UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

x

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

OR

¨

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

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-36908

 

Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Nevada

98-0138393

( State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

665 Anderson Street

Winnemucca, NV

89445

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (775) 625-3600

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes   ¨     No    x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

¨

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

o   (Do not check if a small reporting company)

  

Small reporting company

 

x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x

As of May 22, 2015, the registrant had 8,518,791 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding .

 

 

 

 

 


 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1

 

Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets

1

 

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

2

 

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

4

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

12

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

15

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

15

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

16

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

16

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

23

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

23

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

23

Item 5.

Other Information

23

Item 6.

Exhibits

23

Signatures

24

Exhibit Index

25

 

 

 

i


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets

As at March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

 

 

As at March 31,

 

 

As at June 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

874,134

 

 

$

452,436

 

Prepaid and deposits

 

 

180,636

 

 

 

107,639

 

Prepaid insurance, current portion (Note 8)

 

 

49,043

 

 

 

122,605

 

Marketable Securities (Note 2)

 

 

21,572

 

 

 

560,099

 

Total Current Assets

 

 

1,125,385

 

 

 

1,242,779

 

Non-Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mineral properties (Note 7)

 

 

28,036,135

 

 

 

28,373,535

 

Prepaid insurance, non current portion (Note 8)

 

 

36,779

 

 

 

Reclamation bond (Note 8)

 

 

2,536,934

 

 

 

2,626,538

 

Total Non-Current Assets

 

 

30,609,848

 

 

 

31,000,073

 

Total Assets

 

$

31,735,233

 

 

$

32,242,852

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

14,765

 

 

$

29,654

 

Due to Parent Company (Note 6)

 

 

16,614,827

 

 

 

15,363,799

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

16,629,592

 

 

 

15,393,453

 

Non-Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclamation and environmental obligation (Note 8)

 

 

1,299,707

 

 

 

1,291,066

 

Total Liabilities

 

 

17,929,299

 

 

 

16,684,519

 

Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, no par value, 25,000 authorized shares, 1,000 issued and

   outstanding at March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014

 

 

29,701,475

 

 

 

29,701,475

 

Contributed surplus

 

 

8,677,588

 

 

 

6,545,714

 

Deficit

 

 

(24,524,851

)

 

 

(20,749,005

)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

(48,278

)

 

 

60,149

 

Total Stockholders' Equity

 

 

13,805,934

 

 

 

15,558,333

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

$

31,735,233

 

 

$

32,242,852

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

 

1


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

For the Three and Nine Month Periods Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

For the Three Month

Period Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

For the Nine Month

Period Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

For the Three Month

Period Ended March 31, 2014

 

 

For the Nine Month

Period Ended March 31, 2014

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (Note 9)

 

 

-

 

 

 

97,535

 

 

 

38,860

 

 

 

43,860

 

Total Revenue

 

 

-

 

 

 

97,535

 

 

 

38,860

 

 

 

43,860

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration

 

 

258,083

 

 

 

982,116

 

 

 

403,748

 

 

 

1,283,350

 

Professional fees

 

 

157,187

 

 

 

231,740

 

 

 

44,616

 

 

 

147,526

 

Directors compensation

 

 

14,067

 

 

 

31,060

 

 

 

45,491

 

 

 

84,998

 

Office & administration

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

30,626

 

 

 

15,037

 

 

 

38,302

 

Insurance

 

 

22,205

 

 

 

77,151

 

 

 

68,839

 

 

 

220,749

 

Accretion

 

 

33,692

 

 

 

101,076

 

 

 

30,683

 

 

 

92,049

 

Write down of mineral property

 

 

-

 

 

 

337,400

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Total Expenses

 

 

495,234

 

 

 

1,791,169

 

 

 

608,414

 

 

 

1,866,974

 

Net Loss before other items

 

 

495,234

 

 

 

1,693,634

 

 

 

569,554

 

 

 

1,823,114

 

Other items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

(1,354

)

 

 

(2,831

)

 

 

(750

)

 

 

(2,659

)

Interest and service charges

 

 

720,432

 

 

 

2,117,018

 

 

 

659,816

 

 

 

1,890,298

 

Loss (Gain) on sale of marketable securities

 

 

-

 

 

 

(31,975

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Net Loss

 

 

1,214,312

 

 

 

3,775,846

 

 

 

1,228,620

 

 

 

3,710,753

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized  loss on available-for-sale-securities

 

 

(16,421

)

 

 

108,427

 

 

 

(126,286

)

 

 

(122,488

)

Total Comprehensive Loss for the Period

 

$

1,197,891

 

 

$

3,884,273

 

 

$

1,102,334

 

 

$

3,588,265

 

Loss per Common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

1,214

 

 

$

3,776

 

 

$

1,229

 

 

$

3,711

 

Diluted

 

$

1,214

 

 

$

3,776

 

 

$

1,229

 

 

$

3,711

 

Weighted Average Number of Common

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares Used in Per Share Calculations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

Diluted

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

 

2


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Month Periods Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Month

Period Ended

March 31, 2015

 

 

For the Nine Month

Period Ended

March 31, 2014

 

Net Loss

 

$

(3,775,846

)

 

$

(3,710,753

)

Adjustment for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

15,269

 

 

 

96,823

 

Write-down of mineral properties

 

 

337,400

 

 

 

Interest expense on loans due to Parent (Note 6)

 

 

2,116,605

 

 

 

1,881,259

 

Accretion expense (Note 8)

 

 

101,076

 

 

 

92,049

 

Change in reclamation

 

 

(2,831

)

 

 

(2,659

)

Insurance expense

 

 

36,783

 

 

 

183,913

 

Gain on sale of marketable securities

 

 

(31,975

)

 

 

 

 

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses

 

 

(72,997

)

 

 

(139,669

)

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

 

 

(14,889

)

 

 

(76,217

)

Cash (used in) operating activities

 

 

(1,291,405

)

 

 

(1,675,254

)

Sale (purchase) of marketable securities

 

 

462,075

 

 

 

(49,950

)

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

462,075

 

 

 

(49,950

)

Loan from Parent (Note 6)

 

 

1,251,028

 

 

 

2,134,273

 

Cash provided by  financing activities

 

 

1,251,028

 

 

 

2,134,273

 

Change in cash during year

 

 

421,698

 

 

 

409,069

 

Cash at beginning of year

 

 

452,436

 

 

 

75,292

 

Cash at end of period

 

$

874,134

 

 

$

484,361

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

 

3


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

From June 30, 2012 to the Nine Month Periods Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Deficit

 

 

 

Contributed Surplus

 

 

Accumulated Other

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

Total   Stockholders'

Equity

 

Balance at June 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

1,000

 

 

$

29,701,475

 

 

 

(7,192,279

)

 

$

1,666,140

 

 

$

 

 

$

24,175,336

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

469,778

 

 

 

 

 

 

469,778

 

Imputed interest on loans due to parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,709,246

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,709,246

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8,521,982

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(8,521,982

)

Balance at June 30, 2013

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

29,701,475

 

 

 

(15,714,261

)

 

 

3,845,164

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,832,378

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

248,450

 

 

 

 

 

 

248,450

 

Imputed interest on loans due to parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,452,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,452,100

 

Unrealized gain on available for sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60,149

 

 

 

60,149

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,034,744

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,034,744

)

Balance at June 30, 2014

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

29,701,475

 

 

 

(20,749,005

)

 

 

6,545,714

 

 

 

60,149

 

 

 

15,558,333

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,613

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,613

 

Imputed interest on loans due to parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

686,370

 

 

 

 

 

 

686,370

 

Unrealized gain on available for sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(123,665

)

 

 

(123,665

)

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,467,214

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,467,214

)

Balance at September 30, 2014

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

29,701,475

 

 

 

(22,216,219

)

 

 

7,238,697

 

 

 

(63,516

)

 

 

14,660,437

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,956

 

Imputed interest on loans due to parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

709,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

709,870

 

Unrealized gain on available for sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,183

)

 

 

(1,183

)

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,094,320

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,094,320

)

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

29,701,475

 

 

 

(23,310,539

)

 

 

7,953,523

 

 

 

(64,699

)

 

 

14,279,760

 

Stock based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,700

 

Imputed interest on loans due to parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

720,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

720,365

 

Unrealized gain on available for sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,421

 

 

 

16,421

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,214,312

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,214,312

)

Balance at March 31, 2015

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

29,701,475

 

 

 

(24,524,851

)

 

 

8,677,588

 

 

 

(48,278

)

 

 

13,805,934

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

 

4


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

 

1.

Principal  Accounting Policies:

Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (the “Company”), incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of  precious metal properties. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries include New Sleeper Gold LLC and Sleeper Mining Company, LLC.   The Company is in the process of exploring its mineral properties in Nevada, United States. The Company’s activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including failing to secure additional funding to advance its projects and to date has not determined whether these properties contain reserves that are economically recoverable.

Spin-Off from Paramount Gold and Silver Corp.   Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (“PGSC”) owns 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company.   On April 17, 2015, we entered into the previously disclosed separation and distribution agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with PGSC, to effect the separation (the “separation”) of the Company from PGSC, and to provide for the allocation between the Company and PGSC of the Company’s and PGSC’s assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to, at and after the separation.

We filed a registration statement on Form S-1 in connection with the distribution (the “distribution”) by PGSC to its stockholders of all the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share. The registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 9, 2015. On April 6, 2015, the Company filed a Form 8-A with the SEC to register its shares of common stock under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The distribution, which effected a spinoff of the Company from PGSC, was made on April 17, 2015, to PGSC stockholders of record on April 14, 2015. On the distribution date, stockholders of PGSC received one share of Company common stock for every twenty shares of PGSC common stock held. Up to and including the distribution date, PGSC common stock traded on the “regular-way” market; that is, with an entitlement to shares of Company common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. As a result of the distribution, the Company is now a publicly traded company independent from PGSC. On April 20, 2015, the Company’s shares of common stock commenced trading on the NYSE MKT LLC under the symbol “PZG”. An aggregate of 8,101,371 shares of Company common stock were issued in the distribution.

 

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles for interim financial information and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all of the normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the interim financial information set forth herein have been included.  The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results of a full year or of future years.

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and follow the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the most recent annual financial statements. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.  These condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended June 30, 2014.

Going Concern

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which implies the Company will continue to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.  The Company has never generated cash flow from operations and is unlikely to generate cash flows from operations in the immediate or foreseeable future.   The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to obtain necessary equity financing to continue operations, and the attainment of profitable operations.  As at March 31, 2015, the Company has an accumulated deficit of $24,524,851 (June 30, 2014 - $20,749,005) and incurred a net loss for the nine month period of $3,775,846 (2014 - $3,710,753).  These factors raise doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  Management completed a spin-off of the Company from PGSC in order to gain access to equity financing in order to alleviate doubts about going concern, as further described in Note 11.  These condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverability and

 

5


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

classification of recorded asset amounts and the classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Marketable Securities

The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale securities.  The securities are measured at fair market value in the financial statements with unrealized gains and temporary losses on investments classified as available for sale are included within accumulated other comprehensive income, net of any related tax effect. Upon realization, such amounts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to other income, net, realized gains and losses and other than temporary impairments, if any, are reflected in the statements of operations as other income or expenses. The Company does not recognize changes in the fair value of its investments in income unless a decline in value is considered other than temporary.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates made by management in the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the adequacy of the Company’s asset retirement obligations, valuation of deferred tax asset, estimation of market rates of interest, and allocations of administrative overhead costs from PGSC.

Allocations

PGSC provides administrative support to the Company for executive management, information systems and certain accounting, legal and other administrative functions.  The costs of these services were allocated to the Company based primarily on a percentage of the Company’s exploration costs as compared to PGSC’s consolidated exploration costs.  The allocations may not reflect the expense the Company would have incurred as an independent, publicly traded company for the periods presented.  

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 also reflect interest expense imputed by the Company on the non-interest bearing loans from PGSC (Note 6).

Management believes that its allocations are reasonable and based on a systematic and rational method; however, they are not necessarily indicative of the actual financial results of the Company, including such expenses that would have been incurred by the Company had it been operating as a separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented.  As a stand-alone entity, the Company expects to incur expenses that may not be comparable in future periods to what is presented for the historical periods presented in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.  Consequently, the financial information herein may not reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company in the future or if the Company had been an independent stand-alone entity during all of the periods presented.  In our opinion, the condensed consolidated interim financial statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of its results of operations.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company has adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 718, “ Stock Compensation ” (“ASC 718”), which establishes accounting for equity instruments exchanged for employee services. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant).

Mineral Properties

Mineral property acquisition costs are capitalized when incurred and will be amortized using the units –of – production method over the estimated life of the reserve following the commencement of production.  If a mineral property is subsequently abandoned or impaired, any capitalized costs will be expensed in the period of abandonment or impairment.

Acquisition costs include cash consideration and the fair market value of shares issued on the acquisition of mineral properties.

 

6


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

Exploration Costs

Exploration costs, which include maintenance, development and exploration of mineral claims, are expensed as incurred.  When it is determined that a mineral deposit can be economically developed as a result of establishing proven and probable reserves, the costs incurred after such determination will be capitalized and amortized over their useful lives.  To date, the Company has not established the commercial feasibility of its exploration prospects; therefore, all exploration costs are being expensed.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 440, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations”, which establishes the standards for the initial measurement and subsequent accounting for obligations associated with the sale, abandonment, or other disposal of long-lived tangible assets arising from the acquisition, construction or development and for normal operations of such assets.  The Company’s asset retirement obligations are further described in Note 8.

Net Loss per Share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period.  Diluted loss per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.  

 

 

2.

Marketable Securities:

The following table summarizes the Company’s available-for sale securities on hand as of March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014:

 

 

 

Cost Basis

 

 

Impairment Charge

 

 

Adjusted Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Fair Value

 

Marketable securities at March 31, 2015

 

$

69,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

69,850

 

 

 

48,278

 

 

 

 

 

$

21,572

 

Marketable securities at June 30, 2014

 

$

499,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

499,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

60,149

 

 

$

560,099

 

 

During the nine month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company sold marketable securities with a cost basis of $430,100 for net proceeds of $462,075.  The gain on sale of securities of $31,975 was recorded on the statement of operations.  As a result of the transaction, the Company reversed from comprehensive income $106,631 it had previously recorded as an unrealized gain. The Company also recorded an unrealized loss of $108,427 (2014 – $122,488 gain).  The marketable securities reflected in the table above includes stock purchase warrants of a single entity involved in the exploration of precious metals.  The Company performs a quarterly assessment on its marketable securities with unrealized losses to determine if the security is other than temporarily impaired.  

 

 

3 .

Fair Value Measurements:

Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization with the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement:

The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described below:

 

Level 1

 

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

 

 

 

Level 2

 

Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

 

 

Level 3

 

Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

7


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy. As required by ASC 820, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value at March 31, 2015

 

 

June 30, 2014

 

Assets

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

874,134

 

 

 

874,134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

452,436

 

Marketable Securities

 

$

21,572

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,572

 

 

$

560,099

 

 

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The cash and cash equivalents that are valued based on quoted market prices in active markets are primarily comprised of commercial paper, short-term certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury securities.

At March 31, 2015, the Company’s marketable securities are comprised of stock purchase warrants. The stock purchase warrants’ fair value is recorded using a Black Scholes options model using inputs such as contractual terms, stock volatility and implied interest rates. The Company’s marketable securities are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The carrying value due to Parent approximates its fair value due to the short term nature of the obligation.  The Company has recorded interest on the amount due to Parent at a rate estimated to be a market rate of interest (Note 6).

 

 

4 .

Non-Cash Transactions:

During the nine month period ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not enter into non-cash activities.

 

 

5 .

Capital Stock:

Authorized capital stock consists of 25,000 common shares without par value.  At March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014 there were 1,000 shares issued and outstanding.

 

 

6 .

Related Party Transactions:

The Company’s expenses included allocations from Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. of costs associated with administrative support functions which included executive management, information systems, finance, legal, accounting and certain other administrative functions and stock-based compensation.  Allocated stock-based compensation included equity awards granted to employees of the Company as well as allocated stock-based compensation expense associated with Parent employees that provided administrative support to the Company.  For the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company’s allocated expenses from Parent were as follows:

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

Three month Period

 

 

Nine Month Period

 

 

Three month Period

 

 

Nine Month Period

 

Allocated expenses included in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration

 

$

3,700

 

 

$

11,100

 

 

$

12,073

 

 

$

19,473

 

Professional fees

 

 

149,626

 

 

 

197,738

 

 

 

44,617

 

 

 

124,598

 

Directors compensation

 

 

14,067

 

 

 

31,060

 

 

 

45,491

 

 

 

84,998

 

Total

 

$

167,393

 

 

$

239,898

 

 

$

102,181

 

 

$

229,069

 

 

As of March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2014, respectively, the Company owed a total of $16,614,827 and $15,363,799 to PGSC.  Due to undercapitalization of the Company, PGSC. has been funding the operations on an as need basis.  These advances are non-interest bearing in nature and have no fixed terms of repayment.  The Company has imputed interest on these sums at the rate of 17.5% per annum and has recorded interest expense related to these balances in the amount of $2,116,605 and $1,881,259 for the nine months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014.   Because the related parties do not expect these amounts to be repaid, the interest has been recorded as a contribution of capital at March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014.

