UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 11, 2017

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   001-37481   26-0657736

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6 – Suite 210

Lakewood, Colorado

  80401
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (720) 974-7248

 

 
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)  

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4 (c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company  ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨

 

 

 

 

 

   

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Public Offering Underwriting Agreement and Warrants

 

On December 11, 2017, Pershing Gold Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Company and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), for whom Canaccord Genuity Corp., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation are acting as representatives, relating to the issuance and sale (the “Public Offering”) of 2,430,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Offered Shares”) and associated four-tenth common stock warrants to purchase an aggregate of 972,000 shares of common stock of the Company (each whole common share warrant, a “Warrant”) at a price of $2.80 per Offered Share and associated four-tenth Warrant, before underwriting discounts (the “Offering Price”). Additionally, the Underwriters were granted a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 364,500 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $2.468 per share and/or Warrants to purchase up to 145,800 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $0.136 per Warrant. The Warrants will be exercisable immediately at issuance at an exercise price of $3.40 per share and will expire on December 19, 2019, two years from the date of issuance. The Offered Shares and Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately.

 

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and the Underwriters.  It also provides for customary indemnification by each of the Company and the Underwriters for certain losses or damages arising out of or in connection with the sale of the Offered Shares and Warrants.

 

The Public Offering, including issuance of the Offered Shares and Warrants, is expected to close on or about December 19, 2017.  The Offered Shares and Warrants are being offered and sold to the public pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and accompanying prospectus (File No. 333-211910), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 29, 2016, and a preliminary prospectus supplement and final prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on December 11, 2017 and December 13, 2017, respectively. 

 

Private Placement Subscription Agreements, Warrants and Registration Rights Agreement

 

On December 11, 2017, concurrently with the Public Offering, the Company entered into subscription agreements with certain existing shareholders and other investors with whom the Company or its directors have an existing relationship, including director and significant shareholder Barry Honig (the “Private Purchasers”), whereby the Private Purchasers have agreed to purchase from the Company at the Offering Price, subject to the description below, through a private placement (the “Private Placement”) to be completed concurrently with the Public Offering, 2,347,242 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Private Placement Shares”) and associated four-tenth common stock warrants to purchase an aggregate of 938,897 shares of common stock of the Company (each whole common share warrant, a “Private Placement Warrant”). The Private Placement will be conducted on the same price and terms as the Public Offering, subject to the issuance of 990,099 Private Placement Shares and associated Private Placement Warrants to Mr. Honig for a purchase price of $3.03 per combined Private Placement Share and Private Placement Warrant, in order to comply with NASDAQ Rule 5635(c).

 

 

 

 

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, effective as of the closing (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), with the Private Purchasers which will require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act to register the resale of the Private Placement Shares and common stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants. The Registration Rights Agreement also contains piggyback registration rights requiring the Company to include such shares under certain circumstances in future registration statements that may be filed by the Company.

 

The Private Placement Shares and the Private Placement Warrants will be sold pursuant to an exemption from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”). The Public Offering and the Private Placement are contingent on the completion of the other and are expected to close concurrently.

 

The foregoing summary of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Warrants, the Subscription Agreements, the Private Placement Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Underwriting Agreement, Form of Warrant, Form of Private Placement Warrant, Form of Subscription Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1, 4.2, 10.1 and 10.2, respectively.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

The information provided in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

In the Private Placement, the Company will sell the Private Placement Shares and the Private Placement Warrants, subject to adjustment in the event of stock dividends, recapitalizations or certain other transactions, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6.8 million, excluding placement agent fees of approximately $476,000.

 

The Company deems the Private Placement issuance to be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof, as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering. The investors are “accredited investors” as such term is defined in Regulation D. This current report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Private Placement Shares, the Private Placement Warrants or any other securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
1.1   Underwriting Agreement, by and among Pershing Gold Corporation and the underwriters named therein, for whom Canaccord Genuity Corp., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation are acting as representatives, dated as of December 11, 2017.
4.1   Form of Warrant
4.2   Form of Private Placement Warrant
5.1   Opinion of Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
10.1   Form of Subscription Agreement
10.2   Form of Registration Rights Agreement
23.1   Consent of Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

    

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Date: December 14, 2017

 

  PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION
   
     
  By: /s/ Eric Alexander
    Eric Alexander
    Vice President Finance and Controller

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

Execution Version

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

December 11, 2017

 

Canaccord Genuity Corp.

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

c/o Canaccord Genuity Corp.

Brookfield Place, 161 Bay Street

Suite 3100, P.O. Box 516

Toronto, ON M5J 2S1

 

c/o BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

1 First Canadian Place, 4th Floor

Toronto, ON M5X 1H3

 

c/o Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation

181 University Avenue, Suite 1500

Toronto, ON M5H 3M7

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this Underwriting Agreement (“ Agreement ”), to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ” and each an “ Underwriter ”) an aggregate of (i) 2,430,000 Common Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Corporation (the “ Firm Shares ”) and (ii) warrants to purchase an aggregate of 972,000 Common Shares (the “ Firm Warrants ”). The Corporation has granted the Underwriters the option to purchase an aggregate of (i) up to 364,500 additional Common Shares (the “ Additional Shares ” and together with the Firm Shares, the “ Shares ”) and/or (ii) warrants of the Company to purchase up to an additional 145,800 Common Shares (the “ Additional Warrants ” and together with the Firm Warrants, the “ Warrants ”) as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the Offering (as hereinafter defined). Each Share is being sold together with four-tenths (0.4) of a Warrant; and each full Warrant is exercisable for one whole Common Share at an exercise price of $3.40 per share. The Shares and Warrants are collectively referred to as the “ Offered Securities. ” Canaccord Genuity Corp. (“ Canaccord ”), BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. (“ BMO ”) and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation (“ Cantor ”) are acting as representatives of the several Underwriters and in such capacity are hereinafter referred to as the “ Representatives ”. As used herein, “Warrant Shares” means the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

 

 

 

The Corporation also proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement and the subscription agreements, each in the form approved by the Representatives, being entered into on or prior to the execution hereof (the “ Subscription Agreements ”), with certain existing shareholders of the Corporation (collectively, the “ Private Placement Subscribers ”), to issue and sell to the Private Placement Subscribers an aggregate of (i) 2,430,000 Common Shares (the “ Private Placement Shares ”) and (ii) warrants to purchase 972,000 Common Shares (the “ Private Placement Warrants ” and together with the Private Placement Shares, the “ Private Placement Securities ”) at an offering price equal to the price to the public of the Firm Shares and Firm Warrants, unless a higher price is required pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5635(c) in order to offer and sell Private Placement Securities to directors of the Corporation without shareholder approval (the “ Private Placement ”). The Corporation hereby engages the Underwriters, as the exclusive placement agents of the Corporation for the Private Placement. Under no circumstances will any Underwriter or any of its affiliates be obligated to underwrite or purchase any of the Private Placement Securities for its own account or otherwise provide any financing for the Private Placement. The Corporation shall effect and consummate the Private Placement pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, in a manner exempt from any prospectus or offering memorandum filing or delivery requirements of applicable Canadian Securities Laws (as hereinafter defined), without the necessity of obtaining any order or ruling of the securities regulatory authorities in the Qualifying Jurisdictions (as hereinafter defined) and pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (as hereinafter defined) and any applicable state securities laws. The Corporation is providing the executed Subscription Agreements to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may rely upon the representations, warranties and covenants of the Corporation and the Private Placement Subscribers set forth in the Subscription Agreements and upon any opinions, certificates and other documents delivered to any of the Private Placement Subscribers in connection with the Private Placement.

 

The Corporation has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-211910) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) and the rules and regulations (the “ Rules and Regulations ”) of the Commission thereunder, and such amendments to such registration statement (including post effective amendments) as may have been required to the date of this Agreement and a preliminary prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. Such registration statement, as amended (including any post effective amendments) has been declared effective by the Commission. Such registration statement, including amendments thereto (including post effective amendments thereto), the exhibits and any schedules thereto, the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by Rule 430B under the Securities Act or otherwise pursuant to the Rules and Regulations, is herein called the “ Registration Statement .” If the Corporation has filed or files an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “ Rule 462 Registration Statement ”), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.

 

In addition, the Corporation has filed under, and as required by Canadian Securities Laws (as hereinafter defined), a (final) short form base shelf prospectus with each of the Canadian Securities Commissions (as hereinafter defined) relating to the distribution of debt securities, common shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts and units (including the Offered Securities) (such (final) short form base shelf prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, the “ Canadian Base Prospectus ”) and has obtained a Passport Prospectus Receipt (as hereinafter defined) therefor.

 

The Corporation shall prepare and file forthwith with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act a final prospectus supplement relating to the Offered Securities to a form of prospectus included in the Registration Statement. Such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the “ Base Prospectus ,” and such final prospectus supplement as filed, along with the Base Prospectus, is hereinafter called the “ Final Prospectus .” Such Final Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus supplement in the form in which they shall be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called a “ Prospectus .” Any reference herein to the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or a Prospectus shall be deemed to include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such Prospectus.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (“ EDGAR ”) system. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “described,” “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which are incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the subsequent filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act” ), that is deemed to be incorporated therein by reference therein or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part thereof.

 

The Corporation shall prepare and file forthwith, and on a basis acceptable to the Underwriters, acting reasonably, and on the terms set out below, under and as required by Canadian Securities Laws with each of the Canadian Securities Commissions a prospectus supplement (the “ Canadian Prospectus Supplement ”) to the Canadian Base Prospectus (such prospectus supplement, together with the Canadian Base Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, the “ Canadian Final Prospectus ”) and all other required documents, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not previously been filed, in order to qualify for distribution to the public the Offered Shares in each of the provinces and territories of Canada (other than Quebec) (together, the “ Qualifying Jurisdictions ”), through the Underwriters or any other investment dealer or broker registered to transact such business in the applicable Qualifying Jurisdictions contracting with the Underwriters no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on December 12, 2017.

 

The Corporation and the Underwriters agree that any offers or sales of the Offered Securities in Canada will be conducted through the Underwriters, or one or more affiliates of the Underwriters, duly registered in compliance with applicable Canadian Securities Laws. This Agreement shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

Section 1          Interpretation

 

(1) Definitions

 

Where used in this Agreement or in any amendment hereto, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively:

 

affiliate ” has the meaning given to it in Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

Applicable Securities Laws ” means the U.S. Securities Laws and the Canadian Securities Laws;

 

Applicable Time ” means 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on December 11, 2017 or such other time as agreed by the Corporation and the Representatives;

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

Business Day ” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks are open for business in New York, New York and Toronto, Ontario;

 

Canadian Offering Documents ” means the Canadian Final Prospectus and any Canadian Prospectus Amendment, including the documents incorporated by reference;

 

Canadian Prospectus Amendment ” means any amendment to the Canadian Final Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference;

 

Canadian Securities Commissions ” means the securities regulatory authorities in each of the Qualifying Jurisdictions;

 

Canadian Securities Laws ” means all applicable securities laws of each of the Qualifying Jurisdictions and the respective rules and regulations under such laws together with applicable published national, multilateral and local policy statements, instruments, notices, blanket orders and rulings of the securities regulatory authorities in the Qualifying Jurisdictions;

 

Common Shares ” means the shares of common stock, $ 0.0001 par value per share, of the Corporation;

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company;

 

Final Prospectuses ” means the Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus;

 

“General Disclosure Package” means the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus most recently filed with the Commission before the time of this Agreement, including any preliminary prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and the description of the transaction provided by any Underwriter through the Representatives included on Schedule B ;

 

“General Solicitation ” and “ General Advertising ” means “general solicitation” and “general advertising,” respectively, as used in Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act and as used in the Canadian Securities Laws, including advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published on the Internet or in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over radio, television or the Internet, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees had been invited by general solicitation or general advertising;

 

“governmental authority” means (i) any federal, provincial, state, local, municipal, national or foreign government or governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court, tribunal, arbitrator or arbitral body (public or private); (ii) any self-regulatory organization; or (iii) any political subdivision of any of the foregoing;

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Offering of the Common Shares that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Corporation, including any such issuer free writing prospectus that consists of any Canadian Offering Document, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) or (d)(8) under the Securities Act, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Corporation’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall not include any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that was prepared by any Underwriter or provided to any person by any Underwriter without the knowledge and consent of the Corporation;

 

  - 4 -  

 

 

“Law or Laws” means any and all laws, including all federal, provincial, state and local, municipal, national or foreign statutes, codes, ordinances, guidelines, decrees, rules, regulations and municipal by-laws and all judicial, arbitral, administrative, ministerial, departmental or regulatory judgments, orders, directives, decisions, rulings or awards or other requirements of any governmental authority, binding on or affecting the person referred to in the context in which the term is used and rules, regulations and policies of any stock exchange on which securities of the Corporation are listed for trading;

 

marketing materials ” has the meaning given to it in NI 41-101;

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on the business, affairs, operations capital stock, operation, permits, contractual arrangements, assets, management, condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects, financial position, shareholders’ equity, results of operations, liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) or properties of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on the authority or ability of the Corporation to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the Subscription Agreements, or on the rights and remedies of the Underwriters under this Agreement, or any fact, event, or change that would result in any Offering Document either failing to contain full, true and plain disclosure concerning the business, affairs, operations, financial condition or prospects of the Corporation or any Offering Document or Private Placement Document (as hereinafter defined) containing a misrepresentation (as hereinafter defined);

 

material change ” means a material change in or relating to the Corporation for the purposes of Applicable Securities Laws or any of them, or where undefined under the Applicable Securities Laws of an Offering Jurisdiction means a change in or relating to the business, operations or capital of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole that would reasonably be expected to have a significant effect on the market price or value of any securities of the Corporation and includes a decision to implement such a change made by the board of directors of the Corporation or by senior management who believe that confirmation of the decision by the board of directors of the Corporation is probable;

 

Material Contracts ” means all of the material contracts and agreements of the Corporation and of the Subsidiaries;

 

material fact ” means a material fact for the purposes of Applicable Securities Laws or any of them, or where undefined under the Applicable Securities Laws of an Offering Jurisdiction means a fact that would reasonably be expected to have a significant effect on the market price or value of any securities of the Corporation;

 

Material Properties ” means the Relief Canyon project, as described in the Technical Report and Preliminary Feasibility Study on the Relief Canyon project prepared by Mine Development Associates, dated June 2, 2017 (the “ Relief Canyon Project ”);

 

Material Subsidiaries ” means Gold Acquisition Corp., Pershing Royalty Company and Blackjack Gold Corporation;

 

misrepresentation ” means a misrepresentation for the purposes of the Applicable Securities Laws of an Offering Jurisdiction or any of them, or where undefined under the Applicable Securities Laws of an Offering Jurisdiction means: (i) an untrue statement of a material fact, or (ii) an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which it was made;

 

Nasdaq ” means the Nasdaq Global Market;

 

  - 5 -  

 

 

NI 43-101 ” means Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ;

 

NI 44-101 ” means Canadian National Instrument 44-101 – Short Form Prospectus Distributions ;

 

NI 51-102 ” means Canadian National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations ;

 

Offering ” means the sale of Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement;

 

Offering Documents ” means the U.S. Offering Documents and the Canadian Offering Documents;

 

Offering Jurisdictions ” means the United States and the Qualifying Jurisdictions;

 

OSC ” means the Ontario Securities Commission;

 

Passport Prospectus Receipt ” means the receipt issued by the OSC, which is deemed to also be a receipt of each of the other Qualifying Authorities pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 11-102 — Passport System and National Policy 11-202 — Process for Prospectus Reviews in Multiple Jurisdictions , in respect of the Canadian Base Prospectus and any Canadian Prospectus Amendment, as the case may be;

 

Qualifying Authorities ” means the Canadian Securities Commissions;

 

SEDAR ” means the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval administered by the Canadian Securities Administrators;

 

Subsidiaries ” means, collectively, the Material Subsidiaries;

 

TSX ” means the Toronto Stock Exchange;

 

U.S. GAAP ” means United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;

 

U.S. Offering Documents ” means the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus;

 

U.S. Securities Laws ” means all applicable United States securities laws, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

United States or U.S. ” means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, and states of the United States and the District of Columbia; and

 

“U.S. Affiliate” means, in the case of Canaccord, Canaccord Genuity Inc. ( “Canaccord U.S.” ), in the case of BMO, BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“ BMO U.S.”), and in the case of Cantor, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. ( “Cantor U.S.” ), and “U.S. Affiliates” means Canaccord U.S., BMO U.S. and Cantor U.S., collectively.

 

(2) Any reference in this Agreement to a Section or Subsection shall refer to a section or subsection of this Agreement.

 

(3) All words in the singular or plural include the singular and plural and pronouns stated in either the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter

 

(4) Any reference in this Agreement to “$” or to “dollars” shall refer to the lawful currency of the United States, unless otherwise specified.

 

  - 6 -  

 

 

(5) Any reference in this Agreement to “including” means including but not limited to.

 

Section 2          Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities

 

(1) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Corporation agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares and Firm Warrants to the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the respective number of Firm Shares and Firm Warrants set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A hereto. The aggregate purchase price for each Share and accompanying Warrant shall be $2.604.

 

(2) The Corporation hereby grants to the Underwriters the option to purchase some or all of the Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants and, upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, all or any portion of (i) the Additional Shares at a purchase price per share of $2.468 per Additional Share, as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) the Additional Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 145,800 Common Shares at a purchase price of $0.136 per Additional Warrant. The number of Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage (as adjusted by the Representatives to eliminate fractional shares) of the total number of Additional Shares and Additional Warrants to be purchased by the Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Firm Shares and Firm Warrants. This option may be exercised by the Representatives at any time (but not more than once) on or before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice from the Representatives to the Corporation (the “ Option Notice ”). The Option Notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the “ Option Closing Time ”); provided, however, that the Option Closing Time shall not be earlier than the Firm Closing Time (as defined below) nor earlier than the first Business Day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth Business Day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised unless the Corporation and the Representatives otherwise agree. Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of the Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants shall be made at the Option Closing Time in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Shares and Firm Warrants as set forth in subparagraph (c) below.

 

(3) The Firm Shares and Firm Warrants will be delivered by the Corporation to the Underwriters against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Corporation at the offices of Canaccord Genuity Corp., Brookfield Place, 161 Bay Street, Suite 3100, P.O. Box 516, Toronto, ON M5J 2S1535, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 8:00 a.m. (E.S.T.), December 19, 2017, or such other time on such date or another date as may be agreed upon in writing by the Corporation and the Representatives pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, or, in the case of the Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants, at such date and time set forth in the Option Notice. The time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Firm Warrants is referred to herein as the “ Firm Closing Time ” and each of the Firm Closing Time and the Option Closing Time, is sometimes referred to herein as a “ Closing Time .” If the Representatives so elects, delivery of the Firm Shares and any Additional Shares shall be made by credit through full fast transfer to the account at the DTC designated by the Representatives. Delivery of the Firm Warrants and any Additional Warrants shall be made in certificated form as instructed by the Representative.

 

  - 7 -  

 

 

(4) For purposes of this Section 2, the Underwriters shall be entitled to assume that the Offered Securities are qualified for distribution in any Qualifying Jurisdiction where a Passport Prospectus Receipt shall have been obtained following the filing of the Canadian Final Prospectus, unless otherwise notified in writing by the Corporation.

 

(5) In consideration of the services rendered by the Underwriters in connection with the Private Placement, the Corporation shall pay to the Underwriters, at the Closing Time, an aggregate cash fee equal to seven percent (7.0 %) of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Private Placement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated by the Representatives.

 

(6) Each Underwriter shall be permitted to appoint additional investment dealers or brokers (each, a “ Selling Firm ”) as its agents in the Offering and each such Underwriter may determine the remuneration payable to such Selling Firm. The Underwriters may offer the Offered Securities, directly and through Selling Firms or any affiliate of any Underwriter (including any U.S. Affiliate), in the Offering Jurisdictions for sale to the public only in accordance with Applicable Securities Laws and in any jurisdiction outside of the Offering Jurisdictions to purchasers permitted to purchase the Offered Securities in accordance with Applicable Securities Laws and applicable securities laws in such jurisdiction. Each Underwriter shall be severally responsible for the compliance by any Selling Firm appointed by such Underwriter with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(7) The Corporation shall issue and deliver the Private Placement Securities to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor at the Closing Time.

