Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

 

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

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014.

 

OR

 

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

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                  TO                 .

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13627

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

DELAWARE

 

26-4413382

(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF

 

(I.R.S. EMPLOYER

INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)

 

IDENTIFICATION NO.)

 

 

 

350 INDIANA STREET, SUITE 800

 

 

GOLDEN, COLORADO

 

80401

(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

 

(ZIP CODE)

 

(303) 839-5060

(REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)

 

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO FILE SUCH REPORTS), AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS:  YES x   NO o

 

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT HAS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY AND POSTED ON ITS CORPORATE WEB SITE, IF ANY, EVERY INTERACTIVE DATA FILE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED AND POSTED PURSUANT TO RULE 405 OF REGULATION S-T (§232.405 OF THIS CHAPTER) DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AND POST SUCH FILES).  YES x   NO o

 

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT IS A LARGE ACCELERATED FILER, AN ACCELERATED FILER, A NON-ACCELERATED FILER, OR A SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY:

 

LARGE ACCELERATED FILER  o

 

ACCELERATED FILER  o

NON-ACCELERATED FILER  o

 

SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY  x

 

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT IS A SHELL COMPANY (AS DEFINED IN RULE 12B-2 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT):  YES o   NO x

 

INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT HAS FILED ALL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTIONS 12, 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 SUBSEQUENT TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF SECURITIES UNDER A PLAN CONFIRMED BY A COURT:  YES x   NO o

 

AT NOVEMBER 6, 2014, 53,022,833 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE PER SHARE, WERE ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

FORM 10-Q

QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

 

IN DEX

 

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

3

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

18

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

26

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

26

 

 

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

27

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

27

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

36

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

36

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

36

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

36

 

 

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

36

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

37

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.          Financial Statements

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Expressed in United States dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 3)

 

$

14,955

 

$

19,146

 

Trade receivables

 

 

25

 

Inventories (Note 5)

 

662

 

449

 

Value added tax receivable, net (Note 6)

 

1,394

 

1,765

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets (Note 4)

 

614

 

1,091

 

Total current assets

 

17,625

 

22,476

 

Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 7)

 

30,006

 

32,375

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets, non-current (Note 4)

 

 

30

 

Total assets

 

$

47,631

 

$

54,881

 

Liabilities and Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (Note 8)

 

$

1,875

 

$

1,365

 

Other current liabilities (Note 10)

 

2,755

 

4,405

 

Total current liabilities

 

4,630

 

5,770

 

Asset retirement obligation (Note 9)

 

2,635

 

2,602

 

Other long term liabilities

 

74

 

53

 

Total liabilities

 

7,339

 

8,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)

 

 

 

 

 

Equity (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 53,022,833 and 43,530,833 shares issued and outstanding for the respective periods

 

530

 

435

 

Additional paid in capital

 

502,701

 

494,647

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(462,939

)

(448,626

)

Shareholder’s equity

 

40,292

 

46,456

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

47,631

 

$

54,881

 

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Expressed in United States dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of metals (Note 14)

 

$

 

$

500

 

$

 

$

10,797

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs applicable to sale of metals (exclusive of depreciation shown below) (Note 14)

 

 

(517

)

 

(17,534

)

Exploration expense

 

(1,009

)

(1,024

)

(4,262

)

(3,788

)

El Quevar project expense

 

(489

)

(486

)

(1,244

)

(2,159

)

Velardeña project expense

 

(2,034

)

(85

)

(2,034

)

(3,006

)

Velardeña shutdown and care & maintenance costs

 

 

(2,218

)

(2,457

)

(4,547

)

Administrative expense

 

(782

)

(1,078

)

(3,587

)

(4,608

)

Stock based compensation

 

(181

)

(305

)

(768

)

(1,284

)

Reclamation and accretion expense

 

(50

)

(47

)

(148

)

(135

)

Impairment of long lived assets

 

 

 

 

(237,838

)

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

(11,180

)

Other operating income, net

 

687

 

(31

)

691

 

3,615

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(751

)

(1,083

)

(2,375

)

(6,180

)

Total costs and expenses

 

(4,609

)

(6,874

)

(16,184

)

(288,644

)

Loss from operations

 

(4,609

)

(6,374

)

(16,184

)

(277,847

)

Other income and (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and other income, net

 

882

 

186

 

1,763

 

509

 

Gain (loss) on foreign currency

 

115

 

(127

)

108

 

(537

)

Total other income (expense)

 

997

 

59

 

1,871

 

(28

)

Loss from operations before income taxes

 

(3,612

)

(6,315

)

(14,313

)

(277,875

)

Income tax benefit

 

 

104

 

 

47,599

 

Net loss

 

$

(3,612

)

$

(6,211

)

$

(14,313

)

$

(230,276

)

Comprehensive loss, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on securities

 

 

 

 

90

 

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(3,612

)

$

(6,211

)

$

(14,313

)

$

(230,186

)

Net loss per common share — basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss

 

$

(0.08

)

$

(0.14

)

$

(0.33

)

$

(5.38

)

Weighted average common stock outstanding - basic (1)

 

45,029,388

 

42,857,347

 

43,621,634

 

42,827,891

 

 


(1)          Potentially dilutive shares have not been included because to do so would be anti-dilutive.

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Expressed in United States dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities (Note 15)

 

$

(12,147

)

$

(23,435

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of available for sale investments

 

 

198

 

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

973

 

4,125

 

Capitalized costs and acquisitions of property, plant and equipment

 

(427

)

(1,471

)

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

$

546

 

$

2,852

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of stock units, net of issue costs

 

7,410

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

$

7,410

 

$

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(4,191

)

(20,583

)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

 

19,146

 

44,406

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

 

$

14,955

 

$

23,823

 

 

See Note 15 for supplemental cash flow information.

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Expressed in United States dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

Comprehensive

 

Total

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-in

 

Accumulated

 

income

 

Equity

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

(loss)

 

(Deficit)

 

 

 

(in thousands except share data)

 

Balance, December 31, 2012

 

43,265,833

 

$

433

 

$

493,175

 

$

(208,246

)

$

(90

)

$

285,272

 

Stock compensation accrued

 

265,000

 

2

 

1,472

 

 

 

1,474

 

Realized gain on marketable equity securities, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

90

 

90

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(240,380

)

 

(240,380

)

Balance, December 31, 2013

 

43,530,833

 

$

435

 

$

494,647

 

$

(448,626

)

$

 

$

46,456

 

Stock compensation accrued

 

 

 

768

 

 

 

768

 

KELTIP mark-to-market

 

 

 

(29

)

 

 

 

(29

)

Registered offering stock units, net (Note 13)

 

3,692,000

 

37

 

2,702

 

 

 

2,739

 

Private placement stock units, net (Note 13)

 

5,800,000

 

58

 

4,613

 

 

 

4,671

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

(14,313

)

 

(14,313

)

Balance, September 30, 2014

 

53,022,833

 

$

530

 

$

502,701

 

$

(462,939

)

$

 

$

40,292

 

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED

(Expressed in United States dollars)

 

1.               Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements and Nature of Operations

 

Golden Minerals Company (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, has prepared these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Such rules and regulations allow the omission of certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), so long as such omissions do not render the financial statements misleading.  The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures normally required by GAAP.

 

In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial results for the periods presented. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and filed with the SEC on February 28, 2014.

 

In June 2013 the Company suspended mining and processing at its Velardeña and Chicago precious metals mining properties (the “Velardeña Properties”) in Mexico in order to conserve the asset until the Company was able to create new mining and processing plans that, at then current prices for silver and gold, indicated a sustainable cash margin.  On July 14, 2014 the Company announced that it had restarted mining at its Velardeña Properties on July 1, 2014, and on November 3, 2014 the Company began processing material from the mine.  The Company is primarily focused on the mining and the restart of processing at the Velardeña Properties and continued exploration of properties in Mexico. The Company also continues to review strategic opportunities, focusing primarily on development or operating properties in North America, including Mexico.

 

The Company is considered an exploration stage company under the criteria set forth by the SEC as the Company has not yet demonstrated the existence of proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC Industry Guide 7, at any of the Company’s properties.  As a result, and in accordance with GAAP for exploration stage companies, all expenditures for exploration and evaluation of the Company’s properties are expensed as incurred. As such the Company’s financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of mining companies that do have proven and probable reserves.

 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under which an entity is considered to be able to realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business.  However, the continuing operations of the Company are dependent upon its ability to secure sufficient funding and to generate future profitable operations.  The underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown as mineral properties in Note 7 are dependent on the ability of the Company to generate positive cash flows from operations and to continue to fund exploration and development activities that would lead to profitable mining activities or to generate proceeds from the disposition of the mineral properties.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in generating future profitable operations or securing additional funding in the future on terms acceptable to the Company or at all.

 

2 .               New Accounting Pronouncements

 

On August 27, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern” (“ASU No. 2014-15”).  ASU No. 2014-15 will require management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued on both an interim and annual basis. Management will be required to provide certain footnote disclosures if it concludes that substantial doubt exists or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU No. 2014-15 becomes effective for annual periods beginning in 2016 and for interim reporting periods starting in the first quarter of 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

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On May 28, 2014, FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. In addition, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized and the related cash flows. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early application is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the financial statement implications of adopting ASU 2014-09 but does not believe adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In April 2014 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” (“ASU 2014-08)”. ASU 2014-08 changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures in this area. Under ASU 2014-08, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations will be presented as discontinued operations. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations that will provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 will become effective for the Company January 1, 2015. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2014-08 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

In July 2013 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU 2013-11”), which requires an unrecognized tax benefit to be presented as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward that the entity intends to use and is available for settlement at the reporting date. ASU 2013-11 became effective for the Company January 1, 2014. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 has not had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

3.            Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Short-term investments include investments with maturities greater than three months, but not exceeding 12 months, or highly liquid investments with maturities greater than 12 months that the Company intends to liquidate during the next 12 months for working capital needs.

 

The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in equity securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates those classifications at each balance sheet date.  Available for sale investments are marked to market at each reporting period with changes in fair value recorded as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). If declines in fair value are deemed other than temporary, a charge is made to net income (loss) for the period.

 

The Company had no short-term investments or investments in equity securities as of September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

 

4.            Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Prepaid insurance

 

$

250

 

$

687

 

Prepaid contractor fees and vendor advances

 

104

 

193

 

Taxes receivable

 

70

 

96

 

Recoupable deposits and other

 

190

 

115

 

 

 

$

614

 

$

1,091

 

 

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The prepaid contractor fees and vendor advances consist of advance payments made to equipment manufacturers, contractors and suppliers primarily at the Company’s Velardeña Properties in Mexico.

 

In addition, included in non-current assets at December 31, 2013 is approximately $30,000 of prepaid insurance, which was fully amortized at September 30, 2014.

 

5.            Inventories

 

Inventories at the Velardeña Properties at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of the following:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Material and supplies

 

$

662

 

$

449

 

 

 

$

662

 

$

449

 

 

The Company had no metals or in process inventories at either period as the result of the suspension of mining and processing at the Velardeña Properties in June 2013.

 

6.            Value Added Tax Receivable, Net

 

The Company has recorded value added tax (“VAT”) paid in Mexico and related to the Velardeña Properties as a recoverable asset. Mexican tax law allows for certain VAT payments to be recovered through ongoing applications for refunds. The Company expects that the current amounts will be recovered within a one year period.

 

The Company has also paid VAT related to exploration activities in Mexico and other countries which has been charged to expense as incurred because of the uncertainty of recovery.

 

7.            Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

 

The components of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Mineral properties

 

$

22,397

 

$

22,397

 

Exploration properties

 

2,743

 

2,993

 

Royalty properties

 

200

 

200

 

Buildings

 

2,357

 

2,349

 

Mining equipment and machinery

 

19,683

 

19,441

 

Other furniture and equipment

 

841

 

1,054

 

Asset retirement cost

 

2,002

 

2,087

 

 

 

50,223

 

50,521

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(20,217

)

(18,146

)

 

 

30,006

 

32,375

 

 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2014 the Company sold 45 mining concessions totaling 770 hectares located in the Zacatecas District, Zacatecas State, Mexico, to Capstone Mining Group for $700,000 and recorded a $0.5 million gain on the sale.  Also in the quarter, the Company entered into an option agreement with a private party to sell its 1,100 hectare Otuzco property in Peru for $450,000.  At September 30, 2014 the Company had received $150,000 under the option agreement, with the remainder payable in 2015 if the option is maintained and exercised.  In addition, the Company sold miscellaneous surplus equipment located in Argentina during the quarter for $130,000 and recorded a nominal gain. The net gains for the above sales are reflected in other operating income, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

The asset retirement cost (“ARC”) is all related to the Company’s Velardeña Properties. The decrease in the ARC during the period is related to an adjustment to the asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) (see Note 9).

 

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8.            Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities

 

The Company’s accounts payable and other accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accruals

 

$

1,159

 

$

717

 

Accrued employee compensation and benefits

 

716

 

648

 

 

 

$

1,875

 

$

1,365

 

 

September 30, 2014

 

Accounts payable and accruals at September 30, 2014 are primarily related to amounts due to contractors and suppliers in the amounts of approximately $0.7 million and $0.5 million related to the Company’s Velardeña Properties and corporate administrative activities, respectively.

 

Accrued employee compensation and benefits at September 30, 2014 consist of $0.2 million of accrued vacation and $0.5 million related to withholding taxes and benefits payable, of which $0.2 million is related to the Velardeña Properties.

 

December 31, 2013

 

Accounts payable and accruals at December 31, 2013 are primarily related to amounts due to contractors and suppliers in the amounts of $0.4 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million related to the Company’s Velardeña Properties, corporate administrative activities and exploration, respectively.

 

Accrued employee compensation and benefits at December 31, 2013 consist of $0.1 million of accrued vacation payable and $0.5 million related to withholding taxes and benefits payable, of which $0.3 million is related to activities at the Velardeña Properties.

 

Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

On December 13, 2013, the board of directors of the Company approved and the Company adopted the 2013 Key Employee Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “KELTIP”), which became effective immediately. The KELTIP provides for the grant of units (“KELTIP Units”) to certain officers and key employees of the Company, which units will, once vested, entitle such officers and employees to receive an amount, in cash or in Company common stock issued pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, measured generally by the price of the Company’s common stock on the settlement date. KELTIP Units are not an actual equity interest in the Company and are solely unfunded and unsecured obligations of the Company that are not transferable and do not provide the holder with any stockholder rights. Payment of the settlement amount of vested KELTIP Units is deferred generally until the earlier of a change of control of the Company or the date the grantee ceases to serve as an officer or employee of the Company.

 

The KELTIP Units are marked to market at each reporting period. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 the Company had recorded liabilities of $110,000 and $81,000, respectively related to KELTIP Unit grants which are included in accrued employee compensation and benefits in the table above.

 

9.            Asset Retirement Obligations

 

The Company retained the services of a mining engineering firm to prepare a detailed closure plan for the Velardeña Properties. The plan was completed during the second quarter 2012 and indicated that the Company had an ARO and offsetting ARC of approximately $1.9 million. The estimated $3.5 million ARO and ARC that was recorded at the time of the acquisition of the Velardeña Properties was adjusted accordingly.

 

The Company will continue to accrue additional estimated ARO amounts based on an asset retirement plan as activities requiring future reclamation and remediation occur.  During the first nine months of 2014 the Company recognized

 

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approximately $0.2 million of accretion expense and approximately $0.2 million of amortization expense related to the ARC.

 

The following table summarizes activity in the Velardeña Properties ARO:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Beginning balance

 

$

2,467

 

$

2,080

 

Changes in estimates, and other

 

(85

)

203

 

Accretion expense

 

149

 

135

 

Ending balance

 

$

2,531

 

$

2,418

 

 

The decrease in the ARO recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 is the result of changes in assumptions related to inflation factors and discount rates used in the determination of future cash flows.

 

The increase in ARO recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 relates to a change in assumption related to inflation factors used in the determination of future cash flows.  The corresponding increase in ARO was discounted using the Company’s current credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate.

 

The ARO set forth on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 include approximately $0.1 million of reclamation liabilities related to activities at the El Quevar project in Argentina.

 

10.            Other Current Liabilities

 

The Company recorded other current liabilities of approximately $2.8 million and $4.4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The amounts are primarily related to a loss contingency on foreign withholding taxes that the government could assert are owed by the Company, acting as withholding agent, on certain interest payments made to a third party. The amounts include estimated interest, penalties and other adjustments.

 

The September 30, 2014 amount also includes a net liability of approximately $0.2 million related to the Argentina tax on equity due for years 2009 through 2012 stemming from a tax audit of those years.  The amount includes interest and penalties and is net of certain VAT credits due the Company.  The tax authorities have agreed in principle to offset a portion of the $0.9 million in tax, interest and penalties with approximately $0.7 million of VAT credits due the Company.  Should the Argentina tax authorities ultimately not allow a portion or all of the VAT credits as an offset the liability could increase by as much as $0.7 million (see Note 16).

 

11.            Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company follows the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) for financial assets and liabilities and nonfinancial assets and liabilities which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  ASC 820 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in the form of a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs into valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.  This hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.  Further, financial assets and liabilities should be classified by level in their entirety based upon the lowest level of input that was significant to the fair value measurement.  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy per ASC 820 are as follows:

 

Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

 

Level 2:  Quoted prices in inactive markets for identical assets or liabilities, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or other observable inputs either directly related to the asset or liability or derived principally from corroborated observable market data.

 

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Level 3:  Unobservable inputs due to the fact that there is little or no market activity. This entails using assumptions in models which estimate what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and liabilities at fair value at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, by respective level of the fair value hierarchy:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

At September 30, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

$

14,955

 

$

 

$

 

$

14,955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KELTIP payable

 

110

 

 

 

 

110

 

 

 

$

14,845

 

$

 

$

 

$

14,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents

 

$

19,146

 

$

 

$

 

$

19,146

 

Trade Accounts Receivable

 

25

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KELTIP payable

 

81

 

 

 

 

81

 

 

 

$

19,090

 

$

 

$

 

$

19,090

 

 

The Company’s cash equivalents, comprised principally of U.S. treasury securities, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The KELTIP payable is related to employee and officer compensation as discussed in Note 8 and are marked to market at the end of each period based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock resulting in a classification of Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013 there were no amounts transferred between levels and there were no changes in fair value measurement techniques.  The Company did not have any Level 2 or Level 3 financial assets or liabilities at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

 

Credit Risk

 

Credit risk is the risk that a third party might fail to fulfill its performance obligations under the terms of a financial instrument. For cash and cash equivalents and investments, the Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk represents the carrying amount on the balance sheet. The Company attempts to mitigate credit risk for cash and cash equivalents by placing its funds with high credit-quality financial institutions, limiting the amount of exposure to each financial institution, monitoring the financial condition of the financial institutions and investing only in government and corporate securities rated “investment grade” or better. The Company invests with financial institutions that maintain a net worth of not less than $1.0 billion and are members in good standing of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

 

12.            Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), on a tax jurisdictional basis.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company had no income tax benefit or expense.  The Company operates in jurisdictions that have generated ordinary losses on a year-to-date basis and no benefit can be recognized on those losses, thus an estimated effective tax rate is not used to report the year-to-date results.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded a $47.6 million income tax benefit related primarily to the impairment of long lived assets of the Velardeña Properties and Mexico net operating losses, resulting in an elimination of the net deferred tax liability in existence at that time.

 

In accordance with ASC 740, the Company presents deferred tax assets net of its deferred tax liabilities on a tax jurisdictional basis on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.  As of September 30, 2014 and as of December 31, 2013, the Company had no net deferred tax assets or net deferred tax liabilities reported on its balance sheet.

