ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Standard Gold, Inc. (with its subsidiaries “we,” “us,” “our,” “Standard Gold” or the “Company”) is an exploration stage company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Standard Gold, Inc. (formerly known as Princeton Acquisitions, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of Colorado on July 10, 1985, as a blind pool or blank check company. On September 29, 2009, we completed a share exchange agreement with Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Hunter Bates”) and certain of its shareholders, in which Hunter Bates’ shareholders exchanged all of their capital securities into similar capital securities of ours (the “Hunter Bates Share Exchange”) and we adopted the business model of Hunter Bates of minerals exploration and mining. Accordingly, the Hunter Bates Share Exchange represented a change in control and Hunter Bates became a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Gold.
Prior to September 29, 2009, Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc., a Minnesota corporation and public reporting company quoted on the Pink Sheets under the symbol “WITM” (“Wits Basin”) was the majority shareholder of Hunter Bates. Hunter Bates was formed in April 2008 to acquire the prior producing gold mine properties (consisting of land, buildings, equipment, mining claims and permits) located in Central City, Colorado, known as the “Bates-Hunter Mine.”
On March 15, 2011, we closed a series of transactions, whereby we acquired certain assets of Shea Mining & Milling, LLC (“Shea Mining”), which assets include land, buildings, a dormant milling facility, abandoned milling equipment, water permits, mine tailings, mine dumps and the assignment of a note payable, a lease and a contract agreement with permits. We completed the Shea Exchange Agreement to acquire the Shea assets and develop a toll milling services business of precious minerals. Toll milling is a process whereby mined material is crushed and ground into fine particles to ease the extraction of any precious minerals contained therein, such as gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper, and rare earth metals.
OUR EXPLORATION PROJECT: BATES-HUNTER MINE
Overview
In January 2005, Wits Basin acquired an option to purchase all of the assets of the Bates-Hunter Mine. On June 12, 2008, Wits Basin entered into an amendment to purchase the Bates-Hunter Mine, and among the changes, the purchase was assigned to Hunter Bates allowing Hunter Bates to complete the acquisition of the Bates-Hunter Mine. The acquisition of the assets of the Bates-Hunter Mine was completed on June 12, 2008, by Hunter Bates.
The Bates-Hunter Mine is located about 35 miles west of Denver, Colorado and is located within the city limits of Central City. The Central City mining district lies on the east slope of the Front Range where elevations range from 8,000 feet in the east to 9,750 feet in the west. Local topography consists of gently rolling hills with local relief of as much as 1,000 feet.
The mine site is located in the middle of a residential district within the city limits of Central City and is generally zoned for mining or industrial use. The Bates-Hunter Mine shaft is equipped with a two-compartment, 85 foot tall steel headframe and a single drum hoist using a one inch diameter rope to hoist a two ton skip from approximately 1,000 feet deep. A water treatment plant was constructed adjacent to the mine headframe.
Geology
The regional geology of the Central City district is not “simple” but the economic geology is classically simple. The Precambrian granites and gniesses in the area were intensely fractured during a faulting event resulting in the emplacement of many closely spaced and roughly parallel veins. The veins are the result of fracture filling by fluids that impregnated a portion of the surrounding gneisses and granites with lower grade gold concentrations “milling ore” and usually leaving a high grade “pay streak” of high grade gold sulphides within a quartz vein in the fracture. There are two veins systems present, one striking east-west and the other striking sub parallel to the more predominant east-west set. These veins hosted almost all of the gold in the camp. The veins vary from 2 to 20 feet in width and dip nearly vertical. Where two veins intersect, the intersection usually widens considerably and the grade also increases, sometimes to bonanza grades. In the Timmins camp, this same feature was described as a “blow out” and resulted in similar grade and thickness increases. The Bates vein in the area of the Bates-Hunter Mine has been reported to have both sets of veins and extremely rich “ore” where the two veins intersected. These veins persist to depth and consist of gold rich sulphides that include some significant base metal credits for copper and silver.
Previous Exploration Efforts
The following is based on the information from a report titled “Exploration and Development Plan for the Bates-Hunter Project,” prepared by Glenn R. O’Gorman, P. Eng., dated March 1, 2004.
Lode gold was first discovered in Colorado in 1859 by John H. Gregory. The first veins discovered were the Gregory and the Bates. This discovery started a gold rush into the area with thousands of people trying to stake their claims. The Central City mining district is the most important mining district in the Front Range mineral belt. Since 1859, more than 4,000,000 ounces of gold have been mined from this district. Over 25% of this production has come from the area immediately surrounding the Bates-Hunter Project. Although the Bates vein was one of the richest and most productive in the early history of the area, it was never consolidated and mined to any great depth.
The majority of production on the claims occurred during the period prior to 1900. Technology at that time was very primitive in comparison to today's standards. Hand steel and hand tramming was the technology of the day. The above limitations coupled with limited claim sizes generally restricted mining to the top few hundred feet on any one claim.
During the early 1900’s cyanidation and flotation recovery technologies were developed along with better hoists and compressed air operated drills. Consolidation of land was a problem. Production rates were still limited due to the lack of mechanized mucking and tramming equipment. Issues that were major obstacles prior to the 1900’s and 1930’s are easily overcome with modern technology.
Colorado legislated their own peculiar mining problem by limiting claim sizes to 500 feet in length by 50 feet wide and incorporated the Apex Law into the system as well. A typical claim was 100 to 200 feet long in the early days. This resulted in making it extremely difficult for any one owner to consolidate a large group of claims and benefit from economies of scale. The W.W.II Production Limiting Order # 208 effectively shut down gold mining in the area and throughout Colorado and the United States in mid 1942.
Historical production records indicate that at least 350,000 ounces of gold were recovered from about half of the Bates Vein alone to shallow depths averaging about 500 feet below surface.
GSR Goldsearch Resources drilled two reverse circulation holes on the property in 1990. The first hole did not intersect the Bates Vein. However, the second drilled beneath the Bates-Hunter shaft bottom intersected the Bates Vein at about 900 feet below surface. The drill cuttings graded 0.48 oz. Au/ton over 10 feet. This drillhole intersected three additional veins as well with significant gold assays.
Through August 2008, over 12,000 feet of drilling was accomplished, which provided detailed data, which had been added to the existing 3-D map of the region. Several narrow intervals of potential ore grade gold values were intersected, which would have require further exploration efforts to delineate any valuation.
Transfer of the Bates-Hunter Mine
Since August 2008, no exploration activities had been conducted at the Bates-Hunter Mine due to funding. As part of the Shea Exchange Agreement (fully described below), we had the right, at our option, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to transfer the Hunter-Bates Mine and all related obligations and liabilities, to Wits Basin, in exchange for the cancellation by Wits Basin of a promissory note in the principal amount of $2,500,000 issued by Hunter Bates to Wits Basin. On April 29, 2011, the Company’s management decided to exercise its right to transfer this mining asset due to following: (1) the amount of liabilities directly attached to the Bates-Hunter Mine, (2) the prior failed attempts to drain the single mine shaft, (3) the metallurgical results of the approximately 12,000 feet drilling program, (4) its location at approximately 9,000 feet in elevation and (5) the estimated capital required to simply begin sampling below ground. As management began to explore the opportunities of custom toll milling, introductions were made of other mining opportunities that management believed offered much greater appeal as to their location in proximity to Nevada, stages of development and the opportunities of joint ventures. Management believes that the toll milling business could provide for vertical integration in an overall business plan.
THE SHEA EXCHANGE AGREEMENT AND TOLL MILLING
On March 15, 2011, in an effort to enter the precious metal toll milling business, we entered into an exchange agreement by and between us, Shea Mining, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin and Alfred A. Rapetti (the “Shea Exchange Agreement”) whereby we acquired certain assets from Shea Mining, which assets include those located in Tonopah, Nevada (financed through a note payable assigned to us), mine dumps, a property lease and a contract agreement in exchange for 35,000,000 shares of our unregistered shares. The Shea Exchange Agreement did not include any operable toll milling equipment, employees or operational processes and therefore has been accounted for as a purchase of a group of assets.
Pursuant to the assignment of a note payable, we executed an Assignment and Assumption of Loan Documents and Loan Modification Agreement, by and between us, Shea Mining and NJB Mining, Inc. (the “Loan Modification Agreement”), dated March 15, 2011, for those assets located in Tonopah, Nevada (“Tonopah”), consisting of land, buildings, mining tailings, a dormant milling facility, abandoned milling equipment and water permits. The land encompasses 1,174 deeded acres, one of the largest private land holdings in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Approximately 334 acres of this land has sitting on it an estimated 2.2 million tons of tailings known as the Millers Tailings from the historic gold rush of Goldfield and Tonopah, Nevada.
The Tonopah property was subject to an existing $2.5 million first deed of trust which was in default at the time of the Shea Exchange Agreement and included accrued interest of $375,645, which was also assumed in the transaction. As part of the assignment, NJB Mining, Inc. (“NJB”) modified the related note to allow us until May 14, 2011 to refinance this mortgage, which was subsequently extended numerous times. On July 7, 2011, we issued 555,556 shares of our unregistered common stock to NJB as a partial principal payment of $500,000 (valued at a $0.90 per share). As of August 31, 2011, we were still in default under the terms of the Loan Modification Agreement, and therefore entered into a forbearance agreement with NJB, (the “NJB Forbearance Agreement”), in which we agreed to issue an additional 200,000 shares of common stock valued at $180,000 and pay interest aggregating $52,952 prior to October 1, 2011 to NJB. In exchange, NJB agreed to forbear from initiating legal proceedings, including forbearance of the deed of trust and enforcement of its collection remedies. The NJB Forbearance Agreement further provided for additional extensions up through December 9, 2011; subject to the issuance of additional 1,500,000 shares of common stock, $141,497 payments of additional accrued interest amounts and subject to the issuance of additional 5,000,000 shares of common stock upon default. On December 9, 2011, Pure Path Capital Management Company, LLC. (“Pure Path”) purchased the Loan Modification Agreement and the NJB Forbearance Agreement directly from NJB. On December 21, 2011, we entered into an amended and restated forbearance agreement with Pure Path (the “A&R Forbearance”), whereby Pure Path extended the provisions of the NJB Forbearance Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, the principal amount outstanding on the A&R Forbearance is $2,047,728 (plus accrued interest). Pure Path has provided an additional extension to stay any action of the A&R Forbearance until May 31, 2012; such extension was provided without additional consideration. We are still in negotiations with Pure Path in order to complete definitive documents to release the A&R Forbearance and structure a new note. If such arrangements are not agreed to, we could lose the Tonopah property and/or be required to issue an additional 5,000,000 shares of our common stock.
In connection with the Shea Exchange Agreement, we also were assigned the ownership of approximately a six square mile section of mine dump material in Manhattan, Nevada (“Manhattan”).
The other assets we acquired consisted of a property lease, which allowed us the use of an assay lab property and the associated water permits, (with a right to purchase for $6 million) and a contract agreement, which allowed us the use of processing permits, located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada (“Amargosa”). We were required to pay a monthly base rent of $17,500 on this lease and $5,000 on the contract agreement. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, the landlord of the Amargosa lease caused to have served a Five Day Notice To Pay Rent Or Quit due to default in the monthly $17,500 lease payments. The Company began immediate communications with the landlord, which resulted in a delay of further actions by the landlord to pursue any remedies. Then on February 9, 2012, the landlord caused to have served an Order For Summary Eviction (“Eviction”) due to continued default in lease payments. Effective with the Eviction, a total of $70,000 lease payments remain unpaid as well as $8,500 of late fees required pursuant to the terms of the lease. On February 10, 2012, the Beatty County Sheriff completed the Eviction at Amargosa and we as such, no longer have access to the assay lab or permits at Amargosa.
As previously mentioned, pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, we issued a total of 35 million shares of our common stock to the equity holders of Shea Mining in exchange for certain of their assets, resulting in those holders owning an ownership interest of approximately 87% of our then currently outstanding common stock (approximately 56% ownership interest on a fully diluted basis). We also agreed to indemnify Shea Mining from any liabilities arising after March 15, 2011 out of the Loan Modification Agreement or the loan agreements referenced therein.
Simultaneous with these transactions, pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, Wits Basin exchanged 19,713,544 shares of our common stock it held for 10 million shares of our newly created non-voting 5% preferred stock, referred to as the “Series A Preferred Stock.” The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. Additional details regarding the Series A Preferred Stock can be found in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State on March 15, 2011. Additionally, we obtained the right to transfer our entire interest and related debt of the Bates-Hunter Mine, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to Wits Basin in exchange for the cancellation of a promissory note issued by Hunter Bates payable in favor of Wits Basin in the approximate amount of $2.5 million. On April 29, 2011, our Board of Directors approved this transfer back to Wits Basin for the reason described above under the heading “Transfer of the Bates-Hunter Mine.”
Furthermore, Wits Basin had entered into certain commitments which involved shares of our common stock and as a result of their exchange of substantially all of the Standard Gold common stock they held for Series A Preferred, they could no longer honor those commitments. In consideration of Wits Basin agreeing to the exchange, the Company agreed to enter into two stock option agreements as follows: (1) the Company granted to one of Wits Basin’s major lenders a replacement stock option, on substantially the same terms as the stock option issued by Wits Basin, to purchase 1,299,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share expiring on December 14, 2014 and (2) the Company granted to Wits Basin a replacement stock option, expiring on December 19, 2014, to purchase up to 630,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $0.50 per share.