 

Section 3          Due Diligence; Marketing Materials

 

(1) During the period of the distribution of the Offered Securities, the Corporation shall cooperate in all respects with the Underwriters to allow and assist the Underwriters to participate fully in the preparation of, and allow the Underwriters to approve the form and content of, the Offering Documents and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and shall allow the Underwriters to conduct all “due diligence” investigations which the Underwriters may reasonably require to fulfil the Underwriters’ obligations under Applicable Securities Laws as underwriters and, in the case of the Canadian Prospectus Supplement and any Canadian Prospectus Amendment, to enable the Underwriters or their affiliates responsibly to execute any certificates required to be executed by the Underwriters or such affiliates. In addition, subject to compliance with Applicable Securities Laws, during the period of the distribution of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities, the Corporation will promptly provide to the Underwriters drafts of any press releases of the Corporation for review by the Underwriters prior to issuance and shall obtain prior approval of the Representatives as to the content and form of any press release relating to the Offering prior to issuance, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(2) The Corporation covenants and agrees not to provide any potential purchaser with any marketing materials.

 

Section 4          Material Changes

 

(1) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities the Corporation covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that it shall promptly notify the Underwriters in writing of:

 

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(a) any material change (actual, pending or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, threatened) in or relating to the business, affairs, operations, results of operating assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), capital stock or ownership of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(b) any material fact of which the Corporation has become aware and would have been required to have been stated in any of the Offering Documents had the fact arisen or been discovered on or prior to the date of such document;

 

(c) the occurrence of any event of which the Corporation has become aware as a result of which (i) the Registration Statement as amended immediately prior to such occurrence, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in each case as then amended or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading; or

 

(d) any change in any material fact of which the Corporation has become aware (which for purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to include the disclosure of any previously undisclosed material fact) contained in the Canadian Offering Documents, as they exist immediately prior to such change, which fact or change is, or may reasonably be expected to be, of such a nature as to render any statement in such Canadian Offering Documents, as they exist taken together in their entirety immediately prior to such change, misleading or untrue in any material respect or which would result in the Canadian Offering Documents, as they exist immediately prior to such change, containing a misrepresentation or which would result in the Canadian Offering Documents, as they exist immediately prior to such change, not complying with the laws of any Qualifying Jurisdiction in which the Offered Securities are to be offered for sale or which change would reasonably be expected to have a significant effect on the market price or value of any securities of the Corporation.

 

(2) The Corporation shall, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Underwriters’ counsel, promptly comply with all applicable filing and other requirements under Applicable Securities Laws whether as a result of such change, material fact or otherwise; provided that the Corporation shall not file any document without first providing the Representatives with a copy of such document and consulting with the Representatives with respect to the form and content thereof and shall not file any document without the consent of the Representatives, acting reasonably.

 

(3) If during the distribution of the Offered Securities there is any change in any Applicable Securities Laws, which, in the reasonable opinion of the Representatives, results in a requirement to file a Canadian Prospectus Amendment or additional prospectus supplement, the Corporation shall, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Underwriters’ counsel and subject to the proviso in clause (2) above, make any such filing under Applicable Securities Laws as soon as reasonably possible.

 

(4) The Corporation shall in good faith discuss with the Representatives any fact or change in circumstances (actual, pending or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, threatened, financial or otherwise) which is of such a nature that there is reasonable doubt whether written notice need be given under this Section 4.

 

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(5) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities, the Corporation will notify the Representatives promptly:

 

(a) of any request by any Qualifying Authority to amend or supplement the Offering Documents or for additional information;

 

(b) of the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities for offering, sale or grant in any jurisdiction, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of the Offering Documents or the institution or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, threatening of any proceedings for any such purpose; or

 

(c) of the issuance by any Qualifying Authority or any stock exchange of any order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Offered Securities or the trading in any securities of the Corporation, or of the institution or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose. The Corporation will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or of any order preventing or suspending such use or such order ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Offered Securities or the trading in the shares of the Corporation and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.

 

(6) The Representatives shall advise the Corporation when the distribution of the Offered Securities is complete.

 

Section 5          Deliveries to the Underwriters

 

(1) The Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Underwriters, forthwith:

 

(a) copies of the Canadian Base Prospectus and the Canadian Prospectus Supplement duly signed as required by the laws of all of the Qualifying Jurisdictions, together with copies of all documents or information incorporated by reference therein which have not been previously delivered to the Underwriters;

 

(b) to the extent not available on EDGAR, copies of the Registration Statement signed as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and any documents included as exhibits to any such registration statement; and

 

(c) copies of any documents required to be filed under Section 4 hereof duly signed as required by the laws of all of the Qualifying Jurisdictions.

 

(2) The Corporation shall cause to be delivered to the Underwriters such number of commercial copies as shall be requested thereby of the Final Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus, excluding in each case the documents incorporated by reference therein, in New York, Toronto and such other cities as shall be specified by the Underwriters. The Corporation agrees that such deliveries shall be effected as soon as possible and, in any event, in New York and in Toronto not later than 12:00 noon E.S.T. on December 13, 2017, and in all other cities by 12:00 noon local time, on the next Business Day. Such deliveries shall constitute the consent of the Corporation to the Underwriters' use of the Final Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus for the distribution of the Offered Securities in the Qualifying Jurisdictions and the United States as applicable in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and Applicable Securities Laws.

 

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(3) By the act of having delivered the Offering Documents to the Underwriters, the Corporation shall have represented and warranted to the Underwriters that all information and statements (except the Underwriter Information (as hereinafter defined)) contained in such documents, at the respective dates of initial delivery thereof, comply with the Applicable Securities Laws and are true and correct in all material respects, and that such documents, at such dates, do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or misrepresentation and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and constitute full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the Corporation and the Offering as required by the Applicable Securities Laws.

 

(4) The Corporation shall also have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Underwriters, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, a “long form” comfort letter of KBL, LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, acting reasonably, addressed to the Underwriters, the U.S. Affiliates and the Board of Directors of the Corporation, with respect to certain financial and accounting information relating to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and affiliates contained in the General Disclosure Package, which letter shall be in addition to the auditors’ report incorporated by reference in the Offering Documents.

 

(5) At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received a Lock-Up agreement substantially in the form of Schedule C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule D hereto.

 

Section 6          Regulatory Approvals

 

The Corporation shall on a timely basis make all necessary filings, obtain all necessary consents and approvals (if any) and pay all filing fees required to be paid in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation shall comply with its obligations under Section 11(8).

 

Section 7          Representations and Warranties of the Corporation

 

The Corporation represents and warrants to the Underwriters and acknowledges that the Underwriters are relying upon such representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Time, that:

 

(1) The Corporation is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the corporate laws of Nevada, and no proceedings have been instituted or are pending for the dissolution or liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation.

 

(2) All of the equity interests of each the Subsidiaries are directly or indirectly legally and beneficially owned by the Corporation, free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever.

 

(3) Other than the Material Subsidiaries, the Corporation has no material subsidiaries.

 

(4) The Subsidiaries are the only subsidiaries of the Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and no proceedings have been instituted or are pending for the dissolution or liquidation or winding-up of the Subsidiaries.

 

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(5) Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has been declared effective under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Corporation’s knowledge, contemplated. The Corporation has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

 

(6) Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus delivered by the Corporation to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(7) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

(8) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(9) The Corporation was at the time of filing the Registration Statement, and remains, eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The sale of the Offered Securities hereunder complies with the requirements of General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.

 

(10) Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Firm Closing Time or at any Option Closing Time, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Firm Closing Time or at any Option Closing Time, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such documents incorporated by reference were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The representations and warranties in this Section 7(10) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the statements relating to the concession figures under the heading “Underwriting-Underwriting Discount and Commissions and Offering Expenses” and statements relating to stabilization under the heading “Underwriting-Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids; Passive Market Making” in each case contained in the Prospectus and the equivalent information contained in the Canadian Offering Documents (collectively, the “ Underwriter Information ”).

 

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(11) No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

 

(12) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Corporation or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities and at the date hereof, the Corporation was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Corporation be considered an ineligible issuer.

 

(13) KBL, LLP, which certified the financial statements and supporting schedules incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

(14) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Corporation at the dates indicated and its results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.

 

(15) The Corporation is not and during the past three years neither the Corporation nor any predecessor was: (A) a “blank check company,” as defined in Rule 419(a)(2) under the Securities Act, (B) a “shell company,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, or (C) an issuer for an offering of “penny stock,” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act.

 

(16) The Common Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on Nasdaq and the TSX. There is no action pending by the Corporation or, to the Corporation’s knowledge, Nasdaq or the Commission to delist the Common Shares from Nasdaq, nor has the Corporation received any notification that Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such listing. When issued, the Shares and the Private Placement Shares, including the Warrant Shares, will be listed on Nasdaq and the TSX.

 

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(17) The Offering constitutes a public offering for purposes of the rules of Nasdaq and the TSX, subject to the relevant obligations of the Underwriters, and no approval of the shareholders of the Corporation is required for purpose of, or in connection with, the Offering or the Private Placement pursuant to the rules of Nasdaq or the TSX.

 

(18) As at the date hereof, the Corporation is a “reporting issuer” in each of the Qualifying Jurisdictions within the meaning of the Canadian Securities Laws in such jurisdictions and is not currently in material default of any requirement of the Applicable Securities Laws and the Corporation is not included on a list of defaulting reporting issuers maintained by any of the Qualifying Authorities.

 

(19) None of the Qualifying Authorities, the SEC, any other securities regulatory authority, any stock exchange nor any similar regulatory authority has issued any order which is currently outstanding preventing or suspending trading in any securities of the Corporation or the use of any Offering Document, and no proceedings for such purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, are threatened.

 

(20) The authorized capital of the Corporation consists of 200,000,000 Common Shares and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. All of the issued and outstanding Common Shares are fully paid and non-assessable and have been duly and validly authorized and issued in compliance with applicable Laws. The Shares and the Private Placement Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, respectively, and when issued and delivered by the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, respectively, against payment of the consideration set forth herein and the Subscription Agreements, respectively, will be validly issued as fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and validly reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrant Shares, when issued and delivered upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance therewith, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(21) None of the reports and other documents previously published or filed by the Corporation with, or furnished by the Corporation to, the Qualifying Authorities and the SEC since January 1, 2015 (the “ Continuous Disclosure Materials ”) contains any misrepresentation, as of the date of the statements in the Continuous Disclosure Materials, and each of the Continuous Disclosure Materials was prepared in accordance with and complies in all material respects with Applicable Securities Laws and the Corporation has not failed to file, publish or furnish any report or other document required to be filed, published or furnished under Applicable Securities Laws.

 

(22) Except as described in the Continuous Disclosure Materials, no person, firm or corporation has any agreement, option, right or privilege, whether pre-emptive, contractual or otherwise, capable of becoming an agreement for the purchase, acquisition, subscription for or issuance of, any of the unissued shares of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries, or other securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for shares of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(23) Each of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate power or limited liability company power and capacity to own the assets owned by it and to carry on the business carried on by it, and each of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries holds all material licenses and permits that are required for carrying on its business in the manner in which such business has been carried on and is duly qualified to carry on business in all jurisdictions in which it carries on business.

 

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(24) The Corporation and the Material Subsidiaries, as applicable, have record title to the unpatented mining claims (" Mining Claims ") and unpatented millsites (" Millsites ") it owns, and record title to its leasehold and subleasehold interests in real property (the " Leasehold Estates ," and together with the Mining Claims and Millsites, the “ Property Rights ”), in each case subject to no liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances, other than (a) the material production royalties disclosed in the Offering Documents; (b) liens resulting from taxes which have not yet become delinquent; (c) liens which do not materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially impair the operations of the Corporation; and (d) those that have otherwise arisen in the ordinary course of business, none of which are material; and, with respect to the Mining Claims and Millsites, subject to the paramount title of the United States of America and the statutory rights of third parties to use the surface of the Mining Claims and Millsites and to explore for and develop federal leasable minerals. Each of the Corporation and Material Subsidiaries is in compliance with all material terms of each lease or sublease of real property to which it is a party or is otherwise bound. Nothing in this Section, however, shall be deemed to be a representation or a warranty that any of the Mining Claims contains a discovery of valuable minerals. The Corporation has good and marketable title to the personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all material liens, claims, security interests, and other encumbrances or defects.

 

(25) The Property Rights are or will be completely and accurately described in the Final Prospectus and the Canadian Final Prospectus.

 

(26) No material Property Rights, easements, rights of way, access rights (including any mineral, geothermal and water rights) other than the Property Rights are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries as currently being conducted, and there are no material restrictions on the ability of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries to use or otherwise exploit any such Property Rights, and there is no claim, or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, basis for a claim that may adversely affect such rights in any respects.

 

(27) The Corporation and the Subsidiaries have all material licenses, registrations, qualifications, permits, consents and authorizations necessary for the conduct of the business of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and all such licenses, registrations, qualifications, permits, consents and authorizations are valid and subsisting and in good standing in all material respects.

 

(28) There are no agreements, contracts, arrangements or understandings (written or oral) or other documents of the Corporation, or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, of any third party, required to be described in the Offering Documents which have not been described and/or filed as required pursuant to the U.S. Securities Laws, as applicable.

 

(29) No person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to require the Corporation to register under the Securities Act or qualify for distribution under Canadian Securities Laws any Common Shares or other securities of the Corporation, or to include any such Common Shares or other securities in the Offering Documents, whether as a result of the filing of the Offering Documents (or the documents incorporated by reference) or the sale of the Offered Securities as contemplated thereby or otherwise.

 

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(30) All assessments or other work required to be performed in relation to the material mining claims and/or concessions and the mining rights with respect to the Material Properties in order to maintain the Corporation’s interest therein have been performed to date or the requisite payments in lieu thereof have been made to date, and the Corporation and the Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws in this connection as well as with regard to legal, contractual obligations to third parties in this connection, except for any non-compliance which would not either individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(31) Other than the royalties set forth in the Offering Documents, the Corporation and the Subsidiaries do not have any responsibility or obligation to pay or have paid on its behalf any commission, royalty or similar payment to any person with respect to its Property Rights.

 

(32) All of the technical information included or incorporated by reference in the Continuous Disclosure Materials, Canadian Offering Documents or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been reviewed by a “qualified person” as required by NI 43-101.

 

(33) The technical reports filed by the Corporation with the Canadian Securities Commission have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, and the Corporation has complied with, and is in compliance with, NI 43-101 in all material respects.

 

(34) The information included in the Offering Documents and the technical reports and other documents incorporated by reference therein relating to the estimates by the Corporation and the Subsidiaries of mineral resources and mineral reserves within the Material Properties has been reviewed and verified by a “qualified person” as required by NI 43-101; the information upon which such estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves were based, was, to the knowledge of the Corporation, at the time of delivery thereof, complete and accurate in all material respects, and there have been no material changes to such information since the date of delivery or preparation thereof.

 

(35) Each of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries has conducted and is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws of each jurisdiction in which its business is carried on, is in compliance in all material respects with all terms and provisions of all contracts, agreements, indentures, leases, policies, instruments and licenses that are material to the conduct of its business, and all such contracts, agreements, indentures, leases, policies, instruments and licenses are valid and binding in accordance with their terms and in full force and effect, and no breach or default by the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, or event which with notice or lapse of time or both, could constitute a breach or default by the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, exists with respect thereto, which would, in any of the foregoing cases, either individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(36) The Corporation has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Warrants and the Subscription Agreements and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the offer and sale by the Corporation of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Corporation, and each of this Agreement, the Warrants and the Subscription Agreements has been duly executed and delivered by the Corporation and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation, enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and except as limited by the application of equitable remedies which may be granted in the discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction and that enforcement of the rights to indemnity and contribution set out in this Agreement may be limited by applicable Law.

 

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(37) Neither the Corporation nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance of any Material Contract. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Warrants, Subscription Agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities, and compliance by the Corporation with its obligations hereunder, do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any property or assets of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to the Material Contracts, nor will such action result in any violation or conflict with the provisions of the organizational documents of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries or any existing applicable Law of any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries or their assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a “ Repayment Event ” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(38) Computershare Investor Services, Inc. has been duly appointed as the registrar and transfer agent for the Common Shares.

 

(39) The minute books and records of the Corporation made available to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with its due diligence investigation of the Corporation, as the case may be, to the date of this Agreement are all of the minute books and records of the Corporation and contain copies of all material proceedings (or certified copies thereof or drafts thereof pending approval or full execution) of the shareholders, the directors and all committees of directors of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries to the date of review of such corporate records and minute books and there have been no other meetings, resolutions or proceedings of the shareholders, directors or any committees of the directors of the Corporation or the Material Subsidiaries to the date of this Agreement not reflected in such minute books and other records.

 

(40) The Corporation maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, has been designed by the Corporation’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and, if necessary, appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference, (v) material information relating to the Corporation and the Subsidiaries is made known to those responsible for the preparation of the financial statements during the period in which the financial statements have been prepared and that such material information is disclosed to the public within the time periods required by applicable Law, and (vi) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of such internal controls that could adversely affect any of the Corporation’s or the Subsidiaries’ ability to disclose to the public information required to be disclosed by them in accordance with applicable Law and all fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or employees that have a significant role in the Corporation’s or the Subsidiaries’ internal controls have been disclosed to the audit committee of the Corporation. Management of the Corporation assessed the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting of the Corporation as of September 30, 2017 and concluded the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of such date. Since September 30, 2017, there has been no change in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting. The Corporation is not aware of any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in its internal control over financial reporting.

 

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(41) The application of the proceeds received by the Corporation from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities and Private Placement Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

 

(42) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed by the Corporation without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed by the Corporation other than in good faith.

 

(43) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Corporation or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, any of the Corporation’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans.

 

(44) There has been no change in accounting policies or practices of the Corporation on a consolidated basis, since September 30, 2017.

 

(45) The audit committee of the Corporation is comprised and operates in accordance with the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, the listing rules of Nasdaq and National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees of the Qualifying Authorities, that are applicable to the Corporation.

 

(46) Neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries is indebted or under any obligation to any of its respective directors, officers or shareholders, on any account whatsoever, other than for (i) payment of salary, directors’ fees, bonus and other employment or consulting compensation, (ii) reimbursement for expenses duly incurred in connection with the business of the Corporation, and (iii) other standard employee benefits made generally available to all employees.

 

(47) The Corporation and the Subsidiaries have not guaranteed or agreed to guarantee any debt, liability or other obligation of any kind whatsoever of any person, firm or corporation whatsoever.

 

(48) None of the directors, officers or shareholders of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries is indebted to or under any financial obligation to the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, on any account whatsoever.

 

(49) There are no material liabilities of the Corporation, whether direct, indirect, absolute, contingent or otherwise which are not disclosed or reflected in the financial statements.

 

(50) Since September 30, 2017, there has not been any adverse material change of any kind whatsoever in the financial position or condition of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries or any damage, loss or other change of any kind whatsoever in circumstances materially affecting its business, affairs, capital stock, prospects or assets, or the right or capacity of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries to carry on its business, such business having been carried on in the ordinary course.

 

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(51) All contracts and agreements material to the Corporation and the Subsidiaries other than those entered into in the ordinary course of its business as presently conducted have been disclosed in the Final Prospectus and Canadian Final Prospectus, and neither the Corporation nor any of the Subsidiaries has approved or entered into any binding agreement in respect of, nor has any knowledge of, the purchase of any material property or assets or any interest therein or the sale, transfer or other disposition of any material property or assets or any interest therein currently owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, whether by asset sale, transfer of shares or otherwise, except as disclosed in the Final Prospectus and Canadian Final Prospectus.

 

(52) There are no amendments to the Material Contracts that have been, are required to be or, to the knowledge of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries, are proposed to be, made.

 

(53) All tax returns, reports, elections, remittances, filings, withholdings and payments of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries required by applicable laws to have been filed or made, have been filed or made (as the case may be) and are substantially true, complete and correct, and all taxes owing of the Corporation as at September 30, 2017 have been paid or accrued in the annual financial statements.