 

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The Company, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries file tax returns in the United States and in various foreign jurisdictions.  The tax rules and regulations in these countries are highly complex and subject to interpretation. The Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant taxing authorities and in connection with such examinations, disputes can arise with the taxing authorities over the interpretation or application of certain tax rules within the country involved.  In accordance with ASC 740, the Company identifies and evaluates uncertain tax positions, and recognizes the impact of uncertain tax positions for which there is less than a more-likely-than-not probability of the position being upheld upon review by the relevant taxing authority.  Such positions are deemed to be “unrecognized tax benefits” which require additional disclosure and recognition of a liability within the financial statements.  The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2014 and as of December 31, 2013.

 

13.        Equity

 

Registered offering

 

On September 10, 2014, the Company completed a registered public offering (the “Offering”) of 3,692,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 1,846,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Shares and Warrants were sold in units (“Units”) at a price of $0.86 per Unit, before discount to the underwriters, with each Unit consisting of one Share of the Company’s common stock and a Warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of the Company’s common stock. The Warrants become exercisable on March 11, 2015 at an exercise price of $1.21 per share and will expire on September 10, 2019, five years from the date of issuance. The Shares and the Warrants are immediately separable and were issued separately. The Company received net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $2.7 million after the underwriter commissions and expenses of approximately $0.5 million. In arriving at the relative value of the Shares and Warrants the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model with a risk-free interest rate of 1.79%; a stock price of $1.01, the closing price of the Company’s common stock the day prior to the announcement of the offering; volatility of 83%; and terms equal to the terms of the Warrants. The fair value of the Shares was approximately $2.1 million and the fair value of the Warrants was approximately $0.6 million both of which were recorded to additional paid in capital net of the $0.01 par value of the Shares.

 

Private placement

 

On September 10, 2014 the Company also completed a private placement (the “Private Placement”) with The Sentient Group (“Sentient”), the Company’s largest stockholder, pursuant to which Sentient purchased, pursuant to Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, a total of 5,800,000 Units, with each Unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of the Company’s common stock. The warrants become exercisable on March 11, 2015 at an exercise price of $1.21 per share and will expire on September 10, 2019, five years from the date of issuance. Each Unit was priced at $0.817 the same discounted price paid by the underwriters in the Offering. The Company received net proceeds from the Private Placement of approximately $4.7 million after the discount and expenses of approximately $0.3 million. In arriving at the relative value of the Shares and Warrants the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model with a risk-free interest rate of 1.79%; a stock price of $1.01, the closing price of the Company’s common stock the day prior to the announcement of the offering; volatility of 83%; and terms equal to the terms of the Warrants. The fair value of the Shares was approximately $3.6 million and the fair value of the Warrants was approximately $1.1 million both of which were recorded to additional paid in capital net of the $0.01 par value of the Shares. Following the completion of the Private Placement and the Offering, Sentient holds approximately 27.2% of the Company’s outstanding common stock (excluding restricted common stock held by the Company’s employees).

 

Equity Incentive Plans

 

In May 2014, the Company’s stockholders approved amendments to the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, adopting the Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”), pursuant to which awards of the Company’s common stock may be made to officers, directors, employees, consultants and agents of the Company and its subsidiaries.  The Company recognizes stock-based compensation costs using a graded vesting attribution method whereby costs are recognized over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award.

 

The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s restricted stock grants issued under the Equity Plan at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:

 

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Restricted Stock Grants

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

915,971

 

$

2.47

 

Granted during the period

 

 

 

Restrictions lifted during the period

 

(165,634

)

4.72

 

Forfeited during the period

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2014

 

750,337

 

$

1.97

 

 

Restrictions were lifted on 155,134 shares during the period on the anniversaries of grants made to officers and employees in prior years. The restrictions were lifted on an additional 10,500 shares in connection with to the termination of employment of two employees.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company recognized approximately $0.4 million of compensation expense related to outstanding restricted stock grants.  The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expense related to these awards of approximately $0.3 million over the next 21 months.

 

The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s stock option grants issued under the Equity Plan at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:

 

Equity Plan Options

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

110,810

 

$

8.02

 

Granted during period

 

 

 

Forfeited or expired during period

 

(15,000

)

8.02

 

Exercised during period

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2014

 

95,810

 

8.02

 

Exercisable at end of period

 

95,810

 

8.02

 

Granted and vested

 

95,810

 

8.02

 

 

At September 30, 2014, in addition to the Equity Plan options outstanding, the Company had outstanding 126,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $16.00. The options were related to the merger with ECU Silver Mining Inc. (“ECU”) on September 2, 2011 and were issued to former ECU stock option holders to replace options previously issued to them by ECU. The options expired on October 22, 2014.

 

Also, pursuant to the Equity Plan, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Non-Employee Director’s Deferred Compensation and Equity Award Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”).  Pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan the non-employee directors receive a portion of their compensation in the form of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) issued under the Equity Plan. The RSUs vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and each vested RSU entitles the director to receive one unrestricted share of common stock upon the termination of the director’s board service.

 

The following table summarizes the status of the RSU grants issued under the Deferred Compensation Plan at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:

 

Restricted Stock Units 

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

585,285

 

$

2.97

 

Granted during the period

 

350,000

 

0.58

 

Restrictions lifted during the period

 

 

 

Forfeited during the period

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2014

 

935,285

 

$

2.08

 

 

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company recognized approximately $0.3 million of compensation expense related to the RSU grants.  The Company expects to recognize additional compensation expense related to these awards of approximately $0.1 million over the next nine months.

 

Pursuant to the KELTIP (see Note 8) KELTIP Units may be granted to certain officers and key employees of the Company, which units will, once vested, entitle such officers and employees to receive an amount in cash or in Company common stock measured generally by the price of the Company’s common stock on the settlement date. The KELTIP Units are recorded as a liability as discussed in detail in Note 8.

 

Common stock warrants

 

The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s common stock warrants at September 30, 2014 and changes during the nine months then ended:

 

Common Stock Warrants

 

Number of
Underlying
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price Per
Share

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

5,263,578

 

$

12.10

 

Granted during period

 

4,746,000

 

1.21

 

Dilution adjustment

 

599,760

 

7.17

 

Expired during period

 

(1,831,929

)

19.00

 

Exercised during period

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2014

 

8,777,409

 

$

3.95

 

 

The warrants granted during the period are related to the Offering and Private Placement of the Company’s securities completed on September 10, 2014 as discussed above.

 

In September 2012, the Company closed on a registered offering and concurrent private placement with Sentient in which it sold units, consisting of one share of common stock and a five-year warrant to acquire one half of a share of common stock at an exercise price of $8.42 per share (the “September 2012 Warrants”). Pursuant to certain dilution adjustment provisions in the warrant agreement governing the September 2012 Warrants, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the September 2012 Warrants was increased from 3,431,649 shares to 4,031,409 shares (599,760 share increase) and the exercise price was reduced from $8.42 per share to $7.17 per share pursuant to a weighted average dilution calculation based on the pricing of the Offering and the Private Placement.

 

The warrants that expired were warrants related to the merger with ECU on September 2, 2011 and were issued to former ECU warrant holders to replace warrants previously issued to them by ECU. The warrants expired on February 20, 2014.

 

14.            Sale of Metals and Related Costs

 

Prior to the suspension of mining and processing in June 2013 (see Note 1) the Company sold marketable products including concentrates and precipitates at its Velardeña Properties.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the Company did not sell any product or incur any related costs as the result of the suspension of mining and processing.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 the Company sold marketable products to five customers.  Under the terms of the Company’s agreements with one precipitate customer, title did not pass to the purchaser until the product was received by the refinery, at which point revenue was recognized. For the Company’s other customers, title generally passed when a provisional payment was made, which occurred after the product was shipped and customary sales documents were completed.  Costs related to the sale of metals products include direct and indirect costs incurred to mine, process and market the products.  At September 30, 2013 the Company had written down its metals inventory to net realizable value including a charge to the cost of metals sold of approximately $2.0 million and a charge to depreciation expense of approximately $0.6 million.  Also included in cost of metals sold at September 30, 2013 was a $0.6 million charge related to workforce reduction severance costs.

 

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15.            Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

The following table reconciles net loss for the period to cash used in operations:

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(14,313

)

$

(230,276

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization and depreciation

 

2,375

 

6,180

 

Accretion of asset retirement obligation

 

149

 

135

 

Foreign currency gain on loss contingency

 

(74

)

(383

)

Foreign currency loss on deferred tax liability

 

 

527

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

11,180

 

Impairment of long lived assets

 

 

237,838

 

Asset write off

 

129

 

(66

)

Write off of loss contingencies

 

(1,719

)

(522

)

Realized loss on marketable securities

 

 

133

 

Gain on sale of assets, net

 

(681

)

(3,519

)

Income tax provision

 

 

(47,599

)

Stock compensation

 

768

 

1,284

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in trade accounts receivable

 

25

 

1,047

 

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

 

507

 

328

 

(Increase) decrease in inventories

 

(213

)

2,074

 

Decrease in value added tax recoverable, net

 

371

 

2,684

 

Decrease in reclamation liability

 

(115

)

(27

)

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

623

 

(4,337

)

Increase (decrease) in deferred leasehold payments

 

21

 

(116

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(12,147

)

$

(23,435

)

 

16.            Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company has recorded loss contingencies of approximately $2.6 million and $4.2 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively as discussed in Note 10. In addition to the amounts recorded, the Company could be liable for up to an additional $0.7 million stemming from a tax audit of the Argentina equity tax for years 2009 through 2012 subject to the Argentina tax authorities’ acceptance of VAT credits to partially offset the tax liability (see Note 10).

 

17.            Segment Information

 

The Company’s sole activity is the mining, construction and exploration of mineral properties containing precious metals.  The Company’s reportable segments are based upon the Company’s revenue producing activities and cash consuming activities. The Company reports two segments, one for its Velardeña Properties in Mexico and the other comprised of non-revenue producing activities including exploration, construction and general and administrative activities.  Intercompany revenue and expense amounts have been eliminated within each segment in order to report on the basis that management uses internally for evaluating segment performance.

 

The financial information relating to the Company’s segments is as follows:

 

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Three Months Ended September
30, 2014

 

Revenue

 

Costs
Applicable to
Sales

 

Depreciation,
Depletion and
Amortization

 

Exploration, El
Quevar, Velardeña
and Administrative
Expense

 

Pre-Tax loss

 

Total Assets

 

Capital
Expenditures

 

Velardeña Properties

 

$

 

$

 

$

573

 

$

2,034

 

$

1,660

 

 

 

$

420

 

Corporate, Exploration & Other

 

 

 

178

 

2,280

 

1,952

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

751

 

$

4,314

 

$

3,612

 

 

 

$

420

 

 

Nine Months Ended September
30, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Velardeña Properties

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,775

 

$

4,491

 

$

4,984

 

$

27,488

 

$

420

 

Corporate, Exploration & Other

 

 

 

600

 

9,093

 

9,329

 

20,143

 

7

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,375

 

$

13,584

 

$

14,313

 

$

47,631

 

$

427

 

 

Three Months Ended September
30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Velardeña Properties

 

$

500

 

$

517

 

$

866

 

$

4,635

 

$

3,232

 

 

 

$

102

 

Corporate, Exploration & Other

 

 

 

217

 

2,586

 

3,083

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

$

500

 

$

517

 

$

1,083

 

$

7,221

 

$

6,315

 

 

 

$

103

 

 

Nine Months Ended September
30, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Velardeña Properties

 

$

10,797

 

$

17,534

 

$

5,425

 

$

7,900

 

$

269,106

 

$

36,607

 

$

1,441

 

Corporate, Exploration & Other

 

 

 

755

 

10,208

 

8,769

 

30,474

 

30

 

 

 

$

10,797

 

$

17,534

 

$

6,180

 

$

18,108

 

$

277,875

 

$

67,081

 

$

1,471

 

 

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

 

General

 

Golden Minerals is a mining company with its Velardeña precious metals mining properties in the State of Durango, Mexico (the “Velardeña Properties”), the El Quevar advanced exploration property in the province of Salta, Argentina, and a diversified portfolio of precious metals and other mineral exploration properties located in or near historical precious metals producing regions of Mexico and Argentina.

 

We are considered an exploration stage company under SEC criteria since we have not demonstrated the existence of proven or probable reserves at any of our properties. Prior to suspending mining and processing at the Velardeña Properties in June 2013, we had revenues from the sale of gold, silver, lead and zinc products from the Velardeña and Chicago mines.  Even though we have recommenced mining at the Velardeña Properties, until such time, if ever, that we demonstrate the existence of proven or probable reserves pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7 we expect to remain as an exploration stage company.

 

This discussion should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2014.

 

2014 Highlights

 

We recommenced mining activities at the Velardeña Properties in July 2014 and we plan to begin processing material from the mine in the fourth quarter 2014.  Our decision to restart mining activities followed an extensive evaluation period, which began after the shutdown of the Velardeña Properties in June 2013 and included a 9,000-meter drill program that concluded in June 2014.  During the first nine months of 2014 we also continued efforts to actively solicit a partner to advance our El Quevar project and continued to review strategic opportunities, focusing on development or operating properties in North America, including Mexico.

 

·                   Financing Activity

 

On September 10, 2014, the Company completed an underwritten registered public offering and concurrent private placement for total net proceeds, after underwriter commissions and expenses, of $7.4 million.  The Company sold 3,692,000 units in the registered offering, priced at $0.86 per unit, before discount to the underwriters, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock and a five year warrant to purchase 0.50 of a share of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.21 per share.  The Company sold an additional 5,800,000 units in a concurrent private placement to The Sentient Group (“Sentient”), the Company’s largest stockholder, at a price of $0.817 per unit, the same discounted price paid by the underwriter in the registered offering.  Following the completion of the Private Placement and the Offering, Sentient holds approximately 27.2% of the Company’s outstanding common stock (excluding restricted common stock held by the Company’s employees).

 

·                   Sale of Assets

 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2014 we sold 45 mining concessions totaling 770 hectares located in the Zacatecas District, Zacatecas State, Mexico, to Capstone Mining Group for the sum of US $700,000 and recorded a $0.5 million gain on the sale.  We also entered into an option agreement with a private party to sell our 1,100 hectare Peruvian Otuzco property for US $450,000.  At September 30, 2014 we had received $150,000 under this agreement, with the remainder payable in 2015 if the option is maintained and exercised.  In addition, we sold miscellaneous surplus equipment located in Argentina for $130,000 and recorded a nominal gain. The net gains for the above sales are reflected in other operating income, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

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·                   Restart of Mining at the Velardeña Properties

 

Following the shutdown of the Velardeña Properties in June 2013, we continued to develop and evaluate plans to restart mining.  We completed this evaluation and new mine plans in the second quarter 2014 and on July 1, 2014 we restarted mining at the Velardeña Properties and began processing material from the mine on November 3, 2014.  Once mining and processing are ramped up to approximately an average of 285 tonnes per day (tpd) of sulfide material, we expect output of approximately 1.0 to 1.2 million silver equivalent ounces per annum (including silver and gold but excluding lead and zinc and calculated at a ratio of 60 silver ounces to 1 gold ounce), with cash costs between $12 and $15 per payable silver ounce net of by-product gold, lead and zinc credits, assuming a price for gold of $1,250 per ounce.  “Cash costs per payable silver ounce, net of by-product credits” is a non-GAAP financial measure defined below in “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.

 

We completed the evaluation of a 9,000-meter drill program at the Velardeña Properties during June 2014 in vein systems located largely outside the boundaries of our 2012 mineralized material estimate.  This drill program represents the first known drilling of the Terneras and Roca Negra vein sulfides in the area below the historic Terneras mine workings.  Our drilling, mine planning and analysis indicate that positive net cash flow may be achieved at the Velardeña Properties at silver and gold prices of $20.00 and $1,250, respectively by the end of the second quarter 2015.  An independent engineering firm participated in the preparation of the mining plan.

 

We expect the incremental 2014 net cash outlay to resume mining to total approximately $3.0 million.  This is comprised of approximately $1.0 million in re-start costs for mill improvements and slusher equipment plus $3.0 million of negative gross margin (revenue less cost of sales) in 2014, offset by approximately $1.0 million of avoided care and maintenance costs.  We sold non strategic mineral properties in Mexico and Peru and miscellaneous equipment in Argentina for $1.0 million to partially offset the $3.0 million net cash outlay.  We also continue to search for oxide feed from outside sources, which could enable us to restart the Velardeña oxide plant during the restart plan of the sulfide mill.

 

Lower Cost Mining

 

We have reopened Velardeña as a leaner and lower cost mine, with new management throughout the operation.  We have hired 90 new employees under a new labor union agreement and are mining two ten-hour shifts per day.  By year-end 2014, we expect to employ approximately 200 people, with approximately 130 employees under the new labor union agreement.  This is less than half of the employees prior to the June 2013 shutdown when we were running both sulfide and oxide plants and processing approximately 500 tonnes per day (tpd).

 

Under our new mine plan, we are using an overhand cut and fill mining method and slusher mucking in the stopes.  This mining method should allow us to mine vein widths as narrow as 0.5 meters, which should significantly decrease dilution and allow higher grade material to be hauled to the mill. For conservative planning purposes, we have assumed dilution of the veins to one meter widths. We are removing material from the mine using the new 1.9 kilometer production-sized San Mateo access ramp, which we completed prior to suspending mining in June 2013.  This ramp is providing more efficient and lower cost removal of mined material compared to pre-suspension haulage primarily from a low capacity internal shaft.

 

Going forward, we expect mining to focus on the San Mateo, Terneras, and Roca Negra veins.  Drilling results and metallurgical studies indicate that these sulfide veins, mined minimally in the past, contain higher grade material over more consistent widths in the 0.5 to 1.0 meter range, with significantly lower arsenic levels than those in the Santa Juana vein system that was the focus of our previous mining activity.  We expect that the lower arsenic will allow for improved payment terms and metallurgical recovery of the metals.  The Roca Negra vein, not considered in the initial restart plan, should add greater flexibility in achieving the objectives of the mine plan, providing an additional vein for mining.

 

The mining plan calls for the processing of mined material to make gold and silver bearing lead, zinc and pyrite concentrates.  The mining plan is based on favorable results of preliminary metallurgical testing and our expectation, based on the results of the 2014 drill program, that processed material will contain an average of approximately 4 grams per tonne gold and 200 to 250 grams per tonne silver.  As noted above, other than portions of the San Mateo vein, this material is not included in our reported mineralized material.

 

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Ramp-up Schedule

 

We began mining on July 1, 2014, focused primarily on mining material from the San Mateo and Roca Negra veins and development of access to the Terneras vein.  We stockpiled mined material until we began processing material through the sulfide mill on November 3, 2014. During November we will be testing new equipment in the mill including a revamped electrical system, concentrate filters for our concentrate products, refurbished flotation cells and other equipment.  We have mined and stockpiled low grade material for this testing phase of the mill ramp up. In December we expect to have the mill operating at full capacity of an average of 285 tonnes per day and continuing at the rate.  Grade of the feed material will gradually increase through the second quarter of 2015 as new stopes in the mine are developed and particularly as access to the Teneras vein expands. We plan to mine from the San Mateo, Terneras and Roca Negra veins during the fourth quarter 2014, with mining in the Terneras vein ramping up in the second quarter 2015. Upon completion of the ramp up we expect to produce approximately 250,000 to 300,000 ounces of silver equivalents per quarter.  We project cash costs per payable silver ounce, net of by-product credits between $12 and $15 by mid-2015, assuming a price for by-product gold of $1,250 per ounce.  “Cash costs per payable silver ounce, net of by-product credits” is a non-GAAP financial measure defined below in” —Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.