As discussed in Note 1, the Company believes the assumptions and methodologies underlying the allocation of administrative expenses and stock-based compensation are reasonable.  However, such expenses may not be indicative of the actual expenses that would have been incurred by the Company as a stand-alone company.  As such, the financial information herein may not necessarily

 

8


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

reflect the consolidated financial position, results of operation, and cash flows of the Company in the future or if the Company had been a stand-alone entity during the periods presented.

Subsequent to period-end and in connection with the spinoff of the Company from PGSC, all inter-company debt owed to PGSC was settled and re-characterized as an equity contribution from PGSC (Note 11).

All transactions with related parties are made in the normal course of operations and are measured at exchange value.

 

 

7 .

Mineral Properties:

The Company has capitalized acquisition costs on mineral properties as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

June 30, 2014

 

Sleeper

 

$

25,554,090

 

 

$

25,891,490

 

Mill Creek

 

 

2,096,616

 

 

 

2,096,616

 

Spring Valley

 

 

385,429

 

 

 

385,429

 

 

 

$

28,036,135

 

 

$

28,373,535

 

 

Sleeper:

Sleeper is located in northern Nevada approximately 26 miles northwest of the town of Winnemucca.  The Sleeper Gold Mine consists of 2,570 unpatented mining claims.  

During the nine month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company dropped 212 mining claims it acquired in 2011 with a recorded value of $337,400. The Company determined that these mining claims no longer had any exploration potential.

Mill Creek:

The Mill Creek property consists of 36 unpatented lode mining claims totaling 720 acres south of Battle Mountain Nevada.  

Spring Valley:

The Spring Valley property consists of 38 unpatented lode mining claims located in Pershing County, Nevada.

 

 

8 .

Reclamation and Environmental:

The Company holds an insurance policy related to its Sleeper Gold Project that covers reclamation costs in the event the Company defaults on payments of its reclamation costs up to an aggregate of $25 million.  The unamortized insurance premium is being amortized to December 31, 2016 and the current and non-current prepaid insurance balance at March 31, 2015 is $85,822 (June 30, 2014 - $122,605).  

As a part of the policy, the Company has funds in a commutation account which is used to reimburse reclamation costs and indemnity claims.  The balance of the commutation account at March 31, 2015 is $2,536,934(June 30, 2014 - $2,626,538).  

Reclamation and environmental costs are based principally on legal requirements.  Management estimates costs associated with reclamation of mineral properties and properties under mine closure.  On an ongoing basis the Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions; however, actual amounts could differ from those based on estimates and assumptions.  

The asset retirement obligation at the Sleeper Gold Project has been measured using the following variables:  1) Expected costs for earthwork, re-vegetation, in-pit water treatment, on-going monitoring, labor and management, 2) Inflation adjustment, and 3) Market risk premium.  The sum of the expected costs by year is discounted using the Company’s credit adjusted risk free interest rate from the time it expects to pay the retirement obligation to the time it incurs the obligation.    The reclamation and environmental obligation recorded on the balance sheet is equal to the present value of the estimated costs.  

The current undiscounted estimate of the reclamation costs for existing disturbances at the Sleeper Gold Project is $3,915,626 as required by U.S Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection. Assumptions used to compute

 

9


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

the asset retirement obligations for the year ended June 30, 2014 for the Sleeper Gold Project included a credit adjusted risk free rate and inflation rate of 9.76% (2013 – 9.76%) and 2.0% (2013 – 2.0%), respectively. Expenses are expected to be incurred between the years 2014 and 2053.

Changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the nine month period ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

June 30, 2014

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

1,291,066

 

 

$

1,263,584

 

Accretion expense

 

 

101,076

 

 

 

122,732

 

Payments

 

 

(92,435

)

 

 

(95,250

)

Balance at end of period

 

$

1,299,707

 

 

$

1,291,066

 

 

 

9.

Other Income

The Company’s other income details were as follows:

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

Three month Period

 

 

Nine Month Period

 

 

Three month Period

 

 

Nine Month Period

 

Re-imbursement of reclamation expenses

 

$

-

 

 

$

92,435

 

 

$

38,860

 

 

$

38,860

 

Leasing of water rights to third party

 

 

-

 

 

 

5,100

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

5,000

 

Total

 

$

-

 

 

$

97,535

 

 

$

38,860

 

 

$

43,860

 

 

 

10.

Commitments and Contingencies:

Litigation

Since the announcement of the merger of PGSC and Coeur on December 17, 2014, the Company, PGSC, members of PGSC’s board, Coeur, and Hollywood Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”) have been named as defendants in six putative stockholder class action suits brought by purported stockholders of PGSC, challenging the proposed Merger (the “Complaints”). The Complaints were filed in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (Fernando Gamboa v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., et al., No.: 10499; Jerry Panning v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., et al., No.: 10507; Jonah Weiss v. Christopher Crupi, et al., No.: 10517; Justin Beaston v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corporation, et al., No.: 10538; Rob Byers v. Christopher Crupi, et al., No.: 10551; James H. Alston v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., et al., No.: 10531.

 

The plaintiffs generally claim that the PGSC board members breached their fiduciary duties to PGSC stockholders by: (i) authorizing the merger with Coeur for what the plaintiffs assert is inadequate consideration and pursuant to an allegedly inadequate process, and (ii) failing to disclose sufficient information in its Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow the shareholders to make an informed vote. The plaintiffs also claim that the Company, PGSC, Coeur, and Merger Sub aided and abetted the other defendants’ alleged breach of duties. In the Complaints, the plaintiffs seek, among other things, to enjoin the merger, rescind the transaction or obtain rescissory damages if the merger is consummated, obtain other unspecified damages and recover attorneys’ fees and costs. The merger was consummated on April 17, 2015.

 

We, PGSC, members of PGSC board, Coeur, and Merger Sub deny any wrongdoing and are vigorously defending all of the actions.

 

 

 

11. Subsequent events :

 

 

Effectiveness of Registration Statement

 

The Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 relating to the distribution by PGSC to its shareholders of all the shares of common stock of the Company. The registration statement was declared effective by the

 

10


PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the Nine Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

(Expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated)

(Unaudited)

 

SEC on April 9, 2015.

Distribution of Shares

The spinoff of the Company from PGSC was effected on April 17, 2015. On that date, an aggregate of 8,101,371 of shares of the Company’s common stock were distributed to PGSC stockholders of record on April 14, 2015. On April 20, 2015, the Company’s shares began trading on the NYSE MKT LLC under the symbol "PZG"(see Note 1).

Equity Contribution

Prior to the separation and distribution, and in connection with merger of PGSC, PGSC made an equity contribution into the Company of $8.25 million.

Sales of Equity Securities

In connection with the consummation of the merger of PGSC and Coeur, the Company issued 417,420 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to Coeur in exchange for a cash payment by Coeur in the amount of $1.47 million.

 

 

 

 

 

11


 

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

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations and forecasts of future events. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this quarterly report, including statements regarding the Company's future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company's current plans, and the Company's actual future activities and results of operations may be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this quarterly report may turn out to be inaccurate. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. The forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, and in the risk factors included in our prospectus dated April 10, 2015 that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein, to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto, or any other change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. In addition to historical condensed consolidated financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are an emerging growth company engaged in the business of precious metals exploration in Nevada, USA. Our business strategy is to acquire and develop known precious metals deposits in large-scale geological environments in North America. This strategy helps reduce discovery risks as exploration programs can be designed using existing geological drilling data and significantly increases the efficiency and effectiveness of exploration programs. By developing known deposits we spend less time trying to discover new areas of mineralization. Our projects are located near successful operating mines. This greatly reduces the related costs for infrastructure requirements at the exploration stage and eventually for mine construction and operation.

The Company’s principal Nevada interest, the Sleeper Gold Project, is located in Humbolt County, Nevada and was a producing mine until 1996.

On April 17, 2015, we entered into the previously disclosed separation and distribution agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Paramount Gold and Silver Corp (“PGSC”), to effect the separation (the “separation”) of the Company from PGSC, and to provide for the allocation between the Company and PGSC of the Company’s and PGSC’s assets, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to, at and after the separation.

We filed a registration statement on Form S-1 in connection with the distribution (the “distribution”) by PGSC to its stockholders of all the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share. The registration statement was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 9, 2015. On April 6, 2015, the Company filed a Form 8-A with the SEC to register its shares of common stock under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The distribution, which effected a spinoff of the Company from PGSC, was made on April 17, 2015, to PGSC stockholders of record on April 14, 2015. On the distribution date, stockholders of PGSC received one share of Company common stock for every twenty shares of PGSC common stock held. Up to and including the distribution date, PGSC common stock traded on the “regular-way” market; that is, with an entitlement to shares of Company common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. As a result of the distribution, the Company is now a publicly traded company independent from PGSC. On April 20, 2015, the Company’s shares of common stock commenced trading on the NYSE MKT LLC under the symbol “PZG”. An aggregate of 8,101,371 shares of Company common stock were distributed in the distribution. In connection with our separation from PGSC and PGSC’s merger with and into Coeur Mining, Inc. (“Coeur”), PGSC contributed approximately $8.25 million to us as an equity contribution, and we issued 417,420 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to Coeur in exchange for a cash payment by Coeur in the amount of $1.47 million.

 

12


 

The following discussion summarizes our plan of operations for the foreseeable future.

Plan of Operation – Exploration:

Exploration activities in Nevada will focus on our Sleeper Gold Project. Our exploration budget following the completion of the spin-off will be approximately $1.4 million. The main budget activities will include consulting, geological modelling and metallurgical testing. We will also evaluate acquisitions opportunities in Nevada and have budgeted approximately $0.1 million for these activities.

Our work on the Sleeper Gold Project is consistent with PGSC’s strategy of expanding and upgrading known, large-scale precious metal occurrences in established mining camps, defining their economic potential and then partnering them with nearby producers.

Exploration activities at Sleeper Gold Project will consist of determining additional drill targets with an emphasis on areas covered with overburden. Drill programs will be designed with the aim identifying new zones of mineralization.

Targeting will be based on current knowledge, geological and geophysical data. The Company plans to evaluate, design and conduct a geophysical survey program on the Sleeper Gold Project mining claims. The geophysical survey may include but is not limited to magnetometry study or induced polarization programs. The Company believes that the resulting data derived from the geophysical program will produce valuable drilling targets. The Company has budgeted approximately $500,000 for these activities.

The Company also plans to review its database metallurgical testing results and material estimate models in the context of current precious metal prices in order to determine if a new NI-43101 compliant preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) is merited. If the Company proceeds with commissioning a new PEA the estimated budget is approximately $300,000.

Comparison of Operating Results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

Results of Operations

We did not earn any revenue from operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Our on-going exploration program included bio-oxidation metallurgical testing and updating material estimate models for our Sleeper Gold Project. Other normal course of business activities included filing annual mining claim fees with the BLM, reclamation work at the Sleeper mine site and on-going geological reviews of its mining claims.

Expenses

Our operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by approximately 19% or by $113,180. Our exploration expenses decreased by 36% or by $145,665, as the Company did not perform any active exploration programs. Insurance expenses decreased by 68% or by $46,634 resulting from a change in amortization estimate. Our imputed interest charge on debt owing to PGSC increased by 9% or by $60,616.

Our operating expenses for the nine months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by approximately 4% or by $75,805. Our exploration expenses decreased by 23% or by $301,234 which was a result of the winding down and conclusion of an on-going metallurgical testing program that commenced in 2013. Insurance expenses decreased by 65% or by $143,598 resulting from a change in amortization estimate. Our imputed interest charge on debt owing to PGSC increased by 12% or by $226,720. We also dropped mining claims that no longer had any exploration potential and recorded an expense in the amount of $337,400.

Net Loss

Our net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $1,214,312 compared to a loss of $1,228,620 in the previous year. The decrease of 1% was primarily due to the net decrease in expenses as described above.

Our net loss for the nine months ended March 31, 2015 was $3,775,846 compared to a loss of $3,710,753 in the previous year. The increase of 3% was primarily due to the net increase in expenses as described above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of $874,134 compared to $452,436 at June 30, 2014. This increase of $421,698 was primarily due to the sale of marketable securities that resulted in net proceeds of $462,075. Cash required fund our exploration programs and corporate overhead was provided by PGSC in the amount of $1,251,028.

 

13


 

At March 31, 2015, we had net working capital of $1,110,620. This excludes the amounts owed to PGSC of $16,614,827. Subsequent to the period and in connection with the spin off the Company from PGSC, all inter-company debt owed to PGSC was settled and re-characterized as an equity contribution from  PGSC. Following the completion of the spin-off, we anticipate our 12 month cash expenditures to fund exploration programs and general corporate expenses to be approximately $3.4 million. These anticipated cash outlays will be funded by our cash on hand which is expected to be approximately $9.7 million.

A breakdown of our proposed expenditures following the completion of the spin-off for the next 12 months are as follows:

$300,000 on preparation of a new compliant NI-43-101 preliminary economic assessment for the Sleeper Gold Project;

$500,000 on a geophysical survey at the Sleeper Gold Project;

$400,000 on annual mining claim fees; and

$1,700,000 on general and administration expenses (expenses include management and employee salary and wages, legal, audit, and marketing).

Critical Accounting Policies

Management considers the following policies to be most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the uncertainties that could impact the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Our financial statements are affected by the accounting policies used and the estimates and assumptions made by management during their preparation. Management believes the Company’s critical accounting policies are those related to mineral property acquisition costs, exploration and development cost, stock based compensation, derivative accounting and foreign currency translation.

Estimate

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements and notes in conformity to United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates, including those related to allowances for doubtful accounts receivable and long-lived assets. Management bases these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Mineral property acquisition costs

The Company capitalizes the cost of acquiring mineral properties and will amortize these costs over the useful life of a property following the commencement of production or expense these costs if it is determined that the mineral property has no future economic value or the properties are sold or abandoned. Costs include cash consideration and the fair market value of shares issued on the acquisition of mineral properties. Properties acquired under option agreements, whereby payments are made at the sole discretion of the Company, are recorded in the accounts of the specific mineral property at the time the payments are made.

The amounts recorded as mineral properties reflect actual costs incurred to acquire the properties and do not indicate any present or future value of economically recoverable reserves.

Exploration expenses

We record exploration expenses as incurred. When we determine that precious metal resource deposit can be economically and legally extracted or produced based on established proven and probable reserves, further exploration expenses related to such reserves incurred after such a determination will be capitalized. To date, we have not established any proven or probable reserves and will continue to expense exploration expenses as incurred.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to value stock options granted. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The model requires management to make estimates which are subjective and may not be representative of actual results. Changes in

 

14


 

assumptions can materially affect estimates of fair values. For purposes of the calculation, the following assumptions were used for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

WA Risk free interest rate

 

0.12%

 

0.15%

WA Expected dividend yield

 

0%

 

0%

WA Expected stock price volatility

 

58%

 

64%

WA Expected life of options

 

2 years

 

2.9 years

Reclassification

Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current year-end presentation.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We are not currently a party to, or otherwise involved with, any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources.

Item 3. Quantitative and Q ualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

The Company holds cash balances in both U.S. and Canadian dollars. We transact most of our business in US dollars. We do not manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk through the use of financial or derivative instruments, forward contracts or hedging activities.

In general, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar will positively impact our expenses transacted in Canadian dollars. Conversely, any weakening of the U.S dollar will increase our expenses transacted in Canadian dollars. We do not believe that any weakening of the U.S. dollar as compared to the compared to the Canadian dollar will have an adverse material effect on our operations.

Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s investment policy for its cash and cash equivalents is focused on the preservation of capital and supporting the liquidity requirements of the Company. The Company’s interest earned on its cash balances is impacted on the fluctuations of U.S. interest rates. We do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. We do not believe that interest rate fluctuations will have any effect on our operations.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

a)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and determined that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The evaluation considered the procedures designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(d) and 13d-15(d) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

15


 

(c)

Inherent Limitations of Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation or effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Since the announcement of the merger of Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (“PGSC”) and Coeur Mining, Inc. (“Coeur”) on December 17, 2014, the Company, PGSC, members of PGSC’s board, Coeur, and Hollywood Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”) have been named as defendants in six putative stockholder class action suits brought by purported stockholders of PGSC, challenging the proposed Merger (the “Complaints”). The Complaints were filed in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (Fernando Gamboa v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., et al., No.: 10499; Jerry Panning v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., et al., No.: 10507; Jonah Weiss v. Christopher Crupi, et al., No.: 10517; Justin Beaston v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corporation, et al., No.: 10538; Rob Byers v. Christopher Crupi, et al., No.: 10551; James H. Alston v. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp., et al., No.: 10531.

