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U. S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC  20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

OR

 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______
 
Commission file number 000-14319

STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(Exact Name of Small Business Issuer as Specified in its Charter)

COLORADO
 
84-0991764
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
Incorporation or Organization)
  
 

900 IDS CENTER, 80 SOUTH EIGHTH STREET, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402-8773
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

612.349.5277
(Issuer’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, If Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) 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 issuer was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesx No ¨

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 (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ¨     No x

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. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨      Accelerated filer ¨      Non-accelerated filer ¨      Smaller reporting company x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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 November 16, 2011, there were 43,842,756 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $.001, outstanding.

 
 

 

STANDARD GOLD, INC.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

          Page
           
PART I
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
     
           
Item 1.
 
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
   
4
           
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets -
     
   
As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010
   
4
           
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations -
     
   
For the three months and nine months ended
     
   
September 30, 2011 and 2010
   
5
           
   
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
     
   
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
   
6
           
   
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
   
7
           
Item 2.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
     
   
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
   
21
           
Item 4T.
 
Controls and Procedures
   
24
           
PART II
 
OTHER INFORMATION
     
           
Item 1.
 
Legal Proceedings
   
25
           
Item 1A.
 
Risk Factors
   
25
           
Item 2.
 
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
   
25
           
Item 3.
 
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
   
25
           
Item 5.
 
Other Information
   
25
           
Item 6.
 
Exhibits
   
26
           
   
Signatures
   
27

 
2

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-Q contains certain statements which are forward-looking in nature and are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management, including statements related to the uncertainty of the quantity or quality of probable ore reserves, the fluctuations in the market price of such reserves, general trends in our operations or financial results, plans, expectations, estimates and beliefs. In addition, when used in this Form 10-Q, the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict” and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to us or our management, may identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our judgment as of the date of this Form 10-Q with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to risks.  We have attempted to identify, in context, certain of the factors that we believe may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from our current expectations, which may have a significant impact on our business, operating results, financial condition or your investment in our common stock, as described in Part I, Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described herein.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, your attention is directed to any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.

 
3

 

STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(audited)
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash
  $ 24,492     $ 154  
Prepaid expenses
    54,612       112,000  
Total current assets
    79,104       112,154  
                 
Shea Mining and Milling Assets
    35,159,427        
Property, plant and equipment, net
    34,348       1,447,851  
Mineral properties and development costs
          5,660,726  
Debt issuance costs, net
    1,835       13,367  
Total Assets
  $ 35,274,714     $ 7,234,098  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
               
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term notes payable
  $ 2,025,000     $ 211,000  
Convertible notes payable, current portion
    1,831,297       300,000  
Current portion of long-term note payable Wits Basin
          1,200,000  
Due to Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc
    16,616       124,240  
Accounts payable
    522,017       167,606  
Shea Mining and Milling payable
    450,000        
Accrued interest
    157,378       614,243  
Accrued expenses
    565,040       741,085  
Total current liabilities
    5,567,348       3,358,174  
                 
Convertible notes payable, long-term portion
          184,923  
Long-term note payable Wits Basin, net of current
          800,000  
Long-term note payable, net of discount
          6,519,500  
Total liabilities
    5,567,348       10,862,597  
                 
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized:
               
10,000,000 and 0 shares issued and outstanding at
               
September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    10,000,000        
                 
Shareholders’ equity (deficit):
               
Common stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized: 42,342,756 and 25,083,572 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    42,342       25,084  
Additional paid-in capital
    42,587,425       6,937,488  
Accumulated deficit during exploration stage
    (22,922,401 )     (10,591,071 )
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)
    19,707,366       (3,628,499 )
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
  $ 35,274,714     $ 7,234,098  

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

 
4

 

STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)

                           
September 28,
2004
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
   
(inception)
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
   
to Sept. 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Revenues
  $     $     $     $     $  
                                         
Operating expenses:
                                       
General and administrative
    1,581,226       498,195       9,413,410       1,714,524       12,478,767  
Exploration expenses
          135,473       50,501       293,156       5,876,922  
Depreciation and amortization
          21,754       28,961       66,836       330,699  
Loss on disposal of assets
                            12,362  
Total operating expenses
    1,581,226       655,422       9,492,872       2,074,516       18,698,750  
Loss from operations
    (1,581,226 )     (655,422 )     (9,492,872 )     (2,074,516 )     (18,698,750 )
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Other income
                      295       1,691  
Interest expense
    (1,031,016 )     (156,859 )     (2,508,583 )     (461,213 )     (3,871,647 )
Foreign currency loss
          (115,817 )     (329,875 )     (113,932 )     (353,695 )
Total other income (expense)
    (1,031,016 )     (272,676 )     (2,838,458 )     (574,850 )     (4,223,651 )
Loss from operations before income taxes
    (2,612,242 )     (928,098 )     (12,331,330 )     (2,649,366 )     (22,922,401 )
Income tax provision
                             
Net loss
  $ (2,612,242 )   $ (928,098 )   $ (12,331,330 )   $ (2,649,366 )   $ (22,922,401 )
                                         
Basic and diluted net loss per common share
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.34 )   $ (0.11 )        
                                         
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
    41,868,043       23,249,345       36,761,782       23,053,430          

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

 
5

 

STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
September 28,
2004
(inception) to
Sept. 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
                 
Net loss
  $ (12,331,330 )   $ (2,649,366 )   $ (22,922,401 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash flows used in operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    28,961       66,836       330,699  
Amortization of imputed interest and original issue discounts on debt
    1,816,478       20,677       2,455,486  
Amortization of prepaid consulting fees related to issuance of common stock and warrants
    112,000       225,000       491,000  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    14,872       7,519       27,404  
Compensation expense related to issuance of common stock and stock option grants
    6,825,976       822,326       7,927,970  
Loss (gain) on foreign currency
    329,875       113,932       353,695  
Issuance of common stock for expenses
    1,014,400       154,000       1,168,400  
Loss on disposal of miscellaneous assets
                12,362  
Issuance of equity securities by Wits Basin (majority shareholder) for exploration expenses
                334,950  
Debt incurred for exploration expenses
                75,000  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Prepaid expenses
    (54,612 )     (7,118 )     (54,612 )
Accounts payable
    274,411       100,001       442,017  
Accrued expenses
    790,432       475,356       2,289,850  
Net cash used in operating activities
    (1,178,537 )     (670,837 )     (7,068,180 )
                         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
                       
Purchases of Shea Mining and Milling assets
    (970,427 )           (970,427 )
Purchases of equipment
    (34,348 )           (177,976 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,004,775 )           (1,148,403 )
                         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                       
Payments on long-term debt
                (491,106 )
Payments from (advances to) Wits Basin
    (27,624 )     98,829       5,314,251  
Cash proceeds from issuance of common stock, warrants and exercise of stock options, net
    101,139       25,000       1,173,694  
Cash proceeds from short-term debt
    2,147,500       100,000       2,283,500  
Debt issuance costs
    (13,365 )           (39,264 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    2,207,650       223,829       8,241,075  
                         