 

·                   El Quevar

 

The Company has placed the El Quevar property on care and maintenance and continues to actively solicit a partner to fund further drilling to follow up on mineralization discovered in late 2012.

 

·                   Exploration Portfolio

 

In the first quarter 2014, we completed a 2,000 meter drill program to test down dip targets on the previously mined vein system at the 233 hectare Los Azules property in Chihuahua, Mexico. Based on results from this phase one drilling program, we conducted a phase two drill program and have completed in both programs a total of 6,900 meters in 29 holes drilled from both surface and underground. Our total payment obligation for the Los Azules property is $2.0 million, approximately $1.7 million of which is to be paid in 2016 and 2017, pursuant to a purchase agreement that we can terminate at any time following a short notice period.

 

On August 1, 2014, we entered into an agreement giving us the right to acquire for $1.6 million the Santa Maria mine, a privately held property near the Parral District of southern Chihuahua State, Mexico, located approximately 20 kilometers from the Company’s Los Azules project. An initial drill program of 11 holes totaling 2,300 meters has been completed at Santa Maria and results are pending.  In order to acquire the Santa Maria mine, we would make a $500,000 option payment in January 2015 with subsequent payments due every six months until the full $1.6 million is paid.

 

Results of Operations

 

For the results of continuing operations discussed below, we compare the results from operations for the three month and nine month period ended September 30, 2014 to the results from operations for the three month and nine month period ended September 30, 2013.

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014

 

Revenue from the sale of metals.   We did not record any revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2014 due to the suspension of mining and processing at our Velardeña Properties in Mexico in June 2013.  Mining resumed at the Velardeña Properties in July 2014 and processing of mined material began in early November 2014.  During the three months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded $0.5 million of revenue from the sale of products produced at our Velardeña Properties. All of the third quarter 2013 metals sold is related to the sale of inventories on hand at the time of the suspension of operations and sold during the third quarter 2013.

 

Costs of metals sold.  We did not record any cost of metals sold during the three months ended September 30, 2014 due to the suspension of mining and processing at our Velardeña Properties in Mexico in June 2013. Mining resumed at the Velardeña Properties in July 2014 and processing of mined material began in early November 2014.  For the three months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded $0.5 million of costs of metals sold including a $1.6 million write down of finished goods inventory to its estimated net realizable value for the period.  All of the third quarter 2013 cost of metals sold is related to the sale of inventories on hand at the time of the suspension of operations and sold during the third quarter 2013.

 

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Exploration . Our exploration expenses, including concession payments, other property holding costs and costs incurred by our local exploration offices, were $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, as compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.  The 2014 exploration expenses were incurred primarily for concession payments and drilling programs at our Los Azules property in Mexico.  The 2013 exploration expenses were incurred primarily for concession payments in Mexico, drilling programs in Mexico and other exploration activities in Mexico and Argentina.

 

Velardeña project expense.   During the three months ended September 30, 2014 we incurred $2.0 million of total project expenses at our Velardeña Properties primarily related to the start up of mining activities in advance of the restart of the processing plant in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The $2.0 million of project expenses included $0.2 million of expenditures for repairs to the processing plant. In addition to amounts expensed during the three months ended September 30, 2014 we incurred capital expenditures of approximately $0.4 million for plant construction and equipment.  During the three months ended Septemeber 30, 2013 we incurred $0.1 million of project expenses at our Velardeña Properties primarily related to metallurgical consulting work in connection with the development of restart alternatives.

 

Velardeña shutdown and care and maintenance costs .  During the three months ended September 30, 2014 we did not record any expense related to shutdown and care and maintenance costs at our Velardeña Properties as the result of the restart of operations on July 1, 2014.  During the three months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded a $2.2 million expense related to shutdown and care and maintenance costs at our Velardeña Properties as the result of the suspension of mining and processing at Velardeña in June 2013.

 

El Quevar project expense . During the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we incurred $0.5 million of project expense for both periods. The costs for both periods were primarily related to holding and maintenance costs while we actively solicit a partner to move the project forward. The costs in the three months ended September 30, 2014 also include approximately $0.2 million for a liability related to the Argentina tax on equity due for years 2009 through 2012 stemming from a tax audit of those years.

 

Administrative .  Administrative expenses were $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.  The reduction in administrative expenses for 2014 as compared to 2013 is primarily the result of a reduction in staff at the corporate headquarters.  We expect administrative expenses for the remainder of 2014 to total approximately $1.1 million.

 

Other Operating Income, Net.   During the three months ended September 30, 2014, we recorded approximately $0.7 million of other operating income primarily related to the sale of exploration properties in Mexico and pursuant to an option on exploration properties in Peru.  During the three months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded a nominal operating loss related to the adjustment of a lease payment received for an exploration property in Mexico.

 

Stock based compensation.   During the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we recorded approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of stock based compensation expense. Stock based compensation varies from period to period depending on the number and timing of shares granted, the type of grant, the market value of the shares on the date of grant and other variables.

 

Reclamation Expense. During each of the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we incurred less than $0.1 million of reclamation expense, all related to the accretion of an asset retirement obligation at the Velardeña Properties.

 

Interest and Other Income, Net .  During the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we recorded approximately $0.9 million and $0.2 million, respectively of interest and other income primarily related to the reduction of a loss contingency liability related to foreign withholding taxes that the government could assert are owed by the Company, acting as withholding agent, on certain interest payments made to a third party for both periods.

 

Gain/Loss on Foreign Currency.  During the three months ended September 30, 2014 we recorded a $0.1 million foreign currency gain compared to a $0.1 million foreign currency loss for the same period in 2013. Foreign currency gains and losses are primarily related to the effect of currency fluctuations of monetary assets net of liabilities held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Mexico, that are denominated in currencies other than US dollars.

 

Income Taxes .  There were no income benefits recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2014, as the Company’s net operating losses in the period are currently subject to a full valuation allowance.  In comparison, an income tax benefit of $0.1 million was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2013 related to the partial removal of a Mexico tax contingency due to the expiration of the statute of limitations related to such tax contingency.

 

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014

 

Revenue from the sale of metals.   We did not record any revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 due to the suspension of mining and processing at our Velardeña Properties in Mexico in June 2013.  Mining resumed at the Velardeña Properties in July 2014 and processing of mined material began in early November 2014.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded $10.8 million of revenue from the sale of products produced at our Velardeña Properties.

 

Costs of metals sold.  We did not record any cost of metals sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 due to the suspension of mining and processing at our Velardeña Properties in Mexico in June 2013. Mining resumed at the Velardeña Properties in July 2014 and processing of mined material began in early November 2014.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded $17.5 million of costs of metals sold including a $0.6 million charge related to workforce reduction severance costs incurred in the first quarter.

 

Exploration . Our exploration expenses, including concession payments, other property holding costs and costs incurred by our local exploration offices, were $4.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, as compared to $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The 2014 exploration expenses were incurred primarily for concession payments drilling programs at our Velardeña Properties and our Los Azules property in Mexico.  The 2013 exploration expenses were incurred primarily for concession payments in Mexico, drilling programs in Mexico and other exploration activities in Mexico and Argentina. The increase in exploration expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to the same period of 2013 is primarily related to the 2014 drilling program at our Velardeña Properties.

 

Velardeña project expense During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we incurred $2.0 million of project expenses related to our Velardeña Properties primarily related to the start up of mining activities in advance of the restart of the processing plant in the fourth quarter of 2014.  The $2.0 million of project expenses included $0.2 million of expenditures for repairs to the processing plant. In addition to amounts expensed during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we incurred capital expenditures of approximately $0.4 million for plant construction and equipment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 we incurred $3.0 million of project expenses related to our Velardeña Properties primarily related to development of the San Mateo ramp, other mine development, and engineering work.  The San Mateo ramp was completed during May 2013. In addition to amounts expensed during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 we incurred capital expenditures of approximately $1.6 million for plant construction, mining and equipment.

 

Velardeña shutdown and care and maintenance costs .  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we recorded $2.5 million of expense related to shutdown and care and maintenance costs at our Velardeña Properties as the result of the suspension of mining and processing at Velardeña in June 2013.  The costs were all incurred prior to the restart of operations on July 1, 2014. The costs include expenditures for the evaluation of restart plans for the Velardeña Properties. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded a $4.5 million expense related to the severance of 440 positions and other shutdown and care and maintenance costs at our Velardeña Properties as the result of the suspension of mining and processing at Velardeña on June 19, 2013.

 

El Quevar project expense . During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we incurred $1.2 million and $2.2 million of project expense, respectively. The 2014 costs were primarily related to holding and maintenance costs while the 2013 costs were primarily related to furthering our evaluation of the Yaxtché deposit at our El Quevar project in Argentina.  The costs for 2014 also include approximately $0.2 million for a liability related to the Argentina tax on equity due for years 2009 through 2012 stemming from a tax audit of those years. The reduction in overall costs for 2014 is primarily the result of placing the El Quevar project in a holding and maintenance state while we actively solicit a partner to move the project forward.

 

Administrative .  Administrative expenses were $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  The reduction in administrative expenses for 2014 as compared to 2013 is primarily the result of a reduction in staff at the corporate headquarters.  We expect administrative expenses for the remainder of 2014 to total approximately $1.1 million.

 

Other Operating Income, Net.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we recorded $0.7 million of net other operating income primarily related to the gain on the sale of certain exploration properties in Mexico and option payments on an exploration property in Peru.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 we recorded $3.6 million of net other operating income primarily related to the gain on the sale of certain exploration properties in Peru for $3.5 million, the receipt of an $0.3 million option payment for another Peruvian exploration property, and the receipt of

 

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approximately $0.3 million for the lease of a mineral property in Mexico, partly offset by the $0.5 million carrying value of the properties sold.

 

Stock based compensation.   During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we recorded approximately $0.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively, of stock based compensation expense. Stock based compensation varies from period to period depending on the number and timing of shares granted, the type of grant, the market value of the shares on the date of grant and other variables.

 

Reclamation Expense. During each of the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we incurred $0.1 million of reclamation expense, all related to the accretion of an asset retirement obligation at the Velardeña Properties.

 

Impairment of long lived assets and goodwill. We assess the recoverability of our property, plant and equipment and goodwill at least annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. The significant decrease in metals prices in the second quarter 2013 and the suspension of mining and processing at our Velardeña Properties at the end of the second quarter 2013 were events that required an assessment of the recoverability of the Velardeña Properties asset group and goodwill.  We completed an impairment analysis at June 30, 2013 and determined that both the long lived assets and the goodwill associated with the Velardeña Properties and the San Diego property were impaired.  As a result we recorded a $238.0 million impairment charge related to the long lived assets and a $11.2 million impairment charge related to goodwill.  There were no such charges during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

Interest and Other Income, Net .  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 we recorded approximately $1.8 million and $0.5 million respectively, of interest and other income primarily related to the reduction of a loss contingency liability related to foreign withholding taxes that the government could assert are owed by the Company, acting as withholding agent, on certain interest payments made to a third party for both periods.

 

Gain/Loss on Foreign Currency.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 we recorded a $0.1 million foreign currency gain compared to a $0.5 million foreign currency loss for the same period in 2013. Foreign currency gains and losses are primarily related to the effect of currency fluctuations of monetary assets net of liabilities held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Mexico, that are denominated in currencies other than US dollars.

 

Income Taxes .  There were no income benefits recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2014, as the Company’s net operating losses in the period are currently subject to a full valuation allowance.  In comparison, we recorded an income tax benefit of $47.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, related primarily to the impairment of long lived assets of the Velardeña Properties and Mexico net operating losses.

 

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern

 

At September 30, 2014 our aggregate cash and cash equivalents totaled $15.0 million.  With the cash balance at September 30, 2014 and the assumptions described below, including costs related to the restart of mining at the Velardeña Properties, we expect to have sufficient funding to continue our long term business strategy through 2014, ending 2014 with a cash balance of approximately $9.5 million.  Our cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2014 of $15.0 million is $4.1 million lower than the $19.1 million in similar assets held at December 31, 2013 due primarily to the expenditure of $2.5 million on the restart of mining activities and plant capital and repairs, $2.5 million in care and maintenance and $1.0 million in drilling costs at our Velardeña Properties; $3.2 million in other exploration expenditures; $1.2 million in maintenance and property holding costs at the El Quevar project;  and $3.2 million in general and administrative expenses; offset in part by net proceeds of $7.4 million received from the sale of shares of our common stock and warrants through an underwritten registered offering and concurrent private placement, $1.0 million in proceeds received from the sale of non strategic property interests, and a reduction in working capital and other items of $1.1 million primarily related to collections of VAT receivables in Mexico and an increase in accounts payable for expenditures associated with the restart of mining activities at the Velardeña Properties.

 

With the cash balance at September 30, 2014 of $15.0 million we plan to spend the following amounts totaling approximately $5.5 million in the fourth quarter 2014.

 

·                   Approximately $1.0 million for start-up costs, including mining activities and plant capital and repairs, related to the restart of mining and processing activities at the Velardeña Properties;

 

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·                   Approximately $0.8 million of negative gross margin (defined as revenue less costs of sales) following the restart of the processing plant at the Velardeña Properties, assuming metals prices of $20.00 per ounce of silver and $1,250 per ounce of gold during the last three months of 2014;

 

·                   Approximately $0.3 million at the El Quevar project to fund ongoing maintenance activities and property holding costs;

 

·                   Approximately $1.1 million on other exploration activities and property holding costs related to the Company’s portfolio of exploration properties located primarily in Mexico; and

 

·                   Approximately $1.1 million on general and administrative costs and $1.2 million in increased working capital, primarily related to an increase in material and supplies inventories and accounts receivables related to the restart of the Velardeña Properties and the payment of annual premiums for our corporate insurance program.

 

In arriving at our forecast for a cash balance of $9.5 million at the end of 2014 we assumed a price for silver and gold of $20.00 and $1,250 per ounce, respectively.  A 10 percent change in the price per ounce of silver would have a $0.1 million impact (positive or negative) on our cash balance at the end of 2014.  A 10 percent change in the price per ounce of gold would have a $0.1 million impact (positive or negative) on our cash balance at the end of 2014.  For full year 2015, a 10 percent change in the price per ounce of silver would have an approximate $1.0 million impact (positive or negative) on our net cash flow for 2015.  A 10 percent change in the price per ounce of gold would also have an approximate $0.9 million impact (positive or negative) on our net cash flow for full year 2015.

 

The actual amount that we spend through year-end 2014 and the projected year-end cash balance may vary significantly from the amounts specified above and will depend on a number of factors, including the timing and costs associated with the restart of the Velardeña Properties, and the results of continued project assessment work at our other exploration properties. Despite projections of positive net cash flow by mid 2015 from the Velardeña Properties at metals prices of $20.00 per ounce of silver and $1,250 per ounce of gold, our projected cash balance at the end of 2014 would not be sufficient to provide adequate reserves in the event of decreasing metals prices, delays in the restart or ramp up of the Velardeña Properties or to adequately pursue further exploration of our properties in Mexico, requiring us to seek additional funding from equity or debt or from monetization of non-core assets.  There can be no assurance that we would be successful in obtaining sufficient funding from any of these actions or sources in the future on terms acceptable to us or at all.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING MINERALIZED MATERIAL

 

“Mineralized material” as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, although permissible under the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, does not indicate “reserves” by SEC standards. We cannot be certain that any deposits at the Velardeña Properties or at the El Quevar project or any of our other exploration properties will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant “reserves.” Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the disclosed mineralized material estimates will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that mineralized material can be economically or legally extracted.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Cash costs, after by-product credits, per payable ounce of silver produced is a non GAAP financial measure that is widely used in the mining industry.  Under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), there is no standardized definition of cash cost, after by-product credits, per payable ounce of silver produced, and therefore the Company’s forecasted cash costs may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies.

 

Forecasted cash costs for the Velardeña Properties were calculated based on the mining plan, and include all forecasted direct and indirect costs associated with the physical activities that would generate concentrate products for sale to customers, including mining to gain access to mineralized materials, mining of mineralized materials and waste, milling, third-party related treatment, refining and transportation costs, on-site administrative costs, and royalties.  Forecasted cash costs do not include depreciation, depletion, amortization, exploration expenditures, reclamation and remediation costs, sustaining capital, financing costs, income taxes, or corporate general and administrative costs not directly or indirectly related to the Velardeña Properties.  By-product credits include forecasted revenues from gold, lead, and zinc contained in the products sold to customers.  Cash costs, after by-product credits, were divided by the quantity of payable silver forecasted to be produced during the period to arrive at cash costs, after by-product credits, per payable ounce of silver produced.  Cost of sales is the most comparable financial measure, calculated in accordance with GAAP, to cash costs.  As compared to cash costs, cost of sales includes adjustments for changes in inventory and excludes net revenue from by-products and third-party related treatment, refining and transportation costs, which are reported as part of revenue in accordance with GAAP.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Some information contained in or incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include comments regarding:

 

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·                   Future expectations, plans and expected timing with respect to mining, processing and ramp up at the Velardeña Properties and anticipated costs related thereto and the revenues generated by the sales of metals;

 

·                   Planned expansion, spending, labor, anticipated production and other activities at the Velardeña Properties;

 

·                   Planned evaluation and anticipated care and maintenance and other costs at the El Quevar Project;

 

·                   Planned evaluation, spending and costs on exploration activities at other exploration properties;

 

·                   Anticipated drill programs for certain exploration properties;

 

·                   Planned spending on general and administrative activities; and

 

·                   Planned spending and expected cash requirements, and statements concerning our financial condition, operating strategies and operating and legal risks.

 

The use of any of the words “anticipate,” “continues,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “project,” “should,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify uncertainties. We believe the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, we cannot assure that these expectations will prove to be correct. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below and other factors set forth in, or incorporated by reference into this report:

 

·                         Higher than anticipated costs for activities related to the re-start of mining, processing and ramp up at the Velardeña Properties;

 

·                        Risks related to the our Velardeña Properties, including variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located there, our ability to extract and sell minerals from the mines successfully or profitably at current lower silver and gold prices and in the quantities and at the costs anticipated, mining or processing problems, decreases in expected silver and gold prices, our ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents, or authorizations for mining and processing at the Velardeña Properties, accidents and other unanticipated events and our ability to raise the necessary capital if required to finance future mining and processing at the Velardeña Properties;

 

·                        Risks related to the El Quevar project in Argentina, including whether we will be able to find a joint venture partner to advance the project, results of future exploration, feasibility and economic viability, delays and increased costs associated with evaluation of the project;

 

·                         Our ability to retain key management and mining personnel necessary for the restart plan for our Velardeña Properties and to successfully operate and grow our business;

 

·                         The results of future exploration at our exploration portfolio properties;

 

·                         Economic and political events affecting, and fluctuations in, the market prices for gold, silver, zinc, lead and other minerals which may be found on our exploration properties;

 

·                         Political and economic instability in Mexico, Argentina, and other countries in which we conduct our business and future actions of any of these governments with respect to nationalization of natural resources or other changes in mining or taxation policies; and

 

·                         The factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and Item 1A of this report on Form 10-Q.

 

Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

 

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Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We invest substantially all of our excess cash in U.S. government and debt securities rated “investment grade” or better.  The rates received on such investments may fluctuate with changes in economic conditions. Based on the average cash and investment balances outstanding during the third quarter 2014, a 1% decrease in interest rates would have resulted in a reduction in interest income for the period of less than $0.1 million.