The plaintiffs generally claim that the PGSC board members breached their fiduciary duties to PGSC stockholders by: (i) authorizing the merger with Coeur for what the plaintiffs asserts is inadequate consideration and pursuant to an allegedly inadequate process, and (ii) failing to disclose sufficient information in its Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow the shareholders to make an informed vote. The plaintiffs also claim that the Company, PGSC, Coeur, and Merger Sub aided and abetted the other defendants’ alleged breach of duties. In the Complaints, the plaintiffs seek, among other things, to enjoin the merger, rescind the transaction or obtain rescissory damages if the merger is consummated, obtain other unspecified damages and recover attorneys’ fees and costs. The merger was consummated on April 17, 2015.

We, PGSC, members of PGSC board, Coeur, and Merger Sub deny any wrongdoing and are vigorously defending all of the actions.

It em 1A. Risk Factors.

We have no operating history as a separate public company, and our historical financial information is not necessarily indicative of our future prospects.

The historical information in this prospectus refers to our business as operated by and integrated with PGSC. Our historical financial information included in this prospectus is derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of PGSC. Therefore, the historical information included in this prospectus does not necessarily reflect the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows that we would have achieved as a separate publicly traded company or those that we will achieve in the future, primarily as a result of the following factors:

Prior to the separation, our assets were operated by PGSC, rather than as a separate company. PGSC or one of its affiliates performed various corporate functions for us and/or our assets, including tax administration, cash management, accounting, information services, human resources, ethics and compliance programs, real estate management, investor and public relations, certain governance functions (including internal audit) and external reporting. Our historical financial results reflect allocations of corporate expenses from PGSC for these and similar functions. These allocations may be less than the comparable expenses we would have incurred had we operated as a separate publicly traded company.

After the completion of the separation, the cost of capital for our business may be higher than PGSC’s cost of capital prior to the separation.

Other significant changes may occur in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations as a result of our operations as a company separate from PGSC managed by our board of directors.

If we fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be harmed. We

 

16


 

cannot be certain that our efforts to develop and maintain our internal controls will be successful, that we will be able to maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future or that we will be able to comply with our obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Any failure to develop or maintain effective internal controls, or difficulties encountered in implementing or improving our internal controls, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock.

We may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation.

We may not be able to achieve the full strategic and financial benefits expected to result from the separation, or such benefits may be delayed or not occur at all. These expected benefits include the following:

initial funding allows for the advancement of the Sleeper Gold Project, the main asset held by the Company;

the potential opportunity to acquire additional gold exploration assets in Nevada at a time when valuations are at historic lows;

a lower cost corporate structure focused on operating in the United States only that is expected to result from operating in what is generally considered to be one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world;

the risks of political instability in the United States are extremely low; and

potential joint venture partners interested in Nevada mining assets might be easier to identify.

We may not achieve the anticipated benefits for a variety of reasons, including potential loss of synergies (if any) from operating as one company, potential for increased costs, potential disruptions to the businesses as a result of the separation, risks of being unable to achieve the benefits expected to be achieved by the separation, risk that the plan of separation might not be completed, and both the one-time and ongoing costs of the separation. If we fail to achieve some or all of the benefits expected to result from the separation, or if such benefits are delayed, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to our Business Operations

It is possible investors may lose their entire investment in the Company.

Prospective investors should be aware that if we are not successful in our endeavors, your entire investment in the Company could become worthless. Even if we are successful in identifying mineral reserves that can be commercially developed, there can be no assurances that we will generate any revenues and therefore our losses will continue.

No revenue generated from operations.

We have not generated any revenues from operations. Our net loss for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 totaled $5,034,744. We have incurred losses in the past and we will likely continue to incur losses in the future. Even if our drilling programs identifies gold, silver or other mineral reserves, there can be no assurance that we will be able to commercially exploit these resources, generate any revenues or generate sufficient revenues to operate profitably.

We will require significant additional capital to continue our exploration activities, and, if warranted, to develop mining operations.

None of our projects currently have proven or probable reserves. Substantial expenditures will be required to determine if proven and probable mineral reserves exist at any of our properties, to develop metallurgical processes to extract metal, to develop the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure at any of our properties or mine sites and, in certain circumstances, to acquire additional property rights. We have spent and will be required to continue to expend significant amounts of capital for drilling, geological and geochemical analysis, assaying, and, when warranted, feasibility studies with regard to the results of our exploration. We may not benefit from these investments if we are unable to identify commercially exploitable mineralized material. If we decide to put one or more of our properties into production, we will require significant amounts of capital to develop and construct the mining and processing facilities and infrastructure required for mining operations. Our ability to obtain necessary funding for these purposes, in turn, depends upon a number of factors, including the status of the national and worldwide economy and the price of gold, silver and other precious metals. We may not be successful in obtaining the required financing, or if we can obtain such financing, such financing may not be on terms that are favorable to us. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of further exploration or development and the possible, partial or total loss of our potential interest in certain properties. Any such delay could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

17


 

We may acquire additional exploration stage properties, and we may face negative reactions if reserves are not located on acquired properties.

We may acquire additional exploration stage properties. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify and complete the acquisition of such properties at reasonable prices or on favorable terms or that reserves will be identified on any properties that we acquire. We may also experience negative reactions from the financial markets if we are unable to successfully complete acquisitions of additional properties or if reserves are not located on acquired properties. These factors may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock or our financial condition or results of operations.

Our industry is highly competitive, attractive mineral lands are scarce, and we may not be able to obtain quality properties.

We compete with many companies in the mining industry, including large, established mining companies with substantial capabilities, personnel and financial resources. There is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available for claim staking, lease or acquisition in the United States where we may conduct exploration activities. We may be at a competitive disadvantage in acquiring mineral properties because we compete with these individuals and companies, many of which have greater financial resources and larger technical staffs.

Title to mineral properties can be uncertain, and we are at risk of loss of ownership of one or more of our properties. Our ability to explore and operate our properties depends on the validity of our title to that property. Our mineral properties consist of leases of unpatented mining claims. Unpatented mining claims provide only possessory title and their validity is often subject to contest by third parties or the federal government, which makes the validity of unpatented mining claims uncertain and generally more risky. These uncertainties relate to such things as the sufficiency of mineral discovery, proper posting and marking of boundaries, assessment work and possible conflicts with other claims not determinable from public record. Since a substantial portion of all mineral exploration, development and mining in the United States now occurs on unpatented mining claims, this uncertainty is inherent in the mining industry. We have not obtained title opinions covering our entire property, with the attendant risk that title to some claims, particularly title to undeveloped property, may be defective. There may be valid challenges to the title to our property which, if successful, could impair development and/or operations.

There are no confirmed commercially mineable ore deposits on any properties from which we may derive any financial benefit.

Neither we nor PGSC, nor any independent geologist, has confirmed commercially mineable ore deposits on any of our properties. In order to carry out additional exploration programs of any potential ore body and to place it into commercial production, we will require substantial additional funding.

We have no mining operations and no history as a mining company.

We are an exploration stage mining company and have no ongoing mining operations of any kind. We have interests in mineral concessions and mining claims which may or may not lead to production.

We have no history of earnings or cash flow from mining operations. If we are able to proceed to production, commercial viability will be affected by factors that are beyond our control such as the particular attributes of the deposit, the fluctuation in metal prices, the cost of constructing and the operation of a mine, prices and refining facilities, the availability of economic sources for energy, government regulations including regulations relating to prices, royalties, restrictions on production, quotas on exploration of minerals, as well as the costs of protection of the environment.

If our exploration costs are higher than anticipated, then our profitability will be adversely affected.

We are currently proceeding with plans to explore our mineral properties on the basis of estimated exploration costs. If our exploration costs are greater than anticipated, then we will have fewer capital resources for other expenses. Factors that could cause exploration costs to increase include adverse weather conditions, difficult terrain, increased government regulation and shortages of qualified personnel.

Assuming no adverse developments outside of the ordinary course of business, our exploration budget following the completion of the spin-off will be approximately $1.4 million for the next twelve months. Exploration will be funded by our available cash reserves and future issuances of common stock, warrants or units. Our drilling program may vary significantly from what we have budgeted depending upon drilling results. Even if we identify mineral reserves which have the potential to be commercially developed, we will not generate revenues until such time as we undertake mining operations. Mining operations will involve a significant capital infusion. Mining costs are speculative and dependent on a number of factors including mining depth, terrain and necessary equipment. We do

 

18


 

not believe that we will have sufficient funds to implement mining operations without a joint venture partner, of which there can be no assurance.

Our continuing reclamation obligations at the Sleeper Gold Project could require significant additional expenditures.

We are responsible for the reclamation obligations related to disturbances located on all of our properties, including the Sleeper Gold Project. We have posted a bond in the amount of the estimated reclamation obligation at the Sleeper Gold Project. Every three years, we are required to submit a mine closure plan to the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) for the Sleeper Gold Project. Based on a review by the BLM of our mine closure that PGSC submitted in June 2013, the BLM determined that our existing bond was sufficient. There is a risk that any cash bond, even if increased based on the analysis and work performed to update the reclamation obligations, could be inadequate to cover the actual costs of reclamation when carried out. The satisfaction of bonding requirements and continuing reclamation obligations will require a significant amount of capital. There is a risk that we will be unable to fund these additional bonding requirements, and further, that the regulatory authorities may increase reclamation and bonding requirements to such a degree that it would not be commercially reasonable to continue exploration activities, which may adversely affect our results of operations, financial performance and cash flows.

Mining operations are hazardous, raise environmental concerns and raise insurance risks.

The development and operation of a mine or mineral property involves many risks, which even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome. These risks include, among other things, ground fall, flooding, environmental hazards and the discharge of toxic chemicals, explosions and other accidents. Such occurrences may result in work stoppages, delays in production, increased production costs, damage to or destruction of mines and other producing facilities, injury or loss of life, damage to property, environmental damage and possible legal liability for such damages as well. Although the Company maintains liability coverage in an amount which it considers adequate for its operations, such occurrences, against which the Company may not be able, or may elect not to insure, may result in a material adverse change in the Company’s financial position. The nature of these risks is such that liabilities may exceed policy limits, in which event the Company would incur substantial uninsured losses.

There may be insufficient mineral reserves to develop any of our properties, and our estimates may be inaccurate.

There is no certainty that any expenditures made in the exploration of any properties will result in discoveries of commercially recoverable quantities of ore. Most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable deposits of ore and no assurance can be given that any particular level of recovery of precious metals from discovered mineralization will in fact be realized or that any identified mineral deposit will ever qualify as a commercially mineable ore body which can be legally and economically exploited. Estimates of reserves, mineral deposits and production costs can also be affected by such factors as environmental regulations and requirements, weather, environmental factors, unforeseen technical difficulties, unusual or unexpected geological formations and work interruptions. In addition, the grade of ore ultimately mined may differ from that indicated by drilling results. Short term factors relating to reserves, such as the need for orderly development of ore bodies or the processing of new or different grades, may also have an adverse effect on mining operations and on the results of operations. There can be no assurance that precious metals recovered in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in large scale tests under on-site production conditions. Material changes in estimated reserves, grades, stripping ratios or recovery rates may affect the economic viability of any project.

We have no proven reserves.

All of our properties are in the exploration stages only and are without known bodies of commercial ore. Development of these properties will follow only upon obtaining satisfactory exploration results. The long-term profitability of the Company’s operations will be in part directly related to the cost and success of its exploration and development programs. Mineral exploration and development are highly speculative businesses, involving a high degree of risk. Few properties which are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. There is no assurance that our mineral exploration and development activities will result in any discoveries of commercial quantities of ore. There is also no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of ore are discovered, a mineral property will be brought into commercial production. Discovery of mineral deposits is dependent upon a number of factors, not the least of which is the technical skill of the exploration personnel involved. The commercial viability of a mineral deposit once discovered is also dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, such as the particular attributes of the deposit (such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure), metal prices and government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals, and environmental protection.

In the course of exploration, development, and mining of mineral properties, certain unanticipated conditions may arise or unexpected or unusual events may occur, including rock bursts, cave-ins, fires, floods, or earthquakes. It is not always possible to fully insure against such risks and we may decide not to take out insurance against such risks as a result of high premiums or for other reasons.

 

19


 

Should such liabilities arise, they may reduce or eliminate any future profitability and may result in a decline in the value of the securities of the Company.

We face fluctuating gold and mineral prices.

The value of any mineral reserves we develop, and consequently the value of our common stock, depends significantly on the value of such minerals. The price of gold and silver as well as other precious and base metals have experienced volatile and significant price movements over short periods of time and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, interest rates, global or regional consumption patterns, speculative activities and increases in production due to improved mining and production methods. The supply of and demand for gold and silver, as well as other precious and base metals, are affected by various factors, including political events, economic conditions and production costs in major mineral producing regions.

Our estimates of mineralized material and other mineral resources are subject to uncertainty.

Estimates of mineralized material and other mineral resources are subject to considerable uncertainty. Such estimates are arrived at using standard acceptable geological techniques, and are based on the interpretations of geological data obtained from drill holes and other sampling techniques. Engineers use feasibility studies to derive estimates of cash operating costs based on anticipated tonnage and grades of ore to be mined and processed, the predicted configuration of the ore bodies, expected recovery rates of metal from ore, comparable facility and operating costs and other factors. Actual cash operating costs and economic returns on projects may differ significantly from the original estimates, primarily due to fluctuations in the current prices of metal commodities extracted from the deposits, changes in fuel costs, labor rates, changes in permit requirements, and unforeseen variations in the characteristics of the ore body. Due to the presence of these factors, there is no assurance that any geological reports will accurately reflect actual quantities of gold, silver or other metals that can be economically processed and mined by us.

If we are unable to obtain all of our required governmental permits, our operations could be negatively impacted.

Our future operations, including exploration and development activities, required permits from various governmental authorities. Such operations are and will be governed by laws and regulations governing prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, mine safety and other matters. There can be no assurance that we will be able to acquire all required licenses or permits or to maintain continued operations at our properties.

We are subject to numerous environmental and other regulatory requirements.

All phases of mining and exploration operations are subject to governmental regulation including environmental regulation. Environmental legislation is becoming stricter, with increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and heightened responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. There can be no assurance that possible future changes in environmental regulation will not adversely affect our operations. As well, environmental hazards may exist on a property in which we hold an interest that was caused by previous or existing owners or operators of the properties and of which the Company is not aware at present.

Government approvals and permits are required to be maintained in connection with our mining and exploration activities. Although we believe we currently have all required permits for our operations as currently conducted, there is no assurance that delays will not occur in connection with obtaining all necessary renewals of such permits for the existing operations or additional permits for any possible future changes to the Company’s operations, including any proposed capital improvement programs. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions. Parties engaged in mining operations may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of the mining activities and may be liable for civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations. Amendments to current laws, regulations and permitting requirements, or more stringent application of existing laws, may have a material adverse impact on the Company resulting in increased capital expenditures or production costs, reduced levels of production at producing properties or abandonment or delays in development of properties.

 

20


 

There is no assurance that there will not be title or boundary disputes.

Although we have investigated the right to explore and exploit our properties and obtained records from government offices with respect to all of the mineral claims comprising our properties, this should not be construed as a guarantee of title. Other parties may dispute the title to any of our properties or any property may be subject to prior unregistered agreements and transfers or land claims by aboriginal, native, or indigenous peoples. The title may be affected by undetected encumbrances or defects or governmental actions.

Local infrastructure may impact our exploration activities and results of operations.

Mining, processing, development and exploration activities depend, to one degree or another, on adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power and water supplies are important determinants that affect capital and operating costs. Unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, sabotage or government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect our activities and profitability.

Because of the speculative nature of exploration for gold and silver properties, there is substantial risk that our business will fail.

The search for precious metals as a business is extremely risky. We cannot provide any assurances that the gold or silver mining interests that we acquired will contain commercially exploitable reserves of gold or silver. Exploration for minerals is a speculative venture necessarily involving substantial risk. Any expenditure that we make may not result in the discovery of commercially exploitable reserves of precious metals.

The precious metals markets are volatile markets. This will have a direct impact on our revenues (if any) and profits (if any) and will probably have an adverse effect on our ongoing operations.

The price of both gold and silver has fluctuated significantly over the past few years. Despite a recent significant decline in the price of gold, there continues to be interest in gold and silver mining and companies engaged in that business, including the exploration for both gold and silver. However, in the event that the price of these metals continues to fall, the interest in the gold and silver mining industry may decline and the value of our business could be adversely affected. Even if we are able to generate revenues, there can be no assurance that any of our operations will prove to be profitable. Finally, in recent decades, there have been periods of both overproduction and underproduction of both gold and silver resources. Such conditions have resulted in periods of excess supply of and reduced demand on a worldwide basis and on a domestic basis. These periods have been followed by periods of short supply of and increased demand for both gold and silver. The excess or short supply of gold has placed pressure on prices and has resulted in dramatic price fluctuations even during relatively short periods of seasonal market demand. We cannot predict what the market for gold or silver will be in the future.

Government regulation or changes in such regulation may adversely affect our business.

We have and will in the future engage experts to assist us with respect to our operations. We deal with various regulatory and governmental agencies and the rules and regulations of such agencies. No assurances can be given that we will be successful in our efforts or dealings with these agencies. Further, in order for us to operate and grow our business, we need to continually conform to the laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate. It is possible that the legal and regulatory environment pertaining to the exploration and development of precious metals mining properties will change. Uncertainty and new regulations and rules could increase our cost of doing business or prevent us from conducting our business.