Upon funding, our business plan is to purchase equipment and build out a facility to serve as a state-of-the-art toll milling facility (which includes an analytical lab and hydrometallurgical recovery plant) located in Clark County Nevada and conduct National Instrument 43-101 studies at Tonopah and Manhattan. Furthermore, we would likely re-open discussions with the Amargosa principals. One or both of these facilities, if completed, would also serve as a toll milling facility for any future mining properties we could develop or joint venture with.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
The exploration for and development of mineral deposits involves significant capital requirements. While the discovery of an ore body may result in substantial rewards, few properties are ultimately developed into producing mines. Some of the factors involved in determining whether a mineral exploration project will be successful include, without limitation:
·competition;
·financing costs;
·availability of capital;
·proximity to infrastructure;
·the particular attributes of the deposit, such as its size and grade; and
·governmental regulations, particularly regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, infrastructure, land use, environmental protection matters, green house gas legislation, property title, rights and options of use, and license and permitting obligations.
All of which leads to a speculative endeavor of very high risk. Even with the formation of new theories and new methods of analysis, unless the minerals are simply lying exposed on the surface of the ground, exploration will continue to be a “hit or miss” process.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
As of December 31, 2011, since we currently do not own any mining properties but have access to mine tailing and mine dump material, our plan is to begin some type of custom toll milling operations.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2011, we employed one individual - our chief financial officer. No employees are represented by a labor union and we consider our employee relations to be good.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
During the year ended December 31, 2011, our operations included one reportable segment: that of minerals exploration and development of the related services of custom toll milling.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We make available free of charge, through our Internet web site at www.standardgoldmining.com, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material, or furnish it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You can also request a free copy of the above filings by writing or calling us at:
Standard Gold, Inc.
Attention: Mark Dacko, Secretary
900 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-8773
(612) 349-5277
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
RISKS RELATING TO OUR CAPITAL STOCK
INVESTORS MAY BE UNABLE TO ACCURATELY VALUE OUR COMMON STOCK.
Investors often value companies based on the stock prices and results of operations of other comparable companies. Currently, we do not believe another public gold exploration company exists that is directly comparable to our size and scale. Prospective investors, therefore, have limited historical information about the property held by us upon which to base an evaluation of our performance and prospects and an investment in our common stock. As such, investors may find it difficult to accurately value our common stock.
BECAUSE OF BECOMING PUBLIC BY MEANS OF A REVERSE ACQUISITION, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF MAJOR BROKERAGE FIRMS.
Additional risks may exist since we became public through a “reverse acquisition.” Security analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide coverage of the Company. No assurance can be given that brokerage firms will want to conduct any offerings on behalf of the Company in the future.
WE DO NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
We have never declared or paid any dividends on our common stock. We intend to retain all of our earnings, if any, for the foreseeable future to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the future. Our board of directors retains the discretion to change this policy.
OUR NEWLY-ISSUED SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK HAS A SIGNIFICANT LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE.
In connection with the Shea Exchange Agreement, we converted 19,713,544 shares of our common stock held by Wits Basin into 10 million shares of our newly created Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. Although there are requirements that must be met before the liquidation preference is payable to holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, if we are successful in the operation of our business and our market value increases, or if we consummate a change of control transaction that requires payment of the $10 million liquidation preference (plus accrued interest), there may be significantly less funds remaining after the payment of the liquidation preference for holders of our common stock.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION
WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CASH TO FUND OPERATIONS, DEBT REDUCTION OR POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS DURING 2012.
We have very limited funds, and such funds are not adequate to develop our current business plan, or even to satisfy our existing working capital requirements. As of March 31, 2012, we had only approximately $5,500 of cash and cash equivalents and with an expected cash expenditure of approximately $4,665,000 in debt that is already past due and the remainder that will become due in 2012 (assuming some or all of such debt is not converted into equity prior to such date), we will be required to raise additional funds to effectuate our current business plan for toll milling and mining services and to satisfy our working capital requirements. Without significant additional capital, we will be unable to start operations. With respect to our proposed toll milling operations, the costs and ability to successfully operate have not been fully verified because none of our proposed tolling operations have been run recently and we may incur unexpected costs or delays in connection with starting operations. The cost of designing and building our operations and of finding new toll milling sources can be extensive and will require us to obtain additional financing, and there is no assurance that we will have the resources necessary or the financing available to attain operations or to acquire the new toll milling sources necessary for our long-term business. Our ultimate success will depend on our ability to raise additional capital. Additionally, such additional capital may not be available to us at acceptable terms or at all. Further, if we increase our capitalization and sell additional shares of our capital stock, your ownership position in our Company will be subject to dilution. In the event that we are unable to obtain additional capital, we may be forced to cease our search for additional business opportunities, reduce our operating expenditures or to cease operations altogether.
WE ARE A DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY WITH LITTLE HISTORY OF OPERATIONS AND WE EXPECT TO INCUR LOSSES FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
We are a development and exploration stage company, and have yet to commence active operations. As of December 31, 2011, we have incurred an aggregate net loss of $25,315,398 since our incorporation. We have no prior operating history from which to evaluate our success, or our likelihood of success in operating our business, generating any revenues, or achieving profitability. These operations provide a limited basis for you to assess our ability to commercialize our product candidates and the advisability of investing in our securities. We have generated no revenue to date and there can be no assurance that our plans for exploration or toll milling will be successful, or that we will ever attain significant sales or profitability. Also, toll milling is a new area of business for us, and our management team has little experience in toll milling operations. Although we intend to hire knowledgeable and experienced employees and/or consultants with significant experience in exploration and toll milling operations, there is no guarantee that we will reach profitability in the near future, if at all. As a development and exploration stage company, we are subject to unforeseen costs, expenses, problems and difficulties inherent in new business ventures.
OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DOUBT ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN.
The financial statements for each of these periods were prepared assuming that we would continue as a going concern. We have had net losses for each of the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and we have an accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2011. In the view of our independent auditors, these conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Furthermore, since we do not expect to generate any significant revenues from operations for the foreseeable future, our ability to continue as a going concern depends, in large part, on our ability to raise additional capital through equity or debt financing transactions. If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be forced to discontinue our business.
RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY
WE HAVE VERY LIMITED ASSETS.
In April 2011, we transferred all of our rights in our most recent mining operation back to Wits Basin. Furthermore, the recently acquired assets to be used in the development of a toll mining service have not yet been utilized and there can be no guarantee that we will be successful in utilizing these assets going forward. Since we are only performing maintenance activities at the Tonopah location, we do not anticipate having any revenues from this property for the foreseeable future. Additionally, this property, without adequate funding, may never produce any significant revenues.
OUR ASSETS ARE ENCUMBERED UNDER A FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT.
The Tonopah property was subject to an existing $2.5 million first deed of trust which was in default at the time of the Shea Exchange Agreement, which was also assumed in the transaction. As part of the assignment, NJB Mining modified the related note to allow us numerous extensions. As of August 31, 2011, we were still in default under the terms of the note, and therefore entered into a forbearance agreement with NJB, in which NJB agreed to forbear from initiating legal proceedings, including forbearance of the deed of trust and enforcement of its collection remedies. The NJB Forbearance Agreement further provided for additional extensions up through December 9, 2011. On December 9, 2011, Pure Path Capital Management Company purchased the note and the NJB Forbearance Agreement directly from NJB. On December 21, 2011, we entered into an amended and restated forbearance agreement with Pure Path (the “A&R Forbearance”), whereby Pure Path extended the provisions of the NJB Forbearance Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, the principal amount outstanding on the A&R Forbearance is $2,047,728 (plus accrued interest). Pure Path has provided an additional extension to stay any action of the A&R Forbearance until May 31, 2012; such extension was provided without additional consideration. We are still in negotiations with Path Path in order to complete definitive documents to release the A&R Forbearance and structure a new note. If such arrangements are not agreed to, we could lose the Tonopah property and/or be required to issue an additional 5,000,000 shares of our common stock.
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT OUR BUSINESS STRATEGIES.
If our management team is unable to execute on our business strategies, then our development would be materially and adversely affected. In addition, we may encounter difficulties in effectively managing the budgeting, forecasting and other process control issues presented by any future growth. In acquiring the toll milling assets pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, we have added a new line of business in which our management team has little experience. We may seek to augment or replace members of our management team or we may lose key members of our management team, and we may not be able to attract new management talent with sufficient skill and experience.
OUR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE MAY DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, AND ANY FAILURE ON OUR PART TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SUCH RELATIONSHIPS WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR MARKET PENETRATION AND REVENUE GROWTH.
We may be required to establish strategic relationships with third parties in the mining and toll milling industries. Our ability to establish strategic relationships will depend on a number of factors, many of which are outside our control, such as the suitability of property relative to our competitors, or the quality grade of precious minerals found in our tailings. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to establish other strategic relationships in the future.
In addition, any strategic alliances that we establish, will subject us to a number of risks, including risks associated with sharing proprietary information, loss of control of operations that are material to developed business and profit-sharing arrangements. Moreover, strategic alliances may be expensive to implement and subject us to the risk that the third party will not perform its obligations under the relationship, which may subject us to losses over which we have no control or expensive termination arrangements. As a result, even if our strategic alliances with third parties are successful, our business may be adversely affected by a number of factors that are outside of our control.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
WE WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FINANCING TO CONTINUE TO FUND OUR TOLL MILLING INTERESTS OR TO ACQUIRE INTERESTS IN OTHER EXPLORATION PROJECTS.
Substantial additional financing will be needed in order to fund the current plan to begin toll milling services or maintain and develop the Tonopah property. Our means of acquiring investment capital is limited to private equity and debt transactions. We have no significant sources of currently available funds to engage in additional development. Without significant additional capital, we will be unable to fund our current property interests or effectuate our current business plan for toll milling and mining services. See “-Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition - We Currently Do Not Have Enough Cash to Fund Operations, Debt Reduction or Potential Acquisitions During 2012.”
OUR PERFORMANCE MAY BE SUBJECT TO FLUCTUATIONS IN MINERAL PRICES.
The profitability of any new exploration projects and toll milling services could be significantly affected by changes in the market price of minerals. Demand for minerals can be influenced by economic conditions and attractiveness as an investment vehicle. Other factors include the level of interest rates, exchange rates and inflation. The aggregate effect of these factors is impossible to predict with accuracy.
In particular, mine production and the willingness of third parties such as central banks to sell or lease gold affects the supply of gold. Worldwide production levels also affect mineral prices. In addition, the price of gold, silver and other precious minerals have on occasion been subject to very rapid short-term changes due to speculative activities.
ESTIMATES REGARDING THE QUANTITY OF PRECIOUS METALS IN OUR TAILINGS OR THE ORE OF OTHERS THAT WE PROCESS ARE SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT RISK AND MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS.
Currently, we have no contracts with other mine owners and we currently do not have any mines of our own, therefore we cannot make any estimates regarding probable reserves in connection with any of these sources of minerals, and any estimates relating to possible reserves are subject to significant risks. We have done initial internal metallurgical testing on some of the source materials at Tonopah, but have not done comprehensive metallurgical testing on all of them. The tonnage and grade of the tailings that we propose to process have not been fully verified. Therefore, we cannot be certain of the level of recovery of valuable metals we can attain in our toll milling operations from the Tonopah mine tailings. Furthermore, we are pursuing contracts with owners of potentially valuable minerals, but we cannot make any estimates regarding probable recovery rates in connection with any of these sources of minerals, and any estimates relating to possible recoveries are subject to significant risks. Therefore, no assurance can be given of the size or grades recovered that are planned to supply our toll milling operations.
MINERAL EXPLORATION IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE.
There is a limited supply of desirable mineral properties available for claim staking, lease or other acquisition in the areas where we contemplate participating in exploration activities. We compete with numerous other companies and individuals, including competitors with greater financial, technical and other resources than we possess, in the search for and the acquisition of attractive mineral properties. We may not be able to compete successfully with our competitors in acquiring such properties or prospects.
THE NATURE OF MINERAL EXPLORATION IS INHERENTLY RISKY.
The exploration for and development of mineral deposits involves significant financial risks, which even experience and knowledge may not eliminate, regardless of the amount of careful evaluation applied to the process. Very few properties are ultimately developed into producing mines. Whether a mineral deposit will become commercially viable depends on a number of factors, including:
·financing costs;
·proximity to infrastructure;
·the particular attributes of the deposit, such as its size and grade; and
·governmental regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, infrastructure and land use.
The outcome of any of these factors may prevent us from receiving an adequate return on invested capital.
OUR TOLL MILLING OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND PERMITTING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE INCURRENCE OF ADDITIONAL COSTS AND OPERATIONAL DELAYS.
All phases of our operations are subject to current environmental protection regulation. There is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulation, such as greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint and the like, will not adversely affect our project. With respect to our toll milling operations, some of our proposed operations will require additional permits, which could incur additional cost and may delay startup and cash flow. In addition, each toll milling mineral source must be fully permitted for its own operation, a process over which we have no control.
OUR TOLL MILLING OPERATIONS WILL REQUIRE US TO DEPEND ON THIRD PARTIES AND OTHER ELEMENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN HARM TO OUR BUSINESS.
Our toll milling operations will rely largely on mineral material produced by others, but we have no control over their operations. Delivery of ore to our processing facilities is also subject to the risks of transportation, including trucking operations run by others, regulations and permits, fuel cost, weather, and road conditions. Toll milling requires that the mineral producer and the mineral processor agree on the grade of the incoming mineral, which can be a source of conflict between parties. Any disagreements with mineral producers, or problems with the delivery of ore, could result in additional costs, disruptions and other problems in the operation of our business.