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

 

Although most of our expenditures are in U.S. dollars, certain purchases of labor, supplies and capital assets are denominated in other currencies, primarily in Mexico.  As a result, currency exchange fluctuations may impact the costs of our exploration and mining activities.  To reduce this risk, we maintain minimum cash balances in foreign currencies and complete most of our purchases in U.S. dollars.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

We are primarily engaged in the exploration and mining of properties containing gold, silver, zinc, lead and other minerals. As a result, decreases in the price of any of these metals have the potential to negatively impact our ability to establish reserves and mine on our properties. We currently hold no commodity derivative positions.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a)          Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of September 30, 2014 (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b)          Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.          Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Investors in Golden Minerals should consider carefully, in addition to the other information contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the following risk factors:

 

We have historically incurred operating losses and operating cash flow deficits and we expect to incur operating losses and operating cash flow deficits through at least 2014; our potential profitability in the foreseeable future would depend on our ability to mine at our Velardeña Properties on a profitable basis and on our ability to generate sufficient revenue from other sources to fund our continuing activities.

 

We have a history of operating losses and we expect that we will continue to incur operating losses unless and until such time as our Velardeña Properties, the El Quevar project, or another of our exploration properties generates sufficient revenue to fund our continuing operations. Operating losses will continue unless and until we are able to generate enough revenue to fund our continuing business activities. If we are successful at mining at the Velardeña Properties on a profitable basis, it is unlikely that those activities will generate sufficient revenue to fund all of our continuing business activities as currently conducted. In that case, operating losses would continue until we develop or acquire sufficient additional sources of revenue, which could be generated by a newly acquired mining property, the commencement of profitable mining at the El Quevar project in Argentina, or at another of our exploration properties.

 

In addition, the potential profitability of mining and processing at the Velardeña Properties is based on a number of assumptions. For example, profitability will depend on metal prices, costs of materials and supplies, costs at the mines and processing plants and the amounts and timing of expenditures. Other factors unrelated to the Velardeña Properties could include expenditures to maintain and advance our El Quevar project and to continue exploration at these and other properties, potential strategic acquisitions or other transactions. Many of these factors are and will be beyond our control. We cannot be certain we will be able to generate sufficient revenue from the Velardeña Properties or other sources to achieve profitability and eliminate operating cash flow deficits, or to cease to require additional funding.

 

We may require additional external financing to fund our continuing business activities in the future.

 

As of September 30, 2014, we had $15.0 million in cash and cash equivalents. With anticipated costs during the remainder of 2014, including costs related to the restart of mining at the Velardeña Properties, we expect that our current cash and cash equivalent balance will be depleted to approximately $9.5 million by the end of 2014. Even with the restart of mining at the Velardeña Properties in July 2014, our cash balance going into 2015 might not be sufficient to provide adequate cash reserves in the event of decreasing metals prices or delays in the restart or ramp up of the Velardeña Properties or to pursue further exploration of our properties in Mexico, requiring us to seek additional funding from equity or debt or from monetization of non core assets.

 

We do not have a credit, off take or other commercial financing arrangement in place that would finance our general and administrative costs and other working capital needs to fund our continuing business activities in the future, and we believe that securing credit for these purposes may be difficult given our limited history and the continuing volatility in global credit markets. In addition, commercial financing arrangements may not be available on favorable terms or on terms that would not further restrict our flexibility and ongoing ability to meet our cash requirements over a reasonable period of time. Access to public financing has been negatively impacted by the volatility in the credit markets and metals prices, which may affect our ability to obtain equity or debt financing in the future and, if obtained, to do so on favorable terms. We also may not be able to obtain funding by monetizing additional non core exploration or other assets at acceptable prices. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain financing to fund our general and administrative costs and other working capital needs and to fund our continuing business activities in the future on favorable terms or at all.

 

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Since we have recommenced mining at our Velardeña Properties, we are likely to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with a union in the future and we will remain subject to Mexican labor and employment regulations, which may adversely affect our mining activities and financial condition.

 

Prior to the suspension of our Velardeña Properties in June 2013, our employees in Mexico were represented by a union, and our relationship with our employees was governed by collective bargaining agreements. Upon recommencement of mining at our Velardeña Properties, our mining activities are not subject to collective bargaining agreements. However, we have agreed with the union that at an appropriate point following the recommencement of mining activities, which may be when we are achieving target payable metal levels under a new mine plan on a sustainable basis, we will negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the union. Any collective bargaining agreement that we enter into with the union may restrict our mining flexibility in and impose additional costs on our mining activities. In addition, relations between us and our employees in Mexico may be affected by changes in regulations or labor union requirements regarding labor relations that may be introduced by the Mexican authorities or by labor unions. Changes in legislation or in the relationship between us and our employees may have a material adverse effect on our mining activities and financial condition.

 

Our ability to successfully conduct mining and processing activities at our Velardeña Properties and potentially obtain long term cash flow and profitability from our Velardeña Properties or other properties in the future will be affected by changes in prices of silver, gold and other metals.

 

Our ability to successfully conduct mining and processing activities at our Velardeña Properties, to establish reserves and advance our exploration properties, and to become profitable in the future, as well as our long term viability, depend, in large part, on the market prices of silver, gold, zinc, lead, copper and other metals. The market prices for these metals are volatile and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including:

 

·             global or regional consumption patterns;

 

·             supply of, and demand for, silver, gold, zinc, lead, copper and other metals;

 

·             speculative activities and hedging activities;

 

·             expectations for inflation;

 

·             political and economic conditions; and

 

·             supply of, and demand for, consumables required for extraction and processing of metals.

 

The declines in gold and silver prices in 2013 had a significant impact on our mining activities and a continued decline or insufficient increase in prices could negatively affect mining activities at the Velardeña Properties. Additionally, future weakness in the global economy could increase volatility in metals prices or depress metals prices, which could also affect our mining and processing plans at our Velardeña Properties or make it uneconomic for us to engage in mining or exploration activities. Volatility or sustained price declines may also adversely affect our ability to build or continue our business.

 

As a result of our business combination with ECU, we have assumed all historical ECU liabilities, some of which are known or which may become known by Golden Minerals.

 

On September 2, 2011, we completed a business combination with ECU (the “Transaction”), which at that time owned the Velardeña Properties. As a result of the Transaction, we are now subject to the environmental, contractual, tax and other obligations and liabilities of ECU, some of which may be unknown. For example, we received notices from Mexican tax authorities regarding approximately $1.4 million in social security taxes alleged to be due for previous years, which have been paid by us but which we have challenged for refund. There can be no assurance that we are aware of all obligations and liabilities related to the historical business of ECU. These liabilities, and other liabilities related to ECU’s business not currently known to us or that prove to be more significant than we currently anticipate, could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Velardeña Properties, the El Quevar project and our other properties may not contain mineral reserves.

 

We are considered an exploration stage company under SEC Industry Guide 7, and none of the properties at our Velardeña Properties, the El Quevar project, or any of our other properties have been shown to contain proven or probable mineral reserves. Expenditures made in mining at the Velardeña Properties or the exploration and advancement of our El Quevar project or other properties may not result in positive cash flow or in discoveries of commercially recoverable quantities of ore. Most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable ore deposits, and we cannot assure you that any mineral deposit we identify will qualify as an orebody that can be legally and economically exploited or that any particular level of recovery from discovered mineralization will in fact be realized.

 

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Chlumsky, Armbrust and Meyer completed a technical report on our Velardeña Properties, which indicated the presence of mineralized material, and RungePincockMinarco (formerly Pincock Allen & Holt) completed a technical report on our El Quevar property, which indicated the presence of mineralized material. Mineralized material figures based on estimates made by geologists are inherently imprecise and depend on geological interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling that may prove to be unreliable or inaccurate. We cannot assure you that these estimates are accurate or that proven and probable mineral reserves will be identified at the Velardeña Properties, El Quevar or any of our other properties. Even if the presence of reserves is established at a project, the economic viability of the project may not justify exploitation. We have spent significant amounts on the evaluation of El Quevar prior to establishing the economic viability of that project.

 

Estimates of reserves, mineral deposits and mining costs also can be affected by factors such as governmental regulations and requirements, fluctuations in metals prices or costs of essential materials or supplies, environmental factors, unforeseen technical difficulties and unusual or unexpected geological formations. In addition, the grade of ore ultimately mined may differ from that indicated by drilling results, sampling, feasibility studies or technical reports. Short term factors relating to reserves, such as the need for orderly development of ore bodies or the processing of new or different grades, may also have an adverse effect on mining and on the results of operations. Silver, gold or other minerals recovered in small scale laboratory tests may not be duplicated in large scale tests under on site processing conditions.

 

The Velardeña Properties, the El Quevar project and our other properties are subject to foreign environmental laws and regulations which could materially adversely affect our business.

 

We conduct mining activities in Mexico and mineral exploration activities primarily in Argentina and Mexico. These countries have laws and regulations that control the exploration and mining of mineral properties and their effects on the environment, including air and water quality, mine reclamation, waste generation, handling and disposal, the protection of different species of flora and fauna and the preservation of lands. These laws and regulations require us to acquire permits and other authorizations for conducting certain activities. In many countries, there is relatively new comprehensive environmental legislation, and the permitting and authorization process may not be established or predictable. We may not be able to acquire necessary permits or authorizations on a timely basis, if at all. Delays in acquiring any permit or authorization could increase the cost of our projects and could suspend or delay the commencement of extraction and processing of mineralized material.

 

Our Velardeña Properties are subject to regulation by SEMARNAT, the environmental protection agency of Mexico. In order to permit new facilities at or expand existing facilities, regulations require that an environmental impact statement, known in Mexico as a Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, be prepared by a third party contractor for submission to SEMARNAT. Studies required to support the Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental include a detailed analysis of soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, cultural resources and socio economic impacts. The Manifestación is then published on SEMARNAT’s web page and in its official gazette in a national and local newspaper. The Manifestación is discussed at various open hearings, including hearings in the local communities, at which third parties may voice their views. We would be required to provide proof of local community support of the Manifestación as a condition to final approval.

 

Environmental legislation in Mexico is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. For example, in January 2011, Article 180 of the Mexican Federal General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection was amended. Among other things, this amendment extended the term during which an individual or entity having a legitimate interest may contest administrative acts, including environmental authorizations, permits or concessions granted, without the need to demonstrate the actual existence of harm to the environment, natural resources, flora, fauna or human health, making it sufficient to argue that harm may be caused. Further, the amendment permits the contesting party to challenge a Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental through a variety of administrative or court procedures. As a result of the amendment, more legal actions supported or sponsored by non governmental groups interested in halting projects may be filed against companies operating in all industrial sectors, including the mining sector. Mexican operations are also subject to the environmental agreements entered into by Mexico, the United States and Canada in connection with the North American Free Trade Agreement. Further, in August 2011, certain amendments to the Civil Federal Procedures Code of Mexico (“CFPC”) were published in the Official Daily of the Federation. The amendments establish three categories of collective actions by which 30 or more people claiming injury resulting from, among other things, environmental harm, will be deemed to have a sufficient and legitimate interest in seeking, through a civil procedure, restitution, economic compensation or suspension of the activities from which the alleged injury derived. These amendments to the CFPC may result in more litigation by plaintiffs seeking remedies for alleged environmental harms, including suspension of the activities alleged to cause harm. Future changes in environmental regulation in the jurisdictions where the Velardeña

 

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Properties are located may adversely affect our business, make our business prohibitively expensive, or prohibit it altogether.

 

Environmental legislation in many other countries, in addition to Mexico, is evolving in a manner that will likely require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. We cannot predict what environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted or adopted in the future or how future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted. For example, in September 2010, the Argentine National Congress passed legislation which prohibits mining activity in glacial and surrounding areas. Although we do not currently anticipate that this legislation will impact the El Quevar project, the legislation provides an example of the evolving environmental legislation in the areas in which we operate. Compliance with more stringent laws and regulations, as well as potentially more vigorous enforcement policies or regulatory agencies or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may (i) necessitate significant capital outlays, (ii) cause us to delay, terminate or otherwise change our intended activities with respect to one or more projects, or (iii) materially adversely affect our future exploration activities.

 

The Velardeña Properties and many of our exploration properties are located in historic mining districts where prior owners, including ECU in the case of the Velardeña Properties, may have caused environmental damage that may not be known to us or to the regulators. At the Velardeña Properties and in most other cases, we have not sought complete environmental analyses of our mineral properties. We have not conducted comprehensive reviews of the environmental laws and regulations in every jurisdiction in which we own or control mineral properties. Insurance fully covering many environmental risks (including potential liability for pollution or other hazards as a result of disposal of waste products occurring from exploration and mining) is not generally available. To the extent environmental hazards may exist on the properties in which we currently hold interests, or may hold interests in the future, that are unknown to us at present and that have been caused by us, or previous owners or operators, or that may have occurred naturally, and to the extent we are subject to environmental requirements or liabilities, the cost of compliance with these requirements and satisfaction of these liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If we are unable to fully fund the cost of remediation of any environmental condition, we may be required to suspend activities or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remediation.

 

In addition, U.S. or international legislative or regulatory action to address concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions could negatively impact our business.

 

Title to the Velardeña Properties and our other properties may be defective or may be challenged.

 

Our policy is to seek to confirm the validity of our rights to, title to, or contract rights with respect to, each mineral property in which we have a material interest. However, we cannot guarantee that title to our properties will not be challenged. Title insurance is not available for our mineral properties, and our ability to ensure that we have obtained secure rights to individual mineral properties or mining concessions may be severely constrained. Accordingly, the Velardeña Properties and our other mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. In addition, we may be unable to conduct activities on our properties as permitted or to enforce our rights with respect to our properties, and the title to our mineral properties may also be impacted by state action. We have not conducted surveys of all of the exploration properties in which we hold direct or indirect interests and, therefore, the precise area and location of these exploration properties may be in doubt.

 

In most of the countries in which we operate, failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to mineral right applications and tenure could result in loss, reduction or expropriation of entitlements, or the imposition of additional local or foreign parties as joint venture partners. Any such loss, reduction or imposition of partners could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Under the laws of Mexico, mineral resources belong to the state, and government concessions are required to explore for or exploit mineral reserves. Mineral rights derive from concessions granted, on a discretionary basis, by the Ministry of Economy, pursuant to the Mexican mining law and regulations thereunder. We hold title to the Velardeña Properties and our other properties in Mexico through these government concessions, but there is no assurance that title to the concessions comprising the Velardeña Properties and other properties will not be challenged or impaired. The Velardeña Properties and other properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, interests or native land claims, and title may be affected by undetected defects. There would be valid challenges to the title of any of the claims comprising the Velardeña Properties that, if successful, could impair mining with respect to such properties in the future. A defect could result in our losing all or a portion of our right, title, and interest in and to the properties to which the title defect relates.

 

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Our Velardeña Properties mining concessions and our other mining concessions in Mexico may be terminated if our obligations to maintain the concessions in good standing are not satisfied, including obligations to explore or exploit the relevant concession, to pay any relevant fees, to comply with all environmental and safety standards, to provide information to the Ministry of Economy and to allow inspections by the Ministry of Economy. In addition to termination, failure to make timely concession maintenance payments and otherwise comply strictly with applicable laws, regulations and local practices relating to mineral right applications and tenure could result in reduction or expropriation of entitlements.

 

Mining concessions in Mexico give exclusive exploration and exploitation rights to the minerals located in the concessions but do not include surface rights to the real property, which requires that we negotiate the necessary agreements with surface landowners. Many of our mining properties are subject to the Mexican ejido system requiring us to contract with the local communities surrounding the properties in order to obtain surface rights to land needed in connection with our mining exploration activities. In connection with our Velardeña Properties, we have contracts with two ejidos to secure surface rights with a total annual cost of approximately $40,000. The first contract is a ten year contract with the Velardeña ejido, which provides surface rights to certain roads and other infrastructure at the Velardeña Properties through 2021. The second contract is a 25 year contract with the Vista Hermosa ejido signed in March 2013, which provides exploration access and access rights for roads and utilities for our Velardeña Properties. Our inability to maintain and periodically renew or expand these surface rights on favorable terms or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

There are significant hazards involved in underground mining and processing activities at our Velardeña Properties, not all of which are fully covered by insurance. To the extent we must pay the costs associated with such risks, our business may be negatively affected.

 

The mining and processing and maintenance of our Velardeña Properties, as well as the conduct of our exploration programs, are subject to numerous risks and hazards, including, but not limited to, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, encountering unusual or unexpected geological formations, formation pressures, cave ins, underground fires or floods, power outages, labor disruptions, flooding, seismic activity, rock bursts, accidents relating to historical workings, landslides and periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions. These occurrences could result in damage to, or destruction of, mineral properties or processing facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage, reduced extraction and processing and delays in mining, asset write downs, monetary losses and possible legal liability. Although we maintain insurance against risks inherent in the conduct of our business in amounts that we consider reasonable, this insurance contains, as in the case of our Velardeña Properties, exclusions and limitations on coverage, and will not cover all potential risks associated with mining and exploration activities, and related liabilities might exceed policy limits. As a result of any or all of the forgoing, particularly if the facilities are older, we could incur significant liabilities and costs that could adversely affect our results of operation and financial condition.

 

Our Velardeña Properties are located in Mexico and are subject to various levels of political, economic, legal and other risks with which we have limited or no previous experience.

 

Our Velardeña Properties are located in Mexico, and, as such, are exposed to various levels of political, economic, legal and other risks and uncertainties, including local acts of violence, such as violence from drug cartels; military repression; extreme fluctuations in currency exchange rates; high rates of inflation; labor unrest; the risks of war or civil unrest; expropriation and nationalization; renegotiation or nullification of existing concessions, licenses, permits and contracts; illegal mining; acts of political corruption; changes in taxation policies; restrictions on foreign exchange and repatriation; and changing political conditions, currency controls and governmental regulations that favor or require the awarding of contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction.

 

In the past, Mexico has been subject to political instability, changes and uncertainties, which have resulted in changes to existing governmental regulations affecting mineral exploration and mining activities. Mexico’s status as a developing country may make it more difficult for us to obtain any required funding for our Velardeña Properties or other projects in Mexico in the future.

 

Our Mexican properties are subject to a variety of governmental regulations governing health and worker safety, employment standards, waste disposal, protection of historic and archaeological sites, mine development, protection of endangered and protected species and other matters. Specifically, our activities related to the Velardeña Properties are subject to regulation by SEMARNAT, the Comision Nacional del Agua, which regulates water rights, and Mexican mining laws. Mexican regulators have broad authority to shut down and levy fines against facilities that do not comply with regulations or standards.

 

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Our Velardeña Properties and mineral exploration activities in Mexico may be adversely affected in varying degrees by changing government regulations relating to the mining industry or shifts in political conditions that increase the costs related to our mining and exploration activities or the maintenance of our properties. For example, effective January 2014, amendments to the Mexico federal corporate income tax law impose additional duties on mining concession holders, which will have a significant impact on the annual costs to maintain the concessions comprising the Velardeña Properties and our other Mexico exploration properties.

 

Changes, if any, in mining or investment policies, changes or increases in the legal rights of indigenous populations or in the difficulty or expense of obtaining rights from them that are necessary for our Velardeña Properties or shifts in political attitude may adversely affect our business and financial condition. Our mining and exploration activities may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations with respect to restrictions on extraction, price controls, export controls, currency remittance, income and other taxes, expropriation of property, foreign investment, maintenance of claims, environmental legislation, land use, land claims of local people, water use and mine safety. The restart of our facilities is also subject to the need to assure the availability of adequate supplies of water and power, which could be affected by government policy and competing businesses in the area. The occurrence of these various factors and uncertainties cannot be accurately predicted and could have an adverse effect on our mining and exploration activities and financial condition.