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    24,338       (447,008 )     24,492  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    154       450,887        
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 24,492     $ 3,879     $ 24,492  
                         
Supplemental cash flow information:
                       
Cash paid for interest
  $ 70,218     $ 29,918     $ 125,969  
Cash paid for income taxes
  $     $     $  

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

 
6

 

STANDARD GOLD, INC.
(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2011
(unaudited)

NOTE 1 - OVERVIEW

Standard Gold, Inc. (with its subsidiaries “we,” “us,” “our,” “Standard Gold” or the “Company”) (formerly known as Princeton Acquisitions, Inc.) was incorporated in the State of Colorado on July 10, 1985, as a blind pool or blank check company. On September 29, 2009, we entered into a share exchange agreement with Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Hunter Bates”) and certain of its shareholders, in which Hunter Bates’ shareholders exchanged all of their capital securities into similar capital securities of ours (the “Hunter Bates Share Exchange”) and we adopted the business model of Hunter Bates and became a minerals exploration and development company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Prior to September 29, 2009, Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc., a Minnesota corporation and public reporting company quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol “WITM” (“Wits Basin”) was the majority shareholder of Hunter Bates. Hunter Bates was formed (April 2008) to acquire the prior producing gold mine properties located in Central City, Colorado, known as the “Bates-Hunter Mine.” We did not engage in any exploration activities at the Bates-Hunter Mine properties and on April 29, 2011, we transferred our interests in it back to Wits Basin. See Note 15 for details.

On March 15, 2011, we closed a series of transactions (collectively, the “Shea Transaction”) whereby we acquired certain assets of Shea Mining & Milling, LLC (“Shea Mining”), which assets include land, buildings, permits, water rights, mine dumps and the assignment of a note payable, a lease and a contract agreement. We completed the Shea Transaction in order to broaden our business model to offer precious metal toll milling services. Toll milling is a process whereby mined material is crushed and ground into fine particles to ease the extraction of any precious minerals contained therein, such as gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper, and rare earth metals.

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), for interim financial information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K filed March 21, 2011.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year as a whole.

Foreign Currencies

All dollar amounts expressed in this Report are in US Dollars (“$”), unless specifically noted, as certain transactions are denominated in the Canadian Dollar (“Cdn$”).

 
7

 

NOTE 3 – EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented.  Diluted net loss per common share is determined using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, consisting of shares that might be issued upon exercise of options, warrants and conversion of convertible debt.  In periods where losses are reported, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:
   
Three Months Ended 
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended 
September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share calculation:
                       
Net income (loss) to common shareholders
  $ (2,612,242 )   $ (928,098 )   $ (12,331,330 )   $ (2,649,366 )
Weighted average of common shares outstanding
    41,868,043       23, 249,345       36,761,782       23,053,430  
                                 
Basic net earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.34 )   $ (0.11 )
                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation:
                               
Net income (loss) to common shareholders
  $ (2,612,242 )   $ (928,098 )   $ (12,331,330 )   $ (2,649,366 )
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    41,868,043       23, 249,345       36,761,782       23,053,430  
Options, convertible debentures and warrants
    (1 )     (2 )     (1 )     (2 )
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
    41,868,043       23, 249,345       36,761,782       23,053,430  
                                 
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.34 )   $ (0.11 )

 
(1)
As of September 30, 2011, we had (i) 13,719,335 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, (ii) 11,406,878 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, (iii) reserved an aggregate of 4,615,170 shares of common stock issuable under outstanding convertible debt agreements and (iv) 1,919,000 shares reserved under private options. These 31,660,383 shares, which would be reduced by applying the treasury stock method, were excluded from diluted weighted average outstanding shares amount for computing the net loss per common share, because the net effect would be antidilutive for each of the periods presented.
 
(2)
As of September 30, 2010, we had (i) 4,230,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and (ii) 2,400,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of outstanding options. These 6,630,000 shares, which would be reduced by applying the treasury stock method, were excluded from diluted weighted average outstanding shares amount for computing the net loss per common share, because the net effect would be antidilutive for each of the periods presented.

 
8

 

NOTE 4 – COMPANY’S CONTINUED EXISTENCE

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with US GAAP, assuming we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred losses from operations of $12,331,330. At September 30, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of $22,922,401 and a working capital deficit of $5,488,244. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our ability to raise the required additional capital or debt financing to meet short and long-term operating requirements. We believe that future private placements of equity capital and debt financing are needed to fund our long-term operating requirements. We may also encounter business endeavors that require significant cash commitments or unanticipated problems or expenses that could result in a requirement for additional cash.  If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our current shareholders could be reduced, and such securities might have rights, preferences or privileges senior to our common stock. Additional financing may not be available upon acceptable terms, or at all. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to take advantage of prospective business endeavors or opportunities, which could significantly and materially restrict our operations. We are continuing to pursue external financing alternatives to improve our working capital position. If we are unable to obtain the necessary capital, we may have to cease operations.

NOTE 5 – SHEA MINING AND MILLING ASSETS

On March 15, 2011, we entered into an exchange agreement by and between us, Shea Mining, Afignis, LLC, Leslie Lucas Partners, LLC, Wits Basin and Alfred A. Rapetti (the “Shea Exchange Agreement”) whereby we acquired certain assets from Shea Mining, which assets include land, buildings, permits, water rights, mine dumps and the assignment of a note payable and a lease and a contract agreement. The Shea Exchange Agreement does not include specific toll milling equipment, employees or operational processes and therefore has been accounted for as a purchase of a group of assets. The lease pertains to a property in Amargosa Valley, Nevada (the “Amargosa” property). This lease allows us to have access to 40 acres along with the use of its buildings and be able to utilize the water rights. In connection with the assignment of this lease, we received a 3-year extension on the term of the lease until March 31, 2014. We pay a monthly base rent of $17,500 for this property, increasing to $20,000 per month in April 2012, and $22,250 in April 2013.  We have an option to purchase this property for $6,000,000 at any time between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013.  The property has a valid permit for certain toll milling and approved reclamation services, which we have been assigned through a separate contract agreement, which requires a $5,000 monthly fee and has also been extended for 3 years.