U.S. FEDERAL LAWS
Under the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, companies such as ours may incur costs for generating, transporting, treating, storing, or disposing of hazardous waste. Our toll milling operations may produce air emissions, including fugitive dust and other air pollutants, from stationary equipment, storage facilities, and the use of mobile sources such as trucks and heavy construction equipment which are subject to review, monitoring and/or control requirements under the Federal Clean Air Act and state air quality laws. Permitting rules may impose limitations on our production levels or create additional capital expenditures in order to comply with the rules.
The U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA) imposes strict joint and several liability on parties associated with releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances. The groups who could be found liable include, among others, the current owners and operators of facilities which release hazardous substances into the environment and past owners and operators of properties who owned such properties at the time the disposal of the hazardous substances occurred. This liability could include the cost of removal or remediation of the release and damages for injury to the surrounding property. We cannot predict the potential for future CERCLA liability with respect to our property.
THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS MAY HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION THAT WE CURRENTLY CANNOT PREDICT.
The continued credit crisis and related instability in the global financial system has had, and may continue to have, an impact on our business and our financial condition. We may face significant challenges if conditions in the financial markets do not improve. Our ability to access the capital markets may be severely restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to access such markets, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. The credit crisis could have an impact on any potential lenders or on our customers, causing them to fail to meet their obligations to us.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
On March 15, 2011, in an effort to enter the precious metal toll milling business, we completed the Shea Exchange Agreement, whereby we acquired the Tonopah property, consisting of land, buildings, mining tailings, a dormant milling facility, abandoned milling equipment and water permits. We currently do not have any mines.
Our corporate office is located at 900 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-8773, in which we occupy approximately 160 square feet of office space, together with the use of related adjacent common areas, pursuant to a lease agreement that expires May 31, 2012, which requires monthly payments of $1,261. We believe that our current facilities are adequate for our current needs.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
Our common stock is quoted on the OTCBB under the symbol “SDGR.” As of May 11, 2012, the last closing sale price of our common stock as reported by OTCBB was $0.37 per share. The following table sets forth for the periods indicating the range of high and low closing sale prices of our common stock:
The quotations from the OTCBB above reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not reflect actual transactions.
RECORD HOLDERS
As of March 31, 2012, there were approximately 148 record holders of our common stock, excluding shareholders holding securities in “street name.” Based on securities position listings, we believe that there are approximately 55 beneficial holders of our common stock in “street name.”
DIVIDENDS
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and have no present intention of doing so in the foreseeable future. Rather, we intend to retain all future earnings to provide for the growth of our Company. Payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will depend, among other things, upon our future earnings, requirements for capital improvements and financial condition.
RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
In addition to the sales of unregistered securities that we reported in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K during fiscal year ended 2011, we made the following sales of unregistered securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2011:
In October 2011, we issued 500,000 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $300,000) as consideration for an extension from NJB Mining pursuant to the NJB Forbearance Agreement.
In November 2011, we issued 1,000,000 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $700,000) as consideration for an extension from NJB Mining pursuant to the NJB Forbearance Agreement.
Sales of the securities identified above were made pursuant to privately negotiated transactions that did not involve a public offering of securities and, accordingly, we believe that these transactions were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof and rules promulgated thereunder. Based on representations from the above-referenced lender, we have determined that such lender was “accredited investors” (as defined by Rule 501 under the Securities Act) and were acquiring the shares for investment and not distribution, and that they could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time. The lender received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration or an available exemption from such registration. All of the foregoing securities are deemed restricted securities for purposes of the Securities Act.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements of the Company and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report. See “Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Readers are cautioned that the following discussion contains certain forward-looking statements and should be read in conjunction with the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” appearing at the beginning of this Annual Report.
Standard Gold, Inc. (formerly known as Princeton Acquisitions, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of Colorado on July 10, 1985, as a blind pool or blank check company. On September 29, 2009, we completed a share exchange agreement with Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Hunter Bates”) and certain of its shareholders, in which Hunter Bates’ shareholders exchanged all of their capital securities into similar capital securities of ours (the “Hunter Bates Share Exchange”) and we adopted the business model of Hunter Bates of minerals exploration and mining. Accordingly, the Hunter Bates Share Exchange represented a change in control and Hunter Bates became a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Gold.
Prior to September 29, 2009, Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc., a Minnesota corporation and public reporting company quoted on the Pink Sheets under the symbol “WITM” (“Wits Basin”) was the majority shareholder of Hunter Bates. Hunter Bates was formed in April 2008 to acquire the prior producing gold mine properties (consisting of land, buildings, equipment, mining claims and permits) located in Central City, Colorado, known as the “Bates-Hunter Mine.”
On March 15, 2011, we closed a series of transactions, whereby we acquired certain assets of Shea Mining & Milling, LLC (“Shea Mining”), which assets include land, buildings, a dormant milling facility, abandoned milling equipment, water permits, mine tailings, mine dumps and the assignment of a note payable, a lease and a contract agreement with permits. We completed the Shea Exchange Agreement in order to offer toll milling services of precious minerals. Toll milling is a process whereby mined material is crushed and ground into fine particles to ease the extraction of any precious minerals contained therein, such as gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper, and rare earth metals.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010.
Revenues
We had no revenues from operations for the years December 31, 2011 and 2010. Furthermore, we do not anticipate having any significant future revenues until we have sufficiently funded operations.
Operating Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $10,180,018 for 2011 as compared to $2,463,291 for 2010. Of the $10,180,018 in 2011, we recorded $6,835,006 of compensation expense related to stock options vesting and $690,000 from the termination of an investment agent agreement. We anticipate that future compensation expenses will decrease, but with the addition of tolling milling services, that certain operating expenses will continue to increase for fiscal 2012 as we continue to build the infrastructure to proceed with tolling milling services and possible entrance into other mine properties.
Exploration expenses were $50,501 for 2011 as compared to $356,290 for 2010. Exploration expenses relate to the cash expenditures for our maintenance work at the Bates-Hunter Mine and for due diligence on other gold exploration projects. In 2011, the Company was only maintaining the Bates-Hunter Mine; whereas during 2010, we continued to perform some due diligence on some other possible gold exploration projects. With the transfer of Hunter Bates back to Wits Basin on April 29, 2011, we do not expect to have any exploration expenses until such time as we acquire other mining properties or are able to enter into some type of joint venture with existing mines.
Depreciation and amortization expenses were $29,623 for 2011 as compared to $88,557 for 2010, which primarily represents depreciation of fixed assets for the Bates-Hunter Mine. We transferred the depreciable assets related to the Bates-Hunter Mine back to Wits Basin on April 29, 2011 and will no longer be recording any depreciation expenses specifically related to the Bates-Hunter Mine. Should we acquire other mine properties or begin toll milling services, then we would resume recording depreciation expense.
Other Income and Expenses
Interest Expense
Interest expense for 2011 was $4,134,310 compared to 2010, which was $652,696. The 2011 and 2010 amounts relate to the interest due on the following notes payable: (i) the Cdn$6,750,000 limited recourse promissory note for the Bates-Hunter Mine, which was interest-free until January 1, 2010, and from such date accrued interest at a rate of 6% per annum, (ii) in April 2009, we entered into a 12% Convertible Debenture with Cabo Drilling (America) Inc., in the principal amount of $511,590, (iii) in August 2009, Hunter Bates issued a note payable in favor of Wits Basin (at which time held 100% of the equity interest in Hunter Bates) in the principal amount of $2,500,000 in consideration of various start-up and developments costs and expenses incurred by Wits Basin on its behalf while Hunter Bates and Gregory Gold were consolidated, wholly owned subsidiaries of Wits Basin, (iv) the short-term notes payable, (v) the convertible notes we entered into during 2011 plus the amortization of the value assigned to additional beneficial conversion features and warrants issued, and (vi) the amortization of debt issuance costs.
The significant increases over 2010 amounts relate to items (iv), (v) and (vi) described above. The non-cash interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $3,608,314 compared to $65,166 for the same period in 2010.
Foreign Currency
With the consummation of the Bates-Hunter Mine acquisition in June 2008, we had been recording direct non-cash foreign currency exchange gains and losses due to our dealings with the limited recourse promissory note, which was payable in Canadian Dollars. We recorded a loss of $329,875 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $329,732 for the same period in 2010, due to the fluctuations in exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Canadian Dollar. With the transfer of the limited recourse promissory note to Wits Basin on April 29, 2011, we should not be recording any gains or losses due to foreign currency exchange rates in future periods.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual and operating needs as they arise. We have funded our operations and satisfied our capital requirements through the issuance of short-term convertible debt during 2011 and through private placements of our equities and advances from Wits Basin during 2010. We do not anticipate generating sufficient net positive cash flows from our operations to fund the next twelve months. We had a working capital deficit of $6,589,228 at December 31, 2011. Cash and cash equivalents were $620 at December 31, 2011, representing an increase of $466 from the cash and cash equivalents of $154 at December 31, 2010.
Our cash reserves will not be sufficient to meet our operational needs and thus, we need to raise additional capital to pay for our operational expenses and provide for capital expenditures. Our basic operational expenses are estimated at approximately $35,000 per month and we continue to have debt service commitments, which includes $2,047,728 (plus accrued interest) due to Pure Path under the A&R Forbearance Agreement and $2,574,689 (plus accrued interest) if none of the convertible note holders do not convert any portion of their notes payable. Above the basic operational expenses, we estimate that we need approximately $1,200,000 to begin limited tolling operations at a new facility located in Clark County, Nevada. If we are not able to raise additional working capital, we may have to cease operations altogether.
For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had net cash used in operating activities of $1,480,170 and $684,935, respectively. The increase in 2011 is due primarily from the cash being expended to build a base of operations in Nevada.
For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had net cash used in investing activities of $1,062,014 and $0, respectively. The increase in 2011 is due to the funds required to enter into the Shea Exchange Agreement.
For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had net cash provided by financing activities of $2,542,650 and $234,202, respectively. During 2011, we issued six-month convertible promissory notes resulting in gross cash proceeds of $2,482,500 and received cash proceeds of $101,139 from the sale and exercise of stock options and warrants. During 2010: (i) we issued 66,000 shares of our unregistered common stock through private placements with warrants, generating cash of $25,883 (ii) we entered into eight short-term notes payable, resulting in cash proceeds of $136,000 and (iii) Wits Basin provided us operating funds of $72,319 in 2010.
The following table summarizes our debt as of December 31, 2011:
(1)Promissory note issued on September 7, 2010, to Stephen Flechner, our President at the time, currently past due, original terms apply in the default period.
(2)Represents the outstanding balance of the original note payable to NJB Mining Inc. that was purchased directly by Pure Path Capital Management (for the assets located in Tonopah).
(3)The stated interest rate is 7.5%, but since the note was not paid in full by August 25, 2010, then the rate increased to 12.5% (an additional 5% default rate was added).
(4)This is the date referenced in the A&R Forbearance Agreement now owned by Pure Path, extended until May 31, 2012.
(5)Beginning in January 2011, we entered into various six-month convertible promissory notes convertible at a price of $0.50 per share and issued a two-year stock purchase warrant with an exercise price of $0.50 per share at a rate of two (2) warrants per $1 of note.
(6)The convertible promissory notes begin maturing on July 5, 2011 through February 29, 2012. Certain of these convertible notes are currently past due and original terms apply in the default period.
Summary
Our existing sources of liquidity will not provide cash to fund operations and make the required payments on our debt service for the next twelve months. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent entirely on raising funds through the sale of equity or debt. We will continue our attempt to raise additional capital. Some of the possibilities available to us are through private equity transactions, to develop a credit facility with a lender or the exercise of options and warrants. However, such additional capital may not be available to us at acceptable terms or at all. In the event that we are unable to obtain additional capital, we would be forced to cease operations altogether.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we did not engage in any off balance sheet arrangements as defined in item 303(a)(4) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements of the Company, the accompanying notes and the report of independent registered public accounting firm are included as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning on page, which follows the signature page.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A(T).
ITEM 9A(T). CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance the objectives of the control system are met.
Under the supervision of, and the participation of, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2011, because of the identification of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described below. Notwithstanding the material weaknesses that existed as of December 31, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have each concluded that the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). We are currently taking steps to remediate such material weaknesses as described below.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a set of processes designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:
·Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of our assets;
·Provide reasonable assurance our transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and
·Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our 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. It should be noted that any system of internal control, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system will be met. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), as of December 31, 2009.
As a result of our continued material weaknesses described below, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by COSO.
Material Weaknesses in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. In connection with the assessment, management identified the following control deficiencies, which were previously identified, that still represent material weaknesses at December 31, 2011:
·The Company, at times, enters into material transactions without timely obtaining the appropriate signed agreements, stock certificates and board approval prior to releasing cash funds called for by the transaction. There were no formal policy changes made in 2011 because no similar transactions were encountered during 2010. Management believes the approval process currently in place is sufficient to alleviate any misappropriation of funds and will change procedures if and when circumstances indicate they are needed.
·Management did not design and maintain effective control relating to the quarter end closing and financial reporting process due to lack of evidence of review surrounding various account reconciliations and properly evidenced journal entries. Due to the Company’s limited resources, the Company has insufficient personnel resources and technical accounting and reporting expertise to properly address all of the accounting matters inherent in the Company’s financial transactions. Additionally, the Company does not have a formal audit committee with a financial expert, and thus the Company lacks the board oversight role within the financial reporting process. Management continues to search for additional board members that are independent and can add financial expertise, in an effort to remediate part of this material weakness.