 

Future changes in applicable laws and regulations or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could negatively impact current or planned exploration or mining activities at our Velardeña Properties or at any of our other projects in Mexico or with which we become involved in Mexico. Any failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, even if inadvertent, could result in the interruption of exploration and mining or material fines, penalties or other liabilities.

 

Results from our Velardeña Properties are subject to exchange control policies, the effects of inflation and currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso.

 

Our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. However, operating costs of our Velardeña Properties are denominated principally in Mexican pesos. These costs principally include electricity, labor, maintenance, local contractors and fuel. Accordingly, when inflation in Mexico increases without a corresponding devaluation of the Mexican peso, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected. The annual inflation rate in Mexico was 4.0% in 2013, 3.6% in 2012 and 3.8% in 2011. At the same time, the peso has been subject to significant fluctuation, which may not have been proportionate to the inflation rate and may not be proportionate to the inflation rate in the future. The value of the peso decreased by 0.6% in 2013, increased by 7.0% in 2012 and decreased by 12.9% in 2011. In addition, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may have a significant impact on our financial results. There can be no assurance that the Mexican government will maintain its current policies with regard to the peso or that the peso’s value will not fluctuate significantly in the future. We cannot assure you that currency fluctuations, inflation and exchange control policies will not have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, earnings and cash flows.

 

If we are unable to obtain all of our required governmental permits or obtain property rights on favorable terms or at all, our business could be negatively impacted.

 

Mining and future processing at our Velardeña Properties, the continued evaluation of the El Quevar project and other exploration activities will require additional permits from various governmental authorities. Our business is and will continue to be governed by laws and regulations governing exploration, prospecting, mining, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, mine safety, mining royalties and other matters. We may also be required to obtain certain property rights to access or use our properties. Obtaining or renewing licenses and permits, and acquiring property rights, can be complex and time consuming processes. There can be no assurance that we will be able to acquire all required licenses, permits or property rights on reasonable terms or in a timely manner, or at all, and that such terms will not be adversely changed, that required extensions will be granted, or that the issuance of such licenses, permits or property rights will not be challenged by third parties. Delays in obtaining or a failure to obtain any licenses, permits or property rights or any required extensions; challenges to the issuance of licenses, permits or property rights, whether successful or unsuccessful; changes to the terms of licenses, permits or property rights; or a failure to comply with the terms of any licenses, permits or property rights that have been obtained could have a material adverse effect on our business by delaying, preventing or making mining and processing at our Velardeña Properties and other continued mining activities economically unfeasible. U.S. or international legislative or regulatory action to address concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions could also negatively impact our business. While we will continue to monitor and assess any new policies, legislation or regulations regarding such matters, we currently believe that the impact of such legislation on our business will not be significant.

 

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We own our interest in the San Diego exploration property in Mexico in a 50 50 joint venture and are therefore unable to control all aspects of exploration and advancement of this property.

 

We hold the San Diego exploration property in Mexico in a 50 50 joint venture with Golden Tag Resources Ltd., which has a right to acquire an additional 10% interest by making expenditures related to further exploration drilling and completing an updated resource assessment at the property. Our interest in the San Diego property is subject to the risks normally associated with the conduct of joint ventures. A disagreement between joint venture partners on how to conduct business efficiently, the inability of joint venture partners to meet their obligations to the joint venture or third parties, or litigation arising between joint venture partners regarding joint venture matters could have a material adverse effect on the viability of our interests held through the joint venture. For example, in 2009, ECU received a notice of arbitration from Golden Tag Resources Ltd. The dispute was settled in September 2010 and resulted in an increase in ECU’s mining property costs of approximately $61,000. Additionally, if Golden Tag Resources Ltd. exercises its right to acquire an additional 10% interest, our ability to control exploration and advancement will be further reduced.

 

We depend on the services of key executives.

 

Our business strategy is based on leveraging the experience and skill of our management team. We are dependent on the services of key executives, including Jeffrey Clevenger, Robert Vogels and Warren Rehn. Due to our relatively small size, the loss of any of these persons or our inability to attract and retain additional highly skilled employees may have a material adverse effect on our business and our ability to manage and succeed in our mining and exploration activities.

 

The exploration of our mineral properties is highly speculative in nature, involves substantial expenditures and is frequently non productive.

 

Mineral exploration is highly speculative in nature and is frequently non productive. Substantial expenditures are required to:

 

·             establish mineral reserves through drilling and metallurgical and other testing techniques;

 

·             determine metal content and metallurgical recovery processes to process metal from the ore;

 

·             determine the feasibility of mine development and production; and

 

·             construct, renovate or expand mining and processing facilities.

 

If we discover ore at a property, it usually takes several years from the initial phases of exploration until production is possible. During this time, the economic feasibility of a project may change because of increased costs, lower metal prices or other factors. As a result of these uncertainties, we may not successfully acquire additional mineral rights, or our exploration programs may not result in proven and probable reserves at all or in sufficient quantities to justify developing the El Quevar project or any of our exploration properties.

 

The decisions about future advancement of exploration projects may be based on feasibility studies, which derive estimates of reserves, operating costs and project economic returns. Estimates of economic returns are based, in part, on assumptions about future metal prices and estimates of average cash operating costs based upon, among other things:

 

·             anticipated tonnage, grades and metallurgical characteristics of ore to be mined and processed;

 

·             anticipated recovery rates of silver and other metals from the ore;

 

·             cash operating costs of comparable facilities and equipment; and

 

·             anticipated climatic conditions.

 

Actual cash operating costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those anticipated by our studies and estimates.

 

Lack of infrastructure could forestall or prevent further exploration and advancement.

 

Exploration activities, as well as any advancement activities, depend on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources and water supply are important factors that affect capital and operating costs and the feasibility and economic viability of a project. Unanticipated or higher than expected costs and unusual or infrequent weather phenomena,

 

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or government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our exploration activities are in countries with developing economies and are subject to the risks of political and economic instability associated with these countries.

 

We currently conduct exploration activities almost exclusively in countries with developing economies, including Argentina and Mexico. These countries and other emerging markets in which we may conduct business have from time to time experienced economic or political instability. We may be materially adversely affected by risks associated with conducting exploration activities in countries with developing economies, including:

 

·             political instability and violence;

 

·             war and civil disturbance;

 

·             acts of terrorism or other criminal activity;

 

·             expropriation or nationalization;

 

·             changing fiscal, royalty and tax regimes; fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

·             high rates of inflation;

 

·             uncertain or changing legal requirements respecting the ownership and maintenance of mineral properties, mines and mining activities, and inconsistent or arbitrary application of such legal requirements;

 

·             underdeveloped industrial and economic infrastructure;

 

·             corruption; and

 

·             unenforceability of contractual rights.

 

Changes in mining or investment policies or shifts in the prevailing political climate in any of the countries in which we conduct exploration activities could adversely affect our business.

 

We explore and mine in countries that may be adversely affected by changes in the local government’s policies toward or laws governing the mining industry.

 

We have mining activities in Mexico and exploration activities primarily in Mexico and Argentina. In these regions there exist uncertainties regarding future changes in applicable law related to mining and exploration. For instance, in January 2014, amendments to the Mexico federal corporate income tax law require titleholders of mining concessions to pay annually a 7.5% duty of their mining related profits and a 0.5% duty on revenues obtained from the sale of gold, silver and platinum. These additional duties applicable to Mexico mining concession titleholders will have a significant impact on the annual costs to maintain the concessions comprising the Velardeña Properties if we have revenues in the future.

 

Additionally, in October 2011, the president of Argentina announced, by way of a presidential decree, that mining companies with operations in Argentina would be required to repatriate all export revenues generated into Argentina for local foreign exchange conversion prior to transfer overseas. This decree overturns a previous exemption for mining companies from Argentina’s currency repatriation laws that apply to oil and gas producers in the country. Consequently, if we ultimately have payable metals from the El Quevar project in Argentina, the new repatriation policy may increase foreign exchange transaction costs.

 

In addition to the risk of increased transaction costs, we do not maintain political risk insurance to cover losses that we may incur as a result of nationalization, expropriation or similar events in Argentina or other Latin American countries in which we explore or have mining and processing activities.

 

We compete against larger and more experienced companies.

 

The mining industry is intensely competitive. Many large mining companies are primarily makers of precious or base metals and may become interested in the types of deposits on which we are focused, which include silver and other precious metals deposits or polymetallic deposits containing significant quantities of base metals, including zinc, lead, copper and gold. Many of these companies have greater financial resources, experience and technical capabilities than we do. We may encounter increasing competition from other mining companies in our efforts to acquire mineral properties and hire

 

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experienced mining professionals. Increased competition in our business could adversely affect our ability to attract necessary capital funding or acquire suitable mining properties or prospects for mineral exploration in the future.

 

We are dependent on information technology systems, which are subject to certain risks, including cybersecurity risks and data leakage risks.

 

We are dependent upon information technology systems in the conduct of our business. Any significant breakdown, invasion, virus, cyber attack, security breach, destruction or interruption of these systems by employees, others with authorized access to our systems, or unauthorized persons could negatively impact our business. To the extent any invasion, cyber attack or security breach results in disruption to our business, loss or disclosure of, or damage to, our data or confidential information, our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Our systems and insurance coverage for protecting against cyber security risks may not be sufficient. Although to date we have not experienced any material losses relating to cyber attacks, we may suffer such losses in the future. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities.

 

Our stockholders may suffer additional dilution to their equity and voting interests as a result of future financing transactions.

 

We could require additional funding to support our business, including for general and administrative costs and other working capital needs to fund our continuing business activities as currently conducted. Because debt financing is difficult to obtain for early stage mining companies, it is likely that we will seek such financing in the equity markets. If we were to engage in any type of equity financing the current ownership interest of our stockholders would be diluted.

 

The existence of a significant number of warrants and options may have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

In connection with our financing in September 2014, we issued warrants to acquire 4,746,000 shares of our common stock at $1.21 per share expiring in September 2019. In connection with our financing in September 2012, we issued five year warrants to purchase 3,431,649 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $8.42 per share expiring September 2017. Pursuant to a weighted average dilution calculation based on the pricing in the September 2014 financing, the exercise price for the September 2012 warrants was reduced to $7.17 and the number of shares issuable on exercise of the warrants increased to 4,031,409. The existence of securities available for exercise and resale is referred to as an “overhang,” and, particularly if the warrants are “in the money,” the anticipation of potential sales could exert downward pressure on the market price of our common stock.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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

 

None.

 

Item 3.          Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4.          Mine Safety Disclosures

 

None.

 

Item 5.          Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6.          Exhibits

 

4.1

 

Warrant Agreement by and between Golden Minerals Company and Computershare Trust Company N.A., dated as of September 10, 2014. (Sentient Private Placement) (1)

10.1

 

Subscription Agreement between Golden Minerals Company and Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P. dated as of September 10, 2014. (2)

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

32

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Definition Document

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 


(1)          This Warrant Agreement replaces the Warrant Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.2 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC September 10, 2014. The first paragraph of the agreement was revised to properly reflect the parties to the agreement.

 

(2)          This Subscription Agreement replaces the Subscription Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC September 10, 2014. The agreement was revised to correct a typographical error in the purchase price.

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:   November 6, 2014

By:

/s/ Jeffrey G. Clevenger

 

 

Jeffrey G. Clevenger

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:   November 6, 2014

By:

/s/ Robert P. Vogels

 

 

Robert P. Vogels

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

37


Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ U.S. SECURITIES ACT ”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (E) IN A TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OFFER AND SALE OF SECURITIES, AND, IN THE CASE OF (C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER HAS PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER FURNISHED TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

 

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY BEFORE JANUARY 11, 2015.

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT is dated September 10, 2014, among Golden Minerals Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, collectively as warrant agent (the “ Warrant Agent ”), for the benefit of Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P., as the initial holder (the “ Holder ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.             The Company proposes to issue to the Holder a warrant (the “ Warrant ”) to acquire up to 2,900,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value (“ Common Stock ”), of the Company, subject to adjustment as provided herein (the “ Warrant Shares ”), at an initial price of $1.21 per share (the “ Exercise Price ”); and

 

B.             The Warrant Agent is willing to serve as warrant agent in connection with the issuance of the Warrant, maintaining its book-entry system or, in the alternative, issuing a certificate evidencing the Warrant (the “ Warrant Certificate ”), and the other matters as provided herein subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for the purpose of defining the terms and provisions of the Warrant and the respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holder, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.              Definitions.  For the purposes of this Warrant Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 



 

Adjustment Right ” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 8(c) ) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 8(a)  or 8(b)  hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).

 

Approved Stock Plan ” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to or subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to which shares of Common Stock, restricted stock, standard options, stock appreciation and similar and customary employee incentive rights to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer, director or consultant for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such.

 

Black Scholes Consideration Value ” means the value of the applicable Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) based on the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be), (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 50% and the 100-day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg and (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Closing Sale Price for any Trading Day during the ten (10) Trading Day period ending on and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be).

 

Business Day ” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or the State of New Jersey are authorized or required by law or other government action to close.

 

Closing Sale Price ” of a share of Common Stock on any date shall mean (i) if the shares of Common Stock are traded on the NYSE MKT or any other U.S. national securities exchange, the closing trade price of one share of Common Stock on such date; (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on the NYSE MKT or any other U.S. national securities exchange but are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“ TSX ”), the closing trade price on such date; (iii) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on any such market or listed on any such exchange and the shares of Common Stock are traded in the over-the-counter market, the last bid price reported on such day by the OTC Bulletin Board; (iv) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on any such market, listed on any such exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, then the last bid quoted on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding its functions of reporting prices); or (v) if none of clauses (i)-(iv) are applicable, then the fair market value as determined, in good faith, by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2



 

Common Stock Deemed Outstanding ” means, at any given time, the sum of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding at such time, plus (b) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time, plus (c) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities actually outstanding at such time (treating as actually outstanding any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of Options actually outstanding at such time), in each case, regardless of whether the Options or Convertible Securities are actually exercisable at such time; provided , that Common Stock Deemed Outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

Common Stock Equivalents ” means any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is at any time and under any circumstances directly or indirectly convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any capital stock or other security of the Company (including, without limitation, Common Stock) or any of its subsidiaries.

 

Convertible Securities ” means any securities (directly or indirectly) convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

 

Date of Exercise ” means the date on which the Holder shall have delivered to the Warrant Agent an Election to Purchase in the form attached hereto (with the Warrant Exercise Log attached to it), appropriately completed and duly signed.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Excluded Securities ” means any Common Stock issued or issuable: (i) to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan, (ii) upon the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents (other than securities issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) issued prior to the date hereof, provided that the conversion price of any such Common Stock Equivalents is not lowered, none of such Common Stock Equivalents are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Common Stock Equivalents are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects the Holder; (iii) to Persons in connection with a joint venture, strategic alliance or other commercial relationship with such Person (including Persons that are customers, suppliers and strategic partners of the Company) relating to the operation of the Company’s business and not for the primary purpose of raising equity capital; and (iv) in connection with a transaction for the purpose of acquiring, directly or indirectly, another business or its tangible or intangible assets.

 

Expiration Date ” means 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date five years after the Initial Issuance Date.

 

Initial Exercise Date ” means March 11, 2015.

 

Initial Issuance Date ” means September 10, 2014.

 

3



 

Market Price ” of a share of Common Stock on any date shall mean, (i) if the shares of Common Stock are traded on the NYSE MKT or any other U.S. national securities exchange, the Volume Weighted Average Price of one share of Common Stock for the three Trading Days immediately preceding such date; (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on the NYSE MKT or any other U.S. national securities exchange but are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“ TSX ”), the Volume Weighted Average Price of one share of Common Stock for the three Trading Days immediately preceding such date; (iii) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on any such market or listed on any such exchange and the shares of Common Stock are traded in the over-the-counter market, the last price reported on such day by the OTC Bulletin Board; (iv) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on any such market, listed on any such exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, then the last price quoted on such day in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated (or any similar organization or agency succeeding its functions of reporting prices); or (v) if none of clauses (i)-(iv) are applicable, then as determined, in good faith, by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Options ” means any warrants or other rights or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

Person ” means a corporation, association, partnership, limited liability corporation, organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency or any other entity.

 

Trading Day ” means (i) a day on which the shares of Common Stock are traded on the NYSE MKT or such other U.S. national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed or quoted, (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on the NYSE MKT or any other U.S. national securities exchange but are traded on the TSX, a day on which the shares of Common Stock are traded on the TSX, (iii) if the shares of Common Stock are not listed on any such exchange or market, a day on which the shares of Common Stock are traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iv) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, a day on which the shares of Common Stock are quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated (or any similar organization or agency succeeding its functions of reporting prices); provided , that in the event that the shares of Common Stock are not listed or quoted as set forth in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day; and provided further that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours.

 

Volume Weighted Average Price ” means (i) the volume weighted average sale price on the NYSE MKT as reported by, or based upon data reported by, Bloomberg Financial Markets or an equivalent, reliable reporting service mutually acceptable to the Company and the Warrant Agent (“ Bloomberg ”), or (ii) if the Company’s Common Stock is not listed on the NYSE MKT, the volume weighted average sale price of such security on the TSX as reported by Bloomberg.

 

2.              Form of Warrant Certificate.

 

(a)            If the Warrant Agent issues a Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Certificate shall be issued in registered form only as a definitive Warrant Certificate and shall be substantially

 

4



 

in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , shall be dated the date of issuance thereof (whether upon initial issuance, register of transfer, exchange or replacement) and shall bear such legends and endorsements typed, stamped, printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company or the Warrant Agent may deem appropriate, which may include limitation legends required from time to time by international jurisdictions into which the Warrant or Warrant Shares are initially issued, and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities and protections of the Warrant Agent.  The Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrant to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock specified on the Warrant Certificate shall be signed by, or bear the PDF signature of, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Secretary of the Company.  In the event the person whose PDF signature has been placed upon any Warrant Certificate shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant Certificate before such Warrant Certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

 

(b)            Effect of Countersignature .  If the Warrant Agent issues a Warrant Certificate, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant Certificate shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.  Such signature by the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificate executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that such Warrant Certificate has been duly issued under the terms of this Agreement.  The Warrant Agent can sign by either manual or facsimile signature.

 

(c)            Warrant Register.  The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “ Warrant Register ”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrant.  Upon the initial issuance of the Warrant, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrant in the name of the Holder in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with written instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Holder.  The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered Holder of the Warrant as the absolute owner of the Warrant represented thereby for the purpose of any exercise thereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual written notice to the contrary.

 

(d)            Registration of Transfers.  The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer of any portion the Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon surrender of the Warrant Certificate representing the Warrant, if the Warrant is certificated, with the Form of Assignment properly completed and duly signed, to the Warrant Agent at its office designated for such purpose.  In connection with any such registration or transfer, the Holder requesting transfer of the Warrant must provide any evidence of authority that may be required by the Warrant Agent, including but not limited to, a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association.

 

If the Warrant is certificated, upon any such registration or transfer, the Company shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall countersign a new Warrant Certificate, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (any such new Warrant Certificate, a “ New Warrant Certificate ”), evidencing the portion of the Warrant Certificate so transferred, which shall be issued to the transferee, and a New Warrant Certificate evidencing the remaining portion of the Warrant Certificate not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to the transferring Holder subject to applicable law and the reasonable requirements of the Warrant Agent, which requirements shall include reasonable evidence of authority to transfer.  Such evidence of authority shall include a signature

 

5



 

guarantee form from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Warrant Agent.  The delivery of the New Warrant Certificate by the Company to the transferee thereof shall be deemed to constitute acceptance by such transferee of all of the rights and obligations of a holder of a Warrant Certificate.  In the event that the Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel the Warrant and issue a new Warrant in exchange therefor until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrant must also bear a restrictive legend.  The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange that will result in the issuance of a Warrant Certificate for a fraction of a Warrant.  The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrant Certificate required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2(d), and the Company, whenever requested by the Warrant Agent, will supply the Warrant Agent with the Warrant Certificate duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

(e)            Legends .