Also on March 15, 2011, we executed an Assignment and Assumption of Loan Documents and Loan Modification Agreement, by and between us, Shea Mining and NJB Mining, Inc. (the “Loan Modification Agreement”), for certain assets located in Tonopah, Nevada (“Tonopah”). The Tonopah property is subject to a $2.5 million existing first deed of trust which was in default at the time of the Shea Transaction and included accrued interest of $375,645, which was also assumed in the transaction. As part of the assignment, NJB Mining, Inc. (“NJB”) modified the related note to allow us until May 14, 2011 to refinance this mortgage, which was subsequently extended until July 13, 2011 and further extended until October 10, 2011. Additionally, anytime in which the note remains in default, for each payment not made within ten (10) days of the due date, a late fee equal to ten percent (10%) of the payment is due; potentially requiring a $250,000 penalty payment.   On July 7, 2011, we issued 555,556 shares of our unregistered common stock to NJB as a partial principal payment of $500,000 (valued at a $0.90 per share). As of August 31, 2011, we were in default under the terms of the NJB loan agreement, and therefore entered into a forbearance agreement with NJB, (the “NJB Forbearance Agreement”), in which we agreed to issue an additional 200,000 shares of common stock valued at $180,000 and pay interest aggregating $52,952 prior to October 1, 2011 to NJB. In exchange, NJB agreed to forbear from initiating legal proceedings, including forbearance of the deed of trust and enforcement of its collection remedies. The NJB Forbearance Agreement further provided for additional extensions up through December 9, 2011; subject to the issuance of additional shares of common stock and payments of additional accrued interest amounts, as defined in the NJB Forbearance Agreement to NJB. See Note 9 – Short-Term Notes Payable for details of the NJB Forbearance Agreement.

The Tonopah property consists of 1,174 deeded acres, mine tailings, water rights and a dormant milling facility. We plan to execute a complete characterization of the mine tailings at Tonopah. The milling facility was built in 1981 by Lurgi Engineering, a German firm, which had a reported capacity to process up to 2,000 tons of tailings per day. The milling facility was shut down in 1984, and has never been restarted and will require significant repair or replacement in order to operate again. We are still completing preliminary investigations of Tonopah and have not determined the time or capital required to put it in operation again.

 
9

 

We also were assigned the ownership of approximately a six square mile section of mine dump material in Manhattan, Nevada (“Manhattan”).

Pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, we issued a total of 35 million shares of our common stock to the equity holders of Shea Mining in exchange for certain of their assets, resulting in those holders owning an ownership interest of approximately 87% of our then currently outstanding common stock (approximately 56% ownership interest on a fully diluted basis). Alfred A. Rapetti, our Chief Executive Officer, has been granted an irrevocable voting proxy for half of the shares issued to the Shea Mining equity holders, which continues until the affected shares are publicly sold after a period of at least six months, and thereafter in accordance with all applicable securities laws. We also agreed to indemnify Shea Mining from any liabilities arising after March 15, 2011 out of the Loan Modification Agreement or the loan agreements.

The purchase consideration of the assets acquired was calculated as follows:

Issuance of 35,000,000 shares of common stock with an estimated fair value of $0.89 per share (closing sales price on March 15, 2011)
  $ 31,150,000  
Cash consideration ($250,000 paid, $450,000 still payable at September 30, 2011)
    700,000  
Assumption of NJB Mining mortgage
    2,500,000  
Assumption of accrued interest and other liabilities
    463,184  
Legal costs (includes issuance of 100,000 shares of common stock valued at $89,000)
    205,258  
Other direct expenses incurred in connection with the Shea Transaction
    140,985  
    $ 35,159,427  

The valuation is preliminary and future refinements will be made based on the completion of final valuation studies.

Simultaneous with these transactions, pursuant to the Shea Exchange Agreement, Wits Basin exchanged 19,713,544 shares of our common stock it held for 10 million shares of our newly created non-voting 5% preferred stock, referred to as the “Series A Preferred Stock.” The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. Additional details regarding the Series A Preferred Stock can be found in our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, which were filed with the Colorado Secretary of State on March 15, 2011.  Additionally, we obtained the right to transfer our entire interest and related debt of the Bates-Hunter Mine, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to Wits Basin in exchange for the cancellation of a promissory note issued by Hunter Bates payable in favor of Wits Basin in the approximate amount of $2.5 million. On April 29, 2011, our Board of Directors approved this transfer effective April 29, 2011. See Note 15 – Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine and related assets and liabilities.

Furthermore, Wits Basin had entered into certain commitments which involved shares of our common stock and as a result of their exchange of substantially all of the Standard Gold common stock they held for Series A Preferred, they could no longer honor those commitments. In consideration of Wits agreeing to the exchange, the Company agreed to enter into two stock option agreements as follows: (1) the Company granted to one of Wits Basin’s major lenders a replacement stock option, on substantially the same terms as the stock option issued by Wits Basin, to purchase 1,299,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share expiring on December 14, 2014 and (2) the Company granted to Wits Basin a replacement stock option, expiring on December 19, 2014, to purchase up to 630,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $0.50 per share.

 
10

 

NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Hunter Bates utilized the services of Gregory Gold Producers, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“Gregory Gold”) a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunter Bates as an oversight management company for the exploration activities that were being conducted at the Bates-Hunter Mine through August 2008. Gregory Gold made purchases of various pieces of equipment necessary to operate and de-water the Bates-Hunter Mine property, which included land, buildings and other additional equipment all related to operating the Bates-Hunter Mine. Depreciation on allowable assets was calculated on a straight-line method over the estimated useful life, presently ranging from two to twenty years.  See Note 15 – Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine property, plant and equipment.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we began purchasing toll milling equipment that will ultimately be placed in service during the next quarter.

Components of the property, plant and equipment are as follows:
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Land
  $     $ 329,280  
Buildings
          1,206,954  
Equipment
    34,348       199,694  
Less accumulated depreciation
          (288,077 )
    $ 34,348     $ 1,447,851  

NOTE 7 – MINERAL PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

Until April 29, 2011, we held title to the Bates-Hunter Mine. We never commenced any mining operations due to the lack of funding and therefore, we have not recorded any amortization and we never determined that any impairment had occurred.  See Note 15 – Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine mineral properties and development costs.

Components of the mineral properties and development costs are as follows:
   
September 30,
2011
   
December 31,
2010
 
Mining claims
  $     $ 5,657,383  
Mining permits
          3,343  
    $     $ 5,660,726  

NOTE 8 – DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS

We recorded debt issuance costs with respect to legal services incurred relating to the various promissory notes issued. Debt issuance costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis (which approximates the effective interest method) over the term of the corresponding debt.

The following table summarizes the amortization of debt issuance costs:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Debt issuance costs, net, beginning of period
  $ 13,367     $ 23,392  
Add: additional debt issuance costs
    13,365        
Less: debt issuance costs transferred (1)
    (10,025 )      
Less: amortization of debt issuance costs
    (14,872 )     (10,025 )
Debt issuance costs, net, end of period
  $ 1,835     $ 13,367  

(1) See Note 15 – Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of the Bates-Hunter Mine related debt issuance costs.