 

(54) To the Corporation’s knowledge, no examination of any tax return of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries is currently in progress and there are no material issues or disputes outstanding with any governmental authority respecting any taxes that have been paid, or may be payable by the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries. There are no agreements, waivers or other arrangements with any taxation authority providing for an extension of time for any assessment or reassessment of taxes with respect to the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(55) There are no material actions, suits, judgments, investigations or proceedings of any kind whatsoever outstanding or, to the Corporation’s knowledge, pending, threatened against or affecting the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the Corporation’s knowledge, its directors or officers at law or in equity or before or by any governmental authority.

 

(56) In connection with the ownership, use, maintenance or operation of its property and assets, none of the Corporation nor any of the Subsidiaries has any knowledge of a material violation of any applicable federal, provincial, state, municipal or local laws, by-laws, regulations, orders, policies, permits, licenses, certificates or approvals having the force of law, domestic or foreign, relating to environmental, health or safety matters or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “ environmental laws ”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(a) each of the Corporation and the Subsidiaries has occupied its properties and has received, handled, used, stored, treated, shipped and disposed of all hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants in material compliance with all applicable environmental laws and has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable environmental laws to conduct their respective businesses; and

 

(b) there are no orders, rulings or directives issued against the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Corporation, there are no orders, rulings or directives pending or threatened against the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries under or pursuant to any environmental laws requiring any work, repairs, construction or capital expenditures with respect to any property or assets of the Corporation.

 

  - 19 -  

 

 

(57) No notice with respect to any of the matters referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph, including any alleged violations by the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries with respect thereto has been received by the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries and no writ, injunction, order or judgement is outstanding, and no legal proceeding under or pursuant to any environmental laws or relating to the ownership, use, maintenance or operation of the property and assets of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries is in progress, or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, threatened or pending, which could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the knowledge of the Corporation, there are no grounds or conditions which exist, on or under any property now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries, on which any such legal proceeding might be commenced.

 

(58) None of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Corporation, any of their directors or officers is in breach or violation of any law, ordinance, statute, regulation, by-law, order or decree of any kind whatsoever where such breach or violation could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(59) The auditors who audited the annual financial statements are and have been independent registered public accountants as required under Applicable Securities Laws and there has never been a “reportable event” (within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations and NI 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations ) between the Corporation and such auditors nor has there been any event which has led any of the Corporation’s current auditors to threaten to resign as auditors.

 

(60) Except as provided herein, there is no person, firm or corporation which has been engaged by the Corporation to act for the Corporation and which is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder, including the Private Placement.

 

(61) The operations of the Corporation are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental authority (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any governmental authority or non-governmental authority involving the Corporation with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is to the knowledge of the Corporation pending or threatened.

 

(62) No material labour dispute with the employees of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries currently exists or, to the knowledge of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, is imminent and none of the Corporation nor the Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement, and, to the knowledge of the Corporation, no action has been taken or is contemplated to organize any employees of the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(63) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of any governmental authority is necessary or required for the performance by the Corporation of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the Offering and the Private Placement in the Qualifying Jurisdictions and the United States, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except filings with Nasdaq and the TSX and the securing of their approval to the Offering and the Private Placement and the filing of the Final Prospectuses and the Canadian Final Prospectuses and the issue of the Passport Prospectus Receipt or such as have been already obtained under Applicable Securities Laws.

 

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(64) All information and documentation concerning the Corporation and the Subsidiaries (including the Property Rights and Material Contracts), the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities, and the Offering and the Private Placement, that has been provided to the Underwriters on their request by the Corporation in connection with this Agreement is accurate and complete in all material respects and does not contain any misrepresentations.

 

(65) To the knowledge of the Corporation, no action has been taken by any persons which would in any way limit, restrict or cause interference with any mineral exploration and development work which the Corporation currently proposes to carry out on the Material Properties.

 

(66) None of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and the businesses now run by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, and none of the directors, officers, supervisors, managers, agents, employees or other persons associated with or acting on behalf of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries has, to their knowledge (i) made or authorized any contribution, payment or gift of funds, property or anything else of value to any official, employee or agent of any governmental authority in the United States or any other jurisdiction, (ii) used any corporate funds, or made any direct or indirect unlawful payment from corporate funds, to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (Canada), including making any contribution to any candidate for public office, in either case, where either the payment or gift or the purpose of such contribution, payment or gift was or is prohibited under the foregoing or any other applicable Law; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(67) None of the Corporation, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, any director, officer, or employee of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries is currently subject to U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”), and the Corporation will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(68) The Corporation is eligible to file the Canadian Base Prospectus and Canadian Prospectus Supplement in each of the Qualifying Jurisdictions pursuant to applicable Canadian Securities Laws and on the date of and upon filing of the Canadian Final Prospectus there will be no documents required to be filed under the Canadian Securities Laws in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities that will not have been filed as required.

 

(69) The auditors of the Corporation have not provided any material comments or recommendations to the Corporation regarding its accounting policies, internal control systems or other accounting or financial practices that have not been implemented by the Corporation.

 

(70) The Corporation maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed so that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is made known to the Corporation’s management and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2017.

 

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(71) Neither the Corporation nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Corporation, any of the Corporation’s affiliates, has taken, nor will the Corporation, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Corporation, any such affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action that has constituted, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Corporation in connection with the Offering and the Private Placement to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities or Private Placement Securities.

 

(72) The Corporation is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and the Private Placement and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Documents under the heading “Use of Proceeds,” will not be an “investment company,” required to be registered as an investment company, under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(73) All Canadian Offering Documents, as of the time of filing thereof, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Canadian Securities Laws; all Canadian Offering Documents, as of the time of filing thereof and as of the Firm Closing Time and the Option Closing Time, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and all Canadian Offering Documents, as of the time of filing thereof and as of the Firm Closing Time and the Option Closing Time as the case may be, will constitute, full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the Offered Securities and to the Corporation; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any Underwriter Information.

 

(74) The representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in this Section 7 of the Agreement shall be true at the Closing Time as though they were made at the Closing Time and they shall survive the completion of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement.

 

(75) None of the Corporation, its affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf, (i) in connection with the offer or sale of the Private Placement Securities has engaged or will engage in any General Solicitation or General Advertising or in any activity involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Canadian Securities Laws; or (ii) within the six months’ period prior to the date hereof has offered or sold any securities of the Corporation, or after the date hereof will sell, offer for sale or solicit any offer to buy any of the securities of the Corporation, in a manner that would cause any exemptions or exclusions from registration, qualification or prospectus delivery requirements to become unavailable with respect to the offer and sale of the Private Placement Securities pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.

 

(76) The offer, sale and issuance of the Private Placement Securities in the Private Placement are exempt from any prospectus or offering memorandum filing or delivery requirements of applicable Canadian Securities Laws, do not require the obtaining any order or ruling of the securities regulatory authorities in any of the Qualifying Jurisdictions, and are exempt from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

 

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(77) The Corporation is not disqualified from relying on Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act (“ Rule 506 ”) for any of the reasons stated in Rule 506(d) in connection with the Private Placement, and the Corporation has exercised reasonable care, including conducting a factual inquiry that is appropriate in light of the circumstances, into whether any such disqualification under Rule 506(d) exists as of the date hereof; and (ii) there are no matters that would have triggered disqualification under Rule 506(d) but which occurred before September 23, 2013, and the Corporation has exercised reasonable care, including conducting a factual inquiry that is appropriate in light of the circumstances, into whether any such disqualification under Rule 506(d) would have existed before September 23, 2013 and whether any disclosure is required to be made to potential investors under Rule 506(e).

 

(78) None of the Subscription Agreements and other documentation concerning the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (including the Property Rights and Material Contracts), the Private Placement Securities or the Private Placement (collectively, with the Subscription Agreements, the “ Private Placement Documents ”) that has been, or will be, provided or made available by or on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates to any Private Placement Subscriber conflicts with, or contains any material information not contained in, the Offering Documents or contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Except as set forth in the Subscription Agreements, no documentation concerning the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (including the Property Rights and Material Contracts), the Private Placement Securities or the Private Placement has been, or will be, provided or made available by or on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates to any Private Placement Subscriber.

 

Section 8          Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Underwriters

 

(1) Each Underwriter hereby severally, and not jointly, nor jointly and severally, on its behalf and on behalf of its U.S. Affiliate, if any, represents and warrants to the Corporation that:

 

(a) it is, and will remain so, until the completion of the Offering and the Private Placement, appropriately registered under Applicable Securities Laws so as to permit it to lawfully fulfill its obligations hereunder; and

 

(b) it has good and sufficient right and authority to enter into this Agreement and complete the transactions contemplated under this Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

Section 9          Indemnification

 

(1) The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, its directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

 

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(a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or any misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation included (A) in any preliminary prospectus or other U.S. Offering Document, (B) in any Canadian Offering Document, or (C) in any Private Placement Document, or (D) in any other materials or information provided to investors by, or with the prior written approval of, the Corporation in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Offered Securities and Private Placement Securities (“ Offering Materials ”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Corporation (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, any other U.S. Offering Document, any Canadian Offering Document, or any Private Placement Document or in any Offering Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) the breach by the Corporation of, or default under, any term, condition, covenant or agreement of the Corporation made or contained herein, in any Subscription Agreement or in any other document of the Corporation delivered pursuant thereto or made by the Corporation in connection with the sale of the Private Placement Securities or the breach of any representation or warranty of the Corporation made or contained in any Subscription Agreement or in any other document of the Corporation delivered in connection with the sale of the Private Placement Securities being or being alleged to be untrue, false or misleading; or (iii) the non-compliance or alleged non-compliance by the Corporation with any of the Applicable Securities Laws relating to or connected with the offer or sale of the Private Placement Shares (any of (ii), or (iii), a “ Violation ”);

 

(b) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation, alleged untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation or Violation; provided that (subject to Section 9(4) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Corporation;

 

(c) against any and all expense whatsoever (including the fees and disbursements of one counsel (in addition to any relevant local counsel) chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation or alleged untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation or Violation, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (a) or (b) above;

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation or alleged untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information, any preliminary prospectus, any other U.S. Offering Document or any Canadian Offering Document in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(2) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Corporation within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 9(1), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information, any preliminary prospectus, any other U.S. Offering Document or any Canadian Offering Document in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

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(3) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Sections 9(1) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(2) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Corporation. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any relevant local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 9 or Section 10 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(4) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 9(1)(b) hereof effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

Section 10        Contribution

 

(1) If the indemnification provided for in Section 9 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Offered Securities and Private Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable Law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Corporation, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

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(2) The relative benefits received by the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Corporation, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount and Private Placement fees and commissions received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of (or in the case of the Private Placement fees, under “Concurrent Private Placement” in) the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Offered Securities and Private Placement Shares as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

 

(3) The relative fault of the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or misrepresentation or alleged misrepresentation relates to information supplied by the Corporation or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement, omission or misrepresentation.

 

(4) The Corporation and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 10. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 10 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or misrepresentation or alleged omission or misrepresentation.

 

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions and discounts and placement fees received by such Underwriter hereunder in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities in respect of which such Underwriter has received such commissions, discounts and placement fees. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(6) For purposes of this Section 10, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each Underwriter’s affiliates, directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors, shareholders and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Corporation, each officer of the Corporation who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Corporation within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Corporation. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several in proportion to the number of Offered Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

 

Section 11        Covenants of the Corporation

 

The Corporation covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that:

 

(1) The Corporation will advise the Underwriters, promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when the Offering Documents have been filed and receipts, as applicable, therefor have been obtained and will provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters of each such filing and copies of such receipts.

 

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(2) The Corporation, subject to Section 11(2) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or been declared effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses on Schedule E) shall have been filed or distributed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, or for additional information, including any request for information concerning any oral or written communication with potential investors and undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities or the Private Placement Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement, (v) of the occurrence of any event or development at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations (“ Rule 172 ”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Offered Securities (the “ Prospectus Delivery Period ”) as a result of which the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vi) if the Corporation becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities. The Corporation will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such Prospectus. The Corporation will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Offered Securities and, if any such order is issued, will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

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(3) The Corporation will comply with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations during the Prospectus Delivery Period so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Corporation, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Corporation will promptly (A) give the Representatives notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Corporation shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object unless the Corporation reasonably believes that the failure to file or use such amendment or supplement would constitute a violation of law or subject it to liability. The Corporation will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Corporation has given the Representatives notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Corporation will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object unless the Corporation reasonably believes that the failure to file or use such amendment or supplement would constitute a violation of law or subject it to liability.

 

(4) The Corporation has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of any preliminary prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request on behalf of the Underwriters, and the Corporation hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act and Canadian Securities Laws. The Corporation will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(5) The Corporation will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Offered Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Canadian Offering Documents under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(6) The Corporation, during the period when a Prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

 

(7) During a period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the Corporation will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of Common Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities, (B) any Common Shares issued by the Corporation upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto), the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Canadian Offering Documents, or (C) any Common Shares issued or options to purchase Common Shares granted pursuant to employee benefit plans of the Corporation referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Canadian Offering Documents; provided that, in each case, the recipient of such Common Shares or other securities is subject to substantially the same restrictions as those contained in this Section 11(7).

 

  - 28 -  

 

 

(8) The Corporation shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) U.S. Securities Laws, Canadian Securities Laws, or other foreign laws of jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities. The Corporation shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction in which it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities). The Corporation will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any exemption relating to) the Offered Securities or the Private Placement Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 

(9) Concurrently with the filing of the Final Prospectuses the Corporation shall also deliver or cause to be delivered to the Underwriters, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, a “long form” comfort letter of KBL, LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, acting reasonably, addressed to the Underwriters, the U.S. Affiliates and the Board of Directors of the Corporation, with respect to certain financial and accounting information relating to the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and affiliates contained in the Final Prospectuses, which letter shall be in addition to the auditors’ report incorporated by reference in the Offering Documents.

 

(10) The Corporation shall, at all times while any Warrants are outstanding, use its best efforts to maintain a registration statement covering the issue and sale of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants such that the Warrant Shares, when issued, will not be subject to resale restrictions under the Securities Act except to the extent that the Warrant Shares are owned by affiliates.

 

(11) The Corporation shall, at all times while any Warrants are outstanding, reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Shares, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of such Warrants, the number of Warrant Shares that are initially issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the then-outstanding Warrants.

 

  - 29 -  

 

 

Section 12        All Terms to be Conditions

 

The Corporation agrees that the conditions contained in this Agreement will be complied with insofar as the same relate to acts to be performed or caused to be performed by the Corporation. Any breach or failure by the Corporation to comply with any of the conditions set out in this Agreement shall entitle the Underwriters to terminate their obligation to purchase the Offered Securities, by written notice to that effect given to the Corporation at or prior to the Firm Closing Time or the Option Closing Time, as applicable. It is understood that the Underwriters may waive, in whole or in part, or extend the time for compliance with, any of such terms and conditions without prejudice to the rights of the Underwriters in respect of any such terms and conditions or any other or subsequent breach or non-compliance; provided that to be binding on the Underwriters any such waiver or extension must be in writing and signed by the Representatives.

 

Section 13        Termination by Underwriters; Default

 

(1) The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Corporation, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time:

 

(a) (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Canadian Offering Document, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) if there has arisen a new material fact relating to the Corporation its is business, affairs or prospects;

 

(b) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the Offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities or the Private Placement Securities;

 

(c) if trading in any securities of the Corporation has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission, Nasdaq or the TSX or has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (“ FINRA ”) or any other governmental authority; or

 

(d) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or Canada, or if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. federal, Canadian or New York authorities.

 

(2) If this Agreement is terminated by any of the Underwriters pursuant to Section 13(1), there shall be no further liability on the part of such Underwriter or of the Corporation to such Underwriter, except in respect of any liability which may have arisen or may thereafter arise under Section 9, Section 10 and Section 17.

 

Section 14        Default by One or More of the Underwriters or the Corporation

 

(1) If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Firm Closing Time or an Option Closing Time to purchase the Offered Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “ Defaulted Securities ”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

 

  - 30 -  

 

 

(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Offered Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities equals or exceeds 10% of the number of Offered Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Time which occurs after the Firm Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Corporation to sell, the Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants to be purchased and sold at such Option Closing Time shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 14 shall be without liability on the part of the Corporation, except that the Corporation will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 17 hereof and provided further that Sections 7, 9, 10, 14(1), 21, 24 and 25 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

(c) No action taken pursuant to this Section 14 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

 

(d) In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of an Option Closing Time which is after the Firm Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Corporation to sell the relevant Additional Shares and/or Additional Warrants, as the case may be, either (i) the Representatives or (ii) the Corporation shall have the right to postpone the Firm Closing Time or the relevant Option Closing Time, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Canadian Offering Document or in any other documents or arrangements.

 

(2) If the Corporation shall fail at the Firm Closing Time or an Option Closing Time, as the case may be, to sell the number of Offered Securities that it is obligated to sell hereunder, then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of any nondefaulting party; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 14(2), 17, 21, 24 and 25 shall remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant to this Section 14 shall relieve the Corporation from liability, if any, in respect of such default.

 

Section 15        Conditions of Closing and Option Closing

 

(1) The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in this Agreement and the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Corporation and the Private Placement Subscribers contained in the Subscription Agreements, in each case as of the date of this Agreement, the Firm Closing Time and the Option Closing Time (as applicable), the performance by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement, the Warrants and the Subscription Agreements, and:

 

(a) the Private Placement closing concurrently with the closing of this Offering; and

 

  - 31 -  

 

 

(b) receipt by the Underwriters, at the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time, as applicable, of:

 

(i) a favorable legal opinion, dated the Firm Closing Time and the Option Closing Time, as applicable, from Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, the Corporation's U.S. counsel, addressed to the Underwriters and the U.S. Affiliates, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and Underwriters’ counsel;

 

(ii) a favorable legal opinion, dated the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time, as applicable, from Stikeman Elliott LLP, the Corporation’s Canadian counsel, as to matters of Canadian federal and provincial law, addressed to the Underwriters, the U.S. Affiliates and Underwriters’ counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and their counsel;

 

(iii) a favorable legal opinion, dated the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time, as applicable, from the Law Office of Jeff N. Faillers, P.C., the Corporation’s local counsel, addressed to the Underwriters and the U.S. Affiliates, with respect to title to and ownership rights in the Relief Canyon Project, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and Underwriters’ counsel, dated within one week of the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time, as applicable;

 

(iv) a certificate of the chief financial of the Corporation confirming that all requisite filings have been made and fees paid to maintain the status of the Relief Canyon Project, in form and substance acceptable to the Representatives and Underwriters’ counsel, dated within one day of the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time, as applicable;

 

(v) certificates or evidence of registration representing, in the aggregate, the Firm Shares (or Additional Shares, as applicable) in the name of DTC or its nominees or in such other name(s) as the Underwriters shall have directed;

 

(vi) certificates representing, in the aggregate, the Firm Warrants (or Additional Warrants as applicable) in such name(s) as the Underwriters shall have directed;

 

(vii) the auditor's comfort letter dated the Firm Closing Time or the Option Closing Time, as applicable, updating the comfort letter referred to in Section 11(9) above with such changes as may be necessary from the comfort letter delivered previously to bring the information therein forward to a date which is within two Business Days of the Firm Closing Time or the Option Closing Time, as applicable;

 

(viii) evidence satisfactory to the Representatives that the Shares and the Private Placement Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on Nasdaq and the TSX, subject only to the official notice of issuance in the case of Nasdaq and customary conditional approval conditions in the case of the TSX;

 

(ix) evidence satisfactory to the Underwriters that FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements of the Offering and the Private Placement;

 

  - 32 -  

 

 

(x) at the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time, as applicable, a certificate of good standing for each of the Corporation and the Material Subsidiaries dated within one Business Day (or such earlier or later date as the Representatives may accept) of such Closing Time; and

 

(xi) such other documents as the Underwriters or counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably require; and

 

(c) all proceedings taken by the Corporation in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, acting reasonably ;

 

(d) the Private Placement shall have been consummated and the Private Placement fees shall have been paid to the Underwriters in accordance with Section 2(5); and

 

(e) at the Firm Closing Time or Option Closing Time (as applicable), there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Corporation and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Corporation, dated as of such Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Corporation in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of such Closing Time, (iii) the Corporation has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Time, (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Securities Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated, (v) the Corporation is a “reporting issuer” or its equivalent under the Canadian Securities Laws and eligible to use the Short Form Prospectus System under NI 44-101, and (vi) that, to the knowledge, information and belief of the persons signing such certificate, after having made reasonable inquiries, no order, ruling or determination having the effect of ceasing or suspending trading in the Common Shares has been issued and no proceedings for such purpose are pending or are contemplated or threatened.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 15 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Corporation at any time at or prior to the Firm Closing Time; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 15, 17, 21, 24 and 25 shall remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant to this Section 15 shall relieve the Corporation from liability, if any, in respect of any breach hereof or default hereunder..