·The Company’s small size and “one-person” office prohibits the segregation of duties and the timely review of financial data and banking information. The Company has very limited review procedures in place. This material weakness, previously identified, was not corrected during 2011. Management plans to establish a more formal review process by the board members in an effort to reduce the risk of fraud and financial misstatements.
We are in the process of establishing certain steps in response to the identification of these material weaknesses that should result in certain changes in our internal control over financial reporting, but due to the Company’s limited funds and inability to add certain staff personnel, the changes may be limited and may also not be completely effective. There were no additional material weaknesses noted during the quarter ended December 31, 2011.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Set forth below are the names of all directors and executive officers of the Company, their respective ages and all positions and offices with the Company held by each person as of April 30, 2012:
Name
Age
Positions with the Company
Sharon L. Ullman
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mark Dacko
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Clyde L. Smith
Director
Alfred A. Rapetti
Director
Blair C. Mielke
Director
Sharon L. Ullman was appointed to our board of directors on March 18, 2011, in connection with the Shea Exchange Agreement. Effective December 16, 2011, Ms. Ullman was appointed to serve as the Company’s interim Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairperson of the Board. Since June, 2010, Ms. Ullman has served as the Managing Member of Afignis, LLC, a company engaged in the development of mining, natural resource and agricultural opportunities in emerging markets. Afignis holds approximately 39% of our outstanding common stock. Ms. Ullman has also served as the founder and CEO of S. L. Ullman & Associates, Inc., a private consulting firm active in philanthropic activities and government relations, since 2007. She attended CCNY/Baruch College.
Mark Dacko has served as our Chief Financial Officer since our inception in April 2008. Mr. Dacko served as a director from April 2008 until September 29, 2009. Mr. Dacko also serves as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Wits Basin (a company that owns 100% of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock), since March 2003. Mr. Dacko also served as Wits Basin’s Controller from February 2001 to March 2003 and as a board member from June 2003 until April 2008.
Dr. Clyde L. Smith was appointed to our board of directors on October 13, 2009. Dr. Smith also serves as a director of Wits Basin, since June 2009, and as its President since September 15, 2006. Since 1970, Dr. Smith has been sole owner and operator of CL Smith Consultants, an independent geological consulting firm. Dr. Smith holds a B.A. from Carleton College, a M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho. Dr. Smith is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Dr. Smith has founded or co-founded five exploration companies and is responsible for the discovery of four deposits: the Jason lead-zinc-silver deposit, Yukon Territory, Canada; the Santa Fe gold deposit, Nevada; the North Lake gold deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada; and the Solidaridad gold-silver-copper deposit, Mexico.
Alfred A. Rapetti was appointed to our board of directors on September 14, 2010 and was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer on January 21, 2011. Effective December 16, 2011, Mr. Rapetti resigned as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, but remained as a member of the Board. Mr. Rapetti has over 40 years of experience in investment banking, merchant banking, venture capital and serial entrepreneurship. From 2007 through 2010, Mr. Rapetti was an independent consultant. From 2005 through 2006, Mr. Rapetti was the executive vice-chairman and owner of Avantair, Inc. From 1995 through 2004, Mr. Rapetti was with Stamford Capital Group, Inc., acquiring over $6 billion of companies over a nine year period involving some 225 transactions including Great Dane Holdings, Falcon Building Products, Sithe Energies and Clark-Sweibel. Individually as an entrepreneur, Mr. Rapetti created/owned a major leasing company in addition to starting/running the largest nuclear safety firm in the world servicing 14 U.S. nuclear utilities and four foreign governments. Mr. Rapetti has a B.S. in nuclear engineering and marine engineering from SUNY Maritime College and M.S. in nuclear engineering from New York University.
Blair C. Mielke was appointed to our board of directors on August 24, 2011. Mr. Mielke has over 25 years of experience in insurance, securities, and in the investment arena. He is President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Harvest Holding Company LLC which he formed and has held these positions since its predecessor’s inception in 1995. Mr. Mielke is also a Managing Member of Midwest Investment Partners LLC. Midwest holds the voting rights of some 17,500,000 shares of our common stock until such time as the shares are sold in the public markets in accordance with all applicable Federal and state securities laws.
There is no family relationship between any director and executive officer of the Company.
CODE OF ETHICS
We have not yet adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and persons performing similar functions, and Standard Gold also did not have a Code of Ethics in place at the time of the Share Exchange Agreement. The current board of directors anticipates putting a Code of Ethics into effect during the fiscal year 2012.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our director, officer and holders of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities. Based solely upon our review of such filings, we are not aware of any failures by such persons to make any such filings on a timely basis.
AUDIT COMMITTEE, COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND FINANCIAL EXPERT
The Company does have a formal audit committee, but currently does not have a financial expert; therefore the entire Board of Directors as a group acts in the capacity as the audit committee. There was one audit committee meeting held during 2011. Financial information relating to quarterly reports was disseminated to all board members for review. The audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were provided to each member of the board in which any concerns by the members were directed to management and the auditors.
The Company has a compensation committee comprised of Ms. Ullman and Mr. Mielke. There was one compensation committee meeting held during 2011.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table summarizes the compensation of each name executive for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 awarded to or earned by (i) each individual serving as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company and (ii) each individual that served as an executive officer of the Company at the end of such fiscal years who received compensation in excess of $100,000.
(1)The amounts shown are the aggregate grant date fair values of these awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance now codified as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) FASB ASC Topic 718, “Stock Compensation” (formerly under FASB Statement No. 123(R)).
(2)Effective December 16, 2011 and concurrent with the resignation of Mr. Rapetti, Ms. Ullman was appointed the Interim Chief Executive Officer, for which she collects no compensation.
(3)Effective January 21, 2011, Mr. Rapetti was appointed our Chief Executive Officer at which time the Board authorized him a $25,000 per month salary. Pursuant to the formal employment agreement with Mr. Rapetti, effective May 19, 2011, he was to receive $25,000 per month, $1,000 for health care benefits and $3,800 per month for living accommodations. Effective December 16, 2011, Mr. Rapetti resigned as our Chief Executive Officer.
(4)Mr. Rapetti was paid only $25,000 of his salary; the balance has been accrued.
(5)Stephen D. King served as our Chief Executive Officer until January 21, 2011. Mr. King serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Wits Basin and is compensated by Wits Basin for his services to Wits Basin in such capacity and has an employment agreement with Wits Basin.
(6)On April 1, 2010, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Flechner, to serve as its President.
(7)On June 1, 2011, the Company entered into a formal separation agreement and in exchange for Mr. Flechner’s resignation and release of claims, he was issued 50,000 shares of the Company’s unregistered common stock.
(8)Pursuant to an employment agreement with Mr. Flechner, effective April 1, 2010, he was to receive $10,000 per month, of which he only received $30,000 in 2010. On June 1, 2011, Mr. Flechner resigned as an employee of the Company and entered into a full release of any claims he had against the Company as described in the section to follow of Executive Employment Agreements.
(9)During the months of January 2010 through March 2010 (prior to his appointment as President), Mr. Flechner provided services to the Company on an outside consulting basis, and in consideration was paid an aggregate of $30,000 in the form of consulting fees.
(10)Mr. Dacko, effective with his May 19, 2011 employment agreement is to receive $12,000 per month; there remains a balance of $147,750 as of December 31, 2011, to be paid and has been accrued and is expected to be paid upon the Company securing sufficient funds.
(11)Mr. Dacko was to receive $5,000 per month, he did not receive any cash payments during 2010; the balance was accrued. Mr. Dacko serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Wits Basin and has an employment agreement with Wits Basin and was paid $11,250 during fiscal 2011 by Wits Basin.
Standard Gold had a verbal agreement with Wits Basin, whereby Wits Basin provided certain general and administrative services. A portion of these costs were allocated to Standard Gold and then reimbursed to Wits Basin. Total charges to operations amounted to $0 and $80,290 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
On April 1, 2010, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Flechner, to serve as our President. The term of the agreement was for a period of one year, with automatic one-year renewals, subject to either party’s right to terminate upon 30-day written notice. Mr. Flechner was entitled to a base salary of $10,000 per month, and was eligible for an annual bonus. In the event Mr. Flechner is terminated by the Company for any reason other than death or for “Cause” (as defined in the agreement), he was entitled to receive his accrued and unpaid compensation to the time of the termination plus a severance payment of $60,000. The agreement includes standard confidentiality provisions, as well as a one-year non-solicitation provision and a one-year non-competition provision. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company and Mr. Flechner also entered into a stock option agreement, whereby the Company issued Mr. Flechner a ten-year option to purchase 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.90 per share, which was the closing price of the Company’s common stock on April 1, 2010. The option is subject to the terms of the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and vests in three equal annual installments, with the first tranche vesting on April 1, 2010. The vesting of the remaining two installments would accelerate upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, which occurred on March 15, 2011 pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement. On May 19, 2011, the Company reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K that Mr. Flechner had agreed to resign from the office of President. On June 1, 2011, pursuant to the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company entered into a formal separation agreement with Mr. Flechner, whereby the Company made certain promises of cash payments, stock grants and amendments of Mr. Flechner’s employee stock option agreements in exchange for Mr. Flechner’s resignation as an employee of the Company and a full release of any claims he had against the Company. Mr. Flechner’s separation agreement provided for the following: (i) issuance to Mr. Flechner of 50,000 shares of the Company’s unregistered common stock; (ii) amendments of the expiration terms of his two employee stock option agreements, such that, Mr. Flechner has until June 1, 2014 to exercise on an aggregate of 1,550,000 options; and (iii) amendment of a February 18, 2011 Lock-Up Agreement with the Company regarding his options, which allows Mr. Flechner to sell up to 5,000 shares on any given day until such sales equal $200,000, after which time the original terms of the Lock-Up Agreement resume.
On May 19, 2011, pursuant to the recommendation of the Board of Directors Compensation Committee, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Rapetti Agreement”) with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Alfred A. Rapetti, pursuant to which Mr. Rapetti agreed to continue serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Rapetti Agreement provided for a one-year term with automatic one-year renewals (unless notification of non-renewal is provided within 90 days of the end of any current term), an annual base salary of $300,000, and an annual bonus of up to 150% of Mr. Rapetti’s base salary, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The Rapetti Agreement also provided for a monthly housing allowance of $3,800, a monthly health insurance allowance of $1,000 and other customary employee benefits. In the event Mr. Rapetti is terminated without cause, resigns for good reason, is terminated in connection with a change of control transaction, or the Company declines to renew the term of the agreement, the Rapetti Agreement provides that Mr. Rapetti will receive his accrued but unpaid salary and benefits through the date of termination, a payment equal to six (6) months of base salary, and payment of health benefits for six (6) months. If Mr. Rapetti voluntarily resigns or is terminated for cause, he is only entitled to receive his accrued salary and benefits through the date of termination. On December 16, 2011, Mr. Rapetti resigned as the Chief Executive Officer and President, but remains a member of the Board. No formal separation agreement has been entered into as of the date of this Report.
On May 19, 2011, pursuant to the recommendation of the Board’s Compensation Committee, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Dacko Agreement”) with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Mark Dacko, pursuant to which Mr. Dacko agreed to continue serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. The Dacko Agreement provides for a two-year term with automatic one-year renewals (unless notification of non-renewal is provided within 30 days of the end of any current term), an annual base salary of $144,000, semi-annual bonuses as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, and standard employee benefits. The Dacko Agreement also provides that upon any termination of the agreement, Mr. Dacko will have the right to exercise his option, granted to him on January 21, 2011, to purchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, for a period of one (1) year after the date of such termination. In the event Mr. Dacko is terminated without cause, or if he is terminated or resigns within six (6) months of the closing of a change of control transaction, the Dacko Agreement provides that Mr. Dacko will continue to receive his base salary, paid pursuant to the Company’s normal payroll practices, for a period of nine (9) months after the date of termination.
Except as reported above, we have not entered into any severance or change of control provisions with any of our executive officers.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS TABLE
No options were exercised by our named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2011. The following table sets forth information of outstanding option awards held by named executive officers as of December 31, 2011.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Members of our board who are also employees of ours receive no compensation for their services as directors. Non-employee directors are reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary costs and expenses incurred in connection with their duties as directors. In addition, we issue options to our directors as determined from time to time by the Board.
In consideration of Messrs. Rapetti and Birnbaum serving on the board, effective September 14, 2010, we issued to each 100,000 shares of our common stock (with a fair value of $51,000) and granted each a ten-year stock option to purchase up to 400,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.59 per share, the average of the prior 30 trading days closing sale prices of our common stock. The options vested in equal annual installments of 200,000 shares each over two years, with the first installments vesting September 14, 2011. On March 15, 2011, with the closing of the Shea Exchange Agreement a “change of control” event was deemed to have occurred and all previously granted stock options vested in full.
In January 2011, Dr. Smith was issued 750,000 options for his prior and proposed future services to the Company with a fair value of $375,000. The options vested in equal annual installments of 250,000 shares each over three years. On March 15, 2011, with the closing of the Shea Exchange Agreement a “change of control” event was deemed to have occurred and all previously granted stock options vested in full.
Donald Stoica was appointed to our board of directors on October 13, 2009 and served until March 15, 2011. On October 18, 2010, in consideration of Mr. Stoica’s serving on the board, we issued Mr. Stoica 100,000 shares of our common stock (with a fair value of $65,000) and awarded a ten-year option to purchase up to 400,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.72 per share, the average of the prior 30 trading days closing sale prices of our common stock. The options vested in equal annual installments of 200,000 shares each over two years, with the first installments vesting October 18, 2011. On March 15, 2011, with the closing of the Shea Exchange Agreement a “change of control” event was deemed to have occurred and all previously granted stock options vested in full.