 
11

 

Future annual amortization is scheduled to be as follows for the years ending December 31:

2011 — Remaining
  $ 934  
2012
    901  
Total
  $ 1,835  

NOTE 9 – SHORT-TERM NOTES PAYABLE

The following table summarizes the Company’s short-term notes payable:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Unsecured promissory note issued on August 18, 2010, in the principal amount of $25,000 along with a warrant to purchase 50,000 shares at $0.50 per share and bore interest at 18%. On March 2, 2011, the holder exchanged this past due note for a six-month convertible promissory note (see Note 10 – Convertible Notes Payable) and received $2,416 of accrued interest in cash. (1)
  $     $ 25,000  
                 
Promissory note issued on September 7, 2010, in the principal amount of $25,000 to Stephen Flechner, our President at the time, utilized for a potential mining project; stated interest rate of 5%; accrued interest of $1,333 at September 30, 2011; with a maturity date of November 30, 2010 and currently past due, original terms apply in the default period. (1)
    25,000       25,000  
                 
Promissory note issued on September 7, 2010, in the principal amount of $50,000 utilized for a potential mining project and bore interest at 5%. On January 25, 2011, the note was used as proceeds on a warrant sale. (1)
          50,000  
                 
The Company received five unsecured loans during the fourth quarter of 2010 for an aggregate of $111,000 (all from the same lender and requiring one warrant to be issued for the purchase of 64,000 shares at $0.50 per share) and all bore interest at 12%. On February 15, 2011, the holder exchanged these past due notes along with the accrued interest of $2,939 for two six-month convertible promissory notes. See Note 10 – Convertible Notes Payable
          111,000  
                 
Secured note payable to NJB Mining Inc. for the assets located in Tonopah, Nevada, assigned to us in connection with the Shea Transaction, stated interest rate of 7.5%; accrued interest of $91,149 at September 30, 2011 based on the default interest rate of 12.5%; original maturity date of May 15, 2011, was extended until July 13, 2011, was further extended to October 10, 2011 and under the terms of the NJB Forbearance Agreement was extended until December 9, 2011. (2)
    2,000,000        
Totals
  $ 2,025,000     $ 211,000  

 
12

 

(1) Secured by a personal guarantee of Stephen D. King, our CEO at the time. In connection with these notes and to induce the note holders into these agreements the Company granted each note holder to share in an aggregate one percent (1%) net smelter return royalty (“NSR”). Until such time as the Company was to sell its majority interest in a potential mining project yet to be acquired, the note holders would receive a 0.375% and 0.625%, as defined in the agreement, respectively.

(2) On July 7, 2011, we issued 555,556 shares of our common stock as a principal balance reduction of $500,000. As a result of being in default of the note, in August 2011, NJB required the Company to enter into that certain NJB Forbearance Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, whereby the Company was obligated to give the following additional consideration in order for NJB to temporarily forbear from exercising its rights and remedies under the Loan Modification Agreement:
(i) issue  to NJB 200,000 shares of common stock; (ii) make an interest payment equal to $26,042 on or before September 1, 2011; (iii) make an interest payment equal to $26,910 on or before October 1, 2011; and (iv) remit to NJB all remaining principal, interest, fees and other expenses due on or before October 10, 2011, (the “Forbearance Period”). The NJB Forbearance Agreement further provided the Company with options to extend the Forbearance Period for two additional 30-day periods, pursuant to the following terms and conditions:
(A)  For the first extension period ending on November 9, 2011, by notice given to NJB prior to October 10, 2011, which notice shall include  (i) the issuance of 500,000 shares of common stock to NJB, and (ii) an interest payment of $114,587; and
(B) For the second extension period ending on December 9, 2011, by notice given to NJB prior November 9, 2011, which notice shall include (i) the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of common stock to NJB, and (ii) an interest payment $26,910.

As of November 9, 2011, the Company has exercised both options by issuing an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares and making both interest payments.

The Company has placed in escrow the following: (i) a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, (ii) Water Rights Deed and (iii) a Bill of Sale. Should the Company not meet the requirements of the second December 9, 2011 extension period date, NJB has the right to take immediate title to the assets located in Tonopah and interest in all leases, contracts and permits related to ownership, occupancy and operation of said assets.

Summary

The following table summarizes the short-term notes payable balances:

Balance at December 31, 2010
  $ 211,000  
Add: NJB Mining note acquired as part of Shea Transaction in 2011
    2,500,000  
Less: exchange of principal payments for new convertible notes
    (136,000 )
Less: note exchanged for warrant exercise
    (50,000 )
Less: common stock issued in lieu of cash for principal of NJB note
    (500,000 )
Balance at September 30, 2011
  $ 2,025,000  

The weighted average interest rate on short-term notes payable at September 30, 2011 was 12.6%.

NOTE 10  – CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE

Beginning in January 2011, we entered into six-month convertible promissory notes (the “CP Notes”) with accredited investors. The terms of the CP Notes are: (i) accrue interest at 6% per annum (ii) include the right to convert into our common stock at any time, at a price of $0.50 per share, and (iii) the issuance of a two-year stock purchase warrant, with an exercise price of $0.50 per share, at a rate of two warrants per $1 of CP Notes.  The warrants created a debt discount of $1,319,304. In addition, due to proceeds allocated between the debt and warrants, beneficial conversion charges were created totaling an additional debt discount of $901,899. Both discounts are being amortized over the 6-month term of the convertible notes.

 
13

 

As of September 30, 2011, we have received gross cash proceeds of $2,147,500. In additional to these cash proceeds, certain short-term note holders rolled their past due principal and interest into the CP Notes totaling $138,939 and a consultant rolled its accounts payable into the CP Notes totaling $35,000. As of September 30, 2011, in connection with the terms of the CP Notes, we have issued warrants to purchase 4,642,878 shares of our common stock and have reserved shares of our common stock for issuance should the holders convert.

As of September 30, 2011, three Note holders converted $78,750 of principal plus $1,117 accrued interest into 159,735 shares of common stock.

The following table summarizes the Company’s convertible notes:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Convertible promissory notes net of unamortized discount of $411,392 at September 30 2011; interest rate of 6%; accrued interest of $64,896 at September 30, 2011 and certain of these CP Notes are currently past due and original terms apply in the default period.
  $ 1,831,297     $  
                 
Cabo $511,590 secured convertible debenture net of unamortized discount of $20,000 at April 29, 2011. See Note 15 for a discussion regarding the transference of the Cabo Debenture to Wits Basin.
          484,923  
Totals
    1,831,297       484,923  
Less: current portion
    (1,831,297 )     (300,000 )
Long-term portion
  $     $ 184,923  

NOTE 11 – LONG-TERM NOTES PAYABLE

The following table summarizes the Company’s long-term notes payable:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
In August 2009, Hunter Bates issued a note payable in favor of Wits Basin (at which time held 100% of the equity interest in Hunter Bates) in the principal amount of $2,500,000. (1)
  $     $ 2,000,000  
                 
Hunter Bates completed the acquisition of the Bates-Hunter Mine properties, financed through a limited recourse promissory note in the principal amount of Cdn$6,750,000. As of December 31, 2010, the outstanding principal balance was Cdn$6,500,000 (approximately $6,519,500 US). (1)
          6,519,500  
Totals
          8,519,500  
Less: current portion
          (1,200,000 )
Long-term portion
  $     $ 7,319,500  
(1) See Note 15 – Transfer of Bates-Hunter Mine for a discussion regarding the transference of all long-term notes payable to Wits Basin.