 

  - 33 -  

 

 

Section 16        U.S. Affiliates of Representatives

 

For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting any of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Corporation hereunder or any of the rights or remedies of the Underwriters hereunder (including under Section 2(6)), it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that Canaccord’s U.S. Affiliate will be offering and selling the Offered Securities, in the United States on behalf of Canaccord, that BMO’s U.S. Affiliate will be offering and selling the Offered Securities, in the United States on behalf of BMO, that Cantor’s U.S. Affiliate will be offering and selling the Offered Securities, in the United States on behalf of Cantor, in accordance with Section 2, and that each of the U.S. Affiliates shall be entitled to rely upon and to the benefit of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements (including indemnification under Section 9 and contribution under Section 10) made by the Corporation herein and upon any opinions, certificates and other documents delivered by the Corporation. The Corporation acknowledges and agrees that, by virtue of this Section 16, each U.S. Affiliate is an express-third party beneficiary of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements (including indemnification under Section 9 and contribution under Section 10) and, as a result, is entitled to enforce this Agreement as if a party hereto.

 

Section 17        Expenses

 

The Corporation, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all expenses (including transfer taxes allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the delivery to the Underwriters of the Offered Securities, (B) all expenses and fees (including fees and expenses of the Corporation’s counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Offered Securities, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (C) all reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriters’ counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Offered Securities for offering and sale by any Underwriter or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions that any Underwriter shall designate, (D) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (E) the reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of Underwriters’ counsel incident to any required review and approval by FINRA, of the terms of the sale of the Offered Securities, (F) listing fees, if any, and (G) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein. In addition to the foregoing, the Corporation will reimburse the Representatives for their reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities contemplated hereby and service as placement agent with respect to the Private Placement Securities the “ Underwriters’ Expenses ”) up to a maximum amount of $200,000 for all such expenses unless the Corporation approves in writing Underwriters’ Expenses in excess of such amount in advance. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 or Section 15, the Corporation will reimburse the Representatives for all out-of-pocket disbursements (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges) incurred by the Representatives in connection with their investigation, preparing to market and marketing the Offered Securities or serving as placement agent with respect to the Placement Agent Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; provided, however , that the Corporation shall not be obligated to reimburse the Representatives pursuant to this sentence for out-of-pocket disbursements in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this paragraph shall be deemed to limit the Corporation’s indemnification obligations set forth in Section 9 and contribution obligations set forth in Section 10.

 

Section 18        No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship

 

The Corporation acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Offered Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Corporation, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the Offering and the process leading to such transactions, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Corporation or its shareholders, creditors, directors, officers, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favour of the Corporation with respect to the Offering or the Private Placement or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Corporation on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Corporation with respect to the Offering or the Private Placement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Corporation and other participants in the Offering and Private Placement, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the Offering or the Private Placement, and the Corporation has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deems appropriate.

 

  - 34 -  

 

 

Section 19        Notices

 

Any notice to be given hereunder shall be in writing and may be given by mail, facsimile or by hand delivery and shall, in the case of notice to the Corporation, be addressed and faxed or delivered to:

 

Pershing Gold Corporation.

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, CO 80401

Fax No.: 720.974.7249
Attention: Stephen Alfers, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

with a copy to (such copy not to constitute notice):

 

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

1550 17th Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202

Fax: 303.893.1379
Attention: Brian Boonstra

 

with a copy to (such copy not to constitute notice):

 

Stikeman Elliott LLP

5300 Commerce Court West

199 Bay Street

Toronto, Ontario M5L 1B9

Fax: 416.947.0866
Attention: Ivan Grbešić

 

and in the case of the Representatives, be addressed and faxed or delivered to:

 

Canaccord Genuity Corp.

Brookfield Place, 161 Bay Street

Suite 3100 P.O. Box 516

Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1

Fax: 416.869.3876
Attention: Craig G.H. Warren

 

- and –

 

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

1 First Canadian Place, 4th Floor

Toronto, ON M5X 1H3

Fax: 416.359.4459
Attention: Joshua Goldfarb

 

  - 35 -  

 

 

- and –

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square, 25th Floor

New York, NY 10036

Fax: 212.885.4165
Attention: Equity Capital Markets

 

- and –

 

Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation

181 University Avenue, Suite 1500

Toronto, ON M5H 3M7

Fax: 416.350.2985
Attention: Graham Moylan

 

- and –

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

110 East 59th Street

New York, NY 10022

Fax: 212.829.4708
Attention: Legal Department

 

with a copy to (such copy not to constitute notice):

 

Cooley LLP

1114 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Daniel I. Goldberg, Esq.
Fax: 212.479.6275

 

with a copy to (such copy not to constitute notice):

 

Bennett Jones LLP
3400 One First Canadian Place

P.O. Box 130

Toronto, Ontario M5X 1A4

Attention: James Clare
Fax No.: 416.863.1716

 

The Corporation and the Underwriters may change their respective addresses for notice by notice given in the manner referred to above.

 

Section 20        Authority of Representatives

 

In connection with this Agreement, the Representatives will act for or on behalf of the several Underwriters, and any action taken under this Agreement by the Representatives will be binding on all Underwriters.

 

Section 21        Survival

 

All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Corporation submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers and directors, or any person controlling the Corporation and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities and Private Placement Securities.

 

  - 36 -  

 

 

Section 22        Market Stabilization

 

In connection with the distribution of the Offered Securities, the Underwriters (or any of them) may effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common Shares at levels other than those which might otherwise prevail in the open market, but in each case as permitted by Applicable Securities Laws. Such stabilizing transactions, if any, may be discontinued by the Underwriters at any time.

 

Section 23        Entire Agreement

 

Any and all previous agreements (other than the Subscription Agreements) with respect to the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities and the Private Placement Securities, whether written or oral, are terminated, and this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Corporation and the Underwriters with respect to the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities and with respect to the Private Placement (subject to the Underwriters rights in respect of the Subscription Agreements as provided herein).

 

Section 24        Governing Law

 

This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of, the State of New York without regard to its choice of law provisions.

 

Section 25        Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

The Corporation irrevocably (a) submits to the jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York located in New York County for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the Canadian Offering Documents (each a “ Proceeding ”), (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE CORPORATION AND THE UNDERWRITERS (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS RESPECTIVE EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS AND THE CANADIAN OFFERING DOCUMENTS.

 

Section 26        Partial Unenforceability

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

Section 27        Effect of Headings

 

The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

  - 37 -  

 

 

Section 28        Time of the Essence

 

Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK

 

  - 38 -  

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

  Very truly yours,

 

  PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ Stephen Alfers
    Authorized Signatory
    Name: Stephen Alfers
    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,  
as of the date first above written:  

 

CANACCORD GENUITY CORP.  

 

/s/ Craig Warren  
Name: Craig Warren  
Title: Managing Director  

 

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.  
   
By: /s/ Joshua Goldfarb  
  Name: Joshua Goldfarb  
  Title: Director  

 

CANTOR FITZGERALD CANADA CORPORATION  
   
By: /s/ Christopher Craib  
  Name: Christopher Craib  
  Title: President and Chief Financial Officer  

 

For themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

  - 39 -  

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriters  

Number of Firm

Shares to be

Purchased

   

Number of

Firm Warrants

to be

Purchased

   

Number of

Additional

Shares to

be

Purchased

   

Number of

Additional

Warrants

to be

Purchased

 
                         
Canaccord Genuity Corp.     753,300       301,320       112,995       45,198  
                                 
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.     753,300       301,320       112,995       45,198  
                                 
Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation     753,300       301,320       112,995       45,198  
                                 
Clarus Securities Inc.     170,100       68,040       25,515       10,206  
                                 
Total     2,430,000       972,000       364,500       145,800  

 

  A- 1  

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

None.

 

  B- 1  

 

 

SCHEDULE C

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

December __, 2017

 

Canaccord Genuity Corp.

Brookfield Place, 161 Bay Street

Suite 3100, P.O. Box 516

Toronto, ON M5J 2S1

 

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.

1 First Canadian Place, 4th Floor

Toronto, ON M5X 1H3

 

Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation

181 University Avenue, Suite 1500

Toronto, ON M5H 3M7

 

Re: Pershing Gold Corporation (the “ Company ”)

 

Ladies & Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of the Company or securities convertible into, exchangeable, or exercisable for Common Stock (“ Securities ”). The Company proposes to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with respect to a public offering of Common Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “ Offering ”) for which you will act as co-lead underwriters. The undersigned acknowledges that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned. The undersigned also acknowledges that you and any other underwriter named in the Underwriting Agreement will rely on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter agreement in entering into the Underwriting Agreement, performing your or their respective obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and otherwise serving as an underwriter in connection with the Offering.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, and in order to induce you to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, as underwriters, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Canaccord Genuity Corp., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation (the “ Representatives ”) which consent may be withheld in the Representatives’ sole discretion, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, or grant any option for the sale (including without limitation any short sale), grant any security interest in, pledge, hypothecate, hedge, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”), or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction, swap or other arrangement which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or transfer of the economic consequences (in whole or on part) of ownership due to cash settlement or otherwise) (collectively, a “ Disposition ”) of any shares of Common Stock or any Securities currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned’s intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, subject to adjustment as discussed below (the “ Lock-up Period ”).

 

  C- 1  

 

 

The foregoing restrictions have been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of shares of Common Stock and/or Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction that is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of Common Stock or Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such shares of Common Stock or Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale, or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any shares of Common Stock or Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from Common Stock or Securities.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may (a) complete one or more sales of Common Stock or Securities so long as the aggregate value of such sales for all directors and officers of the Company does not exceed $100,000, (b) exercise any options granted under any employee benefit plan of the Company; provided that any Common Stock or Securities acquired in connection with any such exercise will be subject to the restrictions set forth in this letter agreement, (c) complete one or more bona fide gift transfers of Common Stock or Securities to immediate family member(s) (as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act), (d) transfer Common Stock or Securities by will or the laws of descent and distribute or to one or more trusts for bona fide estate planning purposes, (e) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, transfer Common Stock or Securities to any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of a similar equity interest in, the undersigned, as the case may be, if, in any such case, such transfer is not for value, and (f) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, transfer of Common Stock or Securities to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity so long as the transferee is an affiliate (as defined below) of the undersigned and such transfer is not for value provided that, in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (c), (d) (e) or (f), the transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this letter agreement prior to such transfer. If the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or Securities during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that, in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (d) above, such transfer is being made as a gift or by will or intestate succession or, in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (e) above, such transfer is being made to a shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of a similar equity interest in, the undersigned and is not a transfer for value or, in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (f) above, such transfer is being made to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity that is an affiliate of the undersigned and such transfer is not for value. For purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, child, grandchild or other lineal descendant (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the undersigned; and “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This Agreement shall not apply to the entering into a written trading plan designed to comply with Section 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, provided that (i) no sales or other transactions are made pursuant to such plan during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) no filing or other public announcement by any party under the Exchange Act or otherwise shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection therewith.

 

  C- 2  

 

 

The undersigned hereby waives any rights the undersigned may have to require registration of any shares of Common Stock or Securities in connection with the Offering, including, without limitation, any right to receive notice thereof. The undersigned also agrees that, without your prior written consent (which consent may be withheld in your sole discretion), the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending upon the expiration of the Lock-up Period, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock or Securities.

 

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this letter agreement. This letter agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.

 

Nothing in this letter agreement shall constitute an obligation to purchase shares of Common Stock or Securities of the Company.

 

This letter agreement shall lapse and become null and void upon the earlier of (i) December 31, 2017, if the Company shall not have entered into the Underwriting Agreement on or prior to such date, (ii) the termination of the Underwriting Agreement prior to any closing thereunder or (iii) prior to the earlier of the first public announcement by the Company of any potential Offering and the launch of the Offering, the delivery of an officer’s certificate by the Company to both of you, certifying that the Board of Directors of the Company has passed a resolution to the effect that the Company is no longer pursuing the Offering.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

   
Printed Name of Holder  
   
By:             
  Signature  
   
   
Printed Name of Person Signing  
( and indicate capacity of person signing if  
signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf  
of an entity)  

 

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SCHEDULE D

 

LIST OF PERSONS AND ENTITIES SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP

 

· Stephen Alfers
· Debra Struhsacker
· Timothy Janke
· Eric Alexander
· Barry Honig
· Edward Karr
· Alex Morrison
· Pamela Saxton
· Tim Arnold
· Jack Perkins

 

  D- 1  

 

 

SCHEDULE E

 

ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

 

1. Canadian Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
2. Canadian Final Prospectus Supplement
3. Term Sheet filed as Free Writing Prospectus, dated December 11, 2017

 

  E- 1  

Exhibit 4.1

 

WARRANT

NO. 2017-___ PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

_______ Shares

December 19, 2017

 

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

VOID AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby agrees to sell upon the terms and on the conditions hereinafter set forth, any time on or after the date hereof (the “ Exercise Date ”) and no later than December 19, 2019 (the “ Expiration Date ”), to __________ or registered assigns (the “ Holder ”), under the terms as hereinafter set forth, from and after the issue date hereof (“ Initial Issue Date ”) up to _______ fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Warrant Stock ”), at a purchase price of $3.40 per share (the “ Warrant Price ”), pursuant to this warrant (this “ Warrant ”).  The number of shares of Warrant Stock to be so issued and the Warrant Price are subject to adjustment in certain events as hereinafter set forth.  The term “ Common Stock ” shall mean, when used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the stock and property at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

 

1. Exercise of Warrant .

 

a. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Exercise Date and on or before 5:30 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of a duly executed facsimile copy of the Notice of Exercise Form annexed hereto. Within two (2) Trading Days (as defined below) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Warrant Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 1(b) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (although the Holder may surrender the Warrant to, and receive a replacement Warrant from, the Company), the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Stock available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within two (2) Trading Days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total amount of Warrant Stock available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding amount of Warrant Stock purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable amount of Warrant Stock purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the amount of Warrant Stock purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise Form within one (1) Trading Day of delivery of such notice. “ Trading Day ” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market. “ Trading Market ” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the OTCQX or OTCQB (or any successors to any of the foregoing). The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Stock hereunder, the amount of Warrant Stock available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

 

     

 

 

b. Cashless Exercise .  If the Registration Statement (as defined below) (or any subsequent registration statement applicable to the Warrant Shares) permitting the registered issuance of the Warrant Shares is not then effective or the prospectus forming a part thereof is not then available, then this Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, by means of a “cashless exercise” (in lieu of making a payment upon such exercise) in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the number of shares of Warrant Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

(A) = the closing price of the Warrant Stock on the Trading Market on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which Holder elects to exercise this Warrant by means of a “cashless exercise,” as set forth in the applicable Notice of Exercise;

 

(B) = the Warrant Price, as adjusted hereunder; and

 

(X) = the number of shares of Warrant Stock that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

 

Registration Statement ” means the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-211910), as amended and supplemented from time to time, relating to the Warrant Stock and other securities of the Company.

 

c. Reserved .

 

d. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Warrant Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

e. Issuance of certificates for Warrant Stock shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, including, but not limited to the cost of any opinion of counsel, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent (as defined below) and legal fees required for processing of any Notice of Exercise.

 

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f. Mechanics of Exercise .

 

(i) Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise . Not later than two (2) Trading Days after the latest of (A) the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, (B) surrender of this Warrant (if required) and (C) payment of the aggregate Warrant Price as set forth above (including by cashless exercise, if permitted) (such date, the “ Warrant Stock Delivery Date ”), the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the exercising Holder a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Warrant Stock being acquired upon the exercise of such Warrant; provided however, if the Company is then a participant in the Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission (“ DWAC ”) system and the Warrant Shares have been resold by the Holder pursuant to an effective resale registration statement or an exemption from registration with respect to which an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company confirming such exemption has been delivered, then certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with DTC through its DWAC system. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver such shares as promptly as practicable but in any event prior to the Warrant Stock Delivery Date. The Warrant Stock shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised, with payment to the Company of the aggregate Warrant Price (or by cashless exercise, if permitted) and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, prior to the issuance of such shares, having been paid. The Company understands that a delay in the delivery of the Warrant Stock after the Warrant Stock Delivery Date could result in economic loss to the Holder. As compensation to the Holder for such loss, the Company agrees to pay (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty) to the Holder for late issuance of Warrant Stock upon exercise of this Warrant the proportionate amount of $100 per “Business Day” (any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close) (increasing to $200 per Business Day after the tenth Trading Day) commencing after the second Trading Day following the Warrant Stock Delivery Date for each $10,000 of Exercise Price of Warrant Stock for which this Warrant is exercised which are not timely delivered. The Company shall pay any payments incurred under this Section in immediately available funds upon demand. Furthermore, in addition to any other remedies which may be available to the Holder, in the event that the Company fails for any reason to effect delivery of the Warrant Stock by the Warrant Stock Delivery Date, the Holder may revoke all or part of the relevant Warrant exercise by delivery of a notice to such effect to the Company, whereupon the Company and the Holder shall each be restored to their respective positions immediately prior to the exercise of the relevant portion of this Warrant, except that the liquidated damages described above shall be payable through the date notice of revocation or rescission is given to the Company.

 

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(ii) Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise . If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Stock, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Stock called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

 

(iii) Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Exercise . In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Stock pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Stock Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Stock which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “ Buy-In ”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of shares of Warrant Stock that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of shares of Warrant Stock for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof; provided however that the Holder shall not be entitled to recover more than once for the same damages and that the Company shall not be liable for any consequential, or punitive damages.

 

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(iv) Closing of Books . The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

g. Holder’s Exercise Limitations . The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s affiliates, and any other persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below) or the Maximum Percentage (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 this 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, non-exercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 1(g), 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 limitations contained in this Section 1(g) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation and Maximum Percentage, and the Company 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 1(g), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a 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 or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two 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 this 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 ” shall be 9.99% 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 this Warrant. 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 1(g), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 1(g) shall continue to apply. 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 1(g) 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not apply if the Holder beneficially owns, as of the Initial Issue Date, in excess of 9.99% 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 this Warrant held by such Holder. Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein, in no event shall this Warrant be exercisable by the Holder to the extent that the Holder and its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 19.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding as of the Initial Issue Date (calculated as set forth above) (the “ Maximum Percentage ”) unless any issuances in excess of the foregoing limitation are approved by the Company’s common stockholders or the Holder beneficially owns, as of the Initial Issue Date, in excess of 19.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately and NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635(b) would not require approval by the Company’s common stockholders. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

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2. Reservation of Shares .  The Company hereby agrees that at all times there shall be reserved for issuance upon the exercise of this Warrant such number of shares of its Common Stock as shall be required for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant.  The Company further agrees that all shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant will be duly authorized and will, upon issuance and against payment of the exercise price, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from all taxes, liens, charges and preemptive rights with respect to the issuance thereof, other than taxes, if any, in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issuance and other than transfer restrictions imposed by federal, state or other applicable securities laws.

 

3. Exchange, Transfer or Assignment of Warrant .  Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws, this Warrant is exchangeable, without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender hereof to the Company or at the office of the Transfer Agent, for other Warrants of different denominations, entitling the Holder or Holders thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.  Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company or at the office of the Transfer Agent, with the Assignment Form annexed hereto duly executed and funds sufficient to pay any transfer tax, the Company shall, without charge, execute and deliver a new Warrant in the name of the assignee named in such instrument of assignment and this Warrant shall promptly be canceled.

 

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4. Capital Adjustments .  This Warrant is subject to the following further provisions:

 

a. Subdivision or Combination of Shares .  If the Company at any time while this Warrant remains outstanding and unexpired shall subdivide or combine its Common Stock, the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant and the Warrant Price shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Warrant Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged.  Any adjustment under this Section 4(a) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective or, if earlier, the record date with respect to the subdivision or combination.