We are in competition with companies that are larger, more established and better capitalized than we are.

Many of our potential competitors have greater financial and technical resources, as well as longer operating histories and greater experience in mining.

Exploration for economic deposits of minerals is speculative.

The business of mineral exploration is very speculative, since there is generally no way to recover any of the funds expended on exploration unless the existence of mineable reserves can be established. We can exploit those reserves by either commencing mining operations, selling or leasing our interest in the property or entering into a joint venture with a larger resource company that can further develop the property to the production stage. Unless we can establish and exploit reserves before our funds are exhausted, we will have to discontinue operations, which could make our stock valueless.

 

21


 

The loss of key members of our senior management team could adversely affect the execution of our business strategy and our financial results.

We believe that the successful execution of our business strategy and our ability to move beyond the exploratory stages depends on the continued employment of key members of our senior management team. If any members of our senior management team become unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, our financial results and our business could be materially adversely affected.

We operate in a regulated industry and changes in regulations or violations of regulations may result in increased costs or sanctions that could reduce our revenues.

Our organization is subject to extensive and complex foreign, federal and state laws and regulations. If we fail to comply with the laws and regulations that are directly applicable to our business, we could suffer civil and/or criminal penalties or be subject to injunctions or cease and desist orders. While we believe that we are currently compliant with applicable rules and regulations, if there are changes in the future, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply in the future, or that future compliance will not significantly adversely impact our operations.

We rely on independent analysis to analyze our drilling results and planned exploration activities.

We rely on independent geologists to analyze our drilling results and to prepare resource reports on several of our mining concessions. While these geologists rely on standards established by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and other standards established by various licensing bodies, there can be no assurance that their estimates or results will be accurate. Analyzing drilling results and estimating reserves or targeted drilling sites is not a certainty. Miscalculations and unanticipated drilling results may cause the geologists to alter their estimates. If this should happen, we would have devoted resources to areas where resources could have been better allocated.

We are an “emerging growth company”, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

As an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make our financial statements not comparable with those of another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive if we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

The JOBS Act allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies.

We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards under Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.

 

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Risks Related to Our Common Stock

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.

We have never declared or paid any dividends on our common stock. We intend to retain all of our earnings, if any, for the foreseeable future to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our common stock if the market price of our common stock increases. Our board of directors retains discretion to change this policy.

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

During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the Company did not issue any unregistered shares of common stock. As previously disclosed in the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed April 17, 2015, in connection with the consummation of the merger of PGSC and Coeur, the Company issued 417,420 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to Coeur in exchange for a cash payment by Coeur in the amount of $1.47 million.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

Item 5. Other Information.

(a) The registrant must disclose under this item any information required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the period covered by this Form 10-Q, but not reported, whether or not otherwise required by this Form 10-Q. If disclosure of such information is made under this item, it need not be repeated in a report on Form 8-K which would otherwise be required to be filed with respect to such information or in a subsequent report on Form 10-Q; and

(b) Furnish the information required by Item 407(c)(3) of Regulation S-K (§229.407 of this chapter).

Item 6. Exhibits.

Furnish the exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.601 of this chapter).

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

3.1*

 

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

3.2*

 

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws

10.1*

 

Form of 2015 Stock Incentive and Equity Compensation Plan of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.

31.1*

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1*

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2*

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS*

 

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

* Filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

23


 

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

 

Company Name

 

 

 

 

Date: May 22, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Glen Van Treek

 

 

 

Glen Van Treek

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

 

Date: May 22, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Carlo Buffone

 

 

 

Carlo Buffone

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

24


 

Exibit_index Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

31.1*

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1*

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2*

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS*

 

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

*

Filed herewith.

 

 

 

25

 

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Pursuant to the provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes 78.390 and 78.403, the undersigned officer of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp., a Nevada corporation, does hereby certify as follows:

A. The board of directors of the corporation has duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the articles of incorporation of the corporation as set forth below, declaring such amendment and restatement to be advisable and in the best interests of the corporation.

B. The amendment and restatement of the articles of incorporation as set forth below has been approved by a majority of the voting power of the stockholders of the corporation, which is sufficient for approval thereof.

C. This certificate sets forth the text of the articles of incorporation of the corporation as amended and restated in their entirety to this date as follows:

AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the corporation is Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (the “ Corporation ”).

ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE

The Corporation may, from time to time, in the manner provided by law, change the registered agent and registered office within the State of Nevada. The Corporation may also maintain an office or offices for the conduct of its business, either within or without the State of Nevada.

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE

The Corporation is formed for the purpose of engaging in any lawful activity for which corporations may be organized under the laws of the State of Nevada.

ARTICLE IV
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

Section 1. Authorized Capital Stock . The Corporation shall have the authority to issue an aggregate fifty million (50,000,000) shares of capital stock, par value $0.01 per share, consisting of fifty million (50,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”). Common Stock may be issued from time to time by the Corporation for such consideration as shall be determined by the board of directors of the Corporation. The capital stock of the Corporation, after the consideration therefor has been fully paid, shall not be assessable for any purpose, and no stock issued as fully paid shall ever be assessable or assessed, and these Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (as the same may be further amended from time to time, the “ Articles of Incorporation ”) shall not be amended in this particular. No stockholder of the Corporation shall be individually liable for the debts or liabilities of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the Articles of Incorporation may be amended, in accordance with NRS 78.390, to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of Common Stock (but no such decrease shall reduce the number of authorized shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock below the number of shares of such class or series then outstanding) with the approval a majority of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, and without any separate vote by the holders of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock, irrespective of the provisions of NRS 78.1955(2) (or any successor provision thereto).

 

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Section 2. Common Stock . Except as otherwise provided by the Nevada Revised Statutes (as amended from time to time, the “ NRS ”), a record holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock. No holder of Common Stock shall have the right to cumulate votes. The holders of Common Stock shall not have any conversion, redemption or preemptive rights. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation or the NRS, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors of the Corporation out of assets legally available therefor. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held.

ARTICLE V
DIRECTORS

Section 1. Board of Directors; Number of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors. Except as otherwise fixed or provided for pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the Total Number of Directors (as defined in Article XI ) shall be determined from time to time, within the fixed minimum and maximum established in the bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time, the “ Bylaws ”), exclusively by resolution adopted by the board of directors. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws.

Section 2. Vacancies . Any newly-created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the board of directors (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, disability, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

Section 3. Removal . Any or all of the directors may be removed from office by the vote of stockholders representing not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class.

ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

Section 1. Annual Meetings of Stockholders . An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the board of directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof.

Section 2. Special Meetings of Stockholders . Except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose(s) may be called at any time only by or at the direction of (a) the board of directors of the Corporation, (b) the chairman of the board of directors or (c) two or more directors.

Section 3. Stockholder Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly noticed and called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be undertaken or effected by written consent. In no instance where action is duly and properly authorized by written consent need a meeting of stockholders be called or, unless otherwise required by applicable law, notice given.

ARTICLE VII
COMPETITION AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

Section 1. Purposes . The provisions of this Article are set forth (a) to regulate and define (i) the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as may involve members of the board of directors of the Corporation who are not employees of the Corporation (“ Non-Employee Directors ”) and their respective Affiliates (as defined in Article XI ), and (ii) the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection with such affairs and such classes or categories of opportunities, and (b) in recognition and anticipation that certain directors, principals, officers, and employees may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation may now or in the future

 

2


 

engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage.

Section 2. Renunciation of Certain Corporate Opportunities . To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the Non-Employee Directors and their respective Affiliates (collectively, the “ Identified Persons ”) shall have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (a) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (b) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any of such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, and the right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article. Subject to Section 3 of this Article, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for such Identified Person and for the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for such Identified Person, or offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person.

Section 3. Limitations . The Corporation does not renounce its interest in, and Section 2 of this Article shall not apply to, any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such individual solely in his or her capacity as a director of the Corporation. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, a transaction or business opportunity shall not be deemed to be a “corporate opportunity” for the Corporation if it is a transaction or opportunity that (a) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted, to undertake; (b) by its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation; or (c) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

Section 1. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation . The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the NRS; provided that:

(a) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Articles of Incorporation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section), in addition to any vote required by applicable law, none of the following provisions of the Articles of Incorporation may be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part (and no provision inconsistent therewith or contrary thereto may be adopted), except with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: Article V , Article VI , Article VII , this Article VIII , Article IX , Article X and Article XI ; and

(b) the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section shall not apply to any amendment or restatement of the Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, pursuant to articles of merger, conversion or exchange) to be effected pursuant to, or to be effective upon or after the consummation of, a merger, conversion or exchange to which the Corporation is a constituent entity, in each case which has been otherwise duly authorized and approved by the board of directors and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the NRS and other applicable law.

Section 2. Amendments to Bylaws . The board of directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Nevada or the Articles of Incorporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith or contrary thereto.

 

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ARTICLE IX
INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN NEVADA STATUTES

Section 1. Inapplicability of Combinations with Interested Stockholders Statutes . At such time, if any, as the Corporation becomes a “resident domestic corporation” (as that term is defined in NRS 78.427), the Corporation shall not be subject to, or governed by, any of the provisions in NRS 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, as amended from time to time, or any successor statutes.

Section 2. Inapplicability of Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statutes . In accordance with the provisions of NRS 78.378, the provisions of NRS 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, as amended from time to time, or any successor statutes, relating to acquisitions of controlling interests in the Corporation, shall not apply to the Corporation or to any acquisition of any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. Indemnification Against Claims of Third Parties . The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be  made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, advisory director, member of a committee appointed by the directors of the Corporation, or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if it is determined as provided in Section 3 of this Article that he:

(a) Is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or

(b) Acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the person is liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or that, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

Section 2. Indemnification Against Derivative Claims . The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, advisory director, member of a committee appointed by the directors of the Corporation, or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if it is determined as provided in this Article, that he:

(a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or

(b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.

Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the Corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

Section 3. Indemnification in Respect of Successful Defenses . To the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 and Section 2 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified by the Corporation against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense.

 

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Section 4. Determination of Propriety of Indemnification . Any indemnification under Section 1 and Section 2 of this Article, unless ordered by a court or advanced by pursuant to Section 5 of this Article, may be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances.  The determination may be made:

(a) By the stockholders;

(b) By the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding;

(c) If a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or

(d) If a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

Section 5. Advance Payments . Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the Corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer, to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  The provisions of this subsection do not affect any rights to advancement of expenses to which corporate personnel other than directors or officers may be entitled under any contract or otherwise by law.

Section 6. Insurance . The Corporation may, but is not required to, purchase and maintain insurance in such  amounts and providing coverage on such terms as shall be reasonable to the Corporation on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article.

Section 7. Miscellaneous . The indemnification provided by this Article:

(a) Does not exclude any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the certificate or articles of incorporation or any agreement, vote of stockholder(s), or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in his official capacity or an action  in another capacity while holding his office, except that indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section 2 or for the advancement of expenses made pursuant to Section 5 , may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a final adjudication establishes that his acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and was material to the cause of action; and

(b) Continues for a person who has ceased to be a director, advisory director, member of a committee appointed by the directors of the Corporation, or officer and inures to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS; CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

Section 1. Mandatory Forum . To the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Sixth Judicial District Court of Northern Nevada shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the name or right of the Corporation or on its behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action arising or asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of NRS Chapters 78 or 92A or any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, (d) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or (e) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

Section 2. Severability . If any provision or provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision(s) in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of the Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of the Articles of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any

 

5


 

paragraph of the Articles of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed (i) so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or (ii) for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 3. Determination of Beneficial Ownership . For all purposes under the Articles of Incorporation, beneficial ownership of the Corporation’s capital stock shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”).

Section 4. Deemed Notice and Consent . To the fullest extent permitted by law, each and every Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest (of any nature whatsoever) in any shares of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed, by reason of and from and after the time of such purchase or other acquisition, to have notice of and to have consented to all of the provisions of (a) the Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, Article VII , Section 1 of this Article and this Section 4 ), (b) the Bylaws and (c) any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws enacted or adopted in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law.

Section 5. Certain Defined Terms . As used in these Articles of Incorporation, the following capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

(a) “ Affiliate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(b) “ Control ” (including its correlative forms, “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

(c) “ Person ” shall mean any natural person, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

(d) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which: (i) if a corporation, a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of such corporation entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, representatives or trustees thereof is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof; or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the voting power of the equity interests of the limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or Control the managing member, manager, managing director or other governing body or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

(e) “ Total Number of Directors ” shall mean, at any time, the total number of authorized directors then comprising the entire board of directors of the Corporation.

(f) “ Transfer ” (and its correlative forms, “ Transferor ”, “ Transferee ” and “ Transferred ”) shall mean, with respect to any security, directly or indirectly, to sell, contract to sell, give, assign, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant a security interest in, offer, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of any economic, voting or other rights in or to such security. When used as a noun, “ Transfer ” shall have such correlative meaning as the context may require.

* * * *


 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. as of February 19, 2015.

 

 

 

/s/ Carlo Buffone

 

 

Name: Carlo Buffone

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

7

 

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

of

PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

(a Nevada corporation)

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

Section 1.1 Principal Office . The principal office and place of business of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “ Corporation ”), shall be established from time to time by resolution of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”).

Section 1.2 Other Offices . Other offices and places of business either within or without the State of Nevada may be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors or as the business of the Corporation may require. The street address of the Corporation’s registered agent is the registered office of the Corporation in Nevada.

ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS

Section 2.1 Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any other business may be transacted as may be properly brought before the meeting pursuant to these Amended and Restated Bylaws (as further amended from time to time, these “ Bylaws ”). Except as otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (as further amended from time to time, the “ Articles of Incorporation ”) or applicable law, the Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.2 Special Meetings .

(a) Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Articles of Incorporation. Stockholders shall have no right to request or call a special meeting except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation. Except as otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or applicable law, the Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the Board of Directors.

(b) No business shall be acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders except as set forth in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2.3 Place of Meetings . Any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be held at the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Nevada or at such other place in or out of the State of Nevada and the United States as may be designated in the notice of meeting. A waiver of notice signed by all stockholders entitled to vote thereat may designate any place for the holding of such meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any meeting of the stockholders shall be held solely by means of electronic communications or other available technology in accordance with Section 2.14 .

Section 2.4 Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice .

(a) The chief executive officer, if any, the president, any vice president, the secretary, an assistant secretary or any other individual designated by the Board of Directors shall sign and deliver or cause to be delivered to the stockholders written notice of any stockholders’ meeting not less than ten (10) days, but not more than sixty (60) days, before the date of such meeting. The notice shall state the place, date and time of the meeting, the means of electronic communication, if any, by which the stockholders or the proxies thereof shall be deemed to be present and vote and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. The notice shall be delivered in accordance with, and shall contain or be accompanied by such additional information as may be required by, the Nevada Revised Statutes (as amended from time to time, the “ NRS ”), including, without limitation, NRS 78.379, 92A.120 or 92A.410.

(b) In the case of an annual meeting, subject to Section 2.13 , any proper business may be presented for action, except that (i) if a proposed plan of merger, conversion or exchange is submitted to a vote, the notice of the meeting must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger, conversion or exchange and must contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan; and (ii) if a proposed action creating dissenter’s rights is to be submitted to a vote, the notice of the

 

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meeting must state that the stockholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenter’s rights under NRS 92A.300 to 92A.500, inclusive, and be accompanied by a copy of those sections.

(c) A copy of the notice shall be personally delivered or mailed postage prepaid to each stockholder of record at the address appearing on the records of the Corporation. Upon mailing, service of the notice is complete, and the time of the notice begins to run from the date upon which the notice is deposited in the mail. If the address of any stockholder does not appear upon the records of the Corporation or is incomplete, it will be sufficient to address any notice to such stockholder at the registered office of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing and in addition thereto, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation pursuant to Chapters 78 or 92A of the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws may be given pursuant to the forms of electronic transmission listed herein, if such forms of transmission are consented to in writing by the stockholder receiving such electronically transmitted notice and such consent is filed by the secretary in the corporate records. Notice shall be deemed given (i) by facsimile when directed to a number consented to by the stockholder to receive notice, (ii) by e-mail when directed to an e-mail address consented to by the stockholder to receive notice, (iii) by posting on an electronic network together with a separate notice to the stockholder of the specific posting on the later of the specific posting or the giving of the separate notice or (iv) by any other electronic transmission as consented to by and when directed to the stockholder. The stockholder consent necessary to permit electronic transmission to such stockholder shall be deemed revoked and of no force and effect if (A) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with the stockholder’s consent and (B) the inability to deliver by electronic transmission becomes known to the secretary, assistant secretary, transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation responsible for the giving of notice.

(d) The written certificate of an individual signing a notice of meeting, setting forth the substance of the notice or having a copy thereof attached thereto, the date the notice was mailed or personally delivered to the stockholders and the addresses to which the notice was mailed, shall be prima facie evidence of the manner and fact of giving such notice and, in the absence of fraud, an affidavit of the individual signing a notice of a meeting that the notice thereof has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the affidavit.