The following table sets forth the compensation earned by each of our directors, who is not a named executive, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:
(1)Amount reflects the aggregate grant date fair value for stock option awards granted during the applicable year computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The Company calculates fair value in accordance with the assumptions identified in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
(2)Mr. Rapetti was a non-employee director from September 14, 2010 until January 21, 2011 and then again after December 16, 2011.
(3)Amount reflects the fair value of 100,000 shares of common stock issued on September 14, 2010.
(4)Mr. Birnbaum resigned from the Board effective February 11, 2012.
(5)Amount reflects the fair value of 100,000 shares of common stock issued on October 18, 2010.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The following information sets forth the number and percentage of shares of the Company’s common stock owned beneficially, as of May 11, 2012, by any person, who is known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of five percent or more of the Company’s common stock, and, in addition, by each director and each executive officer of the Company, and by all directors and executive officers as a group.
Information as to beneficial ownership is based upon statements furnished to the Company by such persons.
(1)Except as otherwise indicated, each person possesses sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.
(2)These shares are held in the name of Afignis, LLC of which Ms. Ullman is the Managing Manager.
(3)Of the 17,500,000 shares, 8,500,000 shares are held in the name of Midwest Investment Partners LLC of which Mr. Mielke is the Managing Member and Mr. Mielke holds the voting rights only of the remaining 9,000,000 shares until such time as the shares are sold in the public markets in accordance with all applicable Federal and state securities laws.
(4)Includes 740,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.
(5)Includes 400,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.
(6)Represents shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.
(7)Sharon L. Ullman, our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board, is the Managing Member of Afignis, LLC.
(8)Represents (i) 180,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 180,000 shares of common stock held by Irwin Gross IRA, of which Mr. Gross is the trustee, (ii) 160,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 101,500 shares of common stock held by 1995 Gross Family Charitable Remainder Unit Trust, of which Mr. Gross is the trustee, (iii) 131,900 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 160,000 shares of common stock held by Premier Partners Investments, LLLP, of which Mr. Gross is the managing partner, and (iv) warrants to purchase 341,878 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $0.50 and a warrant to purchase 4,000,000 shares of common stock (with a limitation that the holder may not exercise all or any portion of the warrant, such that any exercise would cause the holder and its affiliates to be a beneficial owner by exceeding 9.99%) with an exercise price of $0.60 per share held by Mr. Gross.
(9)Received shares pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement of which 600,001 shares are held in the name of Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, of which Mr. Boll is a member.
(10)Received shares as consideration for extensions pursuant to the assignment of the original $2.5 million note payable and the NJB Forbearance Agreement on the Tonopah property.
EQUITY COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information regarding equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2011:
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The following describes certain relationships and related transactions that we have with persons deemed to be affiliates of ours. We believe that each of the transactions described below were on terms at least as favorable to our Company as we would have expected to negotiate with unaffiliated third parties.
Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc.
Wits Basin provided certain general and administrative services (primarily management salaries and rent) for the Company. A portion of these costs were allocated to Standard Gold and then reimbursed to Wits Basin. Total charges to operations amounted to $0 and $80,290 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, on March 15, 2011, Wits Basin exchanged 19,713,544 shares of our common stock held by it for 10 million shares of our Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. Additional details regarding the Series A Preferred Stock can be found in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State on March 15, 2011. Additionally, we obtained the right to transfer our entire interest and related debt of the Bates-Hunter Mine, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to Wits Basin in exchange for the cancellation of a promissory note issued by Hunter Bates payable in favor of Wits Basin in the approximate amount of $2.5 million.
Afignis, LLC
Pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement on March 15, 2011, by and between us, Shea Mining, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin and Alfred A. Rapetti, we acquired certain assets from Shea Mining in exchange for 35,000,000 shares of our unregistered shares. Those shares were issued equally to the Shea Mining members of Afignis, LLC and Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC. Sharon Ullman, our Interim Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board, is the Managing Member of Afignis.
Midwest Investment Partners LLC
Blair Mielke, a member of our Board, is also a Managing Member of Midwest Investment Partners LLC (“Midwest”). Midwest holds the voting rights of the 17,500,000 Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC shares of our common stock until such time as the shares are sold in the public markets in accordance with all applicable Federal and state securities laws.
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
In determining whether the members of our Board are independent, we have elected to use the definition of “independence” set forth by Section 121 of the Listing Standards for the American Stock Exchange (“AMEX”), although we are not currently listed on AMEX, whereby a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors must qualify as “independent” as determined by the board. Consistent with these considerations, and after review of all relevant transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his family members, and Standard Gold, Inc., its senior management, the Board has determined that none of its members are currently independent within the meaning of the applicable listing standard of AMEX.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Our Board of Directors ratified the engagement of Moquist Thorvilson Kaufmann & Pieper LLC (formerly known as Moquist Thorvilson Kaufmann Kennedy & Pieper LLC) (“MTK”) to audit our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 and again ratified the engagement of MTK to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011.
AUDIT FEES:
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by MTK for the audit of the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and review of consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Form 10-K and 10-Q for 2011 and 2010, and services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements was $95,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011 and $44,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010.
AUDIT RELATED FEES:
There were no fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company's financial statements.
TAX FEES:
There were no fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.
ALL OTHER FEES:
There were no other fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported above.
POLICY ON AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL OF AUDIT AND PERMISSIBLE NON-AUDIT SERVICES OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
At present, we do not have an audit committee, but rather our entire Board of Directors performs the functions of the audit committee. Our Board approves each engagement for audit or non-audit services before we engage our independent auditor to provide those services. The Board has not established any pre-approval policies or procedures that would allow our management to engage our independent auditor to provide any specified services with only an obligation to notify the audit committee of the engagement for those services. None of the services provided by our independent auditors for fiscal 2011 was obtained in reliance on the waiver of the pre-approval requirement afforded in SEC regulations.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or are incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit
Description
2.1
Share Exchange Agreement dated September 11, 2009 by and among Princeton Acquisitions, Inc., Hunter Bates Mining Corporation and the shareholders of Hunter Bates Mining Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
3.1
Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, effective March 15, 2011, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
3.2
Amended and Restated By-Laws effective January 12, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2010).
4.1
Limited Recourse Promissory Note of Hunter Bates Mining Corp issued in favor of George E. Otten (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
4.2
Deed of Trust and Security Agreement of Hunter Bates Mining Corp issued in favor of Gilpin County Public Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
4.3
Security Agreement dated February 11, 2008 by and among Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc., Gregory Gold Producers Inc. and China Gold, LLC (as successor in interest to Platinum Long Term Growth V, LLC) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
4.4
Joinder of Hunter Bates Mining Corporation to Security Agreement dated February 11, 2008 in favor of China Gold, LLC (as successor in interest to Platinum Long Term Growth V, LLC) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
4.5
Amended and Restated Guaranty of Gregory Gold Producers, Inc. and Hunter Bates Mining Corporation dated July 10, 2008 in favor of China Gold, LLC (as a successor-in-interest to Platinum Long Term Growth V, LLC) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
4.6
Deed of Trust to Public Trustee, Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Production and Proceeds, Financing Statement and Fixture Filing issued in favor of Gilpin County Public Trustee for benefit of Cabo Drilling (America), Inc. dated April 27, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
4.7
Deed of Trust and Security Agreement of Hunter Bates Mining Corp issued in favor of Gilpin County Public Trustee for benefit of China Gold, LLC (as successor-in-interest to Platinum Long Term Growth V, LLC) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
4.8
Promissory Note issued in favor of Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
4.9
Summary of terms of warrants issued to certain consultants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
4.10
Form of Warrant issued in connection with Hunter Bates private placement offering completed September 29, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 5, 2009).
10.1
Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and Hunter Gold Mining Corporation, a British Columbia corporation, Hunter Gold Mining Inc., a Colorado corporation, Central City Consolidated Mining Corp., a Colorado corporation and George Otten, a resident of Colorado, dated September 20, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.2
Fourth Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement dated January 14, 2008 by and among the Company, Central City Mining Corp., George Otten, Hunter Gold Mining Corp. and Hunter Gold Mining Inc (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.3
Fifth Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Hunter Gold Mining Corp, Hunter Gold Mining Inc., George E. Otten and Central City Consolidated, Corp. d/b/a Central City Consolidated Mining Co. dated June 9, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.4
Security Agreement by and between Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc, Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, Gregory Gold Producers, Inc and Kenglo One Ltd. in the principal amount of $5,000,000, dated December 14, 2009, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.5
Employment Agreement with Stephen E. Flechner dated April 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2010).
10.6
Stock Option Agreement with Stephen E. Flechner dated April 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2010).
10.7
Stock Option Agreement with Deborah King dated April 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2010).
10.8
Option Agreement between the Company and US American Exploration Inc, dated September 7, 2010, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on September 17, 2010).
10.9
Promissory Note of the Company, dated September 7, 2010, in the principal amount of $25,000 issued in favor of Stephen Flechner (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on September 17, 2010).
10.10
Promissory Note of the Company, dated September 7, 2010, in the principal amount of $50,000 issued in favor of Irwin Gross (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on September 17, 2010).
10.11
Guaranty & NSR of Stephen D. King, dated September 7, 2010, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on September 17, 2010).
10.12
2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2011).
10.13
Exchange Agreement, dated March 15, 2011, by and between the Company, Shea Mining & Milling, LLC, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc. and Alfred A. Rapetti, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.14
Assignment and Assumption of Loan Documents and Loan Modification Agreement, dated March 15, 2011, by and between the Company, Shea Mining & Milling, LLC and NJB Mining, Inc, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.15
Term Loan Agreement, dated August 25, 2009, by and between Shea Mining & Milling, LLC and NJB Mining, Inc (assumed by the Company on March 15, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.16
Promissory Note, dated August 25, 2009, issued by Shea Mining & Milling, LLC to NJB Mining, Inc (assumed by the Company on March 15, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.17
Deed of Trust and Security Agreement with Assignment of Rents and Fixture Filing, dated August 21, 2009, executed by Shea Mining & Milling, LLC in favor of NJB Mining, Inc (assumed by the Company on March 15, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.18
Assignment of Lease and Rents, dated August 21, 2009, executed by Shea Mining & Milling, LLC in favor of NJB Mining, Inc (assumed by the Company on March 15, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.19
Environmental Indemnity, dated August 25, 2009, by and between Shea Mining & Milling, LLC and NJB Mining, Inc (assumed by the Company on March 15, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.20
Lease Agreement, dated April 6, 2010, by and between Father Gregory Ofiesh, Mary Jane Ofiesh and Shea Mining (assumed by the Company on March 15, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.21
First Amendment to Lease Agreement and Contract Agreement, effective as of March 15, 2010, by and between Father Gregory Ofiesh, Mary Jane Ofiesh, the Company and Liberty Processing, LLC, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.22
Employment Agreement with Alfred A. Rapetti dated May 19, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.23
Employment Agreement with Mark D. Dacko dated May 19, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2011).
10.24
Separation Agreement with Stephen E. Flechner dated June 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 7, 2011).
10.25
Standard Gold, Inc 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (amended as of July 25, 2011), (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.26
Forbearance Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, by and between Standard Gold, Inc and NJB Mining, Inc, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 (File No. 000-14319)).
10.27
Amended and Restated Forbearance Agreement dated December 21, 2011 between Standard Gold, Inc., and Pure Path Capital Management Company, LLC, (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 23, 2011).
24**
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
31.1**
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2**
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
** Filed herewith electronically
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(“COMPANY”)
Dated: May 17, 2012 By: /s/ Sharon L. Ullman
Sharon Ullman
Chief Executive Officer
Each person whose signature to this Annual Report appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Sharon L. Ullman and Mark Dacko as their true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, to sign on his behalf individually and in the capacity stated below and to perform any acts necessary to be done in order to file all amendments to this Annual Report and any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with this Annual Report or the amendments thereto and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Company, in the capacities and dates indicated.
Name
Title
Date
/s/ Sharon L. Ullman
Chief Executive Officer and Director
May 17, 2012
Sharon Ullman
(principal executive officer)
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
/s/ Mark Dacko
(principal financial and accounting
May 17, 2012
Mark Dacko
officer)
/s/ Alfred A. Rapetti
Director
May 17, 2012
Alfred A. Rapetti
/s/ Clyde Smith
Director
May 17, 2012
Clyde Smith
/s/ Blair Mielke
Director
May 17, 2012
Blair Mielke
ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Standard Gold, Inc. and subsidiaries (an exploration stage company)
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Standard Gold, Inc. (an exploration stage company) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the period from September 28, 2004 (inception of exploration stage) to December 31, 2011. Standard Gold, Inc.’s management is responsible for these financial statements. 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 is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit 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 also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Standard Gold, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the period from September 28, 2004 (inception of exploration stage) to December 31, 2011 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company had net losses for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 and had an accumulated deficit at December 31, 2011. These conditions raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding those matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Moquist Thorvilson Kaufmann & Pieper LLC
Edina, Minnesota
May 17, 2012
STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND 2010
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011 and 2010
NOTE 1 - NATURE OF BUSINESS
Standard Gold, Inc. (formerly known as Princeton Acquisitions, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of Colorado on July 10, 1985, as a blind pool or blank check company. On September 29, 2009, we completed a share exchange agreement with Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Hunter Bates”) and certain of its shareholders, in which Hunter Bates’ shareholders exchanged all of their capital securities into similar capital securities of ours (the “Hunter Bates Share Exchange”) and we adopted the business model of Hunter Bates of minerals exploration and mining. Accordingly, the Hunter Bates Share Exchange represented a change in control and Hunter Bates became a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Gold.