 

b. Stock Dividends and Distributions .  If the Company at any time while this Warrant is outstanding and unexpired shall issue or pay the holders of its Common Stock, or take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive, a dividend payable in, or other distribution of, Common Stock, then (i) the Warrant Price shall be adjusted in accordance with Section 4(e) and (ii) the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted to the number of shares of Common Stock that the Holder would have owned immediately following such action had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior thereto.

 

c. Stock and Rights Offering to Stockholders .  If the Company shall at any time while this Warrant is outstanding distribute to all holders of its Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company (other than Common Stock) or evidences of its indebtedness or assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (excluding those referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph), or securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock (any of the foregoing, the “ Securities ”), then in each such case, the Company shall without regard to any Beneficial Ownership Limitation or Maximum Percentage reserve shares or other units of such Securities for distribution to the Holder upon exercise of this Warrant so that, in addition to the shares of the Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled, such Holder will receive upon such exercise the amount and kind of such Securities which such Holder would have received if the Holder had, immediately prior to the record date for the distribution of the Securities, exercised this Warrant.

 

d. Organic Change .  Any recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another person or entity or other transaction that is effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock is referred to herein as an “ Organic Change .”

 

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(i) In connection with any (x) bona fide sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an acquiring person or entity or (y) other Organic Change involving an arm’s length third party or parties following which the Company is not the surviving entity and as a result of which the then current stockholders of the Company will not, directly or indirectly own 50% or more of the surviving entity, the Company shall elect in its sole discretion: (A) to require that the Holder exercise this Warrant prior to the consummation of such Organic Change, and if not so exercised, that this Warrant shall terminate upon consummation of such Organic Change, or (B) to secure from the person or entity purchasing such assets or the successor resulting from such Organic Change (in each case, the “ Acquiring Entity ”) a written agreement (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to deliver to the Holder, in exchange for this Warrant, a warrant of the Acquiring Entity (the “ Replacement Warrant ”) evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant and reasonably satisfactory to the Holder reflecting the adjustments required so as to preserve the value of the Warrant applicable at the Closing of the transaction, by the terms of the Replacement Warrant.  The Replacement Warrant shall be exercisable for such number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Acquiring Entity as the Holder would have had the right to receive upon such Organic Change by a holder of the number of shares of Warrant Stock that such Holder would have been entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Organic Change without regard to any Beneficial Ownership Limitation or Maximum Percentage.  The Company shall give the Holder written notice of such Organic Change at least twenty (20) days prior to the closing and consummation of such Organic Change (and shall give notice of record date pursuant to Section 5(a)). The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Replacement Warrant may be issued shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 4(d) and insuring that this Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to an Organic Change.

 

(ii) Prior to the consummation of any Organic Change unless not required as contemplated in subsection (i) above, the Company shall make appropriate provision (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to acquire and receive in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore acquirable and receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or assets that would have been issued or payable in such Organic Change with respect to or in exchange for the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been acquirable and receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant as of the date of such Organic Change without regard to any Beneficial Ownership Limitation or Maximum Percentage.

 

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e. Warrant Price Adjustment .  Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant is adjusted, as herein provided, the Warrant Price payable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted to that price determined by multiplying the Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment, and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately thereafter.

 

f. Par Value .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 4, if, as a result of an adjustment pursuant to Section 4, the par value per share of Common Stock would be greater than the Warrant Price, then the Warrant Price shall be an amount equal to the par value per share of the Common Stock but the number of shares the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to purchase shall be such greater number of shares of Common Stock as would have resulted from the Warrant Price that, absent such limitation, would have been in effect pursuant to this Section 4.

 

g. Certain Shares Excluded . The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time for purposes of the adjustments set forth in this Section 4 shall exclude any shares then directly or indirectly held in the treasury of the Company.

 

h. Deferral and Cumulation of De Minimis Adjustments .  The Company shall not be required to make any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4 if the amount of such adjustment would be less than one percent (1%) of the Warrant Price in effect immediately before the event that would otherwise have given rise to such adjustment.  In such case, however, any adjustment that would otherwise have been required to be made shall be made at the time of and together with the next subsequent adjustment which, together with any adjustment or adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to not less than one percent (1%) of the Warrant Price in effect immediately before the event giving rise to such next subsequent adjustment.

 

i. Duration of Adjustment .  Following each computation or readjustment as provided in this Section 4, the new adjusted Warrant Price and number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant shall remain in effect until a further computation or readjustment thereof is required.

 

5. Notice to Holders .

 

a. Notice of Record Date .  In case:

 

(i) the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other stock or securities at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling them to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend) or other distribution, or any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right;

 

(ii) of any Organic Change; or

 

(iii) of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

 

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then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the Holder hereof at the time outstanding a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the date on which such Organic Change, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any, is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such stock or securities at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, conveyance, dissolution or winding-up.  Such notice shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the record date therein specified, or if no record date shall have been specified therein, at least fifteen (15) days prior to such specified date, provided, however, failure to provide any such notice shall not affect the validity of such transaction. At any time after the Exercise Date, t he Holder is entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.

 

b. Certificate of Adjustment . Whenever any adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the Company shall promptly make a certificate signed by its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer, setting forth in reasonable detail the event requiring the adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated and the Warrant Price and number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant after giving effect to such adjustment, and shall promptly cause copies of such certificates to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder of this Warrant.

 

6. Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation .  If this Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, upon receipt by the Company, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of an indemnity in customary form or, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will execute and deliver in lieu thereof, without expense to the Holder, a new Warrant of like denomination and tenor dated the date hereof.

 

7. Warrant Holder Not a Stockholder .  The Holder of this Warrant, as such, shall not be entitled by reason of this Warrant to any voting or other rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company prior to exercise in accordance with terms hereunder.

 

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8. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by facsimile or email, upon written confirmation of receipt by facsimile, e-mail or otherwise, (b) on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

(1) if to the Company, to:

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, CO 80401

Attention: Stephen Alfers

Email: SAlfers@pershinggold.com

Facsimile: 720-974-7249

 

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

 

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

1550 17th Street, Suite 500

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Brian Boonstra

Email: brian.boonstra@dgslaw.com

Facsimile: 303-893-1379

 

(2) if to Holder to the address, email and facsimile number(s), and with such copies as indicated in the warrant register maintained by the Company.

 

9. Choice of Law .  This Warrant and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Nevada, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of the conflicts of laws principles of the State of Nevada.

 

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10. Jurisdiction and Venue .  Each of the parties irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant brought by the other party or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined in any appropriate Nevada state or federal court, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for itself and with respect to its property, generally and unconditionally, with regard to any such action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in the courts described above in Nevada, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Nevada as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Nevada as described herein for any reason, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (iii) this Warrant, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

11. Amendment and Waiver .  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Warrants may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder.

 

12. Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc . If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.

 

13. Non-waiver and Expenses . No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Subscription Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

14. Limitation of Liability . No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Stock, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

15. Remedies . The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

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16. Successors and Assigns . Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Stock.

 

17. Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

 

18. Warrant Register . The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “ Warrant Register ”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly caused this Warrant to be signed on its behalf, in its corporate name and by its duly authorized officers, as of the date first written above.

 

  PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION
     
  By:  
  Name:  Eric Alexander
  Title:   Vice President Finance and Controller

 

[Signature Page – Public Offering Warrant]

 

     

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO: Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6 – Suite 210

Lakewood, Colorado 80401

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ______________ shares of Warrant Stock of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the “Warrant”), and tenders herewith or will tender payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any, as required by the Warrant.

 

(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

 

¨ the aggregate Warrant Price in the sum of $__________________ in lawful money of the United States in accordance with the terms of the Warrant; or

 

¨ cashless exercise pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, if permitted.

 

(3) Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares of Warrant Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

The shares of Warrant Stock shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number, if permitted, or by physical delivery of a certificate to:

 

DWAC Account Number:

 

Address and phone number:

 

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

Name of Registered Holder of the Warrant:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Registered Holder:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Name and Title of Authorized Signatory:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Date:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

     

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________________________________________________ (include name and address of the transferee) a Warrant exercisable for ____________ shares of common stock, represented by warrant certificate number _________, of Pershing Gold Corporation (the “ Company ”) registered in the name of the undersigned on the register of the Company maintained therefor, and hereby irrevocably appoints the attorney of the undersigned to transfer the said securities on the books maintained by the Company with full power of substitution.

 

DATED this _______ day of ___________________, 20___.

 

Signature of Transferor  
   
   
   
   
   

Address of Transferor 

 

  

     

 

 

It is understood that the Company may require additional evidence necessary to verify the foregoing.

 

DATED:      

 

Address of Transferee:   X    
    Signature of individual (if Transferee is an individual)
     
     
    Authorized signatory (if Transferee is not an individual)
     
     
    Name of Transferee ( please print )
     
     
    Name of authorized signatory ( please print )
     
     
    Official capacity of authorized signatory ( please print )

 

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Exhibit 4.2

 

WARRANT  

NO. 2017-___ PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

_______ Shares

December 19, 2017

 

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

VOID AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE

 

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT 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 PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION (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) OR (E), ONLY IF THE HOLDER HAS PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER FURNISHED TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING IN CUSTOMARY FORM AND SUBSTANCE AND IN THE CASE OF (D), THE HOLDER HAS PROVIDED TO THE COMPANY CUSTOMARY DOCUMENTATION OF THE HOLDER AND ITS BROKER. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby agrees to sell upon the terms and on the conditions hereinafter set forth, any time on or after the date hereof (the “ Exercise Date ”) and no later than December 19, 2019 (the “ Expiration Date ”), to __________ or registered assigns (the “ Holder ”), under the terms as hereinafter set forth, from and after the issue date hereof (“ Initial Issue Date ”) up to _______ fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Warrant Stock ”), at a purchase price of $3.40 per share (the “ Warrant Price ”), pursuant to this warrant (this “ Warrant ”).  The number of shares of Warrant Stock to be so issued and the Warrant Price are subject to adjustment in certain events as hereinafter set forth.  The term “ Common Stock ” shall mean, when used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the stock and property at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

 

     

 

 

1. Exercise of Warrant .

 

a. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Exercise Date and on or before 5:30 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of a duly executed facsimile copy of the Notice of Exercise Form annexed hereto. Within two (2) Trading Days (as defined below) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Warrant Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 1(b) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (although the Holder may surrender the Warrant to, and receive a replacement Warrant from, the Company), the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Stock available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within two (2) Trading Days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total amount of Warrant Stock available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding amount of Warrant Stock purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable amount of Warrant Stock purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the amount of Warrant Stock purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise Form within one (1) Trading Day of delivery of such notice. “ Trading Day ” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market. “ Trading Market ” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the OTCQX or OTCQB (or any successors to any of the foregoing). The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Stock hereunder, the amount of Warrant Stock available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

 

b. Cashless Exercise .  This Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time the Warrant Stock is not registered for resale pursuant to an effective registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act, by means of a “cashless exercise” (in lieu of making a payment upon such exercise) in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the number of shares of Warrant Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

(A) = the closing price of the Warrant Stock on the Trading Market on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which Holder elects to exercise this Warrant by means of a “cashless exercise,” as set forth in the applicable Notice of Exercise;

 

(B) = the Warrant Price, as adjusted hereunder; and

 

(X) = the number of shares of Warrant Stock that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that a registration statement registering the Warrant Stock for resale is not available on the Expiration Date, this Warrant shall be automatically exercised via cashless exercise pursuant to this Section 1(b).

 

c. Reserved .

 

d. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issuable upon any exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Warrant Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

e. Issuance of certificates for Warrant Stock shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, including, but not limited to the cost of any opinion of counsel, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent (as defined below) and legal fees required for processing of any Notice of Exercise.

 

f. Mechanics of Exercise .

 

(i) Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise . Not later than five (5) Trading Days after the latest of (A) the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, (B) surrender of this Warrant (if required) and (C) payment of the aggregate Warrant Price as set forth above (including by cashless exercise, if permitted) (such date, the “ Warrant Stock Delivery Date ”), the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the exercising Holder a certificate or certificates (bearing the restrictive legend set forth below) representing the number of shares of Warrant Stock being acquired upon the exercise of such Warrant; provided however, if the Company is then a participant in the Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission (“ DWAC ”) system and the Warrant Shares have been resold by the Holder pursuant to an effective resale registration statement or an exemption from registration with respect to which an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company confirming such exemption has been delivered, then certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with DTC through its DWAC system. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver such shares as promptly as practicable but in any event prior to the Warrant Stock Delivery Date. The Warrant Stock shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised, with payment to the Company of the aggregate Warrant Price (or by cashless exercise, if permitted) and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, prior to the issuance of such shares, having been paid. The Company understands that a delay in the delivery of the Warrant Stock after the Warrant Stock Delivery Date could result in economic loss to the Holder. As compensation to the Holder for such loss, the Company agrees to pay (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty) to the Holder for late issuance of Warrant Stock upon exercise of this Warrant the proportionate amount of $100 per “Business Day” (any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close) (increasing to $200 per Business Day after the tenth Trading Day) commencing after the second Trading Day following the Warrant Stock Delivery Date for each $10,000 of Exercise Price of Warrant Stock for which this Warrant is exercised which are not timely delivered. The Company shall pay any payments incurred under this Section in immediately available funds upon demand. Furthermore, in addition to any other remedies which may be available to the Holder, in the event that the Company fails for any reason to effect delivery of the Warrant Stock by the Warrant Stock Delivery Date, the Holder may revoke all or part of the relevant Warrant exercise by delivery of a notice to such effect to the Company, whereupon the Company and the Holder shall each be restored to their respective positions immediately prior to the exercise of the relevant portion of this Warrant, except that the liquidated damages described above shall be payable through the date notice of revocation or rescission is given to the Company.

 

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(ii) Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise . If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Stock, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Stock called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

 

  4  

 

 

(iii) Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Exercise . In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Stock pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Stock Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Stock which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “ Buy-In ”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of shares of Warrant Stock that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of shares of Warrant Stock for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof; provided however that the Holder shall not be entitled to recover more than once for the same damages and that the Company shall not be liable for any consequential, or punitive damages.

 

(iv) Closing of Books . The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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g. Holder’s Exercise Limitations . The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s affiliates, and any other persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below) or the Maximum Percentage (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 this 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, non-exercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 1(g), 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 limitations contained in this Section 1(g) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation and Maximum Percentage, and the Company 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 1(g), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a 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 or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two 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 this 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 ” shall be 9.99% 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 this Warrant. 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 1(g), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 1(g) shall continue to apply. 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 1(g) 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not apply if the Holder beneficially owns, as of the Initial Issue Date, in excess of 9.99% 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 this Warrant held by such Holder. Notwithstanding anything else set forth herein, in no event shall this Warrant be exercisable by the Holder to the extent that the Holder and its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 19.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding as of the Initial Issue Date (calculated as set forth above) (the “ Maximum Percentage ”) unless any issuances in excess of the foregoing limitation are approved by the Company’s common stockholders or the Holder beneficially owns, as of the Initial Issue Date, in excess of 19.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately and NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635(b) would not require approval by the Company’s common stockholders. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

  6  

 

 

2. Disposition of Warrant Stock and Warrant .

 

a. The Holder hereby acknowledges that this Warrant and any Warrant Stock purchased pursuant hereto are, as of the date hereof, not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ U.S. Securities Act ”) or under any applicable state securities law; and that the Company’s reliance on certain exemptions under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws is predicated in part on the representations made by the Holder in Article IV of the Subscription Agreement.

 

b. Any certificate representing Common Stock issued upon the exercise of this Warrant will bear a legend substantially similar to the following:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED PURSUANT TO A DECEMBER 2017 PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, DELIVERED AFTER SALE, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED BY THE ISSUER WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION COVERING SUCH SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE ISSUER OR THE TRANSFER AGENT.

 

In addition, so long as the foregoing legend may remain on any stock certificate delivered to the Holder, the Company may maintain appropriate “stop transfer” orders with respect to such certificates and the shares represented thereby on its books and records and with those to whom it may delegate registrar and transfer functions.

 

3. Reservation of Shares .  The Company hereby agrees that at all times there shall be reserved for issuance upon the exercise of this Warrant such number of shares of its Common Stock as shall be required for issuance upon exercise of this Warrant.  The Company further agrees that all shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant will be duly authorized and will, upon issuance and against payment of the exercise price, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free from all taxes, liens, charges and preemptive rights with respect to the issuance thereof, other than taxes, if any, in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issuance and other than transfer restrictions imposed by federal, state or other applicable securities laws.

 

  7  

 

 

4. Exchange, Transfer or Assignment of Warrant .  Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws, this Warrant is exchangeable, without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender hereof to the Company or at the office of the Transfer Agent, for other Warrants of different denominations, entitling the Holder or Holders thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.  Upon surrender of this Warrant to the Company or at the office of the Transfer Agent, with the Assignment Form annexed hereto duly executed and funds sufficient to pay any transfer tax, the Company shall, without charge, execute and deliver a new Warrant in the name of the assignee named in such instrument of assignment and this Warrant shall promptly be canceled.

 

5. Capital Adjustments .  This Warrant is subject to the following further provisions:

 

a. Subdivision or Combination of Shares .  If the Company at any time while this Warrant remains outstanding and unexpired shall subdivide or combine its Common Stock, the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant and the Warrant Price shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Warrant Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged.  Any adjustment under this Section 5(a) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective or, if earlier, the record date with respect to the subdivision or combination.

 

b. Stock Dividends and Distributions .  If the Company at any time while this Warrant is outstanding and unexpired shall issue or pay the holders of its Common Stock, or take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive, a dividend payable in, or other distribution of, Common Stock, then (i) the Warrant Price shall be adjusted in accordance with Section 5(e) and (ii) the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted to the number of shares of Common Stock that the Holder would have owned immediately following such action had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior thereto.

 

c. Stock and Rights Offering to Stockholders .  If the Company shall at any time while this Warrant is outstanding distribute to all holders of its Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company (other than Common Stock) or evidences of its indebtedness or assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (excluding those referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph), or securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock (any of the foregoing, the “ Securities ”), then in each such case, the Company shall without regard to any Beneficial Ownership Limitation or Maximum Percentage reserve shares or other units of such Securities for distribution to the Holder upon exercise of this Warrant so that, in addition to the shares of the Common Stock to which such Holder is entitled, such Holder will receive upon such exercise the amount and kind of such Securities which such Holder would have received if the Holder had, immediately prior to the record date for the distribution of the Securities, exercised this Warrant.

 

  8  

 

 

d. Organic Change .  Any recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another person or entity or other transaction that is effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive (either directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock is referred to herein as an “ Organic Change .”

 

(i) In connection with any (x) bona fide sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an acquiring person or entity or (y) other Organic Change involving an arm’s length third party or parties following which the Company is not the surviving entity and as a result of which the then current stockholders of the Company will not, directly or indirectly own 50% or more of the surviving entity, the Company shall elect in its sole discretion: (A) to require that the Holder exercise this Warrant prior to the consummation of such Organic Change, and if not so exercised, that this Warrant shall terminate upon consummation of such Organic Change, or (B) to secure from the person or entity purchasing such assets or the successor resulting from such Organic Change (in each case, the “ Acquiring Entity ”) a written agreement (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to deliver to the Holder, in exchange for this Warrant, a warrant of the Acquiring Entity (the “ Replacement Warrant ”) evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant and reasonably satisfactory to the Holder reflecting the adjustments required so as to preserve the value of the Warrant applicable at the Closing of the transaction, by the terms of the Replacement Warrant.  The Replacement Warrant shall be exercisable for such number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Acquiring Entity as the Holder would have had the right to receive upon such Organic Change by a holder of the number of shares of Warrant Stock that such Holder would have been entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the effective date of such Organic Change without regard to any Beneficial Ownership Limitation or Maximum Percentage.  The Company shall give the Holder written notice of such Organic Change at least twenty (20) days prior to the closing and consummation of such Organic Change (and shall give notice of record date pursuant to Section 6(a)). The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Replacement Warrant may be issued shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 5(d) and insuring that this Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to an Organic Change.

 

(ii) Prior to the consummation of any Organic Change unless not required as contemplated in subsection (i) above, the Company shall make appropriate provision (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to acquire and receive in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) the shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore acquirable and receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or assets that would have been issued or payable in such Organic Change with respect to or in exchange for the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been acquirable and receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant as of the date of such Organic Change without regard to any Beneficial Ownership Limitation or Maximum Percentage.