 

(i)             Any certificate representing Warrant Shares issued upon the exercise of the Warrant will bear the following legend:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ U.S. SECURITIES ACT ”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (E) IN A TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OFFER AND SALE OF SECURITIES, AND, IN THE CASE OF (C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER HAS PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER FURNISHED TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.”

 

provided , the legend may be removed by delivery to the Company of an opinion of counsel of recognized standing in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that such legend is no longer required under applicable requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, state securities laws or applicable Canadian securities laws.

 

(ii)            The Holder covenants and agrees that it will not, during the period ending on the date that is four (4) months plus one (1) day after the date of issuance of the Warrant,

 

6



 

sell or otherwise effect a trade of the Warrant to any person resident in any province or territory of Canada (collectively, the “ Canadian Jurisdictions ”) or any person acquiring such Warrant for the benefit of another person resident in any Canadian Jurisdiction, other than in a transaction made in compliance with the prospectus and registration requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws or which otherwise is made in reliance on any available exemptions therefrom (and the Company may require evidence of such compliance).  The Holder further agrees and acknowledges that if the Warrant is legally sold in any Canadian Jurisdiction, or to a resident of any Canadian Jurisdiction, within four months after the Initial Issuance Date, the Warrant and any replacement Warrant issued within four months after the Initial Issuance Date shall bear the following legend:

 

“UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY IN CANADA BEFORE JANUARY 11, 2015.”

 

The Company shall provide written instructions to the Warrant Agent whenever the foregoing legend is to be affixed to any Warrant Certificate, and until such written instructions are received by the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that no such legend should be affixed to any Warrant Certificate.

 

3.              Term of Warrant.  The Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder at any time and from time to time on or after the Initial Exercise Date to and including the Expiration Date.  At 5:00 p.m., New York time on the Expiration Date, any portion of the Warrant not exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value.

 

4.              Exercise of Warrant and Delivery of Warrant Shares .

 

(a)            A registered Holder may exercise the Warrant through a cashless exercise (a “ Cashless Exercise ”), which will be calculated by the Company and provided in writing to the Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 4(b) below, or if, and only if, an effective registration statement is then available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares, the registered Holder may exercise the Warrant through a cash exercise (a “ Cash Exercise ”).

 

(b)            The Holder may effect a Cashless Exercise, which will be calculated by the Company and provided in writing to the Warrant Agent, by surrendering a Warrant Certificate, if the Warrant is certificated, to the Warrant Agent and noting on the Election to Purchase that the Holder wishes to effect a Cashless Exercise, upon which the Company shall issue, or cause to be issued, to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares determined as follows:

 

 

X

=

Y × (A-B)/A

 

 

 

 

where:

X

=

the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder;

 

 

 

 

 

Y

=

the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which the Warrant is being exercised;

 

 

 

 

 

A

=

the Market Price as of the Date of Exercise; and

 

 

 

 

 

B

=

the Exercise Price.

 

7



 

Upon receipt of an Election to Purchase indicating a cashless exercise, the Warrant Agent will promptly deliver a copy of the Election to Purchase to the Company to confirm the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with the Cashless Exercise.  The Company shall calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent in a written notice, and the Warrant Agent shall have no duty, responsibility or obligation to calculate, the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with any Cashless Exercise.  The Warrant Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any such written notice provided by the Company, and the Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with such written instructions or this Agreement.  In the event of a Cashless Exercise, the Company shall provide the Warrant Agent with the cost basis for all securities issued pursuant to such Cashless Exercise prior to the issuance of such securities.  In the event of a Cash Exercise, the Company hereby instructs the Warrant Agent to record cost basis for newly issued securities as the Exercise Price thereof.

 

(c)            Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 4(e) ), the Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Initial Exercise Date but prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time on the Expiration Date, in whole or in part, by delivery of a properly completed and duly signed Election to Purchase, in the form attached hereto, payment (if the Holder did not notify the Company in such Election to Purchase that such exercise was made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise) to the Warrant Agent of an amount equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which the Warrant was so exercised (the “ Aggregate Exercise Price ”), in the form of a certified check, bank draft or via wire transfer, payable to the order of the Warrant Agent, in immediately available funds, and the Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrant being exercised, if such Warrant is certificated.  Execution and delivery of an Election to Purchase with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant Certificate with respect thereto and issuance of a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares.  If the Warrant is certificated, execution and delivery of an Election to Purchase for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the Warrant Certificate with respect thereto after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.  On or before the first (1 st ) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received an Election to Purchase, the Company shall transmit by email an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Election to Purchase to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) and Warrant Agent.  On or before the third (3 rd ) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received such Election to Purchase, the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, upon the request of the Holder, credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver to the Holder or, at the Holder’s instruction pursuant to the Election to Purchase, the Holder’s agent or designee, in each case, sent by reputable overnight courier to the address as specified in the applicable Election to Purchase, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Election to Purchase), for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to

 

8



 

such exercise.  Upon delivery of an Election to Purchase and all other required documents, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which such Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares (as the case may be).  If the Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 4(c)  and the number of Warrant Shares represented by the Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon such exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case where an exercise of this Warrant is validly made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise, the Company’s failure to deliver Warrant Shares to the Holder on or prior to the second (2nd) Trading Day after the Company’s receipt of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall not be deemed to be a breach of this Warrant.  Subject to Section 2(e) , for so long as there is a then effective registration statement covering the issuance of the Warrant Shares or if the Holder effects a Cashless Exercise, the Warrant Shares shall be issued free of all restrictive legends.

 

(d)            If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within the later of (i) three (3) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Election to Purchase and (ii) two (2) Trading Days after the Company’s receipt of the Aggregate Exercise Price (or valid notice of a Cashless Exercise) (such later date, the “ Share Delivery Deadline ”), a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant (as the case may be), and if on or after such Share Delivery Deadline the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “ Buy-In Price ”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock times (B) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Election to Purchase.

 

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(e)            The Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of the Warrant, pursuant to Section 4 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Election to Purchase, the Holder (together with such Holder’s affiliates (as defined in Rule 13e-3 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, an “ Affiliate ”)), and any other Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below).  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock that are subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 4(e) , beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith.  To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 4(e) applies, the determination of whether the Warrant owned by the Holder is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with its Affiliates) and of which portion of the Warrant owned by such Holder is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of an Election to Purchase shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the Warrant owned by such Holder is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any of its Affiliates) and of which portion of such Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company and the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination.  In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  For purposes of this Section 4(e) , in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  Upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within three Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including the Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.  The “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” for the Holder shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant owned by such Holder.  The Holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 4(e) , but may not increase the Beneficial Ownership Limitation to above

 

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9.99% in any event.  Any such increase or decrease will not be effective until the 61 st  day after such notice is delivered to the Company.  The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 4(e)  to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation.  The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of the Warrant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not apply if the Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates) beneficially owns, immediately following the transaction in which this Warrant was originally issued, in excess of 9.99% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding after giving effect to the provisions for calculating beneficial ownership set forth in this Section 4(e) .  In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall cease to apply as of the second Business Day prior to the Expiration Date upon written notice by the Holder to the Company not less than 65 days prior to such Expiration Date.

 

(f)             Upon receipt of an Election to Purchase, the Warrant Agent shall advise the Company in respect of (a) the number of Warrant Shares indicated on the Election to Purchase as issuable upon such exercise with respect to such exercised Warrant, (b) the instructions of the registered holder provided to the Warrant Agent with respect to delivery of the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, and the delivery of the definitive Warrant Certificate, as appropriate, evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrant Shares remaining after such exercise, and (c) such other information as the Company shall reasonably request.  Upon receipt of such information from the Warrant Agent, and clearance of any funds received in payment of the Exercise Price, the Company shall promptly at its expense cause to be issued to the holder of the Warrant the total number of Warrant Shares for which the Warrant is being exercised.  The Company shall calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under this Agreement to calculate, the number of Warrant Shares or other securities or other consideration to be issued or paid upon any such exercise, and the Warrant Agent shall have no duty or obligation to investigate or confirm whether any such determination made by the Company is accurate or correct.  All funds received by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by the Warrant Agent in the performance of its duties hereunder (the “ Funds ”) shall be held by Computershare as agent for the Company and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by Computershare in its name as agent for the Company.  Until paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Computershare will hold the Funds through such accounts in: deposit accounts of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.).  The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit made by the Warrant Agent in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party.  Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits.  Computershare shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Company, any holder or any other party, and in no event will interest accrue on any funds deposited with the Warrant Agent in respect of an exercise or attempted exercise of the Warrant.  The validity of any exercise of the Warrant will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion and such determination will be final and binding upon the registered holder and the Warrant Agent.  The Company shall promptly inform the registered holder of the invalidity of any

 

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exercise of the Warrant.  The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for Warrant exercises in a given month by the 5th Business Day of the following month by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company.

 

5.              Charges, Taxes and Expenses.  Issuance and delivery of certificates for Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue, or transfer agent fee in respect of the issuance of such certificates, all of which shall be paid by the Company; provided , however, that the Company shall not be obligated to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificates for Warrant Shares or the Warrant in a name other than that of the Holder.  The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liabilities that may arise as a result of holding or transferring any Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise thereof.

 

6.              Replacement of Warrant Certificate.   If the Warrant is certificated, the Warrant Agent shall issue a replacement Warrant Certificate in the event the Warrant Certificate is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of an open penalty surety bond satisfactory to it and holding it and the Company harmless, absent written notice to the Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser.  If the Warrant is certificated, the Warrant Agent may, at its option, issue a replacement Warrant Certificate in the event the Warrant Certificate is mutilated, upon presentation thereof without such indemnity.

 

7.              Reservation of Warrant Shares.  The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrant as herein provided, the number of Warrant Shares which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Warrant (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 8 ).  The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms hereof, be duly and validly authorized and issued, and be fully paid and nonassessable.  The Company shall provide an opinion of counsel prior to the Initial Issuance Date.  The opinion shall state that the Warrant or Warrant Shares, as applicable, are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

8.              Certain Adjustments.  The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of each Warrant then outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 8 ; provided, that the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether an adjustment event has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein.

 

(a)            Stock Dividends and Splits.  If the Company, (i) pays a stock dividend on its Common Stock, (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, or (iii) combines outstanding shares of Common Stock into a lesser number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event.  Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such

 

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dividend, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

 

(b)            Extraordinary Transactions.

 

(i)             If, (1) the Company effects any merger, amalgamation, arrangement, or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (2) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (3) any tender offer or exchange offer by the Company is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property, or (4) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (in any such case, an “ Extraordinary Transaction ”), then the Holder’s Warrant will become the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of its Warrant, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Extraordinary Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Extraordinary Transaction, the holder of the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise in full of the relevant Warrant (the “ Alternate Consideration ”) in lieu of Common Stock.  The aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant will not be affected by any such Extraordinary Transaction, but the Company shall apportion such aggregate Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration.  If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in an Extraordinary Transaction, then the Holder, to the extent practicable, shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of its Warrant following such Extraordinary Transaction.  In addition, at the request of the Holder, upon surrender of the Holder’s Warrant, any successor to the Company or surviving entity in such Extraordinary Transaction shall issue to such Holder a new warrant consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to purchase the Alternate Consideration for the aggregate Exercise Price upon exercise thereof.  The Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to an Extraordinary Transaction.

 

(ii)            Notwithstanding anything in clause (i) above to the contrary, in the event of an Extraordinary Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Extraordinary Transaction, purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Extraordinary Transaction.  As used herein, “ Black Scholes Value ” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black and Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on the Bloomberg Financial Markets (“ Bloomberg ”) determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Extraordinary Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the closing of the applicable Extraordinary Transaction and the Expiration Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 50% and the 100-day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Extraordinary Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the sum of the price per share

 

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being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Extraordinary Transaction and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the closing of the applicable Extraordinary Transaction and the Expiration Date.  For purposes of the foregoing, the value of any non-cash consideration in any Extraordinary Transaction will be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company or Successor Entity, (1) “ Successor Entity ” means the Person (as defined below) (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity (as defined below)) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Extraordinary Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Extraordinary Transaction shall have been entered into, (2) “ Eligible Market ” means the NYSE MKT, The NASDAQ Capital Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing), (3) “ Parent Entity ” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Extraordinary Transaction.

 

(c)            Adjustment Upon Issuance of Shares of Common Stock .  If and whenever on or after the Initial Issuance Date, the Company issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section 8(c)  is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding any Excluded Securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold) for a consideration per share (the “ New Issuance Price ”) less than a price equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale (such Exercise Price then in effect is referred to as the “ Applicable Price ”) (the foregoing a “ Dilutive Issuance ”), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Applicable Price shall be reduced (and in no event increased) to an Exercise Price equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:

 

(1)            the sum of (A) the product obtained by multiplying the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) by the Exercise Price then in effect, plus (B) the aggregate consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale); by

 

(2)            the sum of (A) the Common Stock Deemed Outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale) plus (B) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued or sold (or deemed issued or sold) by the Company in such issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale).

 

For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under this Section 8(c) , the following shall be applicable:

 

(i)             Issuance of Options .  If the Company in any manner grants or sells any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such

 

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share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share.  For purposes of this Section 8(c)(i) , the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” shall be equal to the lower of (x) the exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option and (y) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option.  Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of any such Option or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.  For clarification purposes and without limiting the foregoing, in calculating the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” paid or payable to the Company pursuant to this Section 8(c)(i) , any amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) upon such conversion, exercise or exchange of such Option shall reduce the value of the consideration paid or payable to the Company in such conversion, exercise or exchange and/or, as the case may be, the value of any other consideration or benefit conferred.

 

(ii)            Issuance of Convertible Securities .  If the Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share.  For the purposes of this Section 8(c)(ii) , the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” shall be equal to the lower of (x) the conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof and (y) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security.  Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 8(c)(ii) , except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.  For clarification purposes and without limiting the foregoing, in calculating the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” paid or payable to the Company pursuant to this Section 8(c)(ii) , any amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) upon conversion or exercise (as applicable) of such Convertible Security shall reduce the value of the consideration paid or payable to the Company in

 

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such conversion, exercise or exchange and/or, as the case may be, the value of any other consideration or benefit conferred.

 

(iii)           Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion .  If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold.  For purposes of this Section 8(c)(iii) , if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the date of issuance of this Warrant are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease.  No adjustment pursuant to this Section 8(c)(iii) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect.

 

(iv)           Calculation of Consideration Received .  If any Option or Convertible Security or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, (x) such Option or Convertible Security (as applicable) or Adjustment Right (as applicable) will be deemed to have been issued for consideration equal to the Black Scholes Consideration Value thereof and (y) the other securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued for consideration equal to the difference of (I) the aggregate consideration received or receivable by the Company minus (II) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option or Convertible Security (as applicable) or Adjustment Right (as applicable).  If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor.  If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the Volume Weighted Average Price of such security for each of the three (3) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt.  The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Warrant Agent.  If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “ Valuation Event ”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10 th ) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Warrant Agent.  The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company.

 

(v)            Omitted.

 

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(vi)           Record Date.  If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).

 

(d)            Omitted.

 

(e)            Calculations.  All calculations under this Section 8 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable.

 

(f)             Notice of Adjustments.  Upon the occurrence of each adjustment pursuant to this Section 8 , the Company at its expense will reasonably promptly calculate such adjustment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, including a statement of the adjusted Exercise Price and adjusted number of Warrant Shares or type of Alternate Consideration issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (as applicable), describing the transactions giving rise to such adjustments and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and deliver such written certificate to the Warrant Agent.  Until such written certificate is received by the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that no such adjustments have been made, and the Warrant Agent shall have no duty or obligation to investigate or confirm whether any of the Company’s determination are accurate or correct.  The Company will also reasonably promptly (but in any event within ten Business Days) deliver to the Holder upon written request a copy of each such certificate.  The Warrant Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, any certificate, notice or instructions provided by the Company with respect to any adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant, or any related matter, and the Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with any such certificate, notice or instructions or pursuant to this Warrant Agreement.  The Warrant Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received written notice thereof from the Company.  The form of Warrant Certificate need not be changed because of any adjustment hereunder, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrant initially issued pursuant to this Agreement.  However, the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof (including any of the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Warrant Agent), and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for the Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

(g)            Notice of Corporate Events.  If the Company (i) declares a dividend or any other distribution of cash, securities or other property in respect of its Common Stock (other than a dividend payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or (ii) authorizes the voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent and the Holder a notice describing the material terms and conditions of such dividend, distribution or transaction.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8(g) ,

 

17



 

the failure to deliver any notice under this Section 8(g)  or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be described in such notice.

 

9.              Reserved.

 

10.           Holder not Deemed a Stockholder.   Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as a Holder, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in the Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as a Holder, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares to which Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of the Warrant.

 

11.           No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Warrant Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of the Warrant.  In lieu of any fractional Warrant Shares which would otherwise be issuable, the Company shall pay cash equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the Market Price on the Date of Exercise.  The Warrant Agent shall not have any obligation to make any payments in lieu of fractional shares unless and until it receives specific written instructions to do so from the Company (including payment amounts and any necessary calculations) and after the Company shall have provided the Warrant Agent with all necessary funds to pay in full all amounts due and payable with respect thereto.

 

12.           Exchange Act Filings.

 

(a)            The Holder agrees and acknowledges that it shall have sole responsibility for making any applicable filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13 and 16 of the Exchange Act as a result of its acquisition of any Warrant and the Warrant Shares and any future retention or transfer thereof.

 

(b)            The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file all reports required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act.

 

13.           Notices.  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries hereunder (including without limitation any Election to Purchase) shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (with telephone confirmation of receipt) at the facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on a Trading Day, (ii) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (with telephone confirmation of receipt) at the facsimile number specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.  The addresses for such communications shall be:

 

18



 

if to the Company:                                                                    Golden Minerals Company
350 Indiana Street, Suite 800
Golden, Colorado  80401
Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile No.:  (303) 839-5907

 

with copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
1550 Seventeenth Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO  80202
Attn: Deborah Friedman
Facsimile No.: (303) 893-1379

 

if to the Warrant Agent:                                       Computershare Trust Company N.A.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Email: Stephanie.Harmon@computershare.com

Jodi.Cloney@computershare.com

Facsimile No.: (781) 575-2901

 

if to the Holder:                                                                                  Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P.
Landmark Square, 1
st  Floor, 64 Earth Close, West Bay Beach South

P.O. Box 10795

George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1007

Cayman Islands

Facsimile No.: (345) 946-0921

 

with copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Quinn & Brooks LLP

c/o Gregory A. Smith

P.O. Box 590

Larkspur, CO 80118

Facsimile No.: (720) 294-8374

 

14.           Warrant Agent.

 

(a)            The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions of this Agreement (and no implied terms or conditions), and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

 

(b)            The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent (including its shareholders, members, managers, officers, directors, employees and agents) for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any liabilities, suits, actions, proceedings, judgments, claims, settlements, costs, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of its legal counsel), losses or

 

19



 

damages, which may be paid, incurred or suffered by or to which it may become subject, arising from or out of, directly or indirectly, any claims or liability resulting from any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Warrant Agent in connection with the preparation, delivery, acceptance, administration, execution or amendment of this Agreement and the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing its rights hereunder; provided, that such covenant and agreement does not extend to, and the Warrant Agent shall not be indemnified with respect to, such liabilities, suits, actions, proceedings, judgments, claims, settlements, costs, expenses, losses and damages incurred or suffered by the Warrant Agent as a result of, or arising out of, its own gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

(c)            The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty to calculate or determine any required adjustments with respect to the Exercise Price and/or the number of Warrant Shares or the kind and amount of securities or other property receivable by the Holder upon the exercise of the Warrant, nor to determine the accuracy or correctness of any such calculation.  All calculations for any Cashless Exercises will be determined by the Company.