 
14

 

NOTE 12 - SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock

Simultaneous with the Shea Exchange Agreement, Wits Basin exchanged 19,713,544 shares of our common stock it held for 10 million shares ($.001 par value each) of our newly created non-voting 5% preferred stock, referred to as the "Series A Preferred Stock" with an original issue price of $1.00 per share. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $10 million, payable only upon certain liquidity events or upon achievement of a market value of our equity equaling $200 million or more. As of September 30, 2011, there were accrued undeclared dividends of approximately $271,000 on the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. These undeclared dividends had no effect on the earnings per share calculation.

Attributes of Series A Preferred Stock include but are not limited to the following:

Dividends
Dividends at a rate per annum equal to five percent (5%) of the Liquidation Value (as defined below) of the Series A Preferred Stock plus the amount of previously accrued dividends, compounding on an annual basis, shall accrue on such shares of Series A Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock) (the "Accruing Dividends"). Accruing Dividends shall accrue from day to day, and shall be cumulative. The Company may pay Accruing Dividends at any time; provided, however, that Accruing Dividends must be paid in full to holders of Series A Preferred Stock upon the occurrence of a Liquidation Event, as further defined.

Distribution in Liquidation
Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, and after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all its obligations, the remainder of the assets of the Company shall be distributed, either in cash or in kind, first pro rata to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock in an amount equal to the Liquidation Value; then, to any other series of Preferred Stock, until an amount to be determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors prior to issuances of such Preferred Stock, has been distributed per share, and, then, the remainder pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock.

Upon the occurrence of any Liquidation Event (as defined below), each holder of Series A Preferred Stock will receive a payment equal to the Original Issue Price for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder, plus any Accruing Dividends (the "Liquidation Value"). A "Liquidation Event" will have occurred when:

 
·
The Company has an average market capitalization (calculated by adding the value of all outstanding shares of Common Stock valued at the Company's closing sale price on the OTCBB or other applicable bulletin board or exchange, plus the value of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock at the Original Issue Price per share) of $200,000,000 or more over any 90-day period. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock would have the right, for 30 days after the end of such qualifying 90-day measurement period, to require the Company to purchase the Series A Preferred Stock for an amount equal to the Liquidation Value.

 
·
Any Liquidity Event in which the Company receives proceeds of $50,000,000 or more. For purposes hereof, a "Liquidity Event" means any (a) liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; (b) acquisition of the Company by means of any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any reorganization, merger, share exchange, share purchase or consolidation) provided that the applicable transaction shall not be deemed a liquidation unless the Company's stockholders constituted immediately prior to such transaction hold less than 50% of the voting power of the surviving or acquiring entity; or (c) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the sale or disposition (whether by merger or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Company if substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries.

 
15

 

Redemption
The Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed in whole or in part as determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors at any time, at a price equal to the Liquidation Value.

Voting Rights
Shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no rights to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, except as required by law, in which case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote. Any other shares of Preferred Stock shall only be entitled to such vote as is determined by the Board of Directors prior to the issuance of such stock, except as required by law, in which case each share of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote.

Conversion Rights
Holders of Series A Preferred Stock will have no right to convert such shares into any other equity securities of the Company. Holders of shares of any other series of Preferred Stock may be granted the right to convert such Preferred Stock to Common Stock of the Company on such terms as may be determined by the Board of Directors prior to issuance of such Preferred Stock.

Common Stock Issuances

During the three months ended September 30, 2011: (1) we received a 60-day extension from NJB Mining and granted the issuance of 200,000 shares of the unregistered common stock (valued at $180,000) as consideration for the extension and issued 555,556 shares of the unregistered common stock to NJB, which was applied as a $500,000 principal payment on the $2,500,000 Tonopah mortgage; (2) two investors exercised on warrants and received an aggregate of 133,295 shares of our common stock by surrendering 116,705 of available shares (via the cashless exercise provision) to pay for the exercise; (3) we issued 600,000 shares of our unregistered stock to an investment agent as settlement for terminating an agreement (valued at $690,000); (4) two stock option holders exercised an aggregate of 45,165 options into common stock for aggregate proceeds of $23,034; and (5) two convertible note holders converted $53,750 of principal plus $1,060 accrued interest into 109,620 shares of common stock.

Stock Option Grants

We have one stock option plan: the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). Stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and other stock and cash awards may be granted under the Plan. In general, options vest over a period ranging from immediate vesting to five years and expire 10 years from the date of grant. On March 15, 2011, with the closing of the Shea Exchange Agreement a “change of control” event was deemed to have occurred and 13,500,000 previously granted stock options vested in full. Effective July 25, 2011, the Plan was amended to increase the total shares of stock which may be issued under the Plan from 13,500,000 to 14,500,000. As of September 30, 2011, an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of our common stock are available to be granted under our Plan.

On May 13, 2011, the Board authorized the following current and future stock option grants: (1) the Board granted a stock option to Manfred Birnbaum for his services to serve as Chairman of the Board, whereby he was granted a ten year stock option to purchase up to 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, 75,000 vested immediately and 75,000 vest each December 31 thereafter, at an exercise price of $1.50 per share, and (2) the Board authorized that each member of the Board will receive 70,000 options after one year of serving as a Board member and will also receive 10,000 options for their service on any committee, provided the member is still serving on the committee and also still a Board member as of May 13, 2012. The aforementioned current and future stock options to the members of the Board are intended to be grants outside of the Plan.

 
16

 

In addition, in connection with the Shea Transaction (see Note 5 – Shea Mining and Milling Assets), the Company issued replacement stock options for 1,299,000 and 630,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at exercise prices of $1.00 and $0.50, respectively.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model as a method for determining the estimated fair value for employee stock awards. Compensation expense for employee stock awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of service awards and for performance based awards, the Company recognizes the expense when the performance condition is probable of being met.