 

  9  

 

 

e. Warrant Price Adjustment .  Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant is adjusted, as herein provided, the Warrant Price payable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted to that price determined by multiplying the Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment, and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately thereafter.

 

f. Par Value .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 5, if, as a result of an adjustment pursuant to Section 5, the par value per share of Common Stock would be greater than the Warrant Price, then the Warrant Price shall be an amount equal to the par value per share of the Common Stock but the number of shares the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to purchase shall be such greater number of shares of Common Stock as would have resulted from the Warrant Price that, absent such limitation, would have been in effect pursuant to this Section 5.

 

g. Certain Shares Excluded . The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time for purposes of the adjustments set forth in this Section 5 shall exclude any shares then directly or indirectly held in the treasury of the Company.

 

h. Deferral and Cumulation of De Minimis Adjustments .  The Company shall not be required to make any adjustment pursuant to this Section 5 if the amount of such adjustment would be less than one percent (1%) of the Warrant Price in effect immediately before the event that would otherwise have given rise to such adjustment.  In such case, however, any adjustment that would otherwise have been required to be made shall be made at the time of and together with the next subsequent adjustment which, together with any adjustment or adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to not less than one percent (1%) of the Warrant Price in effect immediately before the event giving rise to such next subsequent adjustment.

 

i. Duration of Adjustment .  Following each computation or readjustment as provided in this Section 5, the new adjusted Warrant Price and number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant shall remain in effect until a further computation or readjustment thereof is required.

 

6. Notice to Holders .

 

a. Notice of Record Date .  In case:

 

(i) the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other stock or securities at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling them to receive any dividend (other than a cash dividend) or other distribution, or any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right;

 

  10  

 

 

(ii) of any Organic Change; or

 

(iii) of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

 

then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the Holder hereof at the time outstanding a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the date on which such Organic Change, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any, is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such stock or securities at the time receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, conveyance, dissolution or winding-up.  Such notice shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the record date therein specified, or if no record date shall have been specified therein, at least fifteen (15) days prior to such specified date, provided, however, failure to provide any such notice shall not affect the validity of such transaction. At any time after the Exercise Date, t he Holder is entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.

 

b. Certificate of Adjustment . Whenever any adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the Company shall promptly make a certificate signed by its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer, setting forth in reasonable detail the event requiring the adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated and the Warrant Price and number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant after giving effect to such adjustment, and shall promptly cause copies of such certificates to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder of this Warrant.

 

7. Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation .  If this Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, upon receipt by the Company, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of an indemnity in customary form or, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will execute and deliver in lieu thereof, without expense to the Holder, a new Warrant of like denomination and tenor dated the date hereof.

 

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8. Warrant Holder Not a Stockholder .  The Holder of this Warrant, as such, shall not be entitled by reason of this Warrant to any voting or other rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company prior to exercise in accordance with terms hereunder.

 

9. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or if by facsimile or email, upon written confirmation of receipt by facsimile, e-mail or otherwise, (b) on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing a next-day service by a recognized next-day courier or (c) on the earlier of confirmed receipt or the fifth business day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder shall be delivered to the addresses set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

(1) if to the Company, to:

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, CO 80401

Attention: Stephen Alfers

Email: SAlfers@pershinggold.com

Facsimile: 720-974-7249

 

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

 

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

1550 17th Street, Suite 500

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Brian Boonstra

Email: brian.boonstra@dgslaw.com

Facsimile: 303-893-1379

 

(2) if to Holder to the address, email and facsimile number(s), and with such copies as indicated in the warrant register maintained by the Company.

 

10. Choice of Law .  This Warrant and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Nevada, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied because of the conflicts of laws principles of the State of Nevada.

 

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11. Jurisdiction and Venue .  Each of the parties irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant brought by the other party or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined in any appropriate Nevada state or federal court, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for itself and with respect to its property, generally and unconditionally, with regard to any such action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the parties agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in the courts described above in Nevada, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Nevada as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Nevada as described herein for any reason, (b) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (c) that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper or (iii) this Warrant, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

12. Amendment and Waiver .  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Warrants may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder.

 

13. Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc . If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.

 

14. Non-waiver and Expenses . No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Subscription Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

15. Limitation of Liability . No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Stock, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

16. Remedies . The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

  13  

 

 

17. Successors and Assigns . Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Stock.

 

18. Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

 

19. Warrant Register . The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “ Warrant Register ”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

[signature page follows]

 

  14  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly caused this Warrant to be signed on its behalf, in its corporate name and by its duly authorized officers, as of the date first written above.

 

  PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION
     
  By:  
  Name:  Eric Alexander
  Title:   Vice President Finance and Controller

 

[Signature Page – Private Placement Warrant]

 

     

 

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO: Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6 – Suite 210

Lakewood, Colorado 80401

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

 

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ______________ shares of Warrant Stock of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the “Warrant”), and tenders herewith or will tender payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any, as required by the Warrant.

 

(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

 

¨ the aggregate Warrant Price in the sum of $__________________ in lawful money of the United States in accordance with the terms of the Warrant; or

 

¨ cashless exercise pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, if permitted.

 

(3) Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares of Warrant Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

The shares of Warrant Stock shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number, if permitted, or by physical delivery of a certificate to:

 

DWAC Account Number:

 

Address and phone number:

 

(4) Accredited Investor . By executing this exercise form, the undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned:

 

(a) (i) purchased the Warrant directly from the Company for its own account or the account of another “ accredited investor ”, as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) (a “ U.S. Accredited Investor ”) of Regulation D promulgated under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ U.S. Securities Act ”); (ii) will acquire the shares of Warrant Stock upon the exercise of the Warrant contemplated hereby solely for its own account or the account of such other U.S. Accredited Investor; (iii) was a U.S. Accredited Investor on the date the Warrant was purchased from the Company and continues to be a U.S. Accredited Investor on the date of the exercise of the Warrant; and (iv) if the Warrant is being exercised on behalf of another person, represents, warrants and certifies such person was a U.S. Accredited Investor, on the date the Warrant was purchased from the Company and continues to be a U.S. Accredited Investor on the date of the exercise of the Warrant; or

 

     

 

 

(b) (i) is outside the United States (as defined in Regulation S promulgated by the United States Securities 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.

 

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

Name of Registered Holder of the Warrant:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Registered Holder:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Name and Title of Authorized Signatory:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Date:

 

_____________________________________________________________________

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________________________________________________ (include name and address of the transferee) a Warrant exercisable for ____________ shares of common stock, represented by warrant certificate number _________, of Pershing Gold Corporation (the “ Company ”) registered in the name of the undersigned on the register of the Company maintained therefor, and hereby irrevocably appoints the attorney of the undersigned to transfer the said securities on the books maintained by the Company with full power of substitution.

 

DATED this _______ day of ___________________, 20___.

 

Signature of Transferor  
   
   
   
   
   

Address of Transferor

 

 

 

The undersigned transferee hereby certifies that:

(check one)

 

_____ said transferee was not offered the Warrants in the United States and is not in the United States or a “ U.S. Person ” (as defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933 , as amended (the “ U.S. Securities Act ”)), and is not acquiring the Warrants for the account or benefit of a person in the United States or a U.S. Person; or

 

_____ enclosed herewith is an opinion of counsel of recognized standing in a customary form to the effect that no violation of the U.S. Securities Act or applicable securities laws will result from transfer, exercise or deemed exercise of the Warrants.

 

     

 

 

It is understood that the Company may require additional evidence necessary to verify the foregoing.

 

DATED:      

 

Address of Transferee:   X    
    Signature of individual (if Transferee is an individual)
     
     
    Authorized signatory (if Transferee is not an individual)
     
     
    Name of Transferee ( please print )
     
     
    Name of authorized signatory ( please print )
     
     
    Official capacity of authorized signatory ( please print )

 

  2  

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

December 14, 2017

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Lakewood, CO 80401

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a final prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2017 (the “ Final Prospectus Supplement ”), which supplements a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), and effective on June 29, 2016 (the “ Registration Statement ”), including the prospectus included therein (the “ Base Prospectus ” and, together with the Final Prospectus Supplement, the “ Prospectus ”), relating to (i) the offer and sale by the Company of 2,430,000 shares (each, a “ Share ” and collectively, the “ Shares ”) of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and warrants (each, a “ Warrant ” and collectively, the “ Warrants ”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 972,000 shares of Common Stock the (the “ Warrant Shares ”); and (ii) a 30-day overallotment option granted to the underwriters (as defined below) to purchase up to an additional 364,500 shares of Common Stock (the “ Option Shares ”) and/or warrants (the “ Option Warrants ”) to purchase up to 145,800 shares of Common Stock (the “ Option Warrant Shares ”).

 

The Shares (and Option Shares, if the overallotment option is exercised) are to be issued pursuant to the Prospectus and an underwriting agreement dated December 11, 2017 by and among the Company and the underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom Canaccord Genuity Corp., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation are acting as representatives (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

 

We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of each natural person signing any document reviewed by us, the authority of each person signing in a representative capacity (other than the Company) any document reviewed by us, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as conformed and certified or reproduced copies. In conducting our examination of documents, we have assumed the power, corporate or other, of all parties thereto (other than the Company) to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the due execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and that to the extent such documents purport to constitute agreements, such documents constitute valid and binding obligations of such parties. As to any facts material to our opinion, we have made no independent investigation of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

 

 

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

December 14, 2017

Page 2

 

 

1.        The issuance of the Shares and Option Shares has been duly authorized and, when and to the extent the Shares and Option Shares are issued against payment therefor in accordance with the Prospectus and the Underwriting Agreement, such Shares and Option Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

2.        The issuance of the Warrants and Option Warrants has been duly authorized and, when and to the extent the Warrants and Option Warrants are issued against payment therefor in accordance with the Prospectus and the Underwriting Agreement, such Warrants and Option Warrants will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

3.       The issuance of the shares of the Warrant Shares and Option Warrant Shares have been duly authorized, reserved for issuance and, when issued and delivered and paid for upon exercise of the Warrants and Option Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A. The opinions herein are limited to matters governed by the federal laws of the United States of America and the Nevada Private Corporations Chapter of the Nevada Revised Statutes, Nev. Rev. Stat. 78. Except as expressly stated above, we express no opinion with respect to any other law of the state of Nevada or any other jurisdiction.

 

B. This letter is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume herein no obligation, and hereby disclaim any obligation, to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any future changes in the foregoing or of any fact or circumstance that may hereafter come to our attention.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on the date hereof and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  /s/ Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
   
  DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS LLP

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Instructions to subscribe for Units

in the private offering of

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

 

1. On the Signature Page for the Subscription Agreement, Date and Fill in the number of units (the “Units”) that you wish to purchase. The price per Unit will be $_____. Each Unit consists of one (1) share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one (1) twenty-four (24) month warrant (a “Warrant”) to purchase 0.4 of a share of Common Stock, with each whole warrant having an exercise price equal to $3.40, with such exercise price to be subject to adjustment as set forth in the warrant agreement (the “Exercise Price”). (The Common Stock and Warrants in a Unit, and any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, are collectively referred to below as the “Securities”.) Then, Complete and Sign the Signature Page in this Subscription Agreement.

 

2. Initial the Accredited Investor Certification attached to this Subscription Agreement.

 

3. Complete and Sign the Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

NOTICE : By executing this Subscription Agreement, you (i) agree to, and will be deemed to have executed, the Registration Rights Agreement (attached as Exhibit B), and (ii) agree to the terms of the Warrant (attached as Exhibit C).

 

4. Complete and Return the attached Purchaser Questionnaire and, if applicable, the Wire Transfer Authorization attached to this Subscription Agreement.

 

For wiring funds directly to the Company, use the following instructions:

 

COMPANY:

Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, CO 80401

 

BANK:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

MAC C7312-080

143 Union Blvd. Ste. 500

Lakewood, CO 80228

303.906.2094

 

ACCOUNT NUMBER: [Redacted]

ABA ROUTING NUMBER: [Redacted]

 

ALL SUBSCRIPTION DOCUMENTS MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED IN , AND SIGNED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

 

     

 

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

1658 Cole Boulevard

Building 6, Suite 210

Lakewood, Colorado 80401

Attn: Stephen Alfers, President & CEO

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

1.            Subscription. The undersigned (the “Purchaser”) will purchase the number of units (the “Units”) set forth on the signature page to this subscription Agreement (the “Agreement”) at a price per Unit equal to $____ (the “Per Unit Offering Price”). Each Unit consists of one (1) share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”) of Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) and one (1) twenty-four (24) month Warrant to purchase 0.4 of a share of Common Stock, with each whole warrant having an exercise price of $3.40, with such exercise price to be subject to adjustment as set forth in the warrant agreement (the “Warrant”). The shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrant may hereinafter be referred to as the “Warrant Shares”. The Unit, the Common Stock, the Warrant and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to below as the "Securities". The Units are being offered (the “Offering”) by the Company pursuant to the offering terms set forth herein.

 

2.            Payment. The Purchaser will immediately make a wire transfer payment to the Company pursuant to the wire instructions provided on the signature page below, in the full amount of the purchase price of the Units being subscribed for. Together with the wire transfer of the full purchase price, the Purchaser is delivering a completed and executed Signature Page to this Subscription Agreement, along with a completed and executed Accredited Investor Certification, which is annexed hereto. By executing this Subscription Agreement, you (i) agree to, and will be deemed to have executed, the Registration Rights Agreement (attached as Exhibit B), and (ii) agree to the terms of the Warrant (attached as Exhibit C) (this Subscription Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrant, collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), and (iii) will be treated for all purposes as if you reviewed, approved and, if required, executed, each such Transaction Document, even though the you may not have physically signed the signature pages to such documents.

 

3.             Acceptance of Subscription. The Purchaser understands and agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to accept or reject this subscription for the Units, in whole or in part, notwithstanding prior receipt by the Purchaser of notice of acceptance of this or any other subscription. The Company will have no obligation hereunder until the Company returns to the Purchaser an executed copy of this Subscription Agreement. If the Purchaser’s subscription is rejected in whole or in part (at the sole discretion of the Company), funds received from the Purchaser and not applied to the purchase of Units will be returned without interest, penalty, expense or deduction, and this Subscription Agreement will thereafter be of further force or effect only to the extent such subscription was accepted. The Purchaser may not revoke this subscription or obtain a return of the subscription amount on or after the date of the closing.

 

  - 1 -  

 

 

4.            Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser. The Purchaser hereby acknowledges, represents, warrants, and agrees as follows:

 

(a)           None of the Securities has been registered under the Securities Act, or any applicable state securities laws. The Purchaser understands that the offering and sale of the Securities is intended to be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, based, in part, upon the representations, warranties and agreements of the Purchaser contained in this Subscription Agreement. The Purchaser agrees to supply all requested documents and information to ensure compliance as may be requested by the Company;

 

(b)           Prior to the execution of this Subscription Agreement, the Purchaser and the Purchaser’s attorney, accountant, purchaser representative and/or tax advisor, if any (collectively, “Advisors”), received and carefully reviewed this Subscription Agreement, and each of the Transaction Documents, and all other documents requested by the Purchaser or its Advisors, and understood the information contained therein;

 

(c)           Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Securities or passed upon or endorsed the merits of the Offering. No representation to the contrary has been made to the Purchaser, and any such representation could be a criminal offense;

 

(d)           All documents, records, and books pertaining to the investment in the Securities including, but not limited to, all information regarding the Company, requested by the Purchaser and its Advisors, were made available for inspection and review;

 

(e)           The Purchaser and its Advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company’s officers and any other persons authorized by the Company to answer such questions, concerning the Offering, the Securities, the Transaction Documents and the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Company, and all such questions have been answered by the Company to the full satisfaction of the Purchaser and its Advisors;

 

(f)           In evaluating the suitability of an investment in the Company, the Purchaser has not relied upon any representation or other information (oral or written) other than those contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (as amended, “ Form 10-K ”) and other periodic filings with the Commission (to the extent not superseded or amended by subsequent filings);

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

(g)          The Purchaser approached the Company with respect to a potential investment in the Company and did not become aware of the offering of the Securities through or as a result of, any form of general solicitation or general advertising including, without limitation, any article, notice, advertisement or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television, radio or over the Internet, in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities and is not subscribing for the Securities and did not become aware of the Offering through or as a result of any seminar or meeting, or any solicitation of a subscription, involving a person not previously known to the Purchaser in connection with investments in securities generally;

 

(h)          The Purchaser has taken no action which would give rise to any claim by any person for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or the like relating to this Subscription Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(i)           The Purchaser, either alone or together with its Advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial, tax, and business matters, and, in particular, investments in securities, so as to enable it to utilize the information made available to it in connection with the Offering to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and the Company and to make an informed investment decision with respect thereto;

 

(j)           The Purchaser is not relying on the Company or any of its respective employees or agents with respect to the legal, tax, economic and related considerations of an investment in any of the Securities, and as to such matters the Purchaser has relied on the advice of, or has consulted with, only its own Advisors;

 

(k)           The Purchaser is acquiring the Securities solely for its own account for investment purposes and not with a view to resale or distribution thereof, in whole or in part. The Purchaser has no agreement or arrangement, formal or informal, with any person to sell or transfer all or any part of any of the Securities, and the Purchaser has no plans to enter into any such agreement or arrangement;

 

(l)           The Purchaser understands and agrees that purchase of the Securities is a high-risk investment and the Purchaser is able to afford an investment in a speculative venture having the risks and objectives of the Company. The Purchaser knows it must bear the substantial economic risks of the investment in the Securities indefinitely because none of the Securities may be offered, sold, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred or disposed of, directly or indirectly, unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Legends will be placed on the certificates representing the Securities to the effect that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, and appropriate notations thereof will be made in the Company’s books;

 

(m)         The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and foreseeable contingencies and has no need for liquidity from its investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time;

 

(n)          The Purchaser is aware that an investment in the Securities involves a number of very significant risks and has carefully read and considered the Form 10-K, in particular, the matters under the caption “Risk Factors” therein, as well as the Company’s other periodic filings with the Commission (to the extent not superseded or amended by subsequent filings), and understands any of such risk may materially adversely affect the Company’s operations and future prospects;

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

(o)          At the time the Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, and on each date on which it exercises any Warrants, it will be, an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D, Rule 501(a), promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act; the Purchaser has truthfully and accurately completed the Purchaser Questionnaire attached to this Subscription Agreement and will submit to the Company in writing such further assurances and information of such status as may be reasonably requested by the Company in order to verify Accredited Investor status under Rule 506 promulgated under Regulation D of the Securities Act;

 

(p)           The Purchaser: (i) if a natural person, represents that the Purchaser has reached the age of 21 and has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and all other related agreements or certificates and to carry out the provisions hereof and thereof; (ii) if a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company, or association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, represents that such entity was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Securities, such entity is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is authorized by, and will not result in a violation of state law or its charter or other organizational documents, such entity has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and all other related agreements or certificates and to carry out the provisions hereof and thereof and to purchase and hold the Securities, the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action, this Subscription Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such entity and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity; or (iii) if executing this Subscription Agreement in a representative or fiduciary capacity, represents that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement in such capacity and on behalf of the subscribing individual, ward, partnership, trust, estate, corporation, or limited liability company or partnership, or other entity for whom the Purchaser is executing this Subscription Agreement, and such individual, partnership, ward, trust, estate, corporation, or limited liability company or partnership, or other entity has full right and power to perform pursuant to this Subscription Agreement and make an investment in the Company, and represents that this Subscription Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such entity. The execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement will not violate or be in conflict with any order, judgment, injunction, agreement or controlling document to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(q)           The Purchaser hereby acknowledges receipt and careful review of the Transaction Documents and all other exhibits, annexes and appendices thereto, and has had access to the Company’s Form 10-K and the exhibits thereto as well as the Company’s other periodic filings with the Commission (to the extent not superseded or amended by subsequent filings) as available at the website of the Commission which can be accessed at www.sec.gov;

 

  - 4 -  

 

 

(r)           The Purchaser represents to the Company that any information which the Purchaser has heretofore furnished or is furnishing herewith to the Company is complete and accurate and may be relied upon by the Company in determining the availability of an exemption or exclusion from registration under the Securities Act and any state securities laws in connection with the offering of Securities;

 

(s)           The Purchaser has significant prior investment experience, including investment in non-listed and unregistered securities. The Purchaser has a sufficient net worth to sustain a loss of its entire investment in the Company in the event such a loss should occur. The Purchaser’s overall commitment to investments which are not readily marketable is not excessive in view of the Purchaser’s net worth and financial circumstances and the purchase of the Securities will not cause such commitment to become excessive. This investment is a suitable one for the Purchaser;

 

(t)           The Purchaser is satisfied that it has received adequate information with respect to all matters which it or its Advisors, if any, consider material to its decision to make this investment;

 

(u)           No oral or written representations have been made, or oral or written information furnished, to the Purchaser or its Advisors, if any, in connection with the offering of the Securities;

 

(v)          Within five (5) days after receipt of a request from the Company, the Purchaser will provide such information and deliver such documents as may reasonably be necessary to comply with any and all laws to which the Company or this Offering is subject;

 

(w)          THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS OR EXCLUSIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, TRANSFERRED OR DISPOSED OF, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL;

 

(x)           In making an investment decision, the Purchaser has relied on its own examination of Company and the terms of the Offering, including the merits and risks involved;

 

  - 5 -  

 

 

(y)          The Purchaser consents to the placement of a legend on any certificate or other document evidencing the Securities and, when issued, the Warrant Shares, to the effect that such securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws and setting forth or referring to the restrictions on transferability and sale applicable thereto and referenced in this Subscription Agreement. The Purchaser is aware that the Company will make a notation in its appropriate records with respect to the restrictions on the transferability of such Securities. The legend to be placed on each certificate shall be in form substantially similar to the following:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY WERE ISSUED PURSUANT TO A DECEMBER 2017 PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”) OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR “BLUE SKY LAWS,” AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED ABSENT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144 PROMULGATED UNDER SUCH ACT, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

 

(z)           The Purchaser acknowledges that if he or she is a registered representative of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member firm, he or she must give such firm the notice required by the FINRA’s Rules of Fair Practice, receipt of which must be acknowledged by such firm prior to an investment in the Securities;

 

(aa)         The Purchaser agrees not to issue any public statement with respect to the Offering, the Purchaser’s investment or proposed investment in the Company or the terms of any agreement or covenant between them and the Company without the Company’s prior written consent, except such disclosures as may be required under applicable law; and

 

(bb)        The Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act and are therefore subject to restrictions on resale. The Purchaser understands and hereby acknowledges that, except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is under no obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws or to assist the Purchaser in obtaining an exemption from various registration requirements, other than as set forth herein.