Prior to September 29, 2009, Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc., a Minnesota corporation and public reporting company quoted on the Pink Sheets under the symbol “WITM” (“Wits Basin”) was the majority shareholder of Hunter Bates. Hunter Bates was formed in April 2008 to acquire the prior producing gold mine properties (consisting of land, buildings, equipment, mining claims and permits) located in Central City, Colorado, known as the “Bates-Hunter Mine.” We had not engaged in any exploration or mining activities at the Bates-Hunter Mine properties and on April 29, 2011, we transferred all of our interests of Hunter Bates back to Wits Basin in order to develop the toll milling business as described below. See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for further discussion regarding the transfer of the Bates-Hunter Mine.
On March 15, 2011, we closed a series of transactions, whereby we acquired certain assets of Shea Mining & Milling, LLC (“Shea Mining”). The exchange agreement was by and between us, Shea Mining, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin and Alfred A. Rapetti (the “Shea Exchange Agreement”) whereby we acquired certain assets from Shea Mining, which assets include those located in Tonopah, Nevada, of land, buildings, a dormant milling facility, abandoned milling equipment, water permits and mine tailings (financed through a note payable assigned to us), mine dumps, a property lease and a contract agreement in exchange for 35,000,000 shares of our unregistered shares. The Shea Exchange Agreement did not include any operable toll milling equipment, employees or operational processes and therefore has been accounted for as a purchase of a group of assets. We completed the Shea Exchange Agreement to acquire the Shea Mining assets and develop a toll milling services business of precious minerals. Toll milling is a process whereby mined material is crushed and ground into fine particles to ease the extraction of any precious minerals contained therein, such as gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper, and rare earth metals. See Note 3 - Acquisition of Shea Milling and Mining Assets for a detailed discussion.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, assuming we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we incurred losses from operations of $14,724,327. At December 31, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of $25,315,398 and a working capital deficit of $6,589,228. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our ability to raise the required additional capital or debt financing to meet short and long-term operating requirements. During the fiscal year of 2011, we received net cash proceeds of $2,482,500 from the issuance of convertible promissory notes. We believe that private placements of equity capital and/or additional debt financing will be needed to fund our long-term operating requirements. We may also encounter business endeavors that require significant cash commitments or unanticipated problems or expenses that could result in a requirement for additional cash. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our current shareholders could be reduced, and such securities might have rights, preferences or privileges senior to our common stock. Additional financing may not be available upon acceptable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to take advantage of prospective business endeavors or opportunities, which could significantly and materially restrict our operations. We are continuing to pursue external financing alternatives to improve our working capital position. If we are unable to obtain the necessary capital, we may have to cease operations.
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Standard Gold, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiary Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (and its wholly owned subsidiary Gregory Gold Producers, Inc). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mining Corporation.
Foreign Currencies
All dollar amounts expressed in this Report are in US Dollars (“$”), unless specifically noted, as certain transactions are denominated in the Canadian Dollar (“Cdn$”).
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We include as cash equivalents: (a) certificates of deposit, and (b) all other investments with maturities of three months or less, which are readily convertible into known amounts of cash. We maintain our cash in high-quality financial institutions. The balances, at times, may exceed federally insured limits.
Shea Milling and Mining Assets
We have recorded the fair value of the Shea Milling and Mining assets as an aggregate amount. The assets include the mine tailings and dumps, the land, water rights and the milling facility (the buildings and equipment). None of the assets have been put into production, nor have we performed any repair or updates to any of the equipment or buildings. As such, we will continue to classify them under a single listing.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated, once placed in service, using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; major renewals and betterments are capitalized. As items of property or equipment are sold or retired, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in operating income.
Mineral Properties
Mineral property acquisition costs are recorded at cost and are deferred until the viability of the property is determined. No properties have reached the development stage at this time. Exploration, mineral property evaluation, option payments, related acquisition costs for mineral properties acquired under an option agreement, general overhead, administrative and holding costs to maintain a property on a care and maintenance basis are expensed in the period they are incurred. When reserves are determined for a property and a bankable feasibility study is completed, subsequent exploration and development costs on the property would be capitalized. If a project were to be put into production, capitalized costs would be depleted on the unit of production basis.
Management reviews the net carrying value of each mineral property as changes may materialize with a property or at a minimum, on an annual basis. Where information and conditions suggest impairment, estimated future net cash flows from each property are calculated using estimated future prices, proven and probable reserves and value beyond proven and probable reserves, and operating, capital and reclamation costs on an undiscounted basis. If it is determined that the future cash flows are less than the carrying value, a write-down to the estimated fair value is made with a charge to loss for the period. Where estimates of future net cash flows are not available and where other conditions suggest impairment, management assesses if the carrying value can be recovered.
Management's estimates of gold prices, recoverable reserves, probable outcomes, operating capital and reclamation costs are subject to risks and uncertainties that may affect the recoverability of mineral property costs.
See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine properties.
Long-Lived Assets
We will periodically evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used, including but not limited to, mineral properties, mine tailings, mine dumps, capital assets and intangible assets, when events and circumstances warrant such a review. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the anticipated undiscounted cash flow from such asset is separately identifiable and is less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. Losses on long-lived assets to be disposed of are determined in a similar manner, except that fair values are reduced for the cost to dispose. There were no impairment charges during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine assets.
Segment Reporting
We have a single operating segment of minerals exploration with custom toll milling.
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
As of December 31, 2011, we have recorded no revenues from exploration activities or from custom toll milling. We expect to begin generating revenues during the fourth quarter of 2012.
Use of Estimates
Preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2011, we did not have any off-balance sheet activities (including the use of structured finance or special purpose entities) or any trading activities in non-exchange traded commodity contracts that have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in the financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operation, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to our investors.
Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts for all financial instruments approximates fair value. The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximated fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of short-term debt approximated the carrying amounts based upon our expected borrowing rate for debt with similar remaining maturities and comparable risk. The fair value of long-term debt was assumed to approximate the carrying amount as most of the debt was incurred recently.
Net Loss per Common Share
Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted net loss per common share is determined using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, consisting of shares that might be issued upon exercise of options, warrants and conversion of convertible debt. In periods where losses are reported, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for based upon an asset and liability approach. Accordingly, deferred tax assets and liabilities arise from the difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its reported amount in the financial statements. Deferred tax amounts are determined using the tax rates expected to be in effect when the taxes will actually be paid or refunds received, as provided under currently enacted tax law. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Income tax expense or benefit is the tax payable or refundable, respectively, for the period plus or minus the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period.
Accounting guidance requires the recognition of a financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company believes its income tax filing positions and deductions will be sustained upon examination and accordingly, no reserves, or related accruals for interest and penalties have been recorded at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company recognizes interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as well as interest received from favorable tax settlements within income tax expense.
The Company was included in the consolidated federal income tax return of Wits Basin until March 15, 2011. At that time, we no longer were a consolidated entity for tax reporting as Wits Basin held only approximately 4% of our common stock. The tax provision included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements is calculated as if the Company filed separate federal and state income tax returns. Deferred taxes are provided on temporary differences between book and tax basis of assets and liabilities which will have a future impact on taxable income. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax asset due to the uncertainty of realizing the related benefits.
NOTE 3 - ACQUISITION OF SHEA MILLING AND MINING ASSETS
On March 15, 2011, we entered into an exchange agreement by and between us, Shea Mining, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin and Alfred A. Rapetti (the “Shea Exchange Agreement”) whereby we acquired certain assets from Shea Mining, which assets include those located in Tonopah (financed through a note payable assigned to us), mine dumps, a property lease and a contract agreement in exchange for 35,000,000 shares of our unregistered shares. The Shea Exchange Agreement did not include any operable toll milling equipment, employees or operational processes and therefore has been accounted for as a purchase of a group of assets. We completed the Shea Exchange Agreement to acquire the Shea assets and develop a toll milling services business of precious minerals.
Pursuant to the assignment of a note payable, we executed an Assignment and Assumption of Loan Documents and Loan Modification Agreement, by and between us, Shea Mining and NJB Mining, Inc. (the “Loan Modification Agreement”), dated March 15, 2011, for those assets located in Tonopah, Nevada (“Tonopah”), consisting of land, buildings, mining tailings, a dormant milling facility, abandoned milling equipment and water permits. The land encompasses 1,174 deeded acres, one of the largest private land holdings in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Approximately 334 acres of this land has sitting on it an estimated 2.2 million tons of tailings known as the Millers Tailings from the historic gold rush of Goldfield and Tonopah, Nevada.
The Tonopah property was subject to an existing $2.5 million first deed of trust which was in default at the time of the Shea Exchange Agreement and included accrued interest of $375,645, which was also assumed in the transaction. As part of the assignment, NJB Mining, Inc. (“NJB”) modified the related note to allow us until May 14, 2011 to refinance this mortgage, which was subsequently extended numerous times. As of August 31, 2011, we were still in default under the terms of the Loan Modification Agreement, and therefore entered into a forbearance agreement with NJB, (the “NJB Forbearance Agreement”), in which NJB agreed to forbear from initiating legal proceedings, including forbearance of the deed of trust and enforcement of its collection remedies. The NJB Forbearance Agreement further provided for additional extensions up through December 9, 2011. On December 9, 2011, Pure Path Capital Management Company, LLC. (“Pure Path”) purchased the Loan Modification Agreement and the NJB Forbearance Agreement directly from NJB. On December 21, 2011, we entered into an amended and restated forbearance agreement with Pure Path (the “A&R Forbearance”), whereby Pure Path extended the provisions of the NJB Forbearance Agreement. As of December 31, 2011, the principal amount outstanding on the A&R Forbearance is $2,047,728 (plus accrued interest). Pure Path has provided an additional extension to stay any action of the A&R Forbearance until May 31, 2012; such extension was provided without additional consideration. We are still in negotiations with Path Path in order to complete definitive documents to release the A&R Forbearance and structure a new note. If such arrangements are not agreed to, we could lose the Tonopah property and/or be required to issue an additional 5,000,000 shares of our common stock.
In connection with the Shea Exchange Agreement, we also were assigned the ownership of approximately a six square mile section of mine dump material in Manhattan, Nevada (“Manhattan”).
The other assets we acquired consisted of a property lease, which allowed us the use of an assay lab property and the associated water permits, (with a right to purchase for $6 million) and a contract agreement, which allowed us the use of processing permits, located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada (“Amargosa”). We paid a monthly base rent of $17,500 on this lease and $5,000 monthly on the contract agreement. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, the landlord of the Amargosa lease caused to have served a Five Day Notice To Pay Rent Or Quit due to default in the monthly $17,500 lease payments. The Company began immediate communications with the landlord, which resulted in a delay of further actions by the landlord to pursue any remedies. Then on February 9, 2012, the landlord caused to have served an Order For Summary Eviction (“Eviction”) due to continued default in lease payments. Effective with the Eviction, a total of $70,000 lease payments remain unpaid as well as $8,500 of late fees required pursuant to the terms of the lease. On February 10, 2012, the Beatty County Sheriff completed the Eviction at Amargosa and we as such, no longer have access to the assay lab or permits at Amargosa.
Pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, we issued a total of 35 million shares of our common stock to the equity holders of Shea Mining in exchange for certain of their assets, resulting in those holders owning an ownership interest of approximately 87% of our then currently outstanding common stock (approximately 56% ownership interest on a fully diluted basis). Alfred A. Rapetti, our Chief Executive Officer, was granted an irrevocable voting proxy for half of the shares issued to the Shea Mining equity holders, which continued until the affected shares are publicly sold after a period of at least six months, and thereafter in accordance with all applicable securities laws. In August 2011, these rights were transferred to Blair Mielke, a director of the Company. We also agreed to indemnify Shea Mining from any liabilities arising after March 15, 2011 out of the Loan Modification Agreement or the loan agreements.
The purchase consideration of the assets acquired was calculated as follows:
In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, cost of acquiring a group of assets is allocated to the individual assets within the group based on the relative fair values of the individual assets.
The table below sets forth the final purchase price allocation. The fair value of the mineral properties and property and equipment was determined based on level 3 inputs using cost and market value approaches.
Simultaneous with these transactions, pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, Wits Basin exchanged 19,713,544 shares of our common stock it held for 10 million shares of our newly created non-voting 5% preferred stock, referred to as the “Series A Preferred Stock.” The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. Additional details regarding the Series A Preferred Stock can be found in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State on March 15, 2011. Additionally, we obtained the right to transfer our entire interest and related debt of the Bates-Hunter Mine, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to Wits Basin in exchange for the cancellation of a promissory note issued by Hunter Bates payable in favor of Wits Basin in the approximate amount of $2.5 million. On April 29, 2011, our Board of Directors approved this transfer effective April 29, 2011. See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine and related assets and liabilities.
Furthermore, Wits Basin had entered into certain commitments which involved shares of our common stock and as a result of their exchange of substantially all of the Standard Gold common stock they held for Series A Preferred, they could no longer honor those commitments. In consideration of Wits agreeing to the exchange, the Company agreed to enter into two stock option agreements as follows: (1) the Company granted to one of Wits Basin’s major lenders a replacement stock option, on substantially the same terms as the stock option issued by Wits Basin, to purchase 1,299,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share expiring on December 14, 2014 and (2) the Company granted to Wits Basin a replacement stock option, expiring on December 19, 2014, to purchase up to 630,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $0.50 per share.