In determining the compensation cost of the options granted during fiscal 2011 and 2010, the fair value of each option grant had been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model and the weighted average assumptions used in these calculations are summarized below:

   
2011
   
2010
 
Risk-free interest rate
    2.00%       2.00%  
Expected volatility factor
    146 - 158%       145% - 150%  
Expected dividend
           
Expected option term
 
10 years
   
10 years
 

We recorded $6,825,976 and $720,326 related to employee stock compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, relating to share options granted. All stock compensation expense is included in general and administrative expense. The compensation expense had a $0.19 and $0.03 per share impact on the loss per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s stock options:

   
Number of
Options
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
 Price
 
Options outstanding – December 31, 2010
    2,800,000     $ 0.79  
                 
Granted
    12,929,000       0.58  
Canceled or expired
           
Exercised
    (90,665 )     0.56  
Options outstanding – September 30, 2011
    15,638,335     $ 0.62  
                 
Options exercisable – September 30, 2011
    15,413,335     $ 0.61  
                 
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2011
          $ 0.59  
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010
          $ 0.78  

 
17

 

The following tables summarize information about stock options outstanding at September 30, 2011:

   
Options Outstanding
 
Range of
Exercise Prices
 
Number
Outstanding
 
Weighted
Remaining
Contractual
Life
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value(1)
 
                     
$0.50 to $0.60
    12,049,335  
8.9 years
  $ 0.52     $ 1,611,207  
$0.72 to $0.90
    2,000,000  
8.6 years
  $ 0.86     $  
$1.00 to $1.50
    1,589,000  
4.4 years
  $ 1.09     $  
$0.50 to $1.50
    15,638,335  
8.5 years
  $ 0.62     $ 1,611,207  

   
Options Exercisable
 
Range of
Exercise Prices
 
Number
Exercisable
 
Weighted
Remaining
Contractual
Life
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value(1)
 
                     
$0.50 to $0.60
    12,049,335  
8.9 years
  $ 0.52     $ 1,611,207  
$0.72 to $0.90
    2,000,000  
8.6 years
  $ 0.86     $  
$1.00 to $1.50
    1,364,000  
3.6 years
  $ 1.03     $  
$0.50 to $1.50
    15,413,335  
8.5 years
  $ 0.61     $ 1,611,207  

(1)  The aggregate intrinsic value in the table represents the difference between the closing stock price on September 30, 2011 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on September 30, 2011. During the three months ended September 30, 2011 an aggregate of 45,165 options were exercised resulting in $23,034 of gross proceeds. No options were exercised during 2010.

Stock Warrants

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we issued 430,000 two-year warrants to purchase common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share in connection with convertible promissory notes (the allocated fair value of the warrants was calculated to be $134,408).

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s stock warrants outstanding:

   
Number
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Range
of
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Remaining
Contractual
Life
Outstanding at December 31, 2010
    3,044,000     $ 0.94     $ 0.50 – 1.00    
                           
Granted
    8,662,878       0.55       0.50 – 1.00    
Cancelled or expired
    (133,228 )     0.50       0.50    
Exercised
    (166,772 )     0.50       0.50    
Outstanding at September 30, 2011
    11,406,878     $ 0.63     $ 0.50 – 1.00  
   2.9 years
                           
Warrants exercisable at September 30, 2011
    11,406,878     $ 0.63     $ 0.50 – 1.00    

 
18

 

NOTE 13 – EFFECT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

There were no new accounting standards issued or effective during the three months ended September 30, 2011 that had or are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

NOTE 14 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Wits Basin provided certain general and administrative services (primarily management salary in 2010 only and office rent) for the Company. Amounts charged to operations amounted to $0 and $39,100 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Amounts charged to operations amounted to $1,895 and $84,300 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

NOTE 15 – TRANSFER OF BATES-HUNTER MINE

Pursuant to the terms of the March 15, 2011 Shea Exchange Agreement, Standard Gold held the right, at any time prior to June 13, 2011, to transfer its entire interest and related debt of the Bates-Hunter Mine to Wits Basin.  The Bates-Hunter Mine interests consisted of: the Hunter Bates Mining Corporation, a Minnesota corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary of Gregory Gold Producers, Inc., a Colorado corporation (which held property, plant, equipment, mining rights and permits for exploration work performed in Central City, Colorado); a 12% secured convertible debenture in the principal amount of $511,590 (convertible into shares of Wits Basin common stock) held by Cabo Drilling (America) Inc., a Washington corporation; a long-term limited recourse promissory note to the sellers of the Bates-Hunter Mine in the principal amount of Cdn$6,750,000; and the long-term note payable issued by Hunter Bates in favor of Wits Basin in the principal amount of $2,500,000.

Effective April 29, 2011, our Board of Directors approved the transfer as specified in the Shea Exchange Agreement and served notice to Wits Basin that it was exercising its right. The following was transferred:

 
 
Balance at
April 29, 2011
 
Assets
       
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 1,418,890  
Mineral properties and development costs
  $ 5,660,726  
Debt issuance costs
  $ 10,025  
         
Liabilities
       
Convertible notes payable, current portion
  $ 300,000  
Current portion of long-term note payable Wits Basin
  $ 1,350,000  
Accrued interest
  $ 803,074  
Accrued expenses
  $ 411,212  
Cabo convertible notes payable, long-term portion
  $ 191,590  
Long-term note payable Wits Basin, net of current
  $ 650,000  
Long-term note payable for Bates-Hunter Mine
  $ 6,849,375 (1)

(1) The $329,875 increase from December 31, 2010 is due to the fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and Canadian Dollar.

The Company recorded approximately $3,466,000 of additional paid-in capital as a result of the transfer of assets and liabilities.

 
19

 

NOTE 16 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 10, 2011 and November 9, 2011, we issued 500,000 and 1,000,000 unregistered shares of common stock, respectively, to NJB Mining, Inc. in consideration for extensions under the terms of the NJB Forbearance Agreement. See Note 9 – Short-Term Notes Payable for details of the NJB Forbearance Agreement.

During November 2011, we have received gross cash proceeds of $200,000 through the issuance of six-month convertible promissory notes.

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

The following management discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in connection with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

OVERVIEW

Standard Gold, Inc. was incorporated in Colorado in July 1985, as a blind pool or blank check company and had no operations. On September 29, 2009, we entered into that certain Hunter Bates Share Exchange agreement with Hunter Bates Mining Corporation (“Hunter Bates”), in which Hunter Bates’ shareholders exchanged all of their capital securities into similar capital securities of ours. Accordingly, the Hunter Bates Share Exchange represented a change in control and Hunter Bates became a wholly owned subsidiary of ours and we adopted the business model of Hunter Bates and became a minerals exploration and development company.

Prior to September 29, 2009, Wits Basin Precious Minerals Inc. (“Wits Basin”) was the majority shareholder of Hunter Bates. Hunter Bates was formed to acquire the gold mine properties known as the “Bates-Hunter Mine.” We did not engage in any exploration activities at the Bates-Hunter Mine properties and on April 29, 2011, we transferred our interests in the properties back to Wits Basin pursuant to the certain terms of the Shea Transaction.