 

  - 6 -  

 

 

5.            Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser that:

 

(a)            Organization, Good Standing and Qualification . The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada and has full corporate power and authority to own and use its properties and its assets and conduct its business as currently conducted. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries identified on Schedule 5.1 hereto (the “Subsidiaries”) is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation with the requisite corporate power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its respective articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational or charter documents, including, but not limited to the Charter Documents (as defined below). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, would not result in a direct and/or indirect (i) material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Securities and/or this Subscription Agreement, (ii) material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business or condition (financial and other) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under the Transaction Documents and all exhibits, supplements and schedules thereto, as such may be amended from time to time (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(b)            Capitalization and Voting Rights . The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in Schedule 5.2 hereto and all issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 hereto, (i) there are no outstanding securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any preemptive, redemption or similar provisions, nor is any holder of securities of the Company or any Subsidiary entitled to preemptive or similar rights arising out of any agreement or understanding with the Company or any Subsidiary by virtue of any of the Transaction Documents, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement except for its equity incentive plans set forth on Schedule 5.2 ; and (iii) except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 there are no outstanding options, warrants, agreements, convertible securities, preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase or acquire, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or contracts, commitments, understandings, or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or securities or rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 and as otherwise required by law, there are no restrictions upon the voting or transfer of any of the shares of capital stock of the Company pursuant to the Company’s Charter Documents (as defined below) or other governing documents or any agreement or other instruments to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are owned by the Company, free and clear of any mortgages, pledges, liens, claims, charges, encumbrances or other restrictions (collectively, “Encumbrances”). All of such outstanding capital stock has been issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. The issuance and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”), as contemplated hereby will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any other person and except as set forth in Schedule 5.2 will not result in the adjustment of the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of any outstanding security. The Company is not a party to any outstanding stockholder purchase rights and does not have a “poison pill” or any similar arrangement in effect giving any person the right to purchase any equity interest in the Company upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

  - 7 -  

 

 

(c)            Authorization; Enforceability . The Company has all corporate right, power and authority to enter into, execute and deliver this Subscription Agreement and each other agreement, document, instrument and certificate to be executed by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, but not limited to, the Transaction Documents, and to perform fully its obligations hereunder and thereunder. All corporate action on the part of the Company, its directors and stockholders necessary for the (a) authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents by the Company; and (b) authorization, sale, issuance and delivery of the Securities and upon exercise, the Warrant Shares contemplated hereby and the performance of the Company’s obligations under this Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents has been taken. This Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, subject to laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, and to limitations of public policy. The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Warrant Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Encumbrances imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company has reserved a sufficient number of Warrant Shares for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3 hereto, the issuance and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby will not give rise to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal on behalf of any person other than the Purchaser.

 

  - 8 -  

 

 

(d)           No Conflict; Governmental Consents .

 

(i)           The execution and delivery by the Company of this Subscription Agreement and the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including, when issued, the Warrant Shares) and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not (i) result in the violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority to or by which the Company is bound including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws applicable to its business and all such laws that affect the environment, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”), as amended or the Bylaws, (and collectively with the Articles, the “Charter Documents”) of the Company, and (iii) conflict with, or result in a material breach or violation of, any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without due notice, lapse of time or both) under any agreement, credit facility, lease, loan agreement, mortgage, security agreement, trust indenture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, nor result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrances upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(ii)          No approval by the holders of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Warrant Shares, except as has been previously obtained.

 

(iii)         No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority or any other person is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Warrant Shares, except for filings and approvals required to be made or obtained from NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) and such post-sale filings as may be required to be made with the SEC and with any state securities regulatory authority, all of which shall be made when required.

 

(e)            Consents of Third Parties . No vote, approval or consent of any holder of capital stock of the Company or any other third parties is required or necessary to be obtained by the Company in connection with the authorization, execution, deliver and performance of this Subscription Agreement and the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities and, upon issuance, the Warrant Shares, except as previously obtained, each of which is in full force and effect.

 

6.            Indemnification. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its respective officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, control persons and affiliates upon demand from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, costs, fees and expenses whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened) based upon or arising out of any actual or alleged false acknowledgment, representation or warranty, or misrepresentation or omission to state a material fact, or breach by the Purchaser of any covenant or agreement made by the Purchaser herein or in any other document delivered in connection with this Subscription Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

 

  - 9 -  

 

 

7.            Binding Effect. This Subscription Agreement will survive the death or disability of the Purchaser and will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns. If the Purchaser is more than one person, the obligations of the Purchaser hereunder will be joint and several and the agreements, representations, warranties and acknowledgments herein will be deemed to be made by and be binding upon each such person and such person’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

8.            Modification. This Subscription Agreement will not be modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom any such modification or waiver is sought.

 

9.            Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered by reputable overnight courier such as FedEx against receipt to the party to whom it is to be given (a) if to the Company, at the address set forth on the signature page below or (b) if to the Purchaser, at the address set forth on the signature page hereof (or, in either case, to such other address as the party being notified will have furnished in writing in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9). Any notice or other communication given by certified mail will be deemed given at the time of certification thereof, except for a notice changing a party’s address which will be deemed given at the time of receipt thereof. Any notice or other communication given by overnight courier will be deemed given at the time of delivery.

 

10.          Assignability. This Subscription Agreement and the rights, interests and obligations hereunder are not transferable or assignable by the Purchaser and the transfer or assignment of any of the Securities will be made only in accordance with all applicable laws.

 

11.          Applicable Law. This Subscription Agreement will be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Nevada as applied to agreements among Nevada residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Nevada. The parties hereto (1) agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Subscription Agreement will be instituted exclusively in the state or federal courts sitting in the State of Nevada (2) waive any objection which the parties may have now or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (3) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the state or federal courts sitting in Nevada in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the parties hereto further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the state or federal courts sitting in Nevada and agrees that service of process upon it mailed by certified mail to its address will be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY .

 

  - 10 -  

 

 

12.          Blue Sky Qualification. The purchase of Securities pursuant to this Subscription Agreement is expressly conditioned upon the exemption from qualification of the offer and sale of the Securities from applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

13.          Use of Pronouns. All pronouns and any variations thereof used herein will be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the person or persons referred to may require.

 

14.          Confidentiality. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that any information or data the Purchaser has acquired from or about the Company not otherwise properly in the public domain, was received in confidence. The Purchaser agrees not to divulge, communicate or disclose, except as may be required by law or for the performance of this Subscription Agreement, or use to the detriment of the Company or for the benefit of any other person or persons, or misuse in any way, any confidential information of the Company, including any trade or business secrets of the Company and any business materials that are treated by the Company as confidential or proprietary, including, without limitation, confidential information obtained by or given to the Company about or belonging to third parties.

 

15.          Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           This Subscription Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents, constitutes the entire agreement between the Purchaser and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof. The terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom granted, only by a written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions.

 

(b)           Each of the Purchaser’s and the Company’s representations and warranties made in this Subscription Agreement will survive the execution and delivery hereof and delivery of the Securities.

 

(c)           Each of the parties hereto will pay its own fees and expenses (including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, appraisers or others engaged by such party) in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.

 

(d)           This Subscription Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which will together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

  - 11 -  

 

 

(e)           Each provision of this Subscription Agreement will be considered separable and, if for any reason any provision or provisions hereof are determined to be invalid or contrary to applicable law, such invalidity or illegality will not impair the operation of or affect the remaining portions of this Subscription Agreement.

 

(f)           Paragraph titles are for descriptive purposes only and will not control or alter the meaning of this Subscription Agreement as set forth in the text.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

  - 12 -  

 

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING REQUIREMENTS

 

The USA PATRIOT Act  

What is money

laundering?

 

How big is the problem

and why is it important?

         

The USA PATRIOT Act is designed to detect, deter, and punish terrorists in the United States and abroad. The Act imposes new anti-money laundering requirements on brokerage firms and financial institutions. Since April 24, 2002 all brokerage firms have been required to have new, comprehensive anti-money laundering programs.

 

To help you understand these efforts, we want to provide you with some information about money laundering and our steps to implement the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

Money laundering is the process of disguising illegally obtained money so that the funds appear to come from legitimate sources or activities. Money laundering occurs in connection with a wide variety of crimes, including illegal arms sales, drug trafficking, robbery, fraud, racketeering, and terrorism.

The use of the U.S. financial system by criminals to facilitate terrorism or other crimes could well taint our financial markets. According to the U.S. State Department, one recent estimate puts the amount of worldwide money laundering activity at $1 trillion a year.

 

What are we required to do to eliminate money laundering?

 

Under new rules required by the USA PATRIOT Act, our anti-money laundering program must designate a special compliance officer, set up employee training, conduct independent audits, and establish policies and procedures to detect and report suspicious transaction and ensure compliance with the new laws.   As part of our required program, we may ask you to provide various identification documents or other information. Until you provide the information or documents we need, we may not be able to effect any transactions for you.

 

  - 13 -  

 

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

Purchaser hereby elects to purchase a total of $_________, representing ______ Unit(s) at the Per Unit Offering Price (NOTE: to be completed by the Purchaser).

 

 

 

If the Purchaser is an INDIVIDUAL, and if purchased as JOINT TENANTS, as TENANTS IN COMMON, or as COMMUNITY PROPERTY:

 

     
Print Name(s)   Social Security Number(s)
     
     
Signature(s) of Purchaser(s)   Signature
     
     
Date   Address

 

If the Purchaser is a PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY or TRUST:

 

     
Name of Partnership, Corporation, Limited   Federal Taxpayer
Liability Company or Trust   Identification Number

 

By:      
  Name:     State of Organization
  Title:      

 

     
Date   Address

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:    
     
PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION    
     
By:      
  Name:     Date
  Title:      

 

     

 

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

ACCREDITED INVESTOR CERTIFICATION

 

For Individual Investors Only

(All individual investors must INITIAL where appropriate. Where there are joint investors both parties must INITIAL ):

 

Initial _______ I certify that I have a “net worth” of at least $1 million either individually or through aggregating my individual holdings and those in which I have a joint, community property or other similar shared ownership interest with my spouse. For purposes of calculating net worth under this paragraph, (i) the primary residence shall not be included as an asset, (ii) to the extent that the indebtedness that is secured by the primary residence is in excess of the fair market value of the primary residence, the excess amount shall be included as a liability, and (iii) if the amount of outstanding indebtedness that is secured by the primary residence exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days prior to the execution of this Subscription Agreement, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability.

 

Initial _______ I certify that I have had an annual gross income for the past two years of at least $200,000 (or $300,000 jointly with my spouse) and expect my income (or joint income, as appropriate) to reach the same level in the current year.

 

For Non-Individual Investors

(all Non-Individual Investors must INITIAL where appropriate):

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or business trust that is 100% owned by persons who meet either of the criteria for Individual Investors, above.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or business trust that has total assets of at least $5 million and was not formed for the purpose of investing in Company.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is an employee benefit plan whose investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary (as defined in ERISA §3(21)) that is a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company or registered investment adviser.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is an employee benefit plan whose total assets exceed $5,000,000 as of the date of the Subscription Agreement.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a self-directed employee benefit plan whose investment decisions are made solely by persons who meet either of the criteria for Individual Investors, above.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a U.S. bank, U.S. savings and loan association or other similar U.S. institution acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a broker-dealer registered pursuant to §15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

     

 

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is an organization described in §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with total assets exceeding $5,000,000 and not formed for the specific purpose of investing in Company.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a trust with total assets of at least $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of investing in Company, and whose purchase is directed by a person with such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is a plan established and maintained by a state or its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, for the benefit of its employees, and which has total assets in excess of $5,000,000.

 

Initial _______ The undersigned certifies that it is an insurance company as defined in §2(a)(13) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or a registered investment company.

 

     

 

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

Purchaser Questionnaire

( Must be completed by Purchaser)

 

Section A - Individual Purchaser Information

 

Purchaser Name(s):  

 

Individual executing Profile or Trustee:  

 

Social Security Numbers / Federal I.D. Number:  

 

Date of Birth:     Marital Status:  

 

Joint Party Date of Birth:    

 

Investment Experience (Years):    

 

Annual Income:    

 

Liquid Net Worth:    

 

Net Worth:    

 

Home Street Address:  

 

Home City, State & Zip Code:  

 

Home Phone:     Home Fax:  

 

Home Email:  

 

Employer:  

 

Employer Street Address:  

 

Employer City, State & Zip Code:  

 

Bus. Phone:     Bus. Fax:  

 

Bus. Email:  

 

Type of Business:  

 

Please check if you are a FINRA member or affiliate of a FINRA member firm:  

 

     

 

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

Purchaser Questionnaire

( Must be completed by Purchaser)

Section B – Entity Purchaser Information

 

Purchaser Name(s):  

 

Authorized Individual executing Profile or Trustee:  

 

Social Security Numbers / Federal I.D. Number:  

 

Investment Experience (Years):  

 

Annual Income:  

 

Net Worth:  

 

Was the Entity formed for the specific purpose of purchasing the Common Stock and Warrants?

 

¨ Yes ¨ No

 

Principal Purpose (Trust)  

 

Type of Business:  

 

Street Address:  

 

City, State & Zip Code:  

 

Phone:     Fax:  

 

Email:  

 

Please check if you are a FINRA member or affiliate of a FINRA member firm:  

 

     

 

 

 

Section C – Purchaser Instructions for Payments of any Dividends

 

x Please make out any dividend and any other payment checks pursuant to the Units in the registered name of the Purchaser set forth in the signature page to the Subscription Agreement for the Units and mail such checks to me at the address specified in such signature page.

 

Section D – Securities Delivery Instructions (check one)

 

____ Please deliver my securities to the address listed in the above Purchaser Questionnaire.

 

____ Please deliver my securities to the below address:

_________________

_________________

_________________

_________________

 

Purchaser

Signature(s):

    Date:  

 

     

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire

 

Pershing Gold Corporation

 

Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire

 

The undersigned beneficial owners of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (each, a “ Warrant ”) of Pershing Gold Corporation (the “ Company ”), understand that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) for the registration of the resale of the shares of Common Stock and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “ Warrant Shares ”) held by the undersigned (the “ Registrable Securities ”). This Questionnaire is being furnished to you with respect to the inclusion of your shares of Common Stock and Warrant Shares in the Registration Statement. This Questionnaire seeks information necessary to complete the registration of these shares with the Commission.

 

To sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities in the offering, a holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities will be required to agree to be named as a selling stockholder in the related prospectus and execute and return this Selling Stockholder Questionnaire.

 

Please respond to every question unless otherwise directed. If the answer is “none” or “not applicable,” please so state. Please include all information sought by the related question. Unless stated otherwise, answers should be given as of the date you complete this Questionnaire. If there is any response or underlying factual matter about which you are uncertain, please discuss the matter fully and include any additional explanation or information which you believe is helpful.

 

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling stockholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 

Please complete, sign, date and email or fax this Questionnaire as soon as possible to Justin Nyberg at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, fax : (303) 893-1379, email: Justin.Nyberg@dgslaw.com. Please call Justin Nyberg at (303) 892-7451 or Brian Boonstra at (303) 892-7348 with any questions regarding this Questionnaire.

 

NOTICE

 

The undersigned beneficial owner (the “ Selling Stockholder ”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to register for resale the Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Question 5 (unless otherwise specified under such Question 5) in the Registration Statement.

 

  1  

 

 

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:

 

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1. Name. Full Legal Name of Selling Stockholder:

 

 

 

2. Address for Notices to Selling Stockholder.

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

Telephone:  

 

Fax:  

 

Email address:  

 

Contact Person:  

 

3. Relationship with the Company.

 

Describe the nature of any position, office or other material relationship the Selling Stockholder has had with the Company during the past three years:

 

 
 

 

4. Organizational Structure. Please indicate or (if applicable) describe how the Selling Stockholder is organized.

 

(a) Is the Selling Stockholder a natural person? ( If so, please mark the box and skip to Question 5. )

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

(b) Is the Selling Stockholder a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act” )? ( If so, please mark the box and skip to Question 5. )

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

  2  

 

 

(c) Is the Selling Stockholder a majority-owned subsidiary of a reporting company under the Exchange Act? ( If so, please mark the box and skip to Question 5. )

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

(d) Is the Selling Stockholder a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940? ( If so, please mark the box and skip to Question 5. )

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

If the answer to all of the foregoing questions is “no,” please complete the following:

 

(e) Legal Description of Selling Stockholder:

 

Please describe the type of legal entity that the Selling Stockholder is (e.g., corporation, partnership, limited liability company, etc.);

 

 

 

(f) Please indicate whether the Selling Stockholder is controlled by another entity (such as a parent company, a corporate member, corporate shareholder, etc.) or is controlled by a natural person .

  

Controlled by: Natural Person(s) ¨ Entity ¨

 

 

If you checked “Natural Person(s)”:

 

Please indicate the name of the natural person(s) who has voting or investment control over the shares held by the Selling Stockholder and the position of control that person(s) holds in or over the Selling Stockholder, then move to Question 5.

 

Name of natural person(s):_____________________________________

 

Controlling position in Selling Stockholder (e.g., sole member, controlling shareholder, sole stockholder, trustee, etc.): _______________________________________________________________________

 

If you checked “Entity”:

 

Please indicate the name and type of entity that controls the Selling Stockholder.

 

Name of controlling entity: ____________________________________

 

Type of legal entity (e.g., corporation, partnership, limited liability company, etc.): ______________________________________________

 

Controlling position in Selling Stockholder (e.g., sole member, controlling shareholder, sole stockholder, general partner, etc.): __________________________________________________________

 

  3  

 

 

Is this entity controlled by another entity (such as a parent company, a corporate member, corporate shareholder, etc.) or is it controlled by a natural person ?