NOTE 4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Hunter Bates utilized the services of Gregory Gold Producers, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“Gregory Gold”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunter Bates, as an oversight management company for the exploration activities that were being conducted at the Bates-Hunter Mine through August 2008. Gregory Gold made purchases of various pieces of equipment necessary to operate and de-water the Bates-Hunter Mine property, which included land, buildings and other additional equipment all related to operating the Bates-Hunter Mine. Depreciation on allowable assets was calculated on a straight-line method over the estimated useful life, which ranged from two to twenty years. See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine property, plant and equipment.
After we consummated the Shea Exchange Agreement, we purchased some miscellaneous assets for use at the Amargosa property. Depreciation expense recorded during 2011 on allowable assets is calculated on a straight-line method over the estimated useful life, presently ranging from five to seven years.
Components of our property, plant and equipment are as follows:
NOTE 5 - MINERAL PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Until April 29, 2011, we held title to the Bates-Hunter Mine. We never commenced any mining operations due to the lack of funding and therefore, we have not recorded any amortization and we never determined that any impairment had occurred at Bates-Hunter. See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine mineral properties and development costs.
NOTE 6 - DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
We recorded debt issuance costs with respect to legal services incurred relating to the various promissory notes issued. Debt issuance costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis (which approximates the effective interest method) over the term of the corresponding debt.
The following table summarizes the amortization of debt issuance costs:
(1) See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine related debt issuance costs.
The remaining balance of $275 will be amortized during the first quarter of 2012.
NOTE 7 - SHORT-TERM NOTES PAYABLE
The following table summarizes the Company’s short-term notes payable:
(1)	Secured by a personal guarantee of Stephen D. King, our CEO at the time. In connection with these notes and to induce the note holders into these agreements the Company granted each note holder to share in an aggregate one percent (1%) net smelter return royalty (“NSR”). Until such time as the Company was to sell its majority interest in a potential mining project yet to be acquired, the note holders would receive a 0.375% and 0.625%, as defined in the agreement, respectively.
(2)	On December 9, 2011, Pure Path Capital Management Company, LLC (“Pure Path”) purchased the Loan Modification Agreement and the NJB Forbearance Agreement directly from NJB. On December 21, 2011, we entered into an amended and restated forbearance agreement with Pure Path (the “A&R Forbearance”), whereby Pure Path extended the provisions of the NJB Forbearance Agreement. Pure Path has provided an additional extension to stay any action of the A&R Forbearance until May 31, 2012; such extension was provided without additional consideration.
The Company has placed in escrow the following: (i) a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, (ii) Water Rights Deed and (iii) a Bill of Sale. Should the Company not meet the requirements of the May 31, 2012 deadline, Pure Path has the right to take immediate title to the assets located in Tonopah and interest in all leases, contracts and permits related to ownership, occupancy and operation of said assets. We are still in negotiations with Path Path in order to complete definitive documents to release the A&R Forbearance and structure a new note. If such arrangements are not agreed to, we could lose the Tonopah property and/or be required to issue an additional 5,000,000 shares of our common stock.
Summary
The following table summarizes the short-term notes payable balances:
The weighted average interest rate on short-term notes payable at December 31, 2011 was 12.4%.
NOTE 8 - CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE
Beginning in January 2011, we’ve entered into six-month convertible promissory notes (the “CP Notes”) with accredited investors. The terms of the CP Notes are: (i) accrue interest at 6% per annum (ii) include the right to convert into our common stock at any time, at a price of $0.50 per share, and (iii) the issuance of a two-year stock purchase warrant, with an exercise price of $0.50 per share, at a rate of two warrants per $1 of CP Notes. The warrants created a debt discount of $1,482,137. In addition, due to proceeds allocated between the debt and warrants, beneficial conversion charges were created totaling an additional debt discount of $1,074,066. Both discounts are being amortized over the 6-month term of the convertible notes.
As of December 31, 2011, we have received gross cash proceeds of $2,482,500. In additional to these cash proceeds, certain short-term note holders rolled their past due principal and interest into the CP Notes totaling $138,939 and a consultant rolled its accounts payable into the CP Notes totaling $35,000. As of December 31, 2011, in connection with the terms of the CP Notes, we have issued warrants to purchase 5,312,878 shares of our common stock and have reserved shares of our common stock for issuance should the holders convert.
As of December 31, 2011, three convertible note holders converted $81,750 of principal plus $1,117 accrued interest into 165,735 shares of common stock.
The following table summarizes the Company’s convertible notes:
As of December 31, 2011, the outstanding principal balance of convertible notes is $2,574,689.
NOTE 9 - LONG-TERM NOTES PAYABLE
The following table summarizes the Company’s long-term notes payable:
(1) See Note 13 - Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of all long-term notes payable to Wits Basin.
NOTE 10 - SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred Stock
Simultaneous with the Shea Exchange Agreement, Wits Basin exchanged 19,713,544 shares of our common stock it held for 10 million shares ($.001 par value each) of our newly created non-voting 5% preferred stock, referred to as the "Series A Preferred Stock" with an original issue price of $1.00 per share. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. As of December 31, 2011, there were undeclared dividends of approximately $396,000 on the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. In conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, these undeclared dividends have not been accrued in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and had no effect on the earnings per share calculation.
Attributes of Series A Preferred Stock include but are not limited to the following:
Dividends
Dividends at a rate per annum equal to five percent (5%) of the Liquidation Value (as defined below) of the Series A Preferred Stock plus the amount of previously accrued dividends, compounding on an annual basis, shall accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock) (the "Accruing Dividends"). Accruing Dividends shall accrue from day to day, and shall be cumulative. The Company may pay Accruing Dividends at any time; provided, however, that Accruing Dividends must be paid in full to holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon the occurrence of a Liquidation Event, as further defined.
Distribution in Liquidation
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, and after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all its obligations, the remainder of the assets of the Company shall be distributed, either in cash or in kind, first pro rata to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock in an amount equal to the Liquidation Value; then, to any other series of Preferred Stock, until an amount to be determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors prior to issuances of such Preferred Stock, has been distributed per share, and, then, the remainder pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock.
Upon the occurrence of any Liquidation Event (as defined below), each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will receive a payment equal to the Original Issue Price for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder, plus any Accruing Dividends (the "Liquidation Value"). A "Liquidation Event" will have occurred when:
·The Company has an average market capitalization (calculated by adding the value of all outstanding shares of Common Stock valued at the Company's closing sale price on the OTCBB or other applicable bulletin board or exchange, plus the value of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock at the Original Issue Price per share) of $200,000,000 or more over any 90-day period. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock would have the right, for 30 days after the end of such qualifying 90-day measurement period, to require the Company to purchase the Series A Preferred Stock for an amount equal to the Liquidation Value.
·Any Liquidity Event in which the Company receives proceeds of $50,000,000 or more. For purposes hereof, a "Liquidity Event" means any (a) liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; (b) acquisition of the Company by means of any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any reorganization, merger, share exchange, share purchase or consolidation) provided that the applicable transaction shall not be deemed a liquidation unless the Company's stockholders constituted immediately prior to such transaction hold less than 50% of the voting power of the surviving or acquiring entity; or (c) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the sale or disposition (whether by merger or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Company if substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries.
Redemption
The Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed in whole or in part as determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors at any time, at a price equal to the Liquidation Value.
Voting Rights
Shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no rights to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, except as required by law, in which case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote. Any other shares of Preferred Stock shall only be entitled to such vote as is determined by the Board of Directors prior to the issuance of such stock, except as required by law, in which case each share of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote.
Conversion Rights
Holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right to convert such shares into any other equity securities of the Company. Holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock may be granted the right to convert such Preferred Stock to Common Stock of the Company on such terms as may be determined by the Board of Directors prior to issuance of such Preferred Stock.
Common Stock Issuances
During fiscal 2010, we issued the following shares of our unregistered common stock:
(1)In January 2010, we issued 50,000 shares of our unregistered common stock in a private placement offering to an accredited investor (as that term is defined under Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) at $0.50 per unit, each unit consisting of one share of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and one five-year warrant to purchase a share of common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $25,000.
(2)In May 2010, pursuant to a one-year consulting services agreement (which became effective October 2009) we issued 300,000 shares of our unregistered common stock to the consultant. The fair value of the common stock was $300,000, which has been fully expensed.
(3)In September 2010, pursuant to a consulting services agreement (which became effective May 28, 2010) we issued 100,000 shares of our unregistered common stock to the consultant and also terminated the agreement prior to its completion. The fair value of the common stock was $154,000, which has been fully expensed.
(4)On September 14, 2010, the Company appointed Alfred A. Rapetti and Manfred E. Birnbaum to serve as members of our board of directors and in consideration of their appointment to the board, they were each issued 100,000 shares of our unregistered common stock. The fair value of each issuance was $51,000.
(5)On October 18, 2010, the Company issued 100,000 shares of our unregistered common stock to Donald Stoica in consideration of his serving on the board of directors. The fair value of the issuance was $65,000.
(6)In October 2010, two warrant holders exercised certain warrants and received 1,476,923 shares of our unregistered common stock by surrendering 23,077 of their available shares to pay for the exercise, via the cashless exercise provision.
(7)In December 2010, in a private placement, we accepted subscriptions for 16,000 shares of our unregistered common stock at a price of $0.50 per share and received proceeds of $883 (net of offering costs totaling $7,117).
During fiscal 2011, we issued the following shares of our unregistered common stock:
(1)In March 2011, we issued 35,100,000 shares of our unregistered common stock (valued at $31,239,000) pursuant to the March 15, 2011, Shea Exchange Agreement.
(2)In May 2011: we issued 50,000 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $75,000) as consideration for a 60-day extension from NJB Mining on the $2,500,000 Tonopah mortgage and we issued 50,000 shares of our unregistered stock (valued at $170,000) to Stephen E. Flechner as settlement for his resignation as President.
(3)In July 2011, we issued 555,556 shares of unregistered common stock to NJB Mining, which was applied as a $500,000 principal payment on the $2,500,000 Tonopah mortgage and we issued 600,000 shares of our unregistered stock to an investment agent as settlement for terminating an agreement (valued at $690,000).
(4)In August 2011, we issued 200,000 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $180,000) as consideration for a 60-day extension from NJB Mining on the Tonopah mortgage.
(5)In October 2011, we issued 500,000 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $300,000) as consideration for an extension from NJB Mining pursuant to the NJB Forbearance Agreement.
(6)In November 2011, we issued 1,000,000 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $700,000) as consideration for an extension from NJB Mining pursuant to the NJB Forbearance Agreement.
(7)During 2011, three convertible promissory note holders converted $81,750 of principal and $1,117 of accrued interest into an aggregate of 165,735 shares of unregistered common stock.
(8)During 2011, four stock option holders exercised and received an aggregate of 90,665 shares of unregistered common stock (valued at $51,139).
(9)During 2011, three warrant holders exercised certain warrants and received 166,772 shares of our common stock by surrendering 133,228 of their available shares to pay for the exercises, via the cashless exercise provision.
Option Grants
We have one stock option plan: the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). Stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock and cash awards may be granted under the Plan. In general, options vest over a period ranging from immediate vesting to five years and expire 10 years from the date of grant. Effective January 21, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized an amendment to the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, to increase the number of options available for granting under the Plan from 3,000,000 to 13,500,000 and authorized the Company to file an S-8 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (subsequently filed on January 27, 2011, File No. 333-171906) for the registration of the shares available in the Plan. On March 15, 2011, with the closing of the Shea Exchange Agreement a “change of control” event was deemed to have occurred and 13,500,000 previously granted stock options vested in full. Effective July 25, 2011, the Plan was amended to increase the total shares of stock which may be issued under the Plan from 13,500,000 to 14,500,000. As of December 31, 2011, an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of our common stock are available to be granted under our Plan.
During fiscal 2010, we granted the following stock options:
(1)In April 2010, the Company entered into two ten-year stock option agreements: one with Stephen E. Flechner (at which time Mr. Flechner was the Company’s President) to purchase 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.90 per share and one with Stephen D. King (at which time Mr. King was the Company’s Chief Executive Officer) to purchase 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.90 per share.
(2)In September 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized stock option agreements with Alfred Rapetti and Manfred Birnbaum as new members of the Company’s board, whereby they were each granted a ten-year stock option to purchase up to 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with such grants becoming effective October 14, 2010, at an exercise price of $0.59 per share. The options vest in equal annual installments of 200,000 shares each over two years, with the first installments vesting September 14, 2011.
(3)On October 18, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock option agreement with Donald Stoica, a member of the Company’s board, whereby Mr. Stoica was granted a ten-year stock option to purchase up to 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with such grant becoming effective November 16, 2010, at an exercise price of $0.72 per share. The option vests in equal annual installments of 200,000 shares each over two years, with the first installment vesting October 18, 2011.
During fiscal 2011, we granted the following stock options:
(1)In January 2011, the Board authorized the grant of 10,500,000 ten year stock options, with an exercise price of $0.51 per share to certain directors, officers and consultants vesting annually over three years and incorporated “change of control” language in all previously granted stock options.
(2)In February 2011, the Board granted a stock option agreement to Mr. Birnbaum for his services to serve on a Special Committee of the Board to review, evaluate, negotiate and approve (or reject) the proposed Shea Exchange Agreement, including the execution and delivery of any agreements entered into by the Company, whereby he was granted a ten year stock option to purchase up to 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, 100,000 vest each annual anniversary thereafter from the date of grant or immediately upon a “change of control,” at an exercise price of $0.60 per share.
