Amounts noted are actual amounts paid in the year.
Annual compensation, per employment agreements, is as follows:
(2) Amounts noted are total share amounts issued in 2010, 2009 and 2008, including salary and bonus paid in shares.
Annual bonus compensation paid in shares was as follows:
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Overview of Compensation Program and Philosophy
The Company has two executive officers, whom are also the Company’s directors. The Board of Directors serves as the Company’s compensation committee and initiates and approves most compensation decisions. Annual bonuses, if any, for executives are determined by the Board of Directors.
The goal of the compensation program is to adequately reward the efforts and achievements of executive officers for the management of the Company. The Company has no pension plan and no deferred compensation arrangements. The Company has not used a compensation consultant in any capacity.
The executive officers of the Company do not currently have employment agreements with the Company that outline salary and benefit arrangements. Both officers are paid a gross base amount per month. The salary amounts are reviewed on an annual basis.
Compensation of Directors
Persons who are directors and employees are not currently additionally compensated for their services as a director. There is no plan in place for compensation of persons who are directors who are not employees, but it is expected that in the future we will create a remuneration and expense reimbursement plan. It is anticipated that such a plan would be primarily based on stock options.
Other Compensation Arrangements
On June 20, 2007 the company received consents from a majority of the shares entitled to vote, approving the 2007 Equity Performance Plan which provides for the issuance of common stock awards of up to 20,000,000 shares in aggregate. The company filed with the SEC and distributed on April 25, 2007 an Information Statement to invite all shareholders to vote on the Plan in accordance with state and federal law. At December 31, 2009 we have issued 15,825,000 shares under the 2007 Plan.
On December 28, 2005 the company received consents from shareholders of 17,877,382 shares, representing a majority of the shares entitled to vote, approving the 2006 Equity Performance Plan which provides for the issuance of common stock awards of up to 10,000,000 shares in aggregate. The company filed with the SEC and distributed on January 10, 2006 an Information Statement to the shareholders who had not given their consent in accordance with state and federal law. We issued 4,961,172 common shares under this plan during 2007 and we issued 2,627,949 common shares under this plan during 2006. In 2008 we issued 2,000,000 shares under this plan. There are 410,879 shares remaining to be issued.
On October 3, 2002, a stockholder owning more than a majority of the Company's common stock executed and delivered a written consent approving the 2002 Equity Performance Plan authorizing up to 3,000,000 shares of common stock for structuring compensation arrangements and to provide an equity incentive for employees and other consultants. We issued 1,353,157 common shares under this plan during 2005 and 1,283,333 common shares in 2006. This plan is now closed.
All plans are administered by the board of directors. The awards that may be granted include incentive and non-incentive options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock and other stock based grants. The board of directors, at the time of an award determines the type of award, exercise price, vesting schedule and expiration date. The minimum exercise price under the plans is $0.02. Incentive options may be granted only to employees, otherwise, awards may be granted to officers, directors, employees, and consultants. The plan provides for acceleration of vesting of outstanding awards in the event of a non-approved acquisition of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company.
Employment Agreements
Each of the executive officers of the Company previously had an employment agreement with the Company that outlined salary and benefit arrangements. The agreements had similar terms which included but were not limited to: base salaries, option grants, four weeks annual vacation and 50% paid medical benefits. Each of the officers is subject to confidentiality provisions. The agreements allow for the employee to terminate on 30 days notice to the Company and for the Company to provide three months’ severance on termination of the employee. The agreements were reviewed on an annual basis.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth, as of July 6, 2011, the name and shareholdings of each person who owns of record, or was known by us to own beneficially,* 5% or more of the shares of the common stock currently issued and outstanding; the name and shareholdings, including options to acquire the common stock, of each director; and the shareholdings of all executive officers and directors as a group.
______________
*
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants currently exercisable or convertible within 60 days, are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such options or warrants but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
(1) The person’s business address is c/o Pacific Gold Corp., 157 Adelaide Street West, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E7.
(2) Includes 125,000 shares subject to currently exercisable options.
(3) Includes 150,000 shares subject to currently exercisable options.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
As of December 31, 2010 Pacific Gold owes $1,881,846 in principal to a company owned by the Chief Executive Officer. The amount due is represented by a promissory note accruing interest at 10% per year. The note was originally due on December 31, 2009, then extended to January 02, 2011 and subsequently extended to January 02, 2013. Interest expense on the loan for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $188,185 and $139,500, respectively. Including interest the balance on the loan at December 31, 2010 was $2,070,031.
Pacific Gold owes its executive $134,279 and $140,209 in short term notes payable reflected in the accrued expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, and 2009, respectively. These short term notes are interest free and due on demand.
Pacific Gold owes $274,720 to related parties in short term notes payable. These short term notes are interest free and due on demand.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Audit Fees
The Company paid audit and financial statement review fees totaling $22,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 to Silberstein Ungar, PLLC.
The Company paid audit and financial statement review fees totaling $2,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 to Silberstein Ungar, PLLC.
Tax Fees
None
All Other Fees
None
Audit committee policies & procedures
The Company does not currently have a standing audit committee. The above services were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
a. Exhibits
Exhibit Number
Name of Exhibit
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as enacted by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(1)
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as enacted by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(1)
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 United States Code Section 1350, as enacted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1)
(1) Filed herewith
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant)
PACIFIC GOLD CORP.
By:
/s/ Robert Landau
Robert Landau, President
(Chief Executive Officer)
Date:
July 12, 2011
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signatures
Title
Date
/s/ Robert Landau
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director
July 12, 2011
Robert Landau
/s/ Mitchell Geisler
Secretary, Treasurer and Director
July 12, 2011
Mitchell Geisler