 

Controlled by: Natural Person(s) ¨ Entity* ¨

 

If you checked “Natural Person(s)”:

 

Name of natural person(s) who controls this entity and has voting or investment control over the shares held by the Selling Stockholder the Selling Stockholder: ____________________________________________________

 

Natural person’s position in this entity (e.g., sole member, controlling shareholder, sole stockholder, trustee, etc.): ____________________________________________________

 

*If you answered “Entity” here, please repeat step (f) for each controlling entity moving up the corporate chain of control until you reach the level at which there is only a natural person or persons in control (e.g., Acme LLC is controlled by ABC Corp., its member, which is controlled by X shareholder, its controlling shareholder). List the name of the entities along that chain of control, the types of entity each is, the natural person(s) in control of the ultimately controlling entity, and his or her control position over that entity in the lines below:

 

 
 
 
 

 

( Continued on next page… )

 

  4  

 

 

5. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:

 

This question covers beneficial ownership of the Company's securities. Please consult Appendix A to this Questionnaire for information as to the meaning of “beneficial ownership.”

 

(a) Please state the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (including any shares issuable upon exercise of warrants or other convertible securities) that the Selling Stockholder beneficially owns as of the date of this Questionnaire. DO NOT INCLUDE SHARES BEING PURCHASED IN THIS OFFERING :

 

 
 
 

 

(b) Please state the number of shares of the Registrable Securities that the Selling Stockholder is purchasing in this offering and wishes to have registered for resale in the Registration Statement.

 

Common Stock: ______________________

 

Warrants: _________________ (convertible into ______________ shares of Common Stock).

 

6. Broker-Dealer Status:

 

(a) Is the Selling Stockholder a broker-dealer?

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

(b) If “yes” to Question 6(a), did the Selling Stockholder receive the Registrable Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the Company?

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

Note: If the answer to Question 6(b) is no, Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

(c) Is the Selling Stockholder an affiliate of a broker-dealer?

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

(d) If the Selling Stockholder is an affiliate of a broker-dealer, does the Selling Stockholder certify that it purchased the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, the Selling Stockholder had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

  5  

 

 

Note: If the answer to Question 6(d) no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.

 

7. Legal Proceedings with the Company. Is the Company a party to any pending legal proceeding in which the Selling Stockholder is named as an adverse party?

 

Yes ¨            No ¨

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

 

8. Reliance on Responses. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Company and its legal counsel shall be entitled to rely on its responses in this Questionnaire in all matters pertaining to the Registration Statement and the sale of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

  6  

 

 

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.

 

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Questions 1 through 7 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

Dated:     Beneficial Owner:  
         

      By:  
        Name:  
        Title:  

 

PLEASE FAX OR PDF A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL TO:

 

Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

1550 Seventeenth Street, Suite 500

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attn: Justin Nyberg, Esq.

Justin.Nyberg@dgslaw.com

Fax: (303) 893-1379

 

  7  

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

DEFINITION OF “BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP”

 

1. A “Beneficial Owner” of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares:

 

(a)           Voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or

 

(b)           Investment power which includes the power to dispose, or direct the disposition of, such security.

 

Please note that either voting power or investment power, or both, is sufficient for you to be considered the beneficial owner of shares.

 

2. Any person who, directly or indirectly, creates or uses a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement or any other contract, arrangement or device with the purpose or effect of divesting such person of beneficial ownership of a security or preventing the vesting of such beneficial ownership as part of a plan or scheme to evade the reporting requirements of the federal securities acts shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such security.

 

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a person is deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days, including but not limited to any right to acquire: (a) through the exercise of any option, warrant or right; (b) through the conversion of a security; (c) pursuant to the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement; or (d) pursuant to the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement; provided, however, any person who acquires a security or power specified in (a), (b) or (c) above, with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer, or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, immediately upon such acquisition shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities which may be acquired through the exercise or conversion of such security or power.

 

  8  

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

(See attached)

 

     

 

 

Exhibit C

 

Warrant

 

(See attached)

 

     

 

 

Schedules to Subscription Agreement

 

(See attached)

 

     

Exhibit 10.2

 

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of December 11, 2017, is made by and between Pershing Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and the undersigned investors (each an “ Investor and collectively, the “ Investors ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , in connection with that certain Subscription Agreement of even date herewith by and between the Company and the Investors (the “ Subscription Agreement ”), each Investor has purchased from the Company certain units (the “ Units ”), each Unit consisting of (a) one share (the “ Share and collectively with all Shares issued as part of the Units, “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“ Common Stock ”), and (b) a warrant (the “ Warrant ” and collectively with all Warrants issued as part of the Units, “ Warrants ”) to purchase 0.4 of a share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.40, for a period ending twenty-four (24) months from, the date of issuance, at a negotiated price of $___ per Unit.

 

WHEREAS , to induce the Investors to purchase the Units, the Company has agreed to grant the Investors certain rights with respect to registration of Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE , the Company and the Investors, and each of them, hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

1.            Recitals . The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

2.            Certain Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

 

Automatic Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

 

Closing ” shall mean the closing of the sale of the Units purchased by an Investor.

 

Closing Date ” means the date on which the Closing occurred.

 

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

 

     

 

 

Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

 

Effectiveness Date ” shall mean that date which is sixty (60) days following the Filing Date (in case of a no review by the Commission staff) or one hundred eighty (180) days following the Filing Date (in the case of a review by the Commission staff).

 

Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

 

End of Suspension Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Filing Date ” shall mean with respect to the Automatic Registration Statement required hereunder, that date which is the later of (i) thirty (30) days following the Final Closing Date and (ii) the date which is five (5) business days after the registration statement registering the resale of Common Stock issued or issuable to investors in the Company’s December 11, 2017 private placement is declared effective by the Commission, and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required herein, the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities.

 

Final Closing Date ” means closing date of the Offering after which the Company ceases to offer for sale the Units.

 

Investor ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

 

Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Subscription Agreement.

 

Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement.

 

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

Register ,” “ registered ” and “ registration ” each shall refer to a registration of the Registrable Securities effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or statements or similar documents in compliance with the Securities Act and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document by the Commission.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

Registrable Securities ” shall mean (a) all Shares, (b) all Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Warrants delivered to the Investors in connection with the Offering (assuming on such date the Warrants are exercised in full without regard to any exercise limitations therein), and (c) any securities issued or then issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution,  recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when subject to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act as provided for hereunder, (ii) upon any sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iii) at such time such securities become eligible for resale without volume or manner of sale restrictions and without current public information pursuant to Rule 144(c) as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor.

 

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 and any additional registration statements contemplated herein, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.

 

Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

SEC Guidance ” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Selling Stockholder Questionnaire ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6  of this Agreement.

 

Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

 

Subscription Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

 

Suspension Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.

 

Suspension Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.

 

Warrant ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

 

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Warrant Shares ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Subscription Agreement.

 

3. Automatic Registration .

 

(a)           The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement (the “ Automatic Registration Statement ”) covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Company shall use its best efforts to file the Automatic Registration Statement on or prior to the Filing Date. The Automatic Registration Statement required hereunder shall be on Form S-1 or Form S-3, as applicable, and shall contain substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A .  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Automatic Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event not later than the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep the Automatic Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement may be sold by non-affiliates of the Company without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). The maximum amount of Registrable Securities that may be included in the Automatic Registration Statement at any one time shall be limited by Rule 415 as required by the Commission. In the event that there is a limitation by the Commission on the number of Registrable Securities that may be included for registration at one time, the Company shall promptly so advise the Investors and use its best efforts to file an additional Automatic Registration Statement covering such ineligible Registrable Securities, on a pro-rata basis, within 30 days of the date such securities become eligible and cause such Automatic Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall have the right to delay the filing of the Registration Statement for a period not in excess of 60 consecutive days and no more than 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period (a “ Delay Period ”), if the Company is pursuing a public offering of securities and the underwriter recommends a Delay Period.

 

(c)           In the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Event ”), the Company shall give written notice (a “ Suspension Notice ”) to the Investors to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement and such notice shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. No Investor shall effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Registration Statement. The Investors may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) following further notice to such effect (an “ End of Suspension Notice ”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the Investors in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.

 

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(d)           If: (i) the Automatic Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files the Automatic Registration Statement without affording the holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 5(a) herein, the Company shall be deemed to have not satisfied this clause (i)); or (ii) a Registration Statement registering for resale all of the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the Commission by the Effectiveness Date (unless the reason for such non-registration of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities is as a result of SEC Guidance under Rule 415 or similar rule which limits the number of Registrable Securities which may be included in a registration statement with respect to the holders); or (iii) after the effective date of a Registration Statement, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, or the Investors are otherwise not permitted to utilize the prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of fifteen (15) calendar days (which need not be consecutive calendar days) during any 12-month period (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “ Event ”, and for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), the date on which such Event occurs, and for purpose of clause (iii) the date which such ten (10) or fifteen (15) calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as an “ Event Date ”) , then, in addition to any other rights the Investors may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Investor an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Investor pursuant to the Subscription Agreement. The parties agree that the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to an Investor under this Agreement shall be 6% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Investor pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.  If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Investors, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payments shall be owed (i) to any affiliate of the Company, (ii) with respect to any period during which all of the holder’s Registrable Shares may be sold by such holder under Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c), or (iii) in circumstances described in Section 3(c) .

 

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4. Piggyback Registrations .

 

(a)           With respect to any Registrable Securities not otherwise included in the Automatic Registration Statement or any other Registration Statement as a result of any limitation imposed by the Commission under Rule 415 (the “ Excluded Registrable Securities ”), whenever the Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for other shareholders) any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to (i) an Automatic Registration pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (ii) registration pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor forms thereto), and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Company will give written notice to the holder of Excluded Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such a registration and will, subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) hereof, include in such registration all Excluded Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within twenty (20) days after the receipt of the Company’s notice.

 

(b)           If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering, the Company will, if permitted by all applicable agreements, include in such registration a pro rata share of Excluded Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement as calculated by dividing the number of Excluded Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by the number of the Company’s securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by all selling security holders. In such event, the holder of Excluded Registrable Securities shall continue to have registration rights under this Agreement with respect to any Excluded Registrable Securities not so included in such Registration Statement.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at any time after giving a notice of Piggyback Registration and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each record holder of Excluded Registrable Securities and, following such notice, (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Excluded Registrable Securities in connection with such registration, and (ii) in the case of determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Excluded Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities.

 

5.            Registration Procedures . If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will:

 

(a)           not less than four (4) trading days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) trading day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), and subject, if appropriate, to the relevant parties’ entry into a customary agreement to maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information provided (a “ Confidentiality Agreement ”) or the Company may excise any information which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company, the Company shall (i) furnish to one counsel on behalf of all sellers of Registrable Securities copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such sellers, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not be obligated to provide each seller of Registrable Securities advance copies of any universal shelf registration statement registering securities in addition to those required hereunder, or any Prospectus prepared thereto.

 

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(b)           prepare and file with the Commission the Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective in an expeditious manner;

 

(c)           (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to one counsel for all sellers of Registrable Securities true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement (provided that, the Company may either obtain a Confidentiality Agreement from the Investors or excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company), and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as amended, with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by each seller of Registrable Securities thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

 

(d)           if during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investors of not less than the number of such Registrable Securities.

 

(e)           furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities and to each underwriter such number of copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein (including each preliminary prospectus) as such persons reasonably may request in order to facilitate the intended disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;

 

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(f)           use its commercially reasonable efforts (i) to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement under the state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the sellers of Registrable Securities or, in the case of an underwritten public offering, the managing underwriter, reasonably shall request, (ii) to prepare and file in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements, and take such other actions, as may be necessary to maintain such registration and qualification in effect at all times for the period of distribution contemplated thereby, and (iii) to take such further action as may be necessary or advisable to enable the disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions, provided, that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to transact business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

(g)           use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement with any securities exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed;

 

(h)           immediately notify each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter under such Registration Statement, at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event of which the Company has knowledge as a result of which the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and promptly amend or supplement such Registration Statement to correct any such untrue statement or omission;

 

(i)           promptly notify each seller of Registrable Securities of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state regulatory authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose and make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time;

 

(j)           if the offering is an underwritten offering, enter into a written agreement with the managing underwriter selected in the manner herein provided in such form and containing such provisions as are usual and customary in the securities business for such an arrangement between such underwriter and companies of the Company’s size and investment stature, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution provisions;

 

(k)           if the offering is an underwritten offering, at the request of any Investor, furnish to such Investor on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale pursuant to such offering: (i) a copy of an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, addressed to the underwriters, stating that such Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and that (A) to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Securities Act, (B) the Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereof comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (except that such counsel need not express any opinion as to financial statements or other financial, statistical, or technical information, including without limitation information regarding mineral reserves, mineralized material or resources, contained therein) and (C) to such other effects as reasonably may be requested by counsel for the underwriters; and (ii) a copy of a letter dated such date from the independent public accountants retained by the Company, addressed to the underwriters, stating that they are independent registered public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and that, in the opinion of such accountants, the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, and such letter shall additionally cover such other financial matters (including information as to the period ending no more than five business days prior to the date of such letter) with respect to such registration as such underwriters reasonably may request;

 

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(l)           take all actions reasonably necessary to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legend restricting the sale or transfer of such securities) representing the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the Registration Statement and to enable such certificates to be in such denominations and registered in such names as each Investor or any underwriters may reasonably request; and

 

(m)         take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

6.            Obligations of Investors . Each Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Investor, the number of Registrable Securities owned and proposed to be sold by it, the intended method of disposition of such securities and any other information as shall be required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and cooperate with the Company in preparing the Registration Statement and in complying with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each Investor agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A to the Subscription Agreement (a “ Selling Stockholder Questionnaire ”) on a date that is not less than fifteen (15) trading days prior to the Filing. The Company shall have no obligation to include in the Registration Statement Registrable Securities of an Investor if such Investor has failed to timely furnish such information which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is reasonably required to be furnished or confirmed in order for the Registration Statement, to comply with the Securities Act.

 

7.            Expenses .

 

(a)           All expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 3, 4 and 5 including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees (including the fees of the Commission and any other regulatory body with which the Company is required to file), printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Company, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue sky” laws, and fees of transfer agents and registrars are referred to herein as “ Registration Expenses ”. All underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities are referred to herein as “ Selling Expenses ”.

 

(b)           The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Registration Statement filed hereunder, and the Selling Expenses in connection with each such Registration Statement shall be borne by the participating sellers in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sold by each or as they may otherwise agree.

 

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(c)       Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at the request of any Investor, the Company shall employ its counsel at the Company’s expense to prepare any and all legal opinions necessary for the prompt removal of restrictive legends from certificates representing Registrable Securities as, when and to the extent such legends may be removed in compliance with the Securities Act and/or Rule 144.

 

8.            Indemnification and Contribution .

 

(a)           In the event of a registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless and pay and reimburse, each Investor thereunder, each underwriter of such Registrable Securities thereunder and each other person, if any, who controls such seller or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which each such Investor, underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act pursuant hereto or any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws and will reimburse each such Investor, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon the Company’s reliance on an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished in writing (which may include by email) by any such seller, any such underwriter or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus.

 

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(b)           In the event of a registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant hereto, each seller of such Registrable Securities thereunder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement, each director of the Company, each underwriter and each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company or such officer, director, underwriter or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon reliance on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act pursuant hereto or any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and each such officer, director, underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided that such seller will be liable hereunder in any such case if and only to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information pertaining to such seller, as such, furnished in writing to the Company by such seller specifically for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus; and provided, further, that the liability of each seller hereunder shall be limited to the proceeds received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnity provided in this Section 8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense if such settlement is effected without the consent of such indemnified party and provided further, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case pursuant to this Section 8 to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in such Registration Statement, which untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the undersigned indemnitees thereafter fail to deliver or cause to be delivered such Registration Statement as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the sale of the Registrable Securities to the person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof) or expense after the Company has furnished the undersigned with the same.

 

(c)           Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified party other than under this Section 8 and shall only relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified party under this Section 8 if and to the extent the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such omission. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded based upon written advice of its counsel that there may be reasonable defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred.

 

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(d)           In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any holder of Registrable Securities exercising rights under this Agreement, or any controlling person of any such holder, makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling holder or any such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 8 ; then, and in each such case, the Company and such holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that such holder is responsible for the portion represented by the percentage that the public offering price of its Registrable Securities offered by the Registration Statement bears to the public offering price of all securities offered by such Registration Statement, and the Company is responsible for the remaining portion; provided, that, in any such case, (A) no such holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered by it pursuant to such Registration Statement and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 12(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

9.            Changes in Capital Stock . If, and as often as, there is any change in the capital stock of the Company by way of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through a merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions hereof so that the rights and privileges granted hereby shall continue as so changed.

 

10.          Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Investors as follows:

 

(a)           The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and will not violate any provision of law, any order of any court or other agency of government, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which it or any or its properties or assets is bound, conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

(b)           This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and to general equitable principles and the availability of specific performance.

  

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11.          Rule 144 Requirements . The Company agrees to, for so long as Investors own Registrable Securities:

 

(a)           make and keep current public information about the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

(b)           use its best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(c)           furnish to any Investor upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company as such holder may reasonably request to avail itself of any similar rule or regulation of the Commission allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.

 

12.          Termination . All of the Company’s obligations to register Registrable Securities under Sections 3, 4, and 5 hereof shall terminate upon the date on which Investors no longer hold Registrable Securities or the date on which Investors’ Registrable Securities are eligible for resale without volume or manner of sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144(c), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor.

 

13.          Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           All covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including without limitation transferees of any Registrable Securities), whether so expressed or not.

 

(b)           All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service: (i) if to the Company, at Pershing Gold Corporation, 1658 Cole Boulevard, Building 6, Suite 200, Lakewood, Colorado 80401, Attn: Stephen Alfers, President & CEO; and (ii) if to any holder of Registrable Securities, to such holder at such address as may have been furnished to the Company or its counsel in writing by such holder; or, in any case, at such other address or addresses as shall have been furnished, in writing to the Company or its counsel (in the case of a holder of Registrable Securities) or to the holders of Registrable Securities (in the case of the Company) in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective upon actual receipt by the party or at the address of the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

 

  - 13 -  

 

 

(c)           This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Investors (i) agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be instituted exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Nevada, (ii) waive any objection which the Company or Investors may have now or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of any such federal or state court in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company and Investors further agree to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding and agree that service of process upon the Company or any Investor mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to, in the case of the Company, the Company’s address, and in the case of an Investor, to such Investor’s address as set forth on the Company’s books and records, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(d)           In the event of a breach by the Company or by an Investor, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, such Investor or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and the Investors agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and each of them hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(e)           This Agreement may not be amended or modified without the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities.

 

(f)           Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver shall be effective unless and until it is in writing and signed by the party granting the waiver.

 

(g)          This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or .pdf transmission) each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission or sent by electronic mail of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

 

  - 14 -  

 

 

(h)          If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision and shall not in any manner affect or render illegal, invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision were not contained herein.

 

(i)           This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Company and the Investors relative to the subject matter hereof and supersedes in its entirety any and all prior agreements, understandings and discussions with respect thereto.

 

(j)           The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience and shall not by themselves determine the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

  - 15 -  

 

Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

 

COMPANY:    
       
PERSHING GOLD CORP.    
       
By:      
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

INVESTORS:

 

Each Investor set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement has executed a Subscription Agreement with the Company which provides, among other things, that by executing the Subscription Agreement such Investor is deemed to have executed this REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT and is bound by its terms in all respects.

 

Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement

 

     

 

 

Annex A

Form of
Plan of Distribution

 

Each Selling Stockholder (the “ Selling Stockholders ”) of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions.  These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices.  A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

· ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

· block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

· purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

· an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

· privately negotiated transactions;

 

· settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

· in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

· through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

· a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

· any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales.  Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

 

  Annex- 1  

 

 

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume.  The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities.  The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales.  In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.  Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities.  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder.  In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale securities by the Selling Stockholders.

 

The Company has agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144(c) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.  The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

  Annex- 2  

 

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution.  In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of securities of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person.  We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

  Annex- 3  

 

 

Exhibit A

Registration Rights Agreement

 

Name of Investor   Units   Common
Stock
  Warrant
Shares
             
             
             
             

 

   A- 1