(e) Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting by a signed writing or by transmission of an electronic record, either before or after the meeting. Such waiver of notice shall be deemed the equivalent of the giving of such notice.

Section 2.5 Determination of Stockholders of Record .

(a) For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to (i) notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, (ii) receive payment of any distribution or the allotment of any rights, or (iii) exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, if applicable.

(b) If stockholder action by written consent is permitted under the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution prescribing a date upon which the stockholders of record entitled to give written consent must be determined. The date set by the Board of Directors must not precede or be more than ten (10) days after the date the resolution setting such date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors does not adopt a resolution setting a date upon which the stockholders of record entitled to give written consent must be determined, and:

(i) no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the NRS, then the date shall be the first date on which a valid written consent is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws; or

(ii) prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the NRS, then the date shall be the close of business on the date that the Board of Directors adopts the resolution.

(c) If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders: (i) entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (ii) for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall apply to any postponement of any meeting of stockholders to a date not more than sixty (60) days after the record date or to any adjournment of the meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting and must fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than sixty (60) days later than the date set for the original meeting.

 

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Section 2.6 Quorum; Adjourned Meetings .

(a) Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide for a different proportion, stockholders holding at least a one-third of the voting power of the Corporation’s capital stock, represented in person or by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on all matters), are necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting. If, on any issue, voting by classes or series is required by the laws of the State of Nevada, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at least a majority of the voting power, represented in person or by proxy (regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on all matters), within each such class or series is necessary to constitute a quorum of each such class or series.

(b) If a quorum is not represented, a majority of the voting power represented or the person presiding at the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be represented, any business may be transacted which might otherwise have been transacted at the adjourned meeting as originally called. When a stockholders’ meeting is adjourned to another time or place hereunder, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. However, if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to each stockholder of record as of the new record date. The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the departure of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum of the voting power.

Section 2.7 Voting .

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation, or any resolution providing for the issuance of preferred stock adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to authority expressly vested in it by the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, each stockholder of record, or such stockholder’s duly authorized proxy, shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of voting stock standing registered in such stockholder’s name at the close of business on the record date or the date established by the Board of Directors in connection with stockholder action by written consent, as applicable.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all votes with respect to shares (including pledged shares) standing in the name of an individual at the close of business on the record date, or the date established by the Board of Directors in connection with stockholder action by written consent, as applicable, shall be cast only by that individual or such individual’s duly authorized proxy. With respect to shares held by a representative of the estate of a deceased stockholder, or a guardian, conservator, custodian or trustee, even though the shares do not stand in the name of such holder, votes may be cast by such holder upon proof of such representative capacity. In the case of shares under the control of a receiver, the receiver may vote such shares even though the shares do not stand of record in the name of the receiver but only if and to the extent that the order of a court of competent jurisdiction which appoints the receiver contains the authority to vote such shares. If shares stand of record in the name of a minor, votes may be cast by the duly appointed guardian of the estate of such minor only if such guardian has provided the Corporation with written proof of such appointment.

(c) With respect to shares standing of record in the name of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity on the record date, votes may be cast: (i) in the case of a corporation, by such individual as the bylaws of such other corporation prescribe, by such individual as may be appointed by resolution of the board of directors of such other corporation or by such individual (including, without limitation, the officer making the authorization) authorized in writing to do so by the chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, the president or any vice president of such corporation; and (ii) in the case of a partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity, by an individual representing such stockholder upon presentation to the Corporation of satisfactory evidence of his or her authority to do so.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein and except for the Corporation’s shares held in a fiduciary capacity, the Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned or held by it, and such shares shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to vote.

(e) Any holder of shares entitled to vote on any matter may cast a portion of the votes in favor of such matter and refrain from casting the remaining votes or cast the same against the proposal, except in the case of elections of directors. If such holder entitled to vote does vote any of such stockholder’s shares affirmatively and fails to specify the number of affirmative votes, it will be conclusively presumed that the holder is casting affirmative votes with respect to all shares held.

 

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(f) With respect to shares standing of record in the name of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, spouses as community property, tenants by the entirety, voting trustees or otherwise and shares held by two or more persons (including proxy holders) having the same fiduciary relationship in respect to the same shares, votes may be cast in the following manner:

(i) If only one person votes, the vote of such person binds all.

(ii) If more than one person casts votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all.

(iii) If more than one person casts votes, but the vote is evenly split on a particular matter, the votes shall be deemed cast proportionately, as split.

(g) If a quorum is present, unless the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the NRS or other applicable law provide for a different proportion, action by the stockholders entitled to vote on a matter, other than the election of directors, is approved by and is the act of the stockholders if the number of votes cast in favor of the action exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the action, unless voting by classes or series is required for any action of the stockholders by the laws of the State of Nevada, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in which case the number of votes cast in favor of the action by the voting power of each such class or series must exceed the number of votes cast in opposition to the action by the voting power of each such class or series.

(h) If a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Section 2.8 Proxies . At any meeting of stockholders, any holder of shares entitled to vote may designate, in a manner permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, another person or persons to act as a proxy or proxies. If a stockholder designates two or more persons to act as proxies, then a majority of those persons present at a meeting has and may exercise all of the powers conferred by the stockholder or, if only one is present, then that one has and may exercise all of the powers conferred by the stockholder, unless the stockholder’s designation of proxy provides otherwise. Every proxy shall continue in full force and effect until its expiration or revocation in a manner permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada.

Section 2.9 No Action Without A Meeting . Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation: (a) no action shall be taken by the stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called and noticed in the manner required by these Bylaws, and (b) the stockholders may not in any circumstance take action by written consent.

Section 2.10 Organization .

(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairman of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors, by the vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or if there be no vice chairman or in the absence of the vice chairman, by the chief executive officer, if any, or if there be no chief executive officer or in the absence of the chief executive officer, by the president, or, in the absence of the president, or, in the absence of any of the foregoing persons, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or by a chairman chosen at the meeting by the stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all stockholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast. The person acting as chairman of the meeting may delegate any or all of his or her authority and responsibilities as such to any director or officer of the Corporation present in person at the meeting. The secretary, or in the absence of the secretary an assistant secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the secretary and any assistant secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (i) the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, (ii) limitation on participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall permit, (iii) limitation on the time allotted for consideration of each agenda item and for questions or comments by meeting participants, (iv) restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof and (v) the opening and closing of the voting polls. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting, in his or her discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

(b) The chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors of elections. The inspector or inspectors may (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; (ii) determine the number of shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies or ballots; (iii) count all votes and ballots; (iv) determine any challenges made to any determination made by the inspector(s); and (v) certify the determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and the count of all votes and ballots.

 

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(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(f) , only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.12 shall be eligible to be elected at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.12 . If any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with Section 2.12 (including, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(f) , proper notice under Section 2.13 and including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in compliance with such stockholder’s representation pursuant to clause (a)(iv)(D) of Section 2.13 ), then, unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. If the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.10 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered to the Corporation prior to the making of such nomination or proposal at such meeting by such stockholder stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.11 Consent to Meetings . Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called, noticed or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice, to the extent such notice is required, if such objection is expressly made at the time any such matters are presented at the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or consent, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

Section 2.12 Director Nominations and Business Conducted at Meetings of Stockholders .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the chairman of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote on such matter at the meeting and who (A) except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(f) , has complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.13 and (B) was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the chairman of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote on such matter at the meeting and who (A) except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(f) , has complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.13 and (B) was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the secretary of the Corporation.

 

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Section 2.13 Advance Notice of Director Nominations and Stockholder Proposals by Stockholders .

(a) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder and for nominations to be properly brought before a special meeting by a stockholder in each case pursuant to Section 2.12 , the stockholder of record must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than nominations, such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting after the IPO Date (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation), shall be, 2013); provided that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 70 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement (as defined below) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. The notice must be provided by a stockholder of record and must set forth:

(i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;

(ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the business is proposed: (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the name and address of such beneficial owner, (B) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record by the stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the record date for the meeting, and (C) a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination or business;

(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice or, if the notice is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or the business is proposed, as to such beneficial owner, and if such stockholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such person, a “ control person ”): (A) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned (as defined below) by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the record date for the meeting, (B) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such stockholder or beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the stockholder, beneficial owner or control person) and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person or any other person acting in concert with any of the foregoing, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class of the Corporation’s stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the stockholder or beneficial owner with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five business days after the record date for such meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting, (D) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, and any control person will engage in a solicitation with respect to the nomination or business and, if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such

 

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solicitation and whether such person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the business to be proposed (in person or by proxy) by the stockholder; and

(v) a certification that the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made or the business is proposed, has or have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with such stockholder’s and/or each such beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or such stockholder’s and/or each such beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation, including, without limitation, in connection with such nomination or proposal.

(b) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination whether such proposed nominee can be considered an independent director.

(c) For purposes of Section 2.13(a) , a “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of clause (a)(iv)(A) of this Section 2.13 , shares shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (i) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (ii) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others and/or (iii) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.

(d) This Section 2.13 shall not apply to notice of a proposal to be made by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present the proposal at an annual or special meeting only pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such meeting.

(e) If the stockholder does not provide the information required under clause (a)(iii)(B) and clause (a)(iv)(A)-(C) of this Section 2.13 to the Corporation within the time frames specified herein, or if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether notice of a nomination or of any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was properly made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.13 . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein.

Section 2.14 Meetings Through Electronic Communications. Stockholders may participate in a meeting of the stockholders by any means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology permitted under the NRS (including, without limitation, a telephone conference or similar method of communication by which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other). If any such means are utilized, the Corporation shall, to the extent required under the NRS, implement reasonable measures to (a) verify the identity of each person participating through such means as a stockholder and (b) provide the stockholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to communicate, and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting in a substantially concurrent manner with such proceedings. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.14 constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

Section 3.1 General Powers; Performance of Duties . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 78 of the NRS or the Articles of Incorporation.

Section 3.2 Number, Tenure, and Qualifications . Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall consist of at least three (3) individuals and not more than fifteen (15) individuals, with the number of directors within the foregoing fixed minimum and maximum established and changed from time to time as provided in, and in accordance with, the Articles of Incorporation. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, retirement, disqualification, resignation or removal. No reduction of the number of directors shall have the

 

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effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his or her term of office. No provision of this Section 3.2 shall restrict the right of the Board of Directors (or, to the extent permitted under the Articles of Incorporation, the stockholders) to fill vacancies or the right of the stockholders to remove directors, each as provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

Section 3.3 Chairman of the Board . The Board of Directors shall elect a chairman of the Board of Directors from the members of the Board of Directors, who shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders at which he or she shall be present and shall have and may exercise such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws or as provided by law.

Section 3.4 Vice Chairman of the Board . The Board of Directors may elect a vice chairman of the Board of Directors from the members of the Board of Directors who shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders at which he or she shall be present and the chairman is not present and shall have and may exercise such powers as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws or as provided by law.

Section 3.5 Classification and Elections . The directors shall be classified as provided in the Articles of Incorporation and shall be elected in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and the NRS.

Section 3.6 Removal and Resignation of Directors . Any director may be removed from such position as provided in, and in accordance with, the Articles of Incorporation and the NRS. Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice, unless the notice specifies a later time for effectiveness of such resignation, to the chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the president or the secretary, or in the absence of all of them, any other officer of the Corporation.

Section 3.7 Vacancies; Newly Created Directorships . Vacancies on the Board of Directors, including vacancies resulting from newly created directorships, shall be filled as provided in, and in accordance with, the Articles of Incorporation and the NRS.

Section 3.8 Annual and Regular Meetings . Within five business days after the adjournment of the annual or special meeting of the stockholders at which directors are elected, the Board of Directors, including directors newly elected, shall hold its annual meeting without call or notice, other than this provision, to transact such business as may be necessary or appropriate. The Board of Directors may provide by resolution the place, date, and hour for holding regular meetings between annual meetings, and if the Board of Directors so provides with respect to a regular meeting, notice of such regular meeting shall not be required.

Section 3.9 Special Meetings . Subject to any rights of the holders of preferred stock, if any, and except as otherwise required by law or the Articles of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called only by the chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or if there be no chairman of the Board of Directors, by the chief executive officer, if any, or by the president or the secretary, and shall be called by the chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, or the secretary upon the request of at least a majority of the Board of Directors. If the chairman of the Board of Directors, or if there be no chairman of the Board of Directors, each of the chief executive officer, the president, and the secretary, fails for any reason to call such special meeting, a special meeting may be called by a notice signed by at least a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.10 Place of Meetings . Any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place as the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation, as the notice calling such meeting, may designate. A waiver of notice signed by the directors may designate any place for the holding of such meeting.

Section 3.11 Notice of Meetings . Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.8 , there shall be delivered to each director at the address appearing for him or her on the records of the Corporation, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of such meeting, a copy of a written notice of any meeting (i) by delivery of such notice personally, (ii) by mailing such notice postage prepaid, (iii) by facsimile, (iv) by overnight courier or (v) by electronic transmission or electronic writing, including, without limitation, e-mail. If mailed to an address inside the United States, the notice shall be deemed delivered two (2) business days following the date the same is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. If mailed to an address outside the United States, the notice shall be deemed delivered four (4) business days following the date the same is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid. If sent via overnight courier, the notice shall be deemed delivered the business day following the delivery of such notice to the courier. If sent via facsimile, the notice shall be deemed delivered upon sender’s receipt of confirmation of the successful transmission. If sent by electronic transmission (including, without limitation, e-mail), the notice shall be deemed delivered when directed to the e-mail address of the director appearing on the records of the Corporation and otherwise pursuant to the applicable provisions of NRS Chapter 75. If the address of any director is incomplete or does not appear upon the records of the Corporation it will be sufficient to address any notice to such director at the registered office of the Corporation. Any director may waive notice of any meeting, and the attendance of a director at a meeting and oral consent entered on the minutes of such meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of the meeting unless such director objects, prior to the transaction of any business, that the meeting was not lawfully called, noticed or

 

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convened. Attendance for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of business thereat because the meeting was not properly called or convened shall not constitute presence or a waiver of notice for purposes hereof.

Section 3.12 Quorum; Adjourned Meetings .

(a) A majority of the directors in office, at a meeting duly assembled, is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(b) At any meeting of the Board of Directors where a quorum is not present, a majority of those present may adjourn, from time to time, until a quorum is present, and no notice of such adjournment shall be required. At any adjourned meeting where a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at the meeting originally called.

Section 3.13 Manner of Acting . The affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present is the act of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.14 Meetings Through Electronic Communications . Members of the Board of Directors or of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by any means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology permitted under the NRS (including, without limitation, a telephone conference or similar method of communication by which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other). If any such means are utilized, the Corporation shall, to the extent required under the NRS, implement reasonable measures to (a) verify the identity of each person participating through such means as a director or member of the committee, as the case may be, and (b) provide the directors or members of the committee a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the directors or members of the committee, including an opportunity to communicate, and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting in a substantially concurrent manner with such proceedings. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.14 constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

Section 3.15 Action Without Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, a written consent thereto is signed by all of the members of the Board of Directors or the committee. The written consent may be signed manually or electronically (or by any other means then permitted under the NRS), and may be so signed in counterparts, including, without limitation, facsimile or email counterparts, and shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

Section 3.16 Powers and Duties .

(a) Except as otherwise restricted by Chapter 78 of the NRS or the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors has full control over the business and affairs of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may delegate any of its authority to manage, control or conduct the business of the Corporation to any standing or special committee, or to any officer or agent, and to appoint any persons to be agents of the Corporation with such powers, including the power to subdelegate, and upon such terms as it deems fit.

(b) The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the chairman presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in his or her discretion, may submit any contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders or any special meeting properly called and noticed for the purpose of considering any such contract or act, provided a quorum is present.

(c) The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Board of Directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Subject to applicable law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, any such committee shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The committees shall keep regular minutes of their proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

Section 3.17 Compensation . The Board of Directors, without regard to personal interest, may establish the compensation of directors for services in any capacity. If the Board of Directors establishes the compensation of directors pursuant to this Section 3.17 , such compensation is presumed to be fair to the Corporation unless proven unfair by a preponderance of the evidence.

 

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Section 3.18 Organization . Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the chairman of the Board of Directors, or in the absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors by the vice chairman, if any, or in his or her absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The secretary, or in the absence, of the secretary an assistant secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the secretary and any assistant secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

Section 4.1 Election . The Board of Directors shall elect or appoint a president, a secretary and a treasurer or the equivalents of such officers. Such officers shall serve until their respective successors are elected and appointed and shall qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. The Board of Directors may from time to time, by resolution, elect or appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and shall have such powers and duties and be paid such compensation as may be directed by the Board of Directors. Any individual may hold two or more offices.

Section 4.2 Removal; Resignation . Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any such removal or resignation shall be subject to the rights, if any, of the respective parties under any contract between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

Section 4.3 Vacancies . Any vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term of such office.