On March 15, 2011, we closed a series of transactions (collectively, the “Shea Transaction”) whereby we acquired certain assets of Shea Mining & Milling, LLC (“Shea Mining”), which assets included permits, water rights, mine dumps, the assignment of a lease and contract, and some significant assets located in Tonopah, Nevada.

Pursuant to a Shea Exchange Agreement, dated March 15, 2011 we issued a total of 35 million shares of our common stock to the equity holders of Shea Mining in exchange for the following Shea Mining assets:

 
·
Amargosa: we were assigned a lease and a contract which allows us to have access to 40 acres along with the use of buildings, water rights and permits located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada.
 
·
Tonopah: pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption of Loan Documents and Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2011, by and between us, Shea Mining and NJB Mining, Inc. we acquired from Shea Mining certain assets located in Tonopah, Nevada, consisting of land, mine tailings, and a dormant milling facility.
 
·
Manhattan Dumps: in addition to Amargosa and Tonopah, we received the ownership of approximately six square miles of mine dump material in Manhattan, Nevada.

We completed the Shea Transaction in order to broaden our business model to offer toll milling services. Toll milling is a process whereby mined material is crushed and ground into fine particles to ease the extraction of any precious minerals contained therein, such as gold, silver, lead, zinc and copper, and rare earth metals.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 COMPARED TO THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010.

Revenues

We had no revenues from any exploration operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, but with the completion of the Shea Transaction, we plan to enter into the precious metal toll milling business and anticipate that we will be able to report revenues from tolling operations by the fourth quarter.

 
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Operating Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $1,581,226 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $498,195 for the same period in 2010. General and administrative expenses were $9,413,410 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $1,714,524 for the same period in 2010. Of the $9,413,410 in 2011, we recorded $6,825,976 of compensation expense related to stock options vesting and $690,000 from the termination of an investment agent agreement. With the change in our pursuit to a milling and tolling service company and less emphasis on pure exploration activities, we anticipate that our operating expenses will continue to increase for the remainder of the year as we continue to build the infrastructure of the Company in order to proceed with such milling and tolling services.

Exploration expenses were $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $135,473 for the same period in 2010. Exploration expenses were $50,501 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $293,156 for the same period in 2010. Exploration expenses relate to the cash expenditures being reported for our maintenance work at the Bates-Hunter project and for due diligence on other gold exploration projects. In 2011, the Company was only maintaining the Bates-Hunter project, while in 2010, we continued to perform some due diligence on some other possible gold exploration projects. We anticipate the rate of spending for fiscal 2011 exploration expenses to decrease over 2010 expenses as we concentrate on building the milling and tolling services.

Depreciation and amortization expenses were $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $21,754 for the same period in 2010.  Depreciation and amortization expenses were $28,961 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $66,836 for the same period in 2010, which represents depreciation of fixed assets for the mine itself and equipment purchased for work being performed at the Bates-Hunter Mine. We transferred the depreciable assets related to the Bates-Hunter Mine to Wits Basin in April 2011 and will no longer be recording any depreciation expenses for the Bates-Hunter mine and related equipment. We anticipate that our depreciation expense will increase over current levels for the remainder of this fiscal year as we make purchases of additional milling and tolling equipment and complete the analysis of the depreciable assets acquired in the Shea Transaction.

Other Income and Expenses

Interest Expense
Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $1,031,016 compared to $156,859 for the same period in 2010.  Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $2,508,583 compared to $461,213 for the same period in 2010. The 2011 and 2010 amounts relate to the interest due on the following notes payable: (i) the Cdn$6,750,000 limited recourse promissory note for the Bates-Hunter Mine, which was interest-free until January 1, 2010, and from such date accrued interest at a rate of 6% per annum, (ii) in April 2009, we entered into a 12% Convertible Debenture with Cabo Drilling (America) Inc., in the principal amount of $511,590, (iii) in August 2009, Hunter Bates issued a note payable in favor of Wits Basin (at which time held 100% of the equity interest in Hunter Bates) in the principal amount of $2,500,000 in consideration of various start-up and developments costs and expenses incurred by Wits Basin on its behalf while Hunter Bates and Gregory Gold were consolidated, wholly owned subsidiaries of Wits Basin, (iv) the short-term notes payable, (v) the convertible notes we entered into during 2011 plus the amortization of the value assigned to additional beneficial conversion features and warrants issued, and (vi) the amortization of debt issuance costs.

The significant increases over 2010 amounts relate to items (v) and (vi) described above. The non-cash interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $933,152 compared to $13,184 for the same period in 2010. The non-cash interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $2,086,350 compared to $28,196 for the same period in 2010.

 
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Foreign Currency
With the consummation of the Bates-Hunter Mine acquisition in June 2008, we have been recording direct non-cash foreign currency exchange gains and losses due to our dealings with the limited recourse promissory note, which is payable in Canadian Dollars.  We recorded a loss of $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $115,817 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 due to the fluctuations in exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Canadian Dollar. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded a loss of $329,875 as compared to $113,932 for the same period in 2010. With the transfer of the limited recourse promissory note to Wits Basin on April 29, 2011, our continued recording of gains and losses due to foreign currency exchange rates in future periods should diminish as long as we do not enter into other foreign currency payment obligations.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual and operating needs as they arise. We have funded our operations and satisfied our capital requirements through private placements of our equities and advances from Wits Basin. We do not anticipate generating sufficient net positive cash flows from our operations to fund the next twelve months. We had a working capital deficit of $5,488,244 at September 30, 2011. Cash and cash equivalents were $24,492 at September 30, 2011, representing an increase of $24,338 from the cash and cash equivalents of $154 at December 31, 2010.

Our cash reserves will not be sufficient to meet our operational needs and thus, we need to raise additional capital to pay for our operational expenses and provide for capital expenditures. Our basic operational expenses are estimated at approximately $150,000 per month and we continue to have debt service commitments, which includes $2,000,000 due to NJB by December 9, 2011. Above the basic operational expenses, we estimate that we need approximately $250,000 to begin limited tolling operations at Amargosa. If we are not able to raise additional working capital, we may have to cutback on operational expenditures or cease operations altogether.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we had net cash used in operating activities of $1,178,537 as compared to $670,837, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in 2011 is due primarily from the cash being expended to build a base of operations in Nevada.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we had net cash used in investing activities of $1,004,775 primarily related to the Shea Transaction.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we had net cash provided by financing activities of $2,207,650 as compared to $223,829 for the same period in 2010. During 2011, we issued six-month convertible promissory notes resulting in gross cash proceeds of $2,147,500.