(3)In March 2011, the Company issued replacement stock options for 1,299,000 and 630,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at exercise prices of $1.00 and $0.50, respectively, which options were being held by Wits Basin and transferred to the Company as part of the Shea Exchange Agreement. The aforementioned stock options were grants outside of the Plan.
(4)In May 2011, the Board granted a stock option to Mr. Birnbaum for his services to serve as Chairman of the Board, whereby he was granted a ten year stock option to purchase up to 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, 75,000 vested immediately and 75,000 vest each December 31 thereafter, at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The aforementioned stock options were grants outside of the Plan.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model as a method for determining the estimated fair value for stock awards. Compensation expense for stock awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of service awards and for performance based awards, the Company recognizes the expense when the performance condition is probable of being met.
In determining the compensation cost of the stock awards granted during fiscal 2011 and 2010, the fair value of each grant had been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and the weighted average assumptions used in these calculations are summarized below:
The Company reviews its current assumptions on a periodic basis and adjusts them as necessary to ensure an accurate valuation. The risk-free interest rate is based on the Federal Reserve Board’s constant maturities of the U.S. Treasury bond obligations with terms comparable to the expected life of the options at their issuance date. The Company uses historical data to estimate expected forfeitures, expected dividend yield, expected volatility of the Company’s stock and the expected life of the options.
We recorded $6,835,006 and $1,101,994 related to compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. All compensation expense is included in general and administrative expense. There was no tax benefit from recording this non-cash expense due to our income tax valuation allowance and due to a portion of the options being incentive stock options. The compensation expense had a $0.18 and $0.05 per share impact on the loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, approximately $222,000 of the total unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a period of 24 months.
The following tables summarize information about the Company’s stock options:
A summary of the Company’s nonvested options at December 31, 2011, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2011, is presented below:
(1) The aggregate intrinsic value in the table represents the difference between the closing stock price on December 31, 2011 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2011. During the year ended December 31, 2011 an aggregate of 90,665 options were exercised resulting in $51,139 of gross proceeds. No options were exercised during 2010.
Stock Warrants
For warrants granted to non-employees in exchange for services, we recorded the fair value of the equity instrument using the Black-Scholes pricing model unless the value of the services is more reliably measurable.
During fiscal 2010, we granted the following warrant issuances:
(1)We issued a five-year warrant to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock at $1.00 per share, in a private placement offering to an accredited investor, with a fair value of $4,000.
(2)In consideration of a $25,000 loan, we issued a three-year warrant to purchase up to 50,000 shares of our common stock at $0.50 per share, which includes a cashless exercise provision. The allocated fair value of the warrant totaled $7,921.
(3)In consideration of a $32,000 loan, we issued a two-year warrant to purchase up to 64,000 shares of our common stock at $0.50 per share, which includes a cashless exercise provision. The allocated fair value of the warrant totaled $17,219.
(4)We issued five-year warrants to two consultants to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 shares of common stock at $0.50 per share, each includes a cashless exercise provision, with an aggregate fair value of $191,000.
During fiscal 2011, we granted the following warrant issuances:
(1)In January 2011, the Company sold to a shareholder a five-year warrant to purchase up to 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise of $0.60 per share for $100,000. The shareholder exchanged a $50,000 short-term note and paid $50,000 cash for the warrant.
(2)In June 2011, the Company entered into a consulting agreement for investor and public relations with an unaffiliated third party and issued a two-year warrant to purchase up to 20,000 shares of our common stock at $1.00 per share (the fair value of the warrant totaled $19,400).
(3)During the fiscal year of 2011, we issued 5,312,878 two-year warrants to purchase common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share in connection with convertible promissory notes (the allocated fair value of the warrants was calculated to be $1,482,137).
Using the Black-Scholes pricing model, the following assumptions were used to calculate the fair value of the stock purchase warrants granted, for which the fair value of the services were not more reliably measurable: (i) during 2011: dividend yield of 0%, risk-free interest rate of 2.0%, expected life equal to the contractual life between two and five years, and volatility of 148% to 158% and (ii) during 2010: dividend yield of 0%, risk-free interest rate of 2.0%, expected life equal to the contractual life between two and five years, and volatility of 145% to 150%.
The Company reviews its current assumptions on a periodic basis and adjusts them as necessary to ensure an accurate valuation. The risk-free interest rate is based on the Federal Reserve Board’s constant maturities of the U.S. Treasury bond obligations with terms comparable to the contractual term of the warrants at their issuance date. The Company uses historical data to estimate expected dividend yield and volatility of the Company’s stock.
The following table summarizes information about the Company’s stock purchase warrants outstanding at December 31, 2011:
The aggregate intrinsic value of the 12,076,878 outstanding and exercisable warrants at December 31, 2011, was $2,599,063. The intrinsic value is the difference between the closing stock price on December 31, 2011 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money warrants had all warrant holders exercised their Warrants on December 31, 2011.
NOTE 11 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal Matters
The Company is subject to legal proceedings in the normal course of business. Management believes these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial statements.
Consulting Agreement
In May 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with a consultant to operate and manage a future toll milling facility in Clark County, Nevada as well as to perform other services, as requested by the Company. The term of the agreement is for two years and may be renewed by mutual agreement of the parties. In return for these services, the Company has agreed to the following compensation throughout the term of this agreement:
(1)Issue 300,000 shares of its unregistered common stock,
(2)Pay the consultant a cash payment of $10,000 per month,
(3)Pay the consultant 25% of the calculated monthly net profits, as defined in the agreement, of the Clark County toll milling facility,
(4)Pay the consultant 10% of the Company’s net profits derived from those contracts originated by the consultant.
As of December 31, 2011, the Company has not yet constructed a toll milling facility in Clark County, Nevada. In 2011, the Company did not issue any stock to the consultant and made only one of the $10,000 monthly payments due the consultant. At December 31, 2011, the Company has accrued $176,250 and $42,600 for the future issuance of the common stock and unpaid monthly cash payments, respectively.
NOTE 12 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Afignis, LLC
Pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement on March 15, 2011, by and between us, Shea Mining, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin and Alfred A. Rapetti, we acquired certain assets from Shea Mining in exchange for 35,000,000 shares of our unregistered shares. Those shares were issued equally to the Shea Mining members of Afignis, LLC and Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC. Sharon Ullman, our Interim Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board, is the Managing Member of Afignis.
Midwest Investment Partners LLC
Blair Mielke, a member of our Board, is also a Managing Member of Midwest Investment Partners LLC. Midwest holds the voting rights of the 17,500,000 Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC shares of our common stock until such time as the shares are sold in the public markets in accordance with all applicable Federal and state securities laws. Additionally, during 2011 the Company entered into two six-month 6% convertible promissory notes with Midwest, aggregating $75,000 (See Note 8). At December 31, 2011, the aggregate outstanding balance on these notes was $75,000. In connection with these notes, Midwest was also granted two-year stock purchase warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.50 per share.
NOTE 13 - TRANSFER OF BATES-HUNTER MINE
Pursuant to the terms of the March 15, 2011 Shea Exchange Agreement, Standard Gold held the right, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to transfer its entire interest and related debt of the Bates-Hunter Mine to Wits Basin. The Bates-Hunter Mine interests consisted of: the Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary of Gregory Gold Producers, Inc., a Colorado corporation (which held property, plant, equipment, mining rights and permits for exploration work performed in Central City, Colorado); a 12% secured convertible debenture in the principal amount of $511,590 (convertible into shares of Wits Basin common stock) held by Cabo Drilling (America) Inc., a Washington corporation; a long-term limited recourse promissory note to the sellers of the Bates-Hunter Mine in the principal amount of Cdn$6,750,000; and the long-term note payable issued by Hunter Bates in favor of Wits Basin in the principal amount of $2,500,000.
Effective April 29, 2011, our Board of Directors approved the transfer as specified in the Shea Exchange Agreement and served notice to Wits Basin that it was exercising its right. The following was transferred:
(1) The $329,875 increase from December 31, 2010 is due to the fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and Canadian Dollar.
The Company recorded approximately $3,466,000 of additional paid-in capital as a result of the transfer of assets and liabilities.
After the consummation of the Shea Exchange Agreement, the Company’s management decided to exercise its right to transfer this mining asset due to following: (1) the amount of liabilities directly attached to the Bates-Hunter Mine, (2) the prior failed attempts to drain the single mine shaft, (3) the metallurgical results of the approximately 12,000 feet drilling program, (4) its location at approximately 9,000 feet in elevation and (5) the estimated capital required to simply begin sampling below ground. As management began to explore the opportunities of custom toll milling, introductions were made of other mining opportunities that management believed offered much greater appeal as to their location in proximity to Nevada, stages of development and the opportunities of joint ventures. Management believes that the toll milling business could provide for vertical integration in an overall business plan.
NOTE 14 - INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, consist of the following:
Reconciliations between the statutory rate and the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, consists as follows:
Significant components of the Company's estimated deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, is as follows:
The deferred tax provision component of income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 differs from the current year change in the deferred tax assets as a result of approximately $2,185,000 of reduced deferred tax assets and valuation allowance relating to the Bates-Hunter Mine being recorded through additional paid-in capital as a result of the transfer of these assets back to Wits Basin (see Note 13).
As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately $5,874,000 of federal net operating loss carry forwards. These carry forwards, if not used, will begin to expire in 2028. Future utilization of our net operating loss carry forwards is subject to certain limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. We believe that the issuance of our common stock in exchange for the Shea Mining and Milling properties in March of 2011 resulted in an "ownership change" under the rules and regulations of Section 382. Accordingly, our ability to utilize our net operating losses generated prior to this date is limited to approximately $1,000,000 annually.
As of December 31, 2011, we do not believe any of our net operating loss carry forward consists of deductions generated by the exercise of warrants or options to purchase our stock. In the future, the stock options referenced in the above table of deferred tax items may be exercised and we may receive a tax deduction. To the extent that the tax deduction is included in a net operating loss carry forward and is in excess of amounts recognized for book purposes, no benefit will be recognized until the loss carry forward is recognized. Upon utilization and realization of the carry forward, the corresponding change in the deferred asset and valuation allowance will be recorded as additional paid-in capital.
We provide for a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that we will not realize a portion of the deferred tax assets. We have established a valuation allowance against our net deferred tax asset due to the uncertainty that enough taxable income will be generated in those taxing jurisdictions to utilize the assets. Therefore, we have not reflected any benefit of such deferred tax assets in the accompanying financial statements. Our net deferred tax asset and valuation allowance increased by $2,009,000 in the year ended December 31, 2011.
We reviewed all income tax positions taken or that we expect to be taken for all open years and determined that our income tax positions are appropriately stated and supported for all open years. The fiscal tax years 2008 through 2011 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject.
NOTE 15 - EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted net loss per common share is determined using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, consisting of shares that might be issued upon exercise of options, warrants and conversion of convertible debt. In periods where losses are reported, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:
(1)As of December 31, 2011, we had (i) 13,719,335 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, (ii) 12,076,878 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, (iii) reserved an aggregate of 5,149,378 shares of common stock issuable under outstanding convertible debt agreements and (iv) 1,919,000 shares reserved under private options. These 32,864,591 shares, which would be reduced by applying the treasury stock method, were excluded from diluted weighted average outstanding shares amount for computing the net loss per common share, because the net effect would be antidilutive for the period presented.
(2)As of December 31, 2010, we had (i) 2,800,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and (ii) 3,044,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants. These 5,844,000 shares, which would be reduced by applying the treasury stock method, were excluded from diluted weighted average outstanding shares amount for computing the net loss per common share, because the net effect would be antidilutive for the period presented.
NOTE 16 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
NOTE 17 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Eviction from Amargosa Lab
With the consummation of the Shea Exchange Agreement, we acquired other assets. The other assets we acquired consisted of a property lease, which allowed us the use of an assay lab property and the associated water permits, (with a right to purchase for $6 million) and a contract agreement, which allowed us the use of processing permits, located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada (“Amargosa”). We were required to pay a monthly base rent of $17,500 on this lease and $5,000 on the contract agreement. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, the landlord of the Amargosa lease caused to have served a Five Day Notice To Pay Rent Or Quit due to default in the monthly $17,500 lease payments. The Company began immediate communications with the landlord, which resulted in a delay of further actions by the landlord to pursue any remedies. Then on February 9, 2012, the landlord caused to have served an Order For Summary Eviction (“Eviction”) due to continued default in lease payments. Effective with the Eviction, a total of $70,000 lease payments remain unpaid as well as $8,500 of late fees required pursuant to the terms of the lease. On February 10, 2012, the Beatty County Sheriff completed the Eviction at Amargosa and we as such, no longer have access to the assay lab or permits at Amargosa.
Resignation of board member
On February 11, 2012, the Company received from Manfred E. Birnbaum a notice of resignation from the Board of Directors (the “Board”).
Effective with Mr. Birnbaum’s resignation, the Company’s Board approved a grant of 100,000 options for his continued service as a consultant. Furthermore, the Board amended his restricted stock unit agreement to allow for an immediate vesting of his 90,000 restricted stock units of the Company’s common stock and further allows for five (5) additional years to exercise his currently issued and fully vested 700,000 stock options.
Additional Short-term loans from Pure Path
Pure Path has loaned the Company an aggregate of $185,000 since February 2012 through April 2012, in a series of six-month loans that accrue interest at 6% per annum.