Section 4.4 Chief Executive Officer . The Board of Directors may elect a chief executive officer who, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors, shall have the ultimate responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws or as provided by law.

Section 4.5 President . The president, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors, shall in general actively supervise and control the business and affairs of the Corporation. The president shall keep the Board of Directors fully informed as the Board of Directors may request and shall consult the Board of Directors concerning the business of the Corporation. The president shall perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated and assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, these Bylaws or as provided by law. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall elect or appoint different individuals to hold such positions.

Section 4.6 Vice Presidents . The Board of Directors may elect one or more vice presidents. In the absence or disability of the president, or at the president’s request, the vice president or vice presidents, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors, and if not ranked, the vice presidents in the order designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation, in the order designated by the president, shall perform all of the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions on the president. Each vice president shall perform such other duties and have such other powers which are delegated and assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the president, these Bylaws or as provided by law.

Section 4.7 Secretary . The secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees thereof, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, the minutes of proceedings thereof in books provided for that purpose. He or she shall keep, or cause to be kept, a register of the stockholders of the Corporation and shall be responsible for the giving of notice of meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committees, and shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law. The secretary shall be custodian of the corporate seal, if any, the records of the Corporation, the stock certificate books, transfer books and stock ledgers, and such other books and papers as the Board of Directors or any appropriate committee may direct. The secretary shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall perform such other duties which are assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, these Bylaws or as provided by law.

Section 4.8 Assistant Secretaries . An assistant secretary shall, at the request of the secretary, or in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform all the duties of the secretary. He or she shall perform such other duties as are assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, these Bylaws or as provided by law.

Section 4.9 Treasurer . The treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the care and custody of, and be responsible for, all of the money, funds, securities, receipts and valuable papers, documents and instruments of the Corporation, and

 

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all books and records relating thereto. The treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, full and accurate books of accounts of the Corporation’s transactions, which shall be the property of the Corporation, and shall render financial reports and statements of condition of the Corporation when so requested by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the chief executive officer, if any, or the president. The treasurer shall perform all other duties commonly incident to his or her office and such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, these Bylaws or as provided by law. The treasurer shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bond to the Corporation in such sum and with such security as shall be approved by the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of all the duties of the treasurer and for restoration to the Corporation, in the event of the treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, records, papers, vouchers, money and other property in the treasurer’s custody or control and belonging to the Corporation. The expense of such bond shall be borne by the Corporation. If a chief financial officer of the Corporation has not been appointed, the treasurer may be deemed the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

Section 4.10 Assistant Treasurers . An assistant treasurer shall, at the request of the treasurer, or in the absence or disability of the treasurer, perform all the duties of the treasurer. He or she shall perform such other duties which are assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, if any, the president, the treasurer, these Bylaws or as provided by law. The Board of Directors may require an assistant treasurer to give a bond to the Corporation in such sum and with such security as it may approve, for the faithful performance of the duties of the assistant treasurer, and for restoration to the Corporation, in the event of the assistant treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, records, papers, vouchers, money and other property in the assistant treasurer’s custody or control and belonging to the Corporation. The expense of such bond shall be borne by the Corporation.

Section 4.11 Execution of Negotiable Instruments, Deeds and Contracts . All (i) checks, drafts, notes, bonds, bills of exchange, and orders for the payment of money of the Corporation, (ii) deeds, mortgages, proxies, powers of attorney and other written contracts, documents, instruments and agreements to which the Corporation shall be a party and (iii) assignments or endorsements of stock certificates, registered bonds or other securities owned by the Corporation shall be signed in the name of the Corporation by such officers or other persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate. The Board of Directors may authorize the use of the facsimile signatures of any such persons. Any officer of the Corporation shall be authorized to attend, act and vote, or designate another officer or an agent of the Corporation to attend, act and vote, at any meeting of the owners of any entity in which the Corporation may own an interest or to take action by written consent in lieu thereof. Such officer or agent, at any such meeting or by such written action, shall possess and may exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such interest.

ARTICLE V
CAPITAL STOCK

Section 5.1 Issuance . Shares of the Corporation’s authorized capital stock shall, subject to any provisions or limitations of the laws of the State of Nevada, the Articles of Incorporation or any contracts or agreements to which the Corporation may be a party, be issued in such manner, at such times, upon such conditions and for such consideration as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 5.2 Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares .

(a) Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (i) the chief executive officer, if any, the president, or a vice president, and (ii) the secretary, an assistant secretary, the treasurer or the chief financial officer, if any, of the Corporation (or any other two officers or agents so authorized by the Board of Directors), certifying the number of shares of stock owned by him, her or it in the Corporation; provided that the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of uncertificated shares of some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock. Any such issuance of uncertificated shares shall have no effect on existing certificates for shares until such certificates are surrendered to the Corporation, or on the respective rights and obligations of the stockholders. Whenever any such certificate is countersigned or otherwise authenticated by a transfer agent or a transfer clerk and by a registrar (other than the Corporation), then a facsimile of the signatures of any corporate officers or agents, the transfer agent, transfer clerk or the registrar of the Corporation may be printed or lithographed upon the certificate in lieu of the actual signatures. In the event that any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signatures have been used on any certificate or certificates for stock cease to be an officer or officers because of death, resignation or other reason, before the certificate or certificates for stock have been delivered by the Corporation, the certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Corporation and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed the certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon, had not ceased to be an officer or officers of the Corporation.

 

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(b) Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written statement certifying the number and class (and the designation of the series, if any) of the shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation and any restrictions on the transfer or registration of such shares imposed by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement among stockholders or any agreement between the stockholders and the Corporation, and, at least annually thereafter, the Corporation shall provide to such stockholders of record holding uncertificated shares, a written statement confirming the information contained in such written statement previously sent. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the NRS, the rights and obligations of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be identical whether or not their shares of stock are represented by certificates.

(c) Each certificate representing shares shall state the following upon the face thereof: the name of the state of the Corporation’s organization; the name of the person to whom issued; the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents; the par value of each share, if any, represented by such certificate or a statement that the shares are without par value. Certificates of stock shall be in such form consistent with law as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors. No certificate shall be issued until the shares represented thereby are fully paid. In addition to the foregoing, all certificates evidencing shares of the Corporation’s stock or other securities issued by the Corporation shall contain such legend or legends as may from time to time be required by the NRS or such other federal, state or local laws or regulations then in effect.

Section 5.3 Surrendered; Lost or Destroyed Certificates . All certificates surrendered to the Corporation, except those representing shares of treasury stock, shall be canceled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been canceled, except that in case of a lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate, a new one may be issued therefor. However, any stockholder applying for the issuance of a stock certificate in lieu of one alleged to have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall, prior to the issuance of a replacement, provide the Corporation with his, her or its affidavit of the facts surrounding the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation and, if required by the Board of Directors, an indemnity bond in an amount not less than twice the current market value of the stock, and upon such terms as the treasurer or the Board of Directors shall require which shall indemnify the Corporation against any loss, damage, cost or inconvenience arising as a consequence of the issuance of a replacement certificate.

Section 5.4 Replacement Certificate . When the Articles of Incorporation are amended in any way affecting the statements contained in the certificates for outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation or it becomes desirable for any reason, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, the merger of the Corporation with another Corporation or the conversion or reorganization of the Corporation, to cancel any outstanding certificate for shares and issue a new certificate therefor conforming to the rights of the holder, the Board of Directors may order any holders of outstanding certificates for shares to surrender and exchange the same for new certificates within a reasonable time to be fixed by the Board of Directors. The order may provide that a holder of any certificate(s) ordered to be surrendered shall not be entitled to vote, receive distributions or exercise any other rights of stockholders of record until the holder has complied with the order, but the order operates to suspend such rights only after notice and until compliance.

Section 5.5 Transfer of Shares . No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation except on surrender and cancellation of any certificate(s) therefor accompanied by an assignment or transfer by the registered owner made either in person or under assignment. Whenever any transfer shall be expressly made for collateral security and not absolutely, the collateral nature of the transfer shall be reflected in the entry of transfer in the records of the Corporation.

Section 5.6 Transfer Agent; Registrars . The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents, transfer clerks and registrars of transfer and may require all certificates for shares of stock to bear the signature of such transfer agents, transfer clerks and/or registrars of transfer.

Section 5.7 Miscellaneous . The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make such rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificates for shares of the Corporation’s stock.

Section 5.8 Inapplicability of Controlling Interest Statutes . Notwithstanding any other provision in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws to the contrary, and in accordance with the provisions of NRS 78.378, the provisions of NRS 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, or any successor statutes, relating to acquisitions of controlling interests in the Corporation, shall not apply to the Corporation or to any acquisition of any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

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ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS

Distributions may be declared, subject to the provisions of the laws of the State of Nevada and the Articles of Incorporation, by the Board of Directors and may be paid in money, shares of corporate stock, property or any other medium permitted under applicable law. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date, in accordance with and as provided in Section 2.5 , prior to the distribution for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to receive any distribution.

ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS; CORPORATE SEAL; FISCAL YEAR

Section 7.1 Records . All original records of the Corporation, shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation by or under the direction of the secretary or at such other place or by such other person as may be prescribed by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

Section 7.2 Corporate Seal . The Board of Directors may, by resolution, authorize a seal, and the seal may be used by causing it, or a facsimile, to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise. Except when otherwise specifically provided herein, any officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to affix the seal to any document requiring it.

Section 7.3 Fiscal Year-End . The fiscal year-end of the Corporation shall be such date as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION

Section 8.1 Indemnification and Insurance .

(a) Indemnification of Directors and Officers .

(i) For purposes of this Article, (A) “ Indemnitee ” shall mean any person who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was director, advisory director, member of a committee appointed by the directors of the Corporation, or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; and (B) “ Proceeding ” shall mean any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation), whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the corporation.

(ii) Each Indemnitee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding; provided that such Indemnitee either is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or acted in good faith and in a manner such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any Proceeding that is criminal in nature, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee is liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or did not act in good faith and in a manner in which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or that, with respect to any criminal proceeding he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The Corporation shall not indemnify an Indemnitee for any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the Corporation or for any amounts paid in settlement to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the Proceeding was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts as the court deems proper. Except as so ordered by a court and for advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section, indemnification may not be made to or on behalf of an Indemnitee if a final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law and was material to the cause of action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws, no director or officer may be indemnified for expenses incurred in defending any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding (including without limitation, an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that such director or officer incurred in his or her capacity as a stockholder.

 

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(iii) Indemnification pursuant to this Section shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, advisory director, member of a committee appointed by the directors of the Corporation, or officer and inures to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

(iv) The expenses of Indemnitees must be paid by the Corporation or through insurance purchased and maintained by the Corporation or through other financial arrangements made by the Corporation, as such expenses are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. To the extent that an Indemnitee is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the Corporation shall indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in by him or her in connection with the defense.

(b) Indemnification of Employees and Other Persons . The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors and to the extent provided in such action, indemnify employees and other persons as though they were Indemnitees.

(c) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights to indemnification provided in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or otherwise.

(d) Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any Indemnitee for any liability asserted against him or her and liability and expenses incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee, member, managing member or agent, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation has the authority to indemnify him or her against such liability and expenses.

(e) Other Financial Arrangements . The other financial arrangements which may be made by the Corporation may include the following (i) the creation of a trust fund; (ii) the establishment of a program of self-insurance; (iii) the securing of its obligation of indemnification by granting a security interest or other lien on any assets of the Corporation; and (iv) the establishment of a letter of credit, guarantee or surety. No financial arrangement made pursuant to this subsection may provide protection for a person adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law, except with respect to advancement of expenses or indemnification ordered by a court.

(f) Other Matters Relating to Insurance or Financial Arrangements . Any insurance or other financial arrangement made on behalf of a person pursuant to this Section 8.1 may be provided by the Corporation or any other person approved by the Board of Directors, even if all or part of the other person’s stock or other securities is owned by the Corporation. In the absence of fraud, (i) the decision of the Board of Directors as to the propriety of the terms and conditions of any insurance or other financial arrangement made pursuant to this Section 8.1 and the choice of the person to provide the insurance or other financial arrangement is conclusive; and (ii) the insurance or other financial arrangement is not void or voidable and does not subject any director approving it to personal liability for his action; even if a director approving the insurance or other financial arrangement is a beneficiary of the insurance or other financial arrangement.

Section 8.2 Amendment . The provisions of this Article VIII relating to indemnification shall constitute a contract between the Corporation and each of its directors and officers which may be modified as to any director or officer only with that person’s consent or as specifically provided in this Section 8.2 . Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws relating to their amendment generally, any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII which is adverse to any director or officer shall apply to such director or officer only on a prospective basis, and shall not limit the rights of an Indemnitee to indemnification with respect to any action or failure to act occurring prior to the time of such repeal or amendment. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, Article X ), no repeal or amendment of these Bylaws shall affect any or all of this Article VIII so as to limit or reduce the indemnification in any manner unless adopted by (i) the unanimous vote of the directors of the Corporation then serving, or (ii) by the stockholders as set forth in Article X ; provided that no such amendment shall have a retroactive effect inconsistent with the preceding sentence.

ARTICLE IX
CHANGES IN NEVADA LAW

References in these Bylaws to the laws of the State of Nevada or the NRS or to any provision thereof shall be to such law as it existed on the date these Bylaws were adopted or as such law thereafter may be changed; provided that (i) in the case of any change which expands the liability of directors or officers or limits the indemnification rights or the rights to advancement of expenses which the Corporation may provide in Article VIII , the rights to limited liability, to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in the Articles of Incorporation and/or these Bylaws shall continue as theretofore to the extent permitted by law; and (ii) if

 

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such change permits the Corporation, without the requirement of any further action by stockholders or directors, to limit further the liability of directors or limit the liability of officers or to provide broader indemnification rights or rights to the advancement of expenses than the Corporation was permitted to provide prior to such change, then liability thereupon shall be so limited and the rights to indemnification and the advancement of expenses shall be so broadened to the extent permitted by law.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT OR REPEAL

Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation: (a) the Board of Directors is expressly authorized (in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute) to amend, repeal or rescind any provision of these Bylaws or to adopt new bylaws; and (b) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, this Article X ) or to adopt any new provision of these Bylaws.

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CERTIFICATION

The undersigned, as the duly elected Secretary of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp., a Nevada corporation, does hereby certify that the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted the foregoing Amended and Restated Bylaws as of February 19, 2015.

 

 

 

/s/ Michael R. Clancy

 

 

Michael R. Clancy, Secretary

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.
2015 STOCK INCENTIVE AND EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE

The purpose of this Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. 2015 Stock Incentive and Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to enhance the profitability and value of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.  (the “Company”) for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company (i) to offer employees and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates stock based incentives and other equity interests in the Company, thereby creating a means to raise the level of stock ownership by employees and consultants in order to attract, retain and reward such employees and consultants and strengthen the mutuality of interests between employees or consultants and the Company’s stockholders and (ii) to offer equity based awards to non-employee directors thereby attracting, retaining and rewarding such non-employee directors and strengthening the mutuality of interests between non-employee directors and the Company’s stockholders.

ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

2.1 “Affiliate” shall mean, other than the Company, each of the following:  (i) any Subsidiary; (ii) any Parent; (iii) any corporation, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled fifty percent (50%) or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company; and (iv) any other entity, approved by the Committee as an “Affiliate” under the Plan, in which the Company has a material equity interest.

2.2 “Award” shall mean any award under this Plan of any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right or Restricted Stock.  All Awards shall be confirmed by, and subject to the terms of, a written agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.

2.3 “Black-out Period” means any black-out period imposed by the Company that restricts the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities by designated persons for a period of time; for greater certainty a “Black-out Period” includes any quarterly or special black-out period imposed by the Company but excludes any cease trade order imposed against the Company or an Insider.

2.4 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.5 “Cause” shall mean, with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter:  (i) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import)), termination due to a Participant’s dishonesty, fraud, insubordination, willful misconduct, refusal to perform services (for any reason other than illness or incapacity) or materially unsatisfactory performance of his or her duties for the Company as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; or (ii) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “cause” (or words of like import), as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement that conditions “cause” on occurrence of a change in control, such definition of “cause” shall not apply until a change in control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.  With respect to a Participant’s Termination of Directorship, Cause shall mean an act or failure to act that constitutes “cause” for removal of a director under applicable state corporate law.

2.6 “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Article X.

2.7 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code as amended.  Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any Treasury regulation thereunder.

 

 

 

 


 

2.8 “Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board that may be appointed from time to time by the Board.  To the extent determined appropriate by the Board, or to the extent required under Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code, such committee shall consist of one or more non-employee directors, each of whom shall be a non-employee director as defined in Rule 16b-3 and an outside director as defined under Section 162(m) of the Code.  To the extent that no Committee exists which has the authority to administer the Plan, the functions of the Committee shall be exercised by the Board.  If for any reason the appointed Committee does not meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code, such noncompliance with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code shall not affect the validity of the awards, grants, interpretations or other actions of the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the application of the Plan to non-employee directors, Committee shall mean the Board.