The following table summarizes our debt as of September 30, 2011:

Outstanding
Amount
   
Interest
Rate
   
Unamortized
Discounts
   
Accrued
Interest
   
Maturity
Date
 
Type
$ 25,000 (1)     5 %   $     $ 1,333    
November 30, 2010
 
Conventional
$ 2,000,000 (2)     12.5 %(3)   $     $ 91,149    
December 9, 2011(4
)
Conventional
$ 1,831,297 (5)     6 %   $ 411,392     $ 64,896       (6 )
Convertible

 
(1)
Promissory note issued on September 7, 2010, to Stephen Flechner, our President at the time, currently past due, original terms apply in the default period.
 
(2)
Note payable to NJB Mining Inc. (for the assets located in Tonopah) assigned to us in connection with the Shea Transaction.
 
(3)
The stated interest rate is 7.5%, but if the note was not paid in full by August 25, 2010, then the rate increased to 12.5% (an additional 5% default rate was added).
 
(4)
Original maturity date of May 15, 2011, extended until December 9, 2011.
 
(5)
Beginning in January 2011, we entered into various six-month convertible promissory notes convertible at a price of $0.50 per share and issued a two-year stock purchase warrant with an exercise price of $0.50 per share at a rate of two (2) warrants per $1 of note.

 
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(6)
The convertible promissory notes begin maturing on July 5, 2011 through February 29, 2012. Certain of these CP Notes are currently past due and original terms apply in the default period.

Summary

Our existing sources of liquidity will not provide cash to fund operations and make the required payments on our debt service for the next twelve months.  Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent entirely on raising funds through the sale of equity or debt.  We will continue our attempt to raise additional capital. Some of the possibilities available to us are through private equity transactions, to develop a credit facility with a lender or the exercise of options and warrants. However, such additional capital may not be available to us at acceptable terms or at all. In the event that we are unable to obtain additional capital, we would be forced to reduce operating expenditures and/or cease operations altogether

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we did not engage in any off balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.

Item 4T.  Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision of, and the participation of, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Based on this evaluation and taking into account that certain material weaknesses existed as of December 31, 2010, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have each concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2011.  As a result of this conclusion, the financial statements for the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q were prepared with particular attention to the material weaknesses previously disclosed. Notwithstanding the material weaknesses in internal controls that continue to exist as of September 30, 2011, we have concluded that the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as required for interim financial statements.

Due to the small number of employees dealing with general administrative and financial matters and the expenses associated with increases to remediate the disclosure controls and procedures that have been identified, the Company continued to operate without changes to its internal controls over financial reporting for the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q while continuing to seek the expertise it needs to remediate the material weaknesses at an appropriate cost benefit basis.

 
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PART II. OTHER
INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The most significant risk factors applicable to the Company are described in Part I Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (the “2010 Form 10-K”).  There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in the 2010 Form 10-K.  The risks described in the 2010 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to management may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, and/or operating results.

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

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company issued an aggregate of $215,000 in six-month convertible promissory notes (the “CP Notes”) with three accredited investors. The terms of the CP Notes are: (i) accrue interest at 6% per annum (ii) include the right to convert into our common stock at any time, at a price of $0.50 per share, and (iii) the issuance of a two-year stock purchase warrant, with an exercise price of $0.50 per share, at a rate of two warrants per $1 of CP Notes.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company issued 1,355,556 shares of common stock as follows: (i) we issued 200,000 shares for a 60 day maturity note extension and an additional 555,556 shares as partial principal payment of $500,000 to NJB Mining, and (ii) we issued 600,000 shares to an investment agent as settlement for terminating an agreement.

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company issued stock warrants to purchase up to 430,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share through convertible promissory notes.
 
For each of these issuances, the Company relied on the exemption from federal registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, and/or Rule 506 promulgated thereunder. The Company relied on this exemption and/or the safe harbor rule thereunder based on the fact that (i) there was a limited number of investors and each investor had knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that they were capable of evaluating the risks of the investment, and (ii) the Company has obtained a subscription agreement from each investor indicating that they are an accredited investor.
 
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 5.    Other Information

On July 25, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the amendment of its 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2010 Plan”) to increase the shares reserved under the 2010 Plan from 13,500,000 to 14,500,000 shares.

On March 15, 2011, the Company executed an Assignment and Assumption of Loan Documents and Loan Modification Agreement, by and between us, Shea Mining and NJB Mining, Inc. (the “Loan Modification Agreement”), for certain assets located in Tonopah, Nevada (“Tonopah”). The Tonopah property is subject to a $2.5 million existing first deed of trust which was in default at the time of the Shea Transaction.  On July 7, 2011, we issued 555,556 shares of our common stock as a principal balance reduction of $500,000.

 
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As a result of being in default of the note, in August 2011, NJB required the Company to enter into that certain NJB Forbearance Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, whereby the Company was obligated to give the following additional consideration in order for NJB to temporarily forbear from exercising its rights and remedies under the Loan Modification Agreement:
(i) issue  to NJB 200,000 shares of common stock; (ii) make an interest payment equal to $26,042 on or before September 1, 2011; (iii) make an interest payment equal to $26,910 on or before October 1, 2011; and (iv) remit to NJB all remaining principal, interest, fees and other expenses due on or before October 10, 2011, (the “Forbearance Period”). The NJB Forbearance Agreement further provided the Company with options to extend the Forbearance Period for two additional 30-day periods, pursuant to the following terms and conditions:
(A)  For the first extension period ending on November 9, 2011, by notice given to NJB prior to October 10, 2011, which notice shall include  (i) the issuance of 500,000 shares of common stock to NJB, and (ii) an interest payment of $114,587; and
(B) For the second extension period ending on December 9, 2011, by notice given to NJB prior November 9, 2011, which notice shall include (i) the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of common stock to NJB, and (ii) an interest payment $26,910.

As of November 9, 2011, the Company has exercised both options by issuing an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares and making both interest payments.

The Company has placed in escrow the following: (i) a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, (ii) Water Rights Deed and (iii) a Bill of Sale. Should the Company not meet the requirements of the second December 9, 2011 extension period date, NJB has the right to take immediate title to the assets located in Tonopah and interest in all leases, contracts and permits related to ownership, occupancy and operation of said assets.

Item 6.    Exhibits

Exhibit
 
Description
10.1**
 
Standard Gold, Inc 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (amended as of July 25, 2011)
10.2*
 
Forbearance Agreement, dated September 1, 2011, by and between Standard Gold, Inc and NJB Mining, Inc.
31.1**
 
Certification of CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2**
 
Certification of CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2**
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

** Filed herewith electronically

 
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SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
Standard Gold, Inc.
   
Date:    November 18, 2011
   
     
 
By:  
/s/ Alfred A. Rapetti
   
Alfred A. Rapetti
   
Chief Executive Officer
     
 
By:
/s/ Mark D. Dacko
   
Mark D. Dacko
   
Chief Financial Officer

 
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