 

(d)            The Warrant Agent shall not by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation as to validity or authorization of the Warrant or the Warrant Certificate (except as to its countersignature thereon) or of any securities or other property delivered upon exercise of the Warrant, or as to the number or kind or amount of securities or other property deliverable upon exercise of the Warrant or the correctness of the representations of the Company made in such certificates that the Warrant Agent receives.

 

(e)            From time to time, the Company may provide the Warrant Agent with written instructions concerning the services performed by the Warrant Agent hereunder.  In addition, at any time the Warrant Agent may apply in writing to any officer of the Company for written instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Warrant Agent (including an employee of the Warrant Agent) or the Company with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement.  The Warrant Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Company for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in reliance upon any Company instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel.  The Warrant Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Company.

 

(f)             Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all Services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Company to the Warrant Agent as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses, during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Warrant Agent is being sought.

 

(g)            The Warrant Agent shall not (i) be liable for any recital or statement of fact contained herein or in any Warrant Certificate or for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of bad faith in the belief that the Warrant, Warrant Certificate or any other document or any signature is genuine or properly authorized, (ii) be responsible for any failure by

 

20


 


 

the Company to comply with any of its obligations contained in this Agreement or in the Warrant Certificate, (iii) be liable for any act or omission in connection with this Agreement except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) or (iv) have any responsibility to determine whether a transfer of the Warrant complies with applicable securities laws.  The Warrant Agent shall be under no duty to inquire into or investigate the validity, accuracy or content of any notice, instruction, request, resolution, waiver, consent, order, certificate, affidavit, statement, or other paper, document or instrument delivered to it.  The Warrant Agent shall not take any instructions or directions except those given in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(h)            The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary of the Company and to apply to any such officer for written instructions (which will then be promptly given) and the Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of bad faith in accordance with the instructions of any such officer, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), but in its discretion the Warrant Agent may in lieu thereof accept other evidence of such or may require such further or additional evidence as it may deem reasonable.

 

(i)             The Warrant Agent may exercise any of the rights and powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys, agents or employees, provided that a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction has not determined that the Warrant Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection and in the continued employment of any persons.  The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation or duty to institute, appear in or defend any action, suit or legal proceeding in respect hereof, unless first indemnified to its satisfaction.  The Warrant Agent shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any claim made or action, suit or proceeding instituted against or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.

 

(j)             The Company will take such action as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent in order to enable it to carry out or perform its duties under this Agreement.

 

(k)            The Warrant Agent shall act solely as agent of the Company hereunder and in a ministerial capacity, does not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with the Holder, and shall not be liable for failure to perform any duties that are not specifically set forth herein.

 

(l)             The Warrant Agent may consult with legal counsel satisfactory to it (who may be legal counsel for the Company or an employee of the Warrant Agent), and the Warrant Agent shall incur no liability or responsibility to the Company or to the Holder for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in the absence of bad faith in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.

 

(m)           The Company agrees to pay to the Warrant Agent compensation for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent hereunder as the Company and the Warrant Agent may agree from time to time, and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for reasonable expenses incurred in

 

21



 

connection with the negotiation, preparation, delivery, administration, execution, modification, waiver, delivery, enforcement or amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and expenses of its counsel), and further agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part (each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), arising out of or in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.

 

(n)            The Warrant Agent, and any shareholder, director, officer, employee or agent of the Warrant Agent, may buy, sell or deal in the Warrant or other securities of the Company or its Affiliates or become pecuniarily interested in transactions in which the Company or its Affiliates may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or its Affiliates or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Warrant Agent under this Agreement.  Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.

 

(o)            No resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent and no appointment of a successor warrant agent shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor warrant agent as provided herein.  The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liability hereunder after giving written notice to the Company, provided, that the Warrant Agent shall continue to be liable for any liability arising as a result of the Warrant Agent’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, each as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, until a successor warrant agent is appointed.  The Company may remove the Warrant Agent upon written notice, and the Warrant Agent shall thereupon in like manner be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder, except as aforesaid.  The Warrant Agent shall, at the Company’s expense, cause to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at such Holder’s last address as shown on the register of the Company maintained by the Warrant Agent a copy of said notice of resignation or notice of removal, as the case may be.  Upon such resignation or removal, the Company shall appoint in writing a new warrant agent.  If the Company fails to do so within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation by the resigning Warrant Agent or after such removal, then the resigning Warrant Agent or the Holder may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new warrant agent.  After acceptance in writing of such appointment by the new warrant agent, it shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named herein as the Warrant Agent.  Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall give notice thereof to the resigning or removed Warrant Agent.  Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 14(l) , however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation of the Warrant Agent or the appointment of a new warrant agent, as the case may be.

 

(p)            Any Person into which the Warrant Agent or any new warrant agent may be merged or converted or any Person resulting from any consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any Person to which the Warrant Agent transfers substantially all of its corporate trust or shareowner services business shall be a successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act, provided that such Person (i) would be eligible for appointment as successor to the Warrant Agent under this Agreement or (ii) is a wholly owned

 

22



 

subsidiary of the Warrant Agent.  Any such successor Warrant Agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as Warrant Agent to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder in accordance with Section 13 .

 

(q)            The Warrant Agent shall have no liability under, and no duty to inquire as to, the provisions of any agreement, instrument or document other than this Agreement, even though reference thereto may be made herein.

 

(r)             All rights and obligations contained in this Section 14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement, incapacity or removal of the Warrant Agent.  All fees and expenses incurred by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement that the Company is required to pay under Section 14(m) prior to the resignation, replacement, incapacity or removal of the Warrant Agent shall be paid by the Company in accordance with Section 14(m) notwithstanding such resignation, replacement, incapacity or removal of the Warrant Agent.

 

(s)             The Warrant Agent shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(t)             Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any Warrants authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the issue and sale, or exercise, of the Warrant.

 

(u)            In no event shall the Warrant Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

 

(v)            In the event the Warrant Agent believes any ambiguity or uncertainty exists hereunder or in any notice, instruction, direction, request or other communication, paper or document received by the Warrant Agent hereunder, Warrant Agent, may, in its sole discretion, following written notice to the Company describing with particularity such ambiguity or uncertainty and the reasons therefor, refrain from taking any action, and shall be fully protected and shall not be liable in any way to the Company or any Holder or other person or entity for refraining from taking such action, unless the Warrant Agent receives written instructions signed by the Company that eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of Warrant Agent.

 

(w)           The Warrant Agent shall not be required to use or risk its own funds in the performance of any of its obligations or duties or the exercise of any of its rights or powers, and shall not be required to take any action which, in the Warrant Agent’s sole and absolute judgment, could involve it in expense or liability unless furnished with security and indemnity satisfactory to it.

 

23



 

15.           Miscellaneous.

 

(a)            Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Warrant Agent (including all indemnitees hereunder) and the Holder, and their respective successors and assigns.  Subject to the preceding sentence, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Warrant Agent (including all indemnitees hereunder) and the Holder any legal or equitable right, remedy or cause of action under this Agreement.

 

(b)            Amendments and Waivers.  The Company may, without the consent of the Holder, by supplemental agreement or otherwise, (i) make any changes or corrections in this Agreement that are required to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein or (ii) add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Holder, or surrender any rights or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement; provided that, in the case of (i) or (ii), such changes or corrections shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holder of the Warrant in any material respect.  The Company may, with the consent of the Holder, amend in any way, by supplemental agreement or otherwise, the Warrant.  No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.  The Warrant Agent shall at the request of the Company, and without need of independent inquiry as to whether such supplemental agreement is permitted by the terms of this Section 15(b) , join with the Company in the execution and delivery of any such supplemental agreements, but shall not be required to join in such execution and delivery for such supplemental agreement to become effective.  As a condition precedent to the Warrant Agent’s execution of any amendment, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate from a duly authorized officer of the Company that states that the proposed amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 15 .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Warrant Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, execute any amendment or supplement that affects Warrant Agent’s rights, duties, immunities, liabilities or obligations hereunder.

 

(c)            Choice of Law, etc.  All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.  Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.  If Holder shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provision of this Agreement and it is the prevailing party in that action or proceeding, then the Company shall reimburse the Holder for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

(d)            Interpretation.  The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(e)            Severability.  In case any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision which shall be a

 

24



 

commercially reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement, provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any such excluded provision shall affect the rights, immunities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to immediately resign upon written notice to the Company.

 

(f)             Consequential Damages.   Except with respect to indemnification for third party claims, neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages (including but not limited to lost profits) under any provisions of this Agreement, or arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder, even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.

 

(g)            Further Assurances.  The Company shall perform, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, documents, instruments and assurances as may be reasonably required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Warrant Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(h)            Confidentiality .  The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public warrant holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement, including the fees for services provided hereunder, shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law or the rules of any applicable stock exchange, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).

 

(i)             Customer Identification Program .  The Company acknowledges that the Warrant Agent is subject to the customer identification program (“Customer Identification Program”) requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, and that the Warrant Agent must obtain, verify and record information that allows the Warrant Agent to identify the Company.  Accordingly, prior to accepting an appointment hereunder, the Warrant Agent may request information from the Company that will help the Warrant Agent to identify the Company, including without limitation the Company’s physical address, tax identification number, organizational documents, certificate of good standing, license to do business, or any other information that the Warrant Agent deems necessary.  The Company agrees that the Warrant Agent cannot accept an appointment hereunder unless and until the Warrant Agent verifies the Company’s identity in accordance with the Customer Identification Program requirements.

 

(j)             Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.  Facsimile, PDF and other electronic signatures shall constitute original signatures for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

[The remainder of this page has been left intentionally blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.

 

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Vogels

 

Name:

Robert P. Vogels

 

Title:

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael Legregin

 

Name:

Michael Legregin

 

Title:

Manager

 

 

 

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael Legregin

 

Name:

Michael Legregin

 

Title:

Manager

 

26



 

Exhibit A

 

EXERCISABLE ON OR AFTER MARCH 11, 2015

AND ON OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE

 

No. [    ]

Warrant to Purchase 2,900,000 Shares

 

Warrant Certificate

 

WARRANTS TO ACQUIRE COMMON STOCK OF GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

 

This Warrant Certificate certifies that Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P., or registered assigns, is the registered holder of a Warrant (the “ Warrant ”) to acquire from Golden Minerals Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) specified above for consideration equal to the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant Agreement (as defined below)) per share of Common Stock.  The Exercise Price and number of shares of Common Stock and/or type of securities or property issuable upon exercise of the Warrant are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.  The Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate shall not be exercisable after and shall terminate and become void as of 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the Expiration Date.

 

The Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate is part of a duly authorized issue of warrants expiring on the Expiration Date entitling the Holder hereof to receive shares of Common Stock and is issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated September 10, 2014 (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), duly executed and delivered by the Company and Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P. to Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as warrant agent (together, the “ Warrant Agent ”, which term includes any successor Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the Holders (“ Holders ” meaning, from time to time, the registered holders of the warrant issued thereunder).  To the extent any provisions of this Warrant Certificate conflicts with any provision of the Warrant Agreement, the provisions of the Warrant Agreement shall apply.  A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the Holder hereof upon written request to the Company at 350 Indiana Street, Suite 800, Golden, Colorado 80401, Attn:  Chief Financial Officer.  Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time on or after March 11, 2015 and on or before 5:00 P.M., New York time on the Expiration Date, subject to the terms of the Warrant Agreement including, but not limited to, Section 4 thereof, by delivering the Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed.  Within one (1) Trading Day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Warrant Agent of an amount equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the

 

27



 

Aggregate Exercise Price ”) in certified check, bank draft or via wire transfer, payable to the order of the Warrant Agent, of immediately available funds if the Holder did not notify the Company in such Election to Purchase that such exercise was made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise.  Each exercise must be for a whole number of Warrant Shares.  If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to Section 4 of the Warrant Agreement and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon such exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised.

 

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the Exercise Price set forth on this Warrant Certificate may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted, and that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock and/or the type of securities or other property issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted.  No fractions of a share of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but the Company will pay the cash value thereof determined as provided in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose by the registered Holder thereof in person or by such Holder’s legal representative or attorney duly appointed and authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate the right to purchase a like number of Warrant Shares.

 

Each taker and holder of this Warrant Certificate, by taking or holding the same, consents and agrees that the holder of this Warrant Certificate when duly endorsed in blank may be treated by the Company, the Warrant Agent and all other persons dealing with this Warrant Certificate as the absolute owner hereof for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented hereby or the person entitled to the transfer hereof on the register of the Company maintained by the Warrant Agent, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding, provided that until such transfer on such register, the Company and the Warrant Agent may treat the registered Holder hereof as the owner for all purposes.

 

The Holder covenants and agrees that it will not, during the period ending on the date that is four (4) months plus one (1) day after the date of issuance of this Warrant, sell or otherwise effect a trade of this Warrant to any person resident in any province or territory of Canada (collectively, the “ Canadian Jurisdictions ”) or any person acquiring such Warrant for the benefit of another person resident in any Canadian Jurisdiction, other than in a transaction made in compliance with the prospectus and registration requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws or which otherwise is made in reliance on any available exemptions therefrom (and the Company or the Warrant Agent may require evidence of such compliance). The Holder further agrees and acknowledges that if this Warrant is legally sold in any Canadian Jurisdiction, or to a resident of any Canadian Jurisdiction, within four months after the Initial Issuance Date, this

 

28



 

Warrant and any replacement Warrant Certificate issued within four months after the Initial Issuance Date shall bear the following legend.

 

“UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY IN CANADA BEFORE JANUARY 11, 2015.”

 

This Warrant does not entitle any Holder to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

This Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agreement are subject to amendment as provided in the Warrant Agreement.

 

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Warrant Agent.

 

[The remainder of this page has been left intentionally blank.]

 

29



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Certificate to be executed as of the date set forth below.

 

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

DATED: September 10, 2014

 

 

 

Countersigned:

 

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

COMPUTERSHARE INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

30



 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

To Golden Minerals Company:

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the Warrant with respect to                                          Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement dated September 10, 2014.

 

1.              Form of Exercise Price .  The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

 

           a Cash Exercise ; or

 

           a Cashless Exercise .

 

2.              Payment of Exercise Price .  In the event that the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price, in lawful money of the United States, in certified check, bank draft or via wire transfer payable to the order of the Warrant Agent (or as otherwise agreed to by the Company) delivered to the Warrant Agent, together with any applicable taxes and charges payable by the undersigned pursuant to the Warrant.

 

3.              Representations .  By executing this Election to Purchase, the undersigned certifies as follows (check only one of the following boxes):

 

o             The undersigned holder (i) is acquiring the shares of Common Stock for its own account for investment purposes only, and not with a view to their resale or distribution, (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the shares of Common Stock and is able to bear the economic risk of the loss of such investment, and (iii) is an “accredited investor,” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ U.S. Securities Act ”).

 

o             The undersigned holder (i) is outside the United States (as defined in Regulation S promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act) and not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S) (a “ U.S. Person ”), at the time of execution and delivery of this notice; (ii) is not exercising the right provided for herein for the account or benefit of a person in the United States or a U.S. Person; (iii) is not exercising the Warrant with the intent to distribute either directly or indirectly any of the securities acquirable upon exercise in the United States, except in compliance with the U.S. Securities Act; and (iv) has in all other respects complied with the terms of Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act.

 

o             The undersigned has delivered herewith an opinion of counsel, addressed to the Company in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that no violation of

 

31



 

the registration provisions of the U.S. Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of the United States would result from the exercise of the Warrant.

 

The undersigned understands that the certificate representing the Warrant Shares will bear a legend restricting transfer without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws unless an exemption from registration is available.

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges that it is aware that the Warrant Shares received on exercise may be subject to restrictions on resale under applicable securities legislation.

 

The undersigned requests that certificates for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon this exercise be issued in the name of

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Security or Tax I.D. No.:

 

 

 

Warrant Shares Exercise Log

 

Date

 

Number of
Warrant Shares
Available to be
Exercised

 

Number of
Warrant
Shares
Exercised

 

Number of
Warrant Shares
Remaining to be
Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATED this                   day of                                                           ,                   .

 

 

 

)

 

 

)

Signature of Registered Holder

 

)

 

 

)

 

Witness

)

Name of Registered Holder

 

 

Note:  The name of the Registered Holder of this Notice of Exercise must be the same as the name appearing on the face page of the Warrant to which this Schedule is attached.

 

32



 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

[To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                     the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase                     shares of Common Stock of Golden Minerals Company to which the within Warrant relates and appoints                     attorney to transfer said right on the books of Golden Minerals Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

The undersigned confirms that the transfers are made in compliance with all applicable securities legislation and requirements of regulatory authorities.

 

If the sale evidenced hereby is being made to a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S to the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “U.S. Securities Act”)), the undersigned by the execution of this form of transfer hereby certifies that such sale does not require registration of the Warrant being transferred hereby under the U.S. Securities Act and tenders herewith evidence satisfactory to the Corporation to such effect.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the front page of the Warrant)

 

 

 

Address of Transferee

 

 

In the presence of:

 

33


 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of September 10, 2014, by and between GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and SENTIENT GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND IV, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the “ Buyer ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.             SENTIENT GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND III, L.P. (“ FUND III ”), a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, SGRF III PARALLEL I, L.P. (“ SGRF III ”), a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and the Buyer (Fund III, SGRF III and the Buyer, collectively, “ Sentient ”) currently hold an aggregate of 8,423,734 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), representing approximately 19.4% of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

B.             The Company has informed Sentient that it intends to undertake a public offering of units (the “ Units ”) in the United States, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company’s Common Stock and a warrant (the “ Warrant ”) to purchase a half of a share of the Company’s Common Stock.  On September 5, 2014, the Company executed an underwriting agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with Roth Capital Partners with respect to the issuance and sale of 3,692,000 Units (the “ Offering ”).

 

C.             The Buyer has advised the Company that it desires to purchase Units concurrent with the Offering in order to permit Sentient to have an aggregate ownership interest up to approximately 26.8% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company (excluding outstanding restricted common shares held by employees).  The purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement will occur on a private placement basis as an offering outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Securities Act ”), as amended.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals and the mutual promises, representations, warranties, and covenants set forth in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.              Subscription .  In consideration of and in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company in this Agreement, subject to the sale of Units in the Offering, the Buyer hereby agrees to purchase 5,800,000 Units at a purchase price of US$0.817 per Unit (the “ Offering Price ”).  The form of Warrant that will be issued to the Buyer is attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

2.              Acceptance of Subscription .  The Company, in consideration of and in reliance on the representations and warranties, covenants and agreements of the Buyer in this Agreement,

 

1



 

hereby accepts the subscription of the Buyer, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and agrees to issue the Units to the Buyer.

 

3.              Reserved .

 

4.              Buyer Representations and Warranties.   Buyer hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

4.1           Organization; Authorization; Validity of Agreement .  The Buyer is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands and has full limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by Buyer, and no other action on the part of Buyer is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  No vote of, or consent by, the limited partners of Buyer is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement or the consummation by it of the purchase and sale of the Units.