2.9 “Common Stock” shall mean the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.

2.10 “Company” shall mean Paramount Gold Nevada Corp., a Nevada corporation.

2.11 “Consultant” shall mean any advisor or consultant to the Company or an Affiliate who is eligible pursuant to Article V to be granted Awards under this Plan.

2.12 “Disability” shall mean total and permanent disability, as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

2.13 “Eligible Employees” shall mean the employees or Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates who are eligible pursuant to Article V to be granted Awards under this Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Eligible Employees shall mean the employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and their Parents who are eligible pursuant to Article V to be granted Stock Options under the Plan.

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

2.15 “Fair Market Value” for purposes of this Plan, unless otherwise required by any applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, shall mean, as of any given date:  (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, foreign stock exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the closing price of the Common Stock on the trading market for the Common Stock, as selected by the Committee, on the trading date preceding the given date, as reported by the exchange or Nasdaq, as the case may be, (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, foreign stock exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market, but is traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for the Common Stock on such date, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Common Stock cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such price as the Committee shall determine, in good faith, based on reasonable methods set forth under Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder including.  For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date on which the Award is granted or, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, the date a notice of exercise is received by the Committee or, if the sale of Common Stock shall not have been reported or quoted on such date, the first day prior thereto on which the sale of Common Stock was reported or quoted.  If the Fair Market Value is determined by a closing price on a foreign stock exchange that reports in a currency other than US dollars, the Fair Market Value shall be converted into US dollars at the most recently published applicable noon exchange rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at the time of the conversion.

2.16 “Good Reason” with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy shall mean (i) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “Good Reason” (or words of like import)), or where “Good Reason” is not otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, a voluntary termination due to “good reason,” as the Committee, in its sole discretion, decides to treat as a Good Reason termination, or (ii) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “good reason” (or words of like import), as defined under such agreement; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement that conditions “good reason” on occurrence of a change in control, such definition of “good reason” shall not apply until a change in control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.

2.17 “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean any Stock Option awarded under this Plan intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

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2.18 “Insider” means an insider, as such term is defined in The Toronto Stock Exchange Company Manual, as amended, of the Company.

2.19 “Limited Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award of a limited Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right made pursuant to Section 8.5 of this Plan.

2.20 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean any Stock Option awarded under this Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.21 “Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a Stock Appreciation Right entitling a Participant to receive an amount in cash or Common Stock (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal to the excess of:  (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date such right is exercised, over (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such right.

2.22 “Parent” shall mean any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

2.23 “Participant” shall mean the following persons to whom an Award has been made pursuant to this Plan:  Eligible Employees of, and Consultants to, the Company and its Affiliates and non-employee directors of the Company.

2.24 “Restricted Stock” shall mean an award of shares of Common Stock, which may be registered securities, under the Plan that is subject to restrictions under Article VII.

2.25 “Restriction Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Subsection 7.3(a) with respect to Restricted Stock for Eligible Employees.

2.26 “Retirement” with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, shall mean a Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy without Cause from the Company by a Participant who has attained (i) at least age eighty (80).  With respect to a Participant’s Termination of Directorship, Retirement shall mean the failure to stand for reelection or the failure to be reelected after a Participant has attained age eighty (80).

2.27 “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provisions.

2.28 “Section 162(m) of the Code” shall mean the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and any Treasury regulations thereunder.

2.29 “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean the right pursuant to an Award granted under Article VIII.  A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right to surrender to the Company all (or a portion) of a Stock Option in exchange for an amount in cash or stock equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value, on the date such Stock Option (or such portion thereof) is surrendered, of the Common Stock covered by such Stock Option (or such portion thereof), over (ii) the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Option (or such portion thereof).  A Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall mean the right to receive an amount in cash or stock equal to the excess of (x) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date such right is exercised, over (y) the aggregate exercise price of such right, other than on surrender of a Stock Option.

2.30 “Stock Option” or “Option” shall mean any Option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to Eligible Employees or Consultants pursuant to Article VI.

2.31 “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation that is defined as a subsidiary corporation in Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.32 “Ten Percent Stockholder” shall mean a person owning Common Stock of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Parents in the manner provided under Section 422 of the Code.

2.33 “Termination of Consultancy” shall mean, with respect to an individual, that the individual is no longer acting as a Consultant to the Company or an Affiliate.  In the event an entity shall cease to be an Affiliate, there shall be deemed a Termination of Consultancy of any individual who is not otherwise a Consultant of the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate.  In the event that a Consultant becomes an Eligible Employee upon the termination of his consultancy, the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may determine that no Termination of Consultancy shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Consultant is no longer a Consultant or an Eligible Employee.

 

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2.34 “Termination of Directorship” shall mean, with respect to a non-employee director, that the non-employee director has ceased to be a director of the Company.

2.35 “Termination of Employment,” except as provided in the next sentence, shall mean (i) a termination of service (for reasons other than a military or personal leave of absence granted by the Company) of a Participant from the Company and its Affiliates; or (ii) when an entity which is employing a Participant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant thereupon becomes employed by the Company or another Affiliate.  In the event that an Eligible Employee becomes a Consultant upon the termination of his employment, the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may determine that no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Eligible Employee is no longer an Eligible Employee or a Consultant.  The Committee may otherwise define Termination of Employment in the Option grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Employment thereafter, including, but not limited to, defining Termination of Employment with regard to entities controlling, under common control with or controlled by the Company rather than just the Company and its Affiliates and/or entities that provide substantial services to the Company or its Affiliates to which the Participant has transferred directly from the Company or its Affiliates at the request of the Company.

2.36 “Transfer” or “Transferred” shall mean anticipate, alienate, attach, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, charge or otherwise transfer.

ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION

3.1 THE COMMITTEE.  The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee or if no Committee, by the Board of Directors.

3.2 AWARDS.  The Committee shall have full authority to:

(a) to select the Eligible Employees and Consultants to whom Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or Restricted Stock may from time to time be granted hereunder;

(b) to determine whether and to what extent Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or any combination thereof are to be granted hereunder to one or more Eligible Employees or Consultants;

(c) to determine, in accordance with the terms of this Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award to an Eligible Employee or Consultant granted hereunder;

(d) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, of any Award granted hereunder to an Eligible Employee or Consultant (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Stock Option or other Award, and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);

(e) to modify, extend or renew a Stock Option, subject to Article XI hereof, provided, however, that if a Stock Option is modified, extended or renewed and thereby deemed to be the issuance of a new Stock Option under the Code or the applicable accounting rules, the exercise price of such Stock Option may continue to be the original exercise price even if less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of such modification, extension or renewal;

(f) to determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option, whether a Stock Appreciation Right is a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or whether an Award is intended to satisfy Section 162(m) of the Code;

(g) to determine whether to require an Eligible Employee or Consultant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option or as an Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Option or Award; and

(h) to grant Awards under the Plan as a conversion from, and replacement of, comparable stock options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock held by employees of another entity who become Eligible Employees of, or Consultants to, the Company or an Affiliate as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or an Affiliate, or as the result of the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of the employing corporation.  The Company may direct that

 

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replacement Awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances, including, without limitation that Non-Qualified Stock Options shall be granted in lieu of Incentive Stock Options.

3.3 GUIDELINES.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing this Plan and perform all acts, including the delegation of its administrative responsibilities, as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Award issued under this Plan (and any agreements relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of this Plan.  The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to carry this Plan into effect, but only to the extent any such action would be permitted under the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 (if any) and the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code (if any).  The Committee may adopt special guidelines and provisions for persons who are residing in, or subject to the taxes of countries other than the United States to comply with applicable tax and securities laws.  If or to the extent applicable, this Plan is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.

3.4 DECISIONS FINAL.  Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith by or at the direction of the Company, the Board, or the Committee (or any of its members) arising out of or in connection with the Plan shall be within the absolute discretion of all and each of them, as the case may be, and shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.  The Committee shall not be bound to any standards of uniformity or similarity of action, interpretation or conduct in the discharge of its duties hereunder, regardless of the apparent similarity of the matters coming before it.

3.5 RELIANCE ON COUNSEL.  The Company, the Board or the Committee may consult with legal counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or other counsel, with respect to its obligations or duties hereunder, or with respect to any action or proceeding or any question of law, and shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith pursuant to the advice of such counsel.

3.6 PROCEDURES.  If the Committee is appointed, the Board may designate one of the members of the Committee as chairman and the Committee shall hold meetings, subject to the bylaws of the Company, at such times and places as it shall deem advisable.  A majority of the Committee members shall constitute a quorum.  All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members.  Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all Committee members in accordance with the bylaws of the Company shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a vote at a meeting duly called and held.  The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and shall make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.

3.7 DESIGNATION OF CONSULTANTS--LIABILITY.

(a) The Committee may designate employees of the Company and professional advisors to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan and may grant authority to employees to execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee.

(b) The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent.  Expenses incurred by the Committee or Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company.  The Committee, its members and any person designated pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no officer of the Company or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of the Company and to the extent not covered by insurance, each employee of the Company and member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or expense (including reasonable fees of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Company), and advanced amounts necessary to pay the foregoing at the earliest time and to the fullest extent permitted, arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Plan, except to the extent arising out of such officer’s, member’s or former member’s own fraud or bad faith.  Such indemnification shall be in addition to any rights of indemnification the employees, officers, directors or members or former officers, directors or members may have under applicable law or under the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company or Affiliate.  Notwithstanding anything else herein, this indemnification will not apply to the actions or determinations made by an individual with regard to Awards granted to him or her under this Plan.

 

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ARTICLE IV
SHARE AND OTHER LIMITATIONS

4.1 SHARES.

(a) GENERAL LIMITATION.  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued or used for reference purposes under this Plan or with respect to which other Awards may be granted shall not exceed 1,277,818 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) which may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company.

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, in no event shall more than an aggregate of 1,277,818 shares of Common Stock be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan, including shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options that are the subject of disqualifying dispositions within the meaning of Sections 421, 422 and 423 of the Code.

If any Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan expires, terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised in full or, with respect to Options, the Company repurchases any Option pursuant to Section 6.3(f), the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the repurchased Option, and/or the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any unexercised Stock Appreciation Right or Option shall again be available for the purposes of Awards under the Plan.  If a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or a Limited Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with an Option, such grant shall only apply once against the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under this Plan.  In determining the number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards other than Awards of Incentive Stock Options, if Common Stock has been delivered or exchanged by a Participant as full or partial payment to the Company for the exercise price or for withholding taxes, in connection with the exercise of a Stock Option or the number shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable has been reduced for full or partial payment for the exercise price or for withholding taxes, the number of shares of Common Stock delivered, exchanged or reduced shall again be available for purposes of Awards under this Plan.

In the event Awards are granted to employees or Consultants pursuant to Section 3.2(h), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan for Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be increased by the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued or used for reference with respect to those Awards granted pursuant to Section 3.2(h).  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under this Plan with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall not be increased (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2).

Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, the Committee shall be prohibited from granting any Award if the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock (i) issued to Insiders of the Company within any one year period, or (ii) issuable to Insiders at any time, under this Plan and any other security based compensation arrangement of the Company, could exceed 10% of the Company’s shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, on a non-diluted basis, at the time of the grant of the Award.

4.2 CHANGES.

(a) The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company or its Affiliates, any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting Common Stock, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or its Affiliates, any sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

(b) In the event of any such change in the capital structure or business of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, stock split or reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination or exchange of shares, distribution with respect to its outstanding Common Stock or capital stock other than Common Stock, sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business, reclassification of its capital stock, or any similar change affecting the Company’s capital structure or business and the Committee determines an adjustment is appropriate under the Plan, then the aggregate number and kind of shares which thereafter may be issued under this Plan, the number and kind of shares or other property (including cash) to be issued upon exercise of an outstanding Option or other Awards granted under this Plan and the purchase price thereof shall be appropriately adjusted consistent with such change in such manner as the Committee may deem equitable to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under this Plan or as otherwise necessary to reflect the change, and any such adjustment determined by the Committee shall be binding and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and employees and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

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(c) Fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any adjustment in Options or Awards pursuant to Section 4.2(a) or (b) shall be aggregated until, and eliminated at, the time of exercise by rounding-down for fractions less than one-half (1/2) and rounding-up for fractions equal to or greater than one-half (1/2).  No cash settlements shall be made with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding.  Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the Committee to each Participant whose Option or Award has been adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given) shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

(d) In the event of a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity or in the event of any transaction that results in the acquisition of substantially all of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock by a single person or entity or by a group of persons and/or entities acting in concert, or in the event of the sale or transfer of all of the Company’s assets (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Acquisition Events”), then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights of Eligible Employees and Consultants, effective as of the date of the Acquisition Event, by delivering notice of termination to each such Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Acquisition Event; provided, that during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Acquisition Event, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of his or her Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Option or Award Agreements) but contingent on occurrence of the Acquisition Event, and, provided that, if the Acquisition Event does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise shall be null and void.

(e) If an Acquisition Event occurs, to the extent the Committee does not terminate the outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Section 4.2(d), then the provisions of Section 4.2(b) shall apply.

ARTICLE V
ELIGIBILITY

5.1 All employees, directors, and Consultants to the Company and its Affiliates are eligible to be granted Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted Stock, subject to any filing requirements, under this Plan.  All employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parents are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.  Eligibility under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE VI
STOCK OPTION GRANTS

6.1 OPTIONS.  Each Stock Option granted hereunder shall be one of two types:  (i) an Incentive Stock Option intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or (ii) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

6.2 GRANTS.  The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options (in each case with or without Stock Appreciation Rights).  The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Consultant one or more Non-Qualified Stock Options (with or without Stock Appreciation Rights).  To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not qualify, shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary or any provision in an agreement evidencing the grant of a Stock Option to the contrary, any Stock Option granted to an Eligible Employee of an Affiliate (other than an Affiliate which is a Parent or a Subsidiary) or to any Consultant shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

6.3 TERMS OF OPTIONS.  Options granted under this Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions, shall be subject to Section 3.2 hereof and the other provisions of this Plan, and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

(a) OPTION PRICE.  The option price per share of Common Stock purchasable under either an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock at the time of grant, provided that the exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Eligible Employee who is a Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock at the time of grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Option is modified, extended or renewed and, thereby, deemed to be the issuance of a new Option under the Code, the exercise price of an Option may continue to be the original exercise price even if less than the Fair Market Value, or 110% of the Fair Market Value as the case may be, of the Common Stock at the time of such modification, extension or renewal.

 

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(b) OPTION TERM.  The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date the Option is granted, and provided further that no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder shall be exercisable more than five (5) years after the date the Option is granted.  If any Stock Options are set to expire during any Black-out Period which would prohibit the option holder from exercising the Stock Option during that Black-out Period, then in that event the option term shall be extended for an additional ten (10) business days beyond the end of any Black-out Period to permit the option holder to exercise the Stock Option (the “Black-out Expiration Term”).  The Black-out Expiration Term is fixed and shall not be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors or the Committee.

(c) EXERCISABILITY.  Stock Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at grant.  If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that it is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, that the Committee may waive the installment exercise provisions or accelerate the time at which Options may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.

(d) METHOD OF EXERCISE.  Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under subsection (c) above, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased.  At or after grant, payment in full or in part may be made at the election of the optionee as follows:  (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or quoted on a national quotation system sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, through a “cashless exercise” procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the purchase price, (iii) in the form of Common Stock owned by the Participant (and for which the Participant has good title free and clear of any liens and encumbrances) or (iv) in the form of Restricted Stock; provided, however, that in each case, such payment is equivalent to on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the payment date as determined by the Committee (without regard to any forfeiture restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock).  No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until full payment, (and if payment is by installments all payments have been received), as provided herein, therefor has been made or provided for.  If payment in full or in part has been made in the form of Restricted Stock, an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock issued on exercise of the Option shall be subject to the same restrictions and conditions, during the remainder of the Restriction Period, applicable to the Restricted Stock surrendered therefor.

(e) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Options which are not Incentive Stock Options.  In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary or Parent at all times from the time the Option is granted until three (3) months prior to the date of exercise (or such other period as required by applicable law), such Option shall be treated as an Option which is not a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

Should the foregoing provision not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

(f) BUY OUT AND SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS.  The Committee may at any time on behalf of the Company offer to buy out an Option previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish and communicate to the Participant at the time that such offer is made.

(g) FORM, MODIFICATION, EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF OPTIONS.  Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, an Option shall be evidenced by such form of agreement or grant as is approved by the Committee, and the Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options granted under the Plan (provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without his consent), or accept the surrender of outstanding Options (up to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Options in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised.

(h) DEFERRED DELIVERY OF COMMON SHARES.  The Committee may in its discretion permit Participants to defer delivery of Common Stock acquired pursuant to a Participant’s exercise of an Option in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee.

 

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6.4 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  The following rules apply with regard to Options upon the Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy of a Participant:

(a) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DEATH.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by reason of death, any Stock Option held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant’s estate are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the estate, at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option.

(b) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by reason of Disability, any Stock Option held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at the Participant’s termination, by the Participant (or the legal representative of the Participant’s estate if the Participant dies after termination) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option.