 

4.2           Execution; Validity of Agreement .  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer, and assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Company, is a valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and the general principles of equity.

 

4.3           Consents and Approvals; No Violations .  None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement by Buyer and the consummation by Buyer of the purchase and sale of the Units or compliance by Buyer with any of the provisions hereof or thereof will (1) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the certificate of limited partnership and agreement of limited partnership of Buyer, (2) require any filing with (except for filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”), the Ontario Securities Commission, the Toronto Stock Exchange (“ TSX ”), NYSE MKT, and other regulatory authorities advising them of the issuance and sale of the Units), or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental entity, except for approval of the listing of the Common Stock by the TSX and the NYSE MKT, (3) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Buyer is a party or to which its assets are subject, or (4) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Buyer.

 

4.4           Report of Trade .  Buyer acknowledges that the Company may be required to file a report of trade with the Ontario Securities Commission containing personal information about the Buyer.  This report of trade will include the full name, address and telephone number

 

2



 

of the Buyer, the number and type of securities purchased, the total purchase price paid for the Units, the date of the Closing and the exemption relied upon under applicable securities laws to complete such purchase.

 

4.5           Anti-Money Laundering .  None of the funds being used to purchase the Units are to the Buyer’s knowledge proceeds obtained or derived directly or indirectly as a result of illegal activities.  The funds being used to purchase the Units which will be advanced by the Buyer to the Company hereunder will not represent proceeds of crime for the purposes of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) (the “ PCMLTFA ”) and the Buyer acknowledges that the Company may in the future be required by law to disclose the Buyer’s name and other information relating to this Agreement and the Buyer’s subscription hereunder, on a confidential basis, pursuant to the PCMLTFA. To the best knowledge of Buyer: (i) none of the funds to be provided by or on behalf of the Buyer are being tendered on behalf of a person or entity who has not been identified to the Buyer; and (ii) the Buyer shall promptly notify the Company if Buyer discovers that any of such representations cease to be true, and to provide the Company with appropriate information in connection therewith.

 

4.6           Investment Representations .

 

(a)            Buyer is acquiring the Units as principal for investment and not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof, nor with any present intention of distributing or selling the Units.

 

(b)            Buyer is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act and in National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus and Registration Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators, and is able to bear the economic risk of holding the Units for an indefinite period, and has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that it is capable of evaluating the risks of the investment in the Units.  Buyer was not created or used solely to purchase or hold Units as an “accredited investor.”

 

(c)            Buyer’s principal address is as set out in Section 7.2 of this Agreement and is outside the United States and Buyer is not a “U.S. person” as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act (a “ Non-U.S. Person ”).  Buyer is acquiring the Units outside of the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.  The purchase of the Units by Buyer is for Buyer’s own account or for the account of one or more affiliates of Buyer who are Non-U.S. Persons located outside the United States.

 

(d)            Buyer acknowledges that it has reviewed the Public Reports (as defined in Section 5.8) and that it has had the right to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company and its officers and directors, and to obtain such information as Buyer deems necessary to verify the accuracy (a) of the information referred to in the Public Reports and (b) of any other information relevant to making an investment decision with respect to the Units.

 

(e)            Buyer acknowledges that

 

(i) the Units are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the United States within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the shares of Common

 

3



 

Stock, including the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants (the “ Warrant Shares ”), have not been registered under the Securities Act,

 

(ii) the Units are not being qualified pursuant to a prospectus for distribution to the public in Canada under applicable Canadian Securities Laws (as defined in section 5.8 of this Agreement) and are not freely tradeable,

 

(iii) the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock will bear the legend set forth below (provided that the legends set forth in the second and third paragraphs below may be removed from, and will not be set forth on, any certificates representing the shares of Common Stock from and after January 11, 2015):

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (E) IN A TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OFFER AND SALE OF SECURITIES, AND, IN THE CASE OF (C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER HAS PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER FURNISHED TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE LISTED ON THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE (“TSX”); HOWEVER, SUCH SECURITIES CANNOT BE TRADED THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF TSX SINCE THEY ARE NOT FREELY TRANSFERABLE, AND CONSEQUENTLY ANY CERTIFICATE REPRESENTING SUCH SECURITIES IS NOT “GOOD DELIVERY” IN SETTLEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS ON THE TSX.

 

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY IN CANADA BEFORE JANUARY 11, 2015.

 

(iv) the certificates representing the Warrants will bear the legend set forth below:

 

4



 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (E) IN A TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OFFER AND SALE OF SECURITIES, AND, IN THE CASE OF (C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER HAS PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER FURNISHED TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

 

UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE THE SECURITY IN CANADA BEFORE JANUARY 11, 2015.

 

(v) the certificates representing the Warrant Shares will bear the legend set forth below:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (E) IN A TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OFFER AND SALE OF SECURITIES, AND, IN THE CASE OF (C), (D) OR (E), THE HOLDER HAS PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER FURNISHED TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF

 

5



 

RECOGNIZED STANDING IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

 

(vi) the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants comprising the Units are subject to “hold period” resale restrictions under applicable Canadian Securities Laws and that, absent an exemption from the prospectus requirements of Canadian Securities Laws, such securities must not be traded or resold in or to a resident of Canada until four months and a day after the closing of the transaction contemplated herein.  The Buyer shall comply with all resale restrictions applicable to the Units, shares of Common Stock, Warrants and Warrant Shares in Canada and the United States under applicable securities laws.

 

(f)             Golden Minerals Shares .  As of the date hereof, Buyer is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 5,166,841 shares of Common Stock, and Sentient (Fund III, SGRF III and the Buyer, collectively) is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 9,106,631 shares of Common Stock.

 

(g)            Brokers or Finders .  Buyer has not entered into any agreement or arrangement entitling any agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or person to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(h)            Non-Reliance of Buyer .  Except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Section 5 of this Agreement, Buyer acknowledges that (a) neither the Company, its affiliates nor any other Person has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the Company, the Company’s business, assets, liabilities, operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise), including with respect to the effectiveness or success of the Company’s operations, exploration activities or future capital raising activities, and (b) no officer, agent, representative or employee of the Company has any authority, express or implied, to make any representations, warranties or agreements not specifically set forth in this Agreement.  Buyer has not received an “offering memorandum” (as defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 14-501 — Definitions) or any other similar document describing or purporting to describe the business and affairs of the Company.  Buyer specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any representations or warranties that may have been made by any Person except for the specific representations and warranties expressly made by the Company in Section 5.  Any inspection, investigation or review performed by Buyer in connection with this Agreement will not affect or negate the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein.

 

5.              Representations and Warranties of the Company .  The Company hereby represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

 

5.1           Organization .  The Company is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.  The Company is qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned, leased or operated by

 

6



 

it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.2           Authorization; Validity of Agreement .  The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors, and no other corporate action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units.

 

5.3           Subsidiaries .  Each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and each Subsidiary of the Company is qualified to transact business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary; except, in all cases, where the failure to be so organized, existing, qualified and in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.4           Execution; Validity of Agreement .  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Buyer, is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and the general principles of equity.

 

5.5           Consents and Approvals; No Violations .  Except for approval of the listing of the Common Stock and Warrant Shares by the TSX and the NYSE MKT, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the Company of the issuance and sale of the Units in accordance herewith or compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof will (1) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (2) require any filing with (except for filings with the SEC, the Ontario Securities Commission, the TSX, the NYSE MKT, and other regulatory authorities advising them of the issuance and sale of the Units), or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental entity or any other Person, (3) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, other than such violation, breach or default as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (4) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to

 

7



 

the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than such violation as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.6           Good Title Conveyed .  At the time of issuance, the Units will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive rights.  The Units, when issued, will be free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for any restrictions on transfer arising under the lock-up agreement to be executed by the Buyer concurrent with the closing of the Offering, the Securities Act or any applicable state or Canadian provincial securities laws.

 

5.7           Capitalization .  The authorized capital of the Company consists of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 43,530,833 are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, including 797,304 shares of restricted stock which are subject to forfeiture conditions, and (ii) 10,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, none of which are issued and outstanding.  Except for (a) the Common Stock and Warrant Shares included in the Units, (b) shares of Common Stock, including Warrant Shares, issued in connection with the anticipated Offering, (c) shares of Common Stock to be issued to directors of the Company pursuant to outstanding restricted stock units, (d) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options issued under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, (e) shares of Common Stock which may be issued in the ordinary course pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, and (f) shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options issued in connection with the Company’s business combination with ECU Silver Mining Inc., the Company has not issued or committed to issue any shares of Common Stock or preferred stock or any rights, warrants, options to acquire any shares of any class of capital stock of the Company.

 

5.8           Filings .  The Company is a reporting issuer in the Province of Ontario and is not in default in any material respect of any of the requirements of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder together with applicable policy statements of the Ontario Securities Commission and rules of the TSX (collectively, the “ Canadian Securities Laws ”).  The Company has made all filings with the SEC that it has been required to make under the Securities Act and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) and all filings that it has been required to make pursuant to the Canadian Securities Laws (collectively, but not including any report prepared pursuant to Canadian National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, the “ Public Reports ”).  The Company prepared the Public Reports in good faith, and to the Company’s knowledge (after reasonably prudent inquiry), none of the Public Reports, as of their respective dates, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The Company is a domestic issuer, as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act.

 

5.9           Financial Statements .  The financial statements included in the Public Reports (including the related notes and schedules) (the “ Financial Statements ”) have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company as of the indicated dates and the results of operations of

 

8



 

the Company for the indicated periods, subject, in the case of unaudited consolidated financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments.

 

5.10         Absence of Changes .  Since June 30, 2014, except as disclosed in the Public Reports, (i) no event has occurred which has caused or constitutes a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any agreement that was material to the Company and was required to be disclosed pursuant to Form 8-K under the Exchange Act that has not been disclosed.

 

5.11         Litigation . There are no claims, suits, actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against, relating to or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, before any court, governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentality or authority, or any arbitrator that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any court, governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentality or authority, or any arbitrator which prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.12         Brokers or Finders .  Except as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement entitling any agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

6.              Closing Conditions .  The purchase and sale of the Units is expected to be completed on or about September 10, 2014, concurrent with the closing of the Offering, upon satisfaction of the closing conditions set forth in this Section 6 (the date on which such closing occurs, the “ Closing Date ”).

 

6.1           Conditions to Buyer’s Obligation to Close .  The obligations of Buyer to consummate the purchase and sale of the Units shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)            Statutes; Court Orders .  No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any governmental entity which prohibits the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units; and there shall be no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect precluding or prohibiting consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units.

 

(b)            Government Action .  There shall not be threatened or pending any suit, action or proceeding by any governmental entity seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units or seeking to impose material limitations on the ability of Buyer effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the Units, including the right to vote the shares of Common Stock, including the Warrant Shares .

 

(c)            Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing

 

9



 

Date as though made on and as of such date, except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect, provided that if any fact or condition occurs after the date of this Agreement and such fact or condition causes any representation or warranty in this Agreement to be untrue, misleading or inaccurate in any material respect, the Company will deliver to Buyer a certificate describing the exceptions to the applicable representation (a “ Representation Update Certificate ”), and such Representation Update Certificate will be deemed to modify automatically the applicable representation or warranty; provided , however , that if such Representation Update Certificate reflects an occurrence which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Buyer shall be entitled to reject the Representation Update Certificate and the condition set forth in this Section 6.1(c) shall not be met.

 

(d)            Covenants .  The Company shall have complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company contained in this Agreement.

 

(e)            Consents and Approvals .  The Company shall have received conditional approval from the TSX and approval from the NYSE MKT with respect to the listing of the Common Stock and Warrant Shares included in the Units.

 

(f)             Offering .  With respect to the Units, the Company shall have issued (or concurrent with the Units, will issue) the Units sold in the Offering.

 

(g)            Deliveries at Closing .  Buyer shall have received from the Company each of the deliveries set forth below:

 

(i)             At the Closing, certificates representing the shares of Common Stock and Warrants, comprising the Units, duly and validly issued in favor of Buyer and otherwise sufficient to vest in Buyer good title to the shares of Common Stock and Warrants comprising the Units;

 

(ii)            At the Closing, a certificate issued by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, certifying on behalf of the Company (i) the resolutions of the board of directors of the Company authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance of the Units, (ii) the incumbency and signature of the authorized signatory of the Company executing this Agreement, (iii) the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the Closing Date, and (iv) that the condition to closing set forth in Section 6.1(c) has been met;

 

(iii)           At the Closing, the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

 

(iv)           An opinion of U.S. counsel to the Company addressed to the Buyer, providing that the issuance, sale and delivery to the Buyer of the Units have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and (i) upon issuance against payment therefor and delivery to the Buyer, (A) the Common Stock included in such Units will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and (B) the Warrants will be

 

10


 


 

valid and binding obligations of the Company and (ii) assuming issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the Warrant in accordance with the terms of the Warrant, the Warrant Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and

 

(v)            An opinion of Canadian counsel to the Company addressed to the Buyer, providing that the issuance of the Units is exempt from the prospectus requirements under Ontario securities laws, that such securities are subject to restrictions on transfer under Ontario securities law and that the Common Stock included in such Units and the Warrant Shares are conditionally approved for listing on the TSX.

 

6.2           Conditions to the Company’s Obligation to Close .  The obligations of the Company to consummate the purchase and sale of the Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the applicable Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)            Statutes; Court Orders .  No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any governmental entity which prohibits the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units; and there shall be no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect precluding or prohibiting consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units.

 

(b)            Government Action .  There shall not be threatened or pending any suit, action or proceeding by any governmental entity seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Units.

 

(c)            Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except when the failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of Buyer to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the availability of an exemption from registration pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

(d)            Covenants .  Buyer shall have complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and obligations of Buyer contained in this Agreement.

 

(e)            Consents and Approvals .  The Company shall have received conditional approval from the TSX and approval from the NYSE MKT with respect to the listing of the Common Stock and Warrant Shares included in the Units.

 

(f)             Offering .  The Company shall have issued (or concurrent with the Units, will issue) the Units sold in the Offering.

 

(g)            Deliveries at Closing .  The Company shall have received from Buyer the following:

 

(i)             By wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of the purchase price for the securities to an account designated by the Company prior to the applicable Closing;

 

11



 

(ii)            The Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Buyer.

 

7.              Miscellaneous .

 

7.1           Successors and Assigns Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective permitted successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

7.2           Notices .   Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice, request, waiver, instruction, consent or document or other communication required or permitted to be given by this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and (i) delivered by hand or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, (ii) if sent by a nationally-recognized overnight delivery service with delivery confirmed, or (iii) if sent by facsimile (or other similar electronic means), with receipt confirmed as follows:

 

Company:

 

Golden Minerals Company

350 Indiana Street, Suite 800

Golden, Colorado  80401

Attn:  President

Fax:  (303) 839-5907

 

 

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

1550 17 th  Street, Suite 500

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attn:  Deborah J. Friedman

Fax:  (303) 893-1379

 

12



 

Buyer:

 

Sentient Global Resources Fund IV, L.P.

Landmark Square, 1 st  Floor, 64 Earth Close, West Bay Beach South

PO Box 10795

George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1007

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Attention: Sue Bjuro — Office Manager

Fax: (345) 946-0921

 

 

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Quinn & Brooks, LLP

c/o Gregory A. Smith
P.O. Box 590
Larkspur, Colorado  80118

Fax: (720) 294-8374

 

The parties shall promptly notify each other of any change in their respective addresses or facsimile numbers or of the individual or entity or office to receive notices, requests or other communications under this Section 7.2.  All notices shall be deemed to have been given (i) if personally delivered or sent by certified mail, as of the date when so delivered, (ii) if sent by nationally-recognized overnight delivery service, two days after mailing, or (iii) if sent by facsimile (or other similar electronic means) as of the date sent, if during normal business hours of the recipient, and otherwise on the next business day.

 

7.3           Amendments and Waivers This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented, unless set forth in a writing signed by each party hereto. Except as otherwise permitted in this Agreement, the terms or conditions of this Agreement may not be waived unless set forth in a writing signed by the party entitled to the benefits thereof.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of such provision at any time in the future or a waiver of any other provision hereof.  The rights and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and not alternative. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither the failure nor any delay by any party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

7.4           Severability Any term or provision of this Agreement that is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid, void or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, area or applicability of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid, void or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

13



 

7.5           Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (as opposed to the conflicts of law provisions) of the State of Colorado.

 

7.6           Submission to Jurisdiction .  The parties hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of Colorado or the United States District Court for the District of Colorado for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, and waive any and all objections to jurisdiction that they may have under the laws of the State of Colorado or the United States and any claim or objection that any such court is an inconvenient forum.

 

7.7           Entire Agreement This Agreement constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof.

 

7.8           Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or similar means of electronic communication), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

7.9           Announcements .  Publicity and other general releases of information to the public through the media concerning the transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall be jointly planned and coordinated between the Company and Buyer.  Neither party shall act unilaterally in this regard without the prior approval of the other party provided, however, that such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Nothing in this Section 7.9 shall prevent either party from furnishing information to any governmental entity or from furnishing information to comply with applicable laws or rules of any applicable stock exchange.

 

7.10         Definitions .  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

(a)            Encumbrances ” means any and all liens, charges, security interests, options, claims, mortgages, pledges, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, obligations, understandings or arrangements, defects or imperfections of title or other restrictions on title or transfer of any nature whatsoever.

 

(b)            Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; provided however , that none of the following individually or in the aggregate, will be deemed to have a Material Adverse Effect: (x) fluctuations in the market price of the Common Stock; or (y) fluctuations in the prices of precious or base metals, or (z) any change or effect arising out of general economic conditions or conditions generally affecting the mining industries.

 

(c)            Person ” means a natural person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental entity or other entity or organization.

 

14



 

(d)            Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached hereto Exhibit B .

 

(e)            Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity with respect to which a specified Person (or a Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of the common stock or other appropriate equity interest, or has the power to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority of the directors, managers or members (as appropriate) of its board of directors or other governing body.

 

7.11         Expenses .  All reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the parties in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, including fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel, shall be paid by the Company; provided that the fees, expenses and disbursements of legal counsel to Buyer shall not exceed $15,000.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

15



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT as of the date first written above.

 

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Vogels

 

Name:

Robert P. Vogels

 

Title:

Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

SENTIENT GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND IV, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

Sentient GP IV, L.P., General Partner

 

 

By:  Sentient Executive GP IV, Limited, General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gregory Link

 

Name:

Gregory Link

 

Title:

Director

 

 



 

Exhibit A

FORM OF WARRANT

 



 

Exhibit A

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Jeffrey G. Clevenger, certify that:

 

1.                     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Golden Minerals Company;

 

2.                     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                     The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a.                           Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.                           Designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c.                            Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d.                           Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

 

a.                           All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b.                           Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 6, 2014

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jeffrey G. Clevenger

 

Jeffrey G. Clevenger

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT 31.2

 

I, Robert P. Vogels, certify that:

 

1.               I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Golden Minerals Company;

 

2.               Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.               Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.               The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a.                           Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b.                           Designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c.                            Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d.                           Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.               The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

 

a.                           All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b.                           Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date: November 6, 2014

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert P. Vogels

 

Robert P. Vogels

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

1


EXHIBIT 32

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Golden Minerals Company (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

 

/s/ Jeffrey G. Clevenger

 

Jeffrey G. Clevenger

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

November 6, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert P. Vogels

 

Robert P. Vogels

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

November 6, 2014

 

 

1