(c) TERMINATION BY REASON OF RETIREMENT.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by reason of Retirement, any Stock Option held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, shall be fully vested and may thereafter be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option; provided, however, that, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, any unexercised Stock Option held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which it was exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year (or such other period as the Committee may specify at grant or, if no rights of the Participant’s estate are reduced, thereafter) from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option.

(d) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR TERMINATION FOR GOOD REASON.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by involuntary termination without Cause or for Good Reason, any Stock Option held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at termination, by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option.

(e) TERMINATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is voluntary but without Good Reason and occurs prior to, or more than ninety (90) days after, the occurrence of an event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause (without regard to any notice or cure period requirements), any Stock Option held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at termination, by the Participant at any time within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option.

(f) OTHER TERMINATION.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement, Good Reason, involuntary termination without Cause or voluntary termination as provided in subsection (e) above, any Stock Option held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate and expire as of the date of termination, provided that (unless the Committee determines a different period upon grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter) in the event the termination is for Cause or is a voluntary termination without Good Reason within ninety (90) days after occurrence of an event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause (without regard to any notice or cure period requirement), any Stock Option held by the Participant at the time of occurrence of the event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause shall be deemed to have terminated and expired upon occurrence of the event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause.

ARTICLE VII
STOCK AWARDS

7.1 STOCK AWARDS.  Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued to Eligible Employees or Consultants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan.  The Committee shall determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock will be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the recipient

 

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(subject to Section 7.2), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards.

7.2 AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES.  The prospective Participant selected to receive an Award of Restricted Stock shall not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such Participant has delivered a fully executed copy of the applicable agreement evidencing the Award (the “Stock Award Agreement”) to the Company and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award.  Further, such Award shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) PURCHASE PRICE.  The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Committee.

(b) ACCEPTANCE.  Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of sixty (60) days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) after the Award date, by executing a Stock Award Agreement and by paying whatever price (if any) the Committee has designated thereunder.

(c) LEGEND.  If the Company should issue to a Plan Participant restricted shares of common stock, the Company may place an appropriate restrictive legend on the Shares so issued.

(d) CUSTODY.  The Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing restricted shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.

7.3 RESTRICTIONS AND CONDITIONS ON RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.  The shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to this Plan shall be subject to Article IX and the following restrictions and conditions:

(a) RESTRICTION PERIOD; VESTING AND ACCELERATION OF VESTING.  The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under this Plan during a period set by the Committee (the “Restriction Period”) commencing with the date of such Award, as set forth in the Stock Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any events which would accelerate vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock.  Within these limits, based on service, or other criteria determined by the Committee, the Committee may provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Award of Restricted Stock.

(b) RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER.  Except as provided in this subsection (b) and subsection (a) above and as otherwise determined by the Committee, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company including, without limitation, the right to receive any dividends, the right to vote such shares and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the payment of dividends shall be deferred until, and conditioned upon, the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period, unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, specifies otherwise at the time of the Award.

(c) LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS.  If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock subject to such Restriction Period, the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant.  All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant except as otherwise required by applicable law.

(d) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR TERMINATION OF CONSULTANCY FOR RESTRICTED STOCK.  Subject to the applicable provisions of the Stock Award Agreement and this Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or thereafter.

ARTICLE VIII
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

8.1 TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in conjunction with all or part of any Stock Option (a “Reference Stock Option”) granted under this Plan (“Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights”).  In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Reference Stock Option.

8.2 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, including Article IX and the following:

 

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(a) TERM.  A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted with respect to a Reference Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the Reference Stock Option, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant, a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right granted with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by the Reference Stock Option shall not be reduced until and then only to the extent the exercise or termination of the Reference Stock Option causes the number of shares covered by the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right to exceed the number of shares remaining available and unexercised under the Reference Stock Option.

(b) EXERCISABILITY.  Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Reference Stock Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Article VI and this Article VIII.

(c) METHOD OF EXERCISE.  A Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by an optionee by surrendering the applicable portion of the Reference Stock Option.  Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined in the manner prescribed in this Section 8.2.  Stock Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.

(d) PAYMENT.  Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right a Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock over the option price per share specified in the Reference Stock Option multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of payment.  If the Committee elects to pay such amount to a Participant in Common Stock, such Common Stock shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the day of exercise of the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right.

(e) DEEMED EXERCISE OF REFERENCE STOCK OPTION.  Upon the exercise of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right, the Reference Stock Option or part thereof to which such Stock Appreciation Right is related shall be deemed to have been exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth in Article IV of the Plan on the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan.

8.3 NON-TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights may also be granted without reference to any Stock Options granted under this Plan.

8.4 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NON-TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, including Article IX and the following:

(a) TERM.  The term of each Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall be fixed by the Committee, but shall not be greater than ten (10) years after the date the right is granted.

(b) EXERCISABILITY.  Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at grant.  If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any such right is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that it is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitation on the exercisability at any time at or after grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, that the Committee may waive the installment exercise provisions or accelerate the time at which rights may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.

(c) METHOD OF EXERCISE.  Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under subsection (b) above, Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercised.

(d) PAYMENT.  Upon the exercise of a Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right a Participant shall be entitled to receive, for each right exercised, up to, but no more than, an amount in cash and/or Common Stock (as chosen by the Committee in its sole discretion) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over the Fair Market Value of one (1) share of Common Stock on the date the right was awarded to the Participant.  If the Committee elects to pay such amount to a Participant in Common Stock, such Common Stock shall be valued at Fair Market Value as the day of exercise of the Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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8.5 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant Tandem and Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights either as a general Stock Appreciation Right or as a Limited Stock Appreciation Right.  Limited Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised only upon a Change in Control (to the extent provided in an Award agreement granting such Limited Stock Appreciation Rights) or the occurrence of such other event as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, designate at the time of grant or thereafter.  Upon the exercise of Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, except as otherwise provided in an Award agreement, the Participant shall receive in cash or Common Stock, as determined by the Committee, an amount equal to the amount (1) set forth in Section 8.2(d) with respect to Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights or (2) set forth in Section 8.4(d) with respect to Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights.

8.6 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR TERMINATION OF CONSULTANCY.  The following rules apply with regard to Stock Appreciation Rights upon the Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy of a Participant:

(a) TERMINATION BY DEATH.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by reason of death, any Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or if no rights of the Participant’s estate are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the estate, at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Appreciation Right, whichever period is the shorter.

(b) TERMINATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by reason of Disability, any Stock Appreciation Right held by such participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at the Participant’s termination, by the Participant (or the legal representative of the Participant’s estate if the Participant dies after termination) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such termination or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Appreciation Right, whichever period is the shorter.

(c) TERMINATION BY REASON OF RETIREMENT.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by reason of Retirement, any Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, shall be fully vested and may thereafter be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such termination or until the expiration of the stated term of such right, whichever period is the shorter; provided, however, that, if the Participant dies within such one (1) year period, any unexercised Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which it was exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year (or such other period as the Committee may specify at grant or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter) from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such right, whichever period is the shorter.

(d) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR TERMINATION FOR GOOD REASON.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is by involuntary termination without Cause or for Good Reason, any Stock Appreciation Right held by such participant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or if no rights of the participant are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at termination, by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such termination or until the expiration of the stated term of such right, whichever period is shorter.

(e) TERMINATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON.  If a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is voluntary but without Good Reason and occurs prior to, or more than ninety (90) days after, the occurrence of an event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause (without regard to any notice or cure period requirements), any Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant, unless greater or lesser exercise rights are provided by the Committee at the time of grant or, if no rights of the participant are reduced, thereafter, may be exercised, to the extent exercisable at termination, by the Participant at any time within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(f) OTHER TERMINATION.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy is for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement, Good Reason, involuntary termination without Cause or voluntary termination as provided in subsection (e) above, any Stock Appreciation Right held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate or expire as of the date of termination, provided, that (unless the Committee determines a different period upon grant, or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter) in the event the termination is for Cause or is a voluntary termination as provided in subsection (e) above, within ninety (90) days after occurrence of an event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause (without regard to any notice or cure period requirement), any Stock Appreciation Right held by the Participant at the time of the occurrence of the event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the

 

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Company for Cause shall be deemed to have terminated and expired upon occurrence of the event which would be grounds for Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy by the Company for Cause.

ARTICLE IX
NON-TRANSFERABILITY

Except as provided in the last sentence of this Article IX, no Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted to an Employee or Consultant shall be Transferable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  All Stock Options and all Stock Appreciation Rights granted to an Employee or Consultant shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant.  Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights shall be Transferable, to the extent permitted above, only with the underlying Stock Option.  Shares of Restricted Stock under Article VII may not be Transferred prior to the date on which shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction lapses.  No Award shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by law or herein, be Transferable in any manner, and any attempt to Transfer any such Award shall be void, and no such Award shall in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such Award, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such person.  All Stock Options granted to non-employee directors shall be Transferable solely to such non-employee director’s principal employer (other than the Company or an Affiliate) at the time of grant if the terms of such non-employee director’s employment so require.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine at the time of grant or thereafter, that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not transferable pursuant to this Article IX is transferable in whole or part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Committee.

ARTICLE X
CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

10.1 BENEFITS.  In the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below), except as otherwise provided by the Committee upon the grant of an Award, each Participant shall have the following benefits:

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, all outstanding Options and the related Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights and Non-Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights of such Participant granted prior to the Change in Control shall be fully vested and immediately exercisable in their entirety.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any such Stock Options by the Company for an amount of cash equal to the excess of the Change in Control Price (as defined below) of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Stock Options, over the aggregate exercise price of such Stock Options.  For purposes of this Section 10.1, “Change in Control Price” shall mean the higher of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock paid in any transaction related to a Change in Control of the Company, or (ii) the highest Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at any time during the sixty (60) day period preceding a Change in Control.

(b) Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, the restrictions to which any shares of Restricted Stock of such Participant granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall lapse as if the applicable Restriction Period had ended upon such Change in Control.

(c) Notwithstanding anything else herein, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of an Award upon a Termination of Employment during the Pre-Change in Control Period.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the “Pre-Change in Control Period” shall mean the one hundred eighty (180) day period prior to a Change in Control.

10.2 CHANGE IN CONTROL.  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred:

(a) upon any “person” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Common Stock of the Company, becoming the owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (including, without limitation, securities owned at the time of any increase in ownership);

(b) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in paragraph (a), (c), or (d) of this section) or a director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board of Directors of the Company whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was

 

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approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors;

(c) upon the merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person (other than those covered by the exceptions in (a) above) acquires more than forty percent (40%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities shall not constitute a Change in Control of the Company; or

(d) upon the stockholder’s of the Company approval of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a person or persons who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company at the time of the sale.

ARTICLE XI
TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

11.1 OR AMENDMENT.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan, or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise, without stockholder approval.  By way of example and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors reserves the right, without stockholder approval, to (i) make amendments of a clerical nature that clarify language or understanding of the terms of the Plan, (ii) amend the vesting provisions of a Stock Option or the Plan, (iii) amend the provisions with respect to termination or death of a Participant, including but not limited to the length of time to exercise a Stock Option upon termination or death, (iv) add a deferred or restricted share unit or any other provision which results in Participants receiving Common Stock while no cash consideration is received by the Company; (v) change the method of calculating a minimum exercise price per Common Stock for Stock Options under Section 6.3 of the Plan; and (vi) adjust accordingly the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan, the Common Stock subject to any Award and the exercise price of the Common Stock subject to Stock Options as a result of the events described in Section 4.2(b) of the Plan.  (c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors reserves the right, without stockholder approval, to (i) make amendments of a clerical nature that clarify language or understanding of the terms of the Plan, (ii) amend the vesting provisions of a Stock Option or the Plan, (iii) amend the provisions with respect to termination or death of a Participant, including but not limited to the length of time to exercise a Stock Option upon termination or death, (iv) add a deferred or restricted share unit or any other provision which results in Participants receiving Common Stock while no cash consideration is received by the Company; (v) change the method of calculating a minimum exercise price per Common Stock for Stock Options under Section 6.3 of the Plan; and (vi) adjust accordingly the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan, the Common Stock subject to any Award and the exercise price of the Common Stock subject to Stock Options as a result of the events described in Section 4.2(b) of the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(a) unless otherwise required by law or specifically provided herein, the rights of a Participant with respect to Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension or termination, may not be impaired without the consent of such Participant; and

(b) stockholder approval shall be required, only if and to the extent required by the rules of a stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is listed for trading, the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or, if and to the extent required, under the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, or with regard to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code, for an amendment which would (i) except as permitted in Section 4.1(a), increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under this Plan; (ii) change the classification of employees, Consultants, directors and non-employee directors eligible to receive Awards under this Plan; (iii) decrease the minimum option price of any Stock Option; (iv) extend the maximum option period under Section 6.3; (v) change any rights under the Plan with regard to non-employee directors; or (vi) require stockholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with the applicable provisions, if any, of Rule 16b-3, Section 162(m) of the Code, any applicable state law, or, with regard to Incentive Stock Options, Section 422 of the Code.

The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV above or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Committee shall impair the rights of any holder without the holder’s consent.

 

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ARTICLE XII
UNFUNDED PLAN

This Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation.  With respect to any payments as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1 LEGEND.  The Committee may require each person receiving shares pursuant to an Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof.  In addition to any legend required by this Plan, the certificates for such shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on Transfer.  All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or any national securities association system upon whose system the Common Stock is then quoted, any applicable federal or state securities law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

13.2 OTHER PLANS.  Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

13.3 NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT/DIRECTORSHIP.  Neither this Plan nor the grant of any Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall there be a limitation in any way on the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed to terminate his employment at any time.  Neither this Plan nor the grant of any Award hereunder shall impose any obligations on the Company to retain any Participant as a director nor shall it impose on the part of any Participant any obligation to remain as a director of the Company.

13.4 WITHHOLDING OF TAXES.  The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment to be made to a Participant, or to otherwise require, prior to the issuance or delivery of any shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash hereunder, payment by the Participant of, any Federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld.  Upon the vesting of Restricted Stock, or upon making an election under Code Section 83(b), a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company.  The Committee may permit any such withholding obligation with regard to any Participant to be satisfied by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable or by delivering shares of Common Stock already owned.  Any fraction of a share of Common Stock required to satisfy such tax obligations shall be disregarded and the amount due shall be paid instead in cash by the Participant.

13.5 LISTING AND OTHER CONDITIONS.  If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or otherwise with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.

13.6 GOVERNING LAW.  This Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of incorporation of the Company (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflict of laws).

13.7 CONSTRUCTION.  Wherever any words are used in this Plan in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever any words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.  To the extent applicable, the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code; however, noncompliance with Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code shall have no impact on the effectiveness of a Stock Option granted under the Plan.

 

15


 

13.8 OTHER BENEFITS.  No Award payment under this Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its subsidiaries nor affect any benefits under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.

13.9 COSTS.  The Company shall bear all expenses included in administering this Plan, including expenses of issuing Common Stock pursuant to any Awards hereunder.

13.10 NO RIGHT TO SAME BENEFITS.  The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.

13.11 DEATH/DISABILITY.  The Committee may in its discretion require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participant’s death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participant’s death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award.  The Committee may also require the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan.

13.12 SECTION 16(b) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.  All elections and transactions under the Plan by persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act involving shares of Common Stock are intended to comply with any applicable condition under Rule 16b-3.  The Committee may establish and adopt written administrative guidelines, designed to facilitate compliance with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as it may deem necessary or proper for the administration and operation of the Plan and the transaction of business thereunder.

13.13 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.  If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

13.14 HEADINGS AND CAPTIONS.  The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

ARTICLE XIV
TERM OF PLAN

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the date the Plan is adopted or the date of stockholder approval, but Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date.

ARTICLE XV
NAME OF PLAN

This Plan shall be known as the PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP. 2015 STOCK INCENTIVE AND EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN.

This Plan was duly approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 30, 2015, and duly approved by the sole stockholder of the Company on April 16, 2015. The effective date of the Plan is April 16, 2015.

_/s/ Carlo Buffone__________________________

Carlo Buffone, Chief Financial Officer

 

16

 

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Glen Van Treek, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2015 of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.;

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

(a)

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

(b)

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

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the small business issuer's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the small business issuer's most recent fiscal quarter (the small business issuer's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The small business issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the small business issuer's auditors and the audit committee of the small business issuer's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the small business issuer's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  May 22, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Glen Van Treek

 

 

 

Glen Van Treek

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Carlo Buffone, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2015 of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.;

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

(a)

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

(b)

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

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the small business issuer's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the small business issuer's most recent fiscal quarter (the small business issuer's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The small business issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the small business issuer's auditors and the audit committee of the small business issuer's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the small business issuer's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the small business issuer's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  May 22, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Carlo Buffone

 

 

 

Carlo Buffone

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

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

(2)

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

 

Date:  May 22, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Glen Van Treek

 

 

 

Glen Van Treek

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

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

(2)

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

 

Date:  May 22, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Carlo Buffone

 

 

 

Carlo Buffone

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer