UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020

OR

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                      TO

Commission File Number 001-36908

 

PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

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  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).    YES  ☒    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 or an emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ☐    NO  ☒

The number of shares of registrant’s Common Stock outstanding, $0.01 par value per share, as of May 4, 2020 was 27,777,962.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets

as at March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

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

 

 

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PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

for the Three and Nine-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

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PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

 

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

for the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2019, December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020 and Years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018

(Unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

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PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

for the Nine-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

(Unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

 

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PARAMOUNT GOLD NEVADA CORP.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (the “Company” or “Paramount”), 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, Sleeper Mining Company, LLC, and Calico Resources USA Corp (“Calico”).   The Company is in the process of exploring its mineral properties in Nevada and Oregon, United States. The Company’s activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the risk of failing to secure additional funding to advance its projects and the risks of determining whether these properties contain reserves that are economically recoverable.  The Company’s shares of common stock trade on the NYSE American LLC under the symbol “PZG”.

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements are prepared by management 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 the normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the interim financial information set forth herein have been included.  

 

The Company faces various risks related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.   The Company cannot at this time predict the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.  The results of operations for the interim period ending March 31, 2020 is not necessarily indicative of the operating results expected for the year ended June 30, 2020 or for any future period.

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis of accounting, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), are presented in US dollars 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.  The condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended June 30, 2019.

The Company has conducted a subsequent events review through the date the financial statements were issued, and has concluded that there were no subsequent events requiring adjustments or additional disclosures to the Company’s financial statements at March 31, 2020.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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 condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the adequacy of the Company’s reclamation and environmental obligation, share based compensation, warrant valuation, valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, and assessment of impairment of mineral properties.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid cash equivalent investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are classified as cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount of these securities approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

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Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents.  The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in accounts which may, at times, exceed federally insured limits.  At March 31, 2020, the Company had $1.41 million of balances in excess of federally insured limits.  We deposit our cash with financial institutions which we believe have sufficient credit quality to minimize the risk of loss.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company has adopted FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and non – financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The Company defines fair value as 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.

The Company has adopted FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, which allows companies to choose to measure eligible financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not required to be measured at fair value. The Company has not elected the fair value option for any eligible financial instruments.

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).  Shares of the Company’s common stock will be issued for any options exercised.

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 ore 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.

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 and legally 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 expensed.

Property and Equipment

Equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. All equipment is depreciated over its estimated useful life at the following annual rates:

 

 

Reclamation and Environmental Obligation

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.

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Net Loss per Common Share

Basic loss/income 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 or income 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.

For the three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the shares of common stock equivalents related to outstanding stock options and convertible notes have not been included in the diluted per share calculation as they are anti-dilutive as the Company has recorded a net loss from continuing operations for those periods.

 

 

 

Note 2. Recent Accounting Guidance

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record an ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. These changes will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019. The Company adoption of this guidance on July 1, 2019 did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows and related disclosures.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.  The changes will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020.  Among other things, these amendments require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact.  The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing these changes on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement.  These changes will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020.  The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing these changes on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

 

 

Note 3. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value accounting establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  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 are described below:

The fair value of financial assets and liabilities carried at book value by level within the fair value hierarchy in the Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets at March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 are presented in the following table:

 

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The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy due to their short-term nature.  Convertible debt is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, carried at book value and is assumed to approximate fair value due to being recently acquired.

 

 

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Note 4. Non-Cash Transactions

During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company issued 1,096,791 shares to Ausenco Engineering USA South Inc. (“Ausenco”) in exchange for services valued at $976,144 to complete a feasibility study at its Grassy Mountain Project.  The shares are being held in escrow until Ausenco delivers a feasibility study to the Company.  

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company issued 161,217 shares of Common Stock for payment of interest accrued and owing at December 31, 2019 on its outstanding 2023 Secured Convertible Notes

During the three-month and nine-month period ended March 31, 2019, the Company did not enter into any material non-cash activities.

 

 

 

Note 5. Capital Stock

Authorized Capital

Authorized capital stock consists of 50,000,000 common shares with par value of $0.01 per common share (June 30, 2019 – 50,000,000 common shares with par value $0.01 per common share). 

 

During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company issued 1,096,791 shares at a value of $0.89 per share to Ausenco in exchange for services to complete a feasibility study at its Grassy Mountain Project (Note 4). The Company also issued 161,217 shares for payment of interest accrued and owing at December 31, 2019 (Note 4 and 6).

 

During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2019, the Company issued 2,400,000 units at $1.25 per unit for net proceeds of $2,911,286.  Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one-half of a share of common stock.  Each warrant has  a two-year term and will be exercisable at the following exercise prices: in the first year at $1.30 per share and in the second year at $1.50 per share.       

At March 31, 2020 there were 27,777,962 common shares issued and outstanding (June 30, 2019 – 26,519,954 common shares).

Warrants

A summary of warrants exercisable into common stock activity as of March 31, 2020, and changes during the nine-month period ended is presented below:

    

Stock Options and Stock Based Compensation

Paramount’s 2015 and 2016 Stock Incentive and Compensation Plans, which are stockholder-approved, permits the grant of stock options and stock to its employees for up to 2.169 million shares of common stock.  Option awards are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of Paramount’s stock at the date of grant and have contractual lives of 5 years.  To better align the interests of its key executives and employees with those of its stockholders, a significant portion of those stock option awards will

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vest contingent upon meeting certain stock price appreciation performance goals or other performance conditions. Option and stock awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the employee stock option plan).

 

During the nine-month period ending March 31, 2020, the Company granted  690,000 stock options to employees, directors and consultants with a strike price of $1.00. Each option carries a 5 year term.  Options received by senior management and directors will vest and become exercisable on achieving the following performance conditions: 1) ½ upon the completion of the Grassy Mountain Project feasibility study and 2) ½ on the issuance of mining permits for the Grassy Mountain Project by the State of Oregon.  Options received by employees and consultants will vest and become exercisable as follows: 1/3 on the first anniversary of the date of grant, 1/3 on the second anniversary of the date of grant and 1/3 on the third anniversary of the date of grant.

 

The fair value for these options was calculated using the Black-Scholes option valuations method.  The weighted average assumptions used for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

A summary of option activity under the Stock Incentive and Compensation Plan as of March 31, 2020, and changes during the nine-month period ended are presented below:

 

 

A summary of the status of Paramount’s non-vested options as of July 1, 2019 and changes during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020 is presented below:

 

 

As of March 31, 2020, there was $229,983 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the employee share option plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.11 years. The total fair value of share based compensation arrangements vested during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, was $49,408 and $69,628, respectively.

 

 

Note 6. Convertible Debt

 

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In September 2019, the Company completed a private offering of 5,478 Senior Secured Convertible Notes (“2019 Convertible Notes”) at $975 per $1,000 face amount due in 2023.  Each 2019 Convertible Note will bear an interest rate of 7.5% per annum, payable semi-annually.  The principal amount of the 2019 Convertible Notes will be convertible at a price of $1.00 per share of Paramount common stock.  Unamortized discount and issuance costs of $275,883 will be amortized as an additional interest expense over the four year term of the 2019 Convertible Notes.  During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company amortized $37,225 of discount and issuance costs.  At any point after the second anniversary of the issuance of the convertible notes, Paramount may force conversion if the share price of its common stock remains above $1.75 for 20 consecutive trading days. The convertible notes are secured by a lien on all assets of the Company and the Company is required to maintain a working capital balance of $250,000.  

 

Note 7. Mineral Properties

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

 

 

Sleeper:

Sleeper is located in Humboldt County, Nevada, approximately 26 miles northwest of the town of Winnemucca.  The Sleeper Gold Mine consists of 2,322 unpatented mining claims totaling approximately 38,300 acres.

Grassy Mountain:

The Grassy Mountain Project is located in Malheur County, Oregon, approximately 22 miles south of Vale, Oregon, and roughly 70 miles west of Boise, Idaho. It consists of 442 unpatented lode claims, 3 patented lode claims, and various leased fee land surface and surface/mineral rights, all totaling approximately 9,300 acres.

 

 

Note 8. Reclamation and Environmental:

The Company holds an insurance policy which is in effect until 2033 related to its Sleeper Gold Project.  The policy covers reclamation costs up to an aggregate of $25 million in the event the Company’s bond is insufficient to cover any mandated reclamation obligations.

As a part of its insurance policy, the Company has funds in a commutation account and reclamation bonds which are used to reimburse reclamation costs and indemnity claims.  The balance of the commutation account and reclamation bonds at March 31, 2020 is $693,001 (June 30, 2019- $1,401,833).

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.

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The current undiscounted estimate of the reclamation costs for existing disturbances at the Sleeper Gold Project is $3,977,751 as required by the U.S Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection. Assumptions used to compute the asset retirement obligations as at March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 for the Sleeper Gold Project included a credit adjusted risk free rate and inflation rate of 9.76% (June 30, 2019– 9.76%) and 1.1% (June 30, 2019 – 1.1%), respectively. Expenses are expected to be incurred between the years 2019 and 2049.

Changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020 and the year ended June 30, 2019 are as follows:

 

 

The balance of the asset retirement obligation of $313,340 at March 31, 2020 (June 30, 2019 -$965,677 ) is comprised of a current portion of $97,287 (June 30, 2019 -$97,287 ) and a non-current portion of $216,053 (June 30, 2019 -$868,390).

 

 

Note 9. Other Income

The Company’s other income details for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Note 10. Segmented Information:

 

Segmented information has been compiled based on the material mineral properties in which the Company performs exploration activities.

 

Expenses and mineral property carrying values by material project for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020:

 

 

 

Expenses for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2019 and mineral property carrying values as at June 30, 2019 by material project:

 

 

 

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Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies:

 

Lease Commitments

 

The Company has an office premise lease that expires on June 30, 2021.  The aggregate minimum rentals payable for these operating leases are as follows:

 

 

During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, $38,288 was recognized as rent expense in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss/income.

 

 

 

Other Commitments

 

Paramount has an agreement to acquire 44 mining claims (“Cryla Claims”) covering 589 acres located immediately to the west of the proposed Grassy Mountain site from Cryla LLC.  Paramount is obligated to make annual lease payments of $40,000 per year for the first two years of the lease term commencing in 2018 and $60,000 per year thereafter with an option to purchase the Cryla Claims for $560,000 at any time.  The term of the agreement is 25 years.  In the event Paramount exercises its option to acquire the Cryla Claims, all annual payments shall be credited against a production royalty that will be based on a prevailing price of the metals produced from the Cryla Claims.  The royalty rate ranges between 2% and 4% based on the daily price of gold. The agreement with Cryla can be terminated by Paramount at any time. All lease payments under the agreement are up-to-date and no other payments were made during the nine-month period ending March 31, 2020.  The Cryla Claims are without known mineral reserves and there is no current exploratory work being performed.

 

Paramount has an agreement with Nevada Select Royalty (“Nevada Select”) to purchase 100% of the Frost Project, which consists of 40 mining claims located approximately 12 miles west of its Grassy Mountain Project.  A total consideration of $250,000 payable to Nevada Select will be based on certain events over time.  Nevada Select will retain a 2% NSR on the Frost Claims and Paramount has the right to reduce the NSR to 1% for a payment of $1 million.  All required payments under the agreement are up-to-date as of March 31, 2020.  The Frost Claims are without known mineral reserves.

 

 

 

 

 

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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 on Form 10-K that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 16, 2019. 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.

Overview

We are an emerging growth company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring and developing precious metal projects in the United States of America. Paramount owns advanced stage exploration projects in the states of Nevada and Oregon.  We enhance the value of our projects by implementing exploration and engineering programs that have the goal to expand and upgrade known mineralized material to reserves.  The following discussion updates our outlook and plan of operations for the foreseeable future.  It also analyzes our financial condition and summarizes the results of our operations for the three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and compares these results to the results of the prior year three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2019.

 

Operating Highlights:

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company submitted a revised Plan of Operation (the ”Plan”) to the Federal Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) outlining the Company’s plans to build and operate the proposed Grassy Mountain underground gold mine located in Malheur County, eastern Oregon.  The BLM will review the Plan for completeness, which is expected to take 30 days, and will subsequently provide the Company with comments, if any. The BLM has previously reviewed 19 of the baseline data reports (“BDRs”) and their requests for clarifications have all been addressed. The BLM will register a Notice of Intent (the ”Notice”) in the Federal Register once the application is deemed complete. The Notice initiates the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) process under the National Environmental Policy Act.

During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, Paramount submitted its Consolidated Permit Application (“Application”) to the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (“DOGAMI”) to enable the Company to build and operate its proposed, high grade underground gold mine located in Malheur County of eastern Oregon.  The Application was reviewed by the DOGAMI and cooperating agencies for completeness. As part of this process, the permitting agencies have provided Paramount with a list of supplemental information and recommendations required to submit a modified CPA. Paramount, the DOGAMI and the permitting agencies will continue to work together to discuss the additional information requested, ensuring the submission of a complete modified CPA which will trigger the 225 day maximum permit evaluation process, upon which draft permits are issued. The NI 43-101 Feasibility Study for the Grassy Mountain Project is well underway and being led by Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. with expected completion in mid-2020.

On June 25, 2019, the Company issued 1,096,791 shares of common stock to Ausenco Engineering USA South Inc. (“Ausenco”) in exchange for services to complete a feasibility study at its Grassy Mountain Project.  The shares will be held in escrow until Ausenco delivers a feasibility study to the Company which is expected to be completed in mid-2020.

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On September 10, 2019, the Company entered into agreements with accredited investors and issued convertible notes in a private transaction (the “Private Placement”).  Under the terms of the Private Placement, Paramount sold an aggregate of 5,478 notes at $975 per $1000 face amount with a four-year maturity for aggregate proceeds of $5.34 million.  Each convertible note bears an interest rate of 7.5% per annum, payable semi-annually.  The principle amount of the convertible notes is convertible at a price of $1.00 per share of Paramount common stock.  At any point after the second anniversary of the issuance of the convertible notes, Paramount may force conversion if the share price of its common stock remains above $1.75 for 20 consecutive trading days. The convertible notes are secured by a lien on all assets of the Company and, pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes,  the Company is required to maintain a working capital balance of $250,000.  

During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, Paramount received from the State of Nevada’s Division of Minerals, the Excellence in Mine Reclamation Award for the Company’s reclamation efforts at the Sleeper Project.  The award was based on an assessment from representatives from the US Forest Service, the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, the Nevada Division of Minerals, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and the Bureau of Land Management who visited and reviewed the reclamation of the Sleeper Pit and our management of surface and underground water.  

 

Outlook and Plan of Operation:

We believe that investors will gain a better understanding of the Company if they understand how we measure and disclose our results.  As an exploration and development company, we do not generate cash flow from our operations. We recognize the importance of managing our liquidity and capital resources.  We pay close attention to all cash expenses and look for ways to minimize them when possible.  We ensure we have sufficient cash on hand to meet our annual land holding costs as the maintenance of mining claims and leases are essential to preserve the value of our mineral property assets.

Paramount has been closely monitoring the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to evaluate its business activities and plans.   Since March 2020, all of the Company’s employees have been working from home.  Paramount believes that completion of the NI-43-101 Feasibility Study for the proposed high-grade Grassy Mountain underground gold mine in eastern Oregon is not likely to face disruption or delays and its completion remains on track for mid-2020.  As previously reported, Ausenco, the lead consultant of the study, agreed to accept a fixed number of Paramount shares in lieu of cash to complete the study.  This allows the Company to reduce cash expenses in the current challenging environment.

Comparison of Operating Results for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

Results of Operations

We did not earn any revenue from mining operations for the three and nine-months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. During the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, we submitted a consolidated mining permit application with the State of Oregon for our Grassy Mountain Project.  In addition, Ausenco continued with activities related to completing a feasibility study on the Grassy Mountain Project.

Net Loss

 

Our net loss before income taxes for the three-months ended March 31, 2020 was $1,440,372 compared to a net loss before income taxes of $1,173,413 in the previous year. The drivers of the increase in net loss before income taxes of 23% are fully described below.  

 

Our net loss before income taxes for the nine-months ended March 31, 2020 was $4,789,388 compared to a net loss before income taxes of $3,662,629 in the previous year.  The drivers of the  increase of $1,126,759 or 31% in net loss before income taxes are fully described below.

The Company expects to incur losses for the foreseeable future as we continue with our planned exploration programs.

Expenses

Exploration and Land Holding Costs

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, exploration expenses were $1,068,021 compared to $712,623 in the prior year comparable period.  This represents an increase of 50% or $355,398.  During the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company focused its efforts on preparing and submitting a revised plan of operations to the BLM for its Grassy Mountain Project.  It also continued to work on its previously announced feasibility study for the Grassy Mountain project.  Included were expenses related to the Company’s reclamation activities at the Sleeper Project.  Total exploration expenses at the Grassy Mountain Project during the current three-month period were $968,059.  

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For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, land holding costs were $131,633 compared to $130,550 in the prior year comparable period.   

For the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, exploration expenses were $3,335,221 compared to $2,019,837 in the prior year comparable period.  This represents an increase of 65% or $1,315,384.  During the current nine-month period, the Company submitted the consolidated mining permit application and a revised Plan for its Grassy Mountain Project and completed the reclamation of two ponds at its Sleeper Project in Nevada.

For the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, land holding costs decreased by $38,122 from the prior year comparable period.  The decrease is primarily due to not incurring lease costs for non-essential mining claims leased from third parties.

Salaries and Benefits

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, salary and benefits increased by 6% or by $12,222 to $228,680 from the prior year’s three-month period ended March 31, 2019.  Salary and benefits is comprised of cash and stock based compensation of the Company’s executive and corporate administration teams.  The increase primarily reflects changes to stock-based compensation incurred during the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2019.  Included in the salary and benefits expense amount for the three-month period ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was a non-cash stock-based compensation of $23,361 and $43,409, respectively.

 

For the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, salary and benefits increased by 5% or by $38,356 to $740,369 from the prior year’s nine-month period ended March 31, 2019.  The increase in expenses was due to bonuses awarded to the Company’s employee’s and stock-based compensation incurred for new option grants.  Included in the salary and benefits expense amount for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was a non-cash stock-based compensation of $34,970 and $86,817.

 

Directors’ Compensation

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, directors’ compensation decreased by 51% or by $28,412 from the prior year’s three-month period ended March 31, 2019.  Directors’ compensation consists of cash and stock-based compensation of the Company’s board of directors.  The decrease reflects the reduction in stock-based compensation recorded in the current quarter compared to the prior year’s comparable period.

For the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, directors’ compensation decreased by 40% or by $42,746 from the prior year’s nine-months ended March 31, 2019.  The decrease reflects the reduction in stock-based compensation recorded in the current nine-month period compared to the prior year’s comparable period.

 

Professional Fees and General and Administration

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, professional fees were $35,477 compared to $24,654 in the prior year’s comparable period.  This represents an increase of 44% or $10,823.  Legal costs and advisory fees related to permitting Grassy Mountain were the main factors for the increase in these expenses from the prior year comparable period.

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2020, general and administration expenses decreased by 9% to $160,868 from $176,972 in the prior year comparable period.  This decrease was a result of lower travel and marketing costs incurred by the Company.

For the nine-month period ended March 31, 2020, professional fees were $124,809 compared to $97,428 in the prior year’s comparable period.  This represents an increase of 28%.  Legal costs and advisory fees related to permitting Grassy Mountain were the main factors in the increase in these expenses from the prior year comparable period.

For the nine-month ended March 31, 2020, general and administration expenses decreased by 14% to $423,736 from $492,943 in the prior year comparable period.  This decrease was a result of lower travel and marketing costs incurred by the Company.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As an exploration and development company, Paramount funds its operations, reclamation activities and discretionary exploration programs with its cash on hand.  At March 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $1,414,308 compared to $463,690 as at June 30, 2019.  During the nine-months ended March 31, 2020, the Company issued 5,478 convertible notes for net proceeds of $5,201,807.

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The main uses of cash for the nine-month period ending comprised of the following material amounts:

 

Due to COVID-19, we anticipate our operating expenditures for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 to be reduced.  

 

 

 

Our anticipated expenditures will be funded by our cash on hand and by other capital resources.  Historically, we and other similar exploration and development public companies have accessed capital through equity financing arrangements or by the sale of royalties on its mineral properties.  If, however we are unable to obtain additional capital or financing, our exploration and development activities will be significantly adversely affected.

 

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.

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 a 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

For stock option grants with market conditions that affect vesting, the Company uses a lattice approach incorporating a Monte Carlo simulation to value stock option granted.

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For stock option grants that have no market conditions that affect vesting, 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 assumptions can materially affect estimates of fair values.

Use of Estimates

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, long-lived assets and asset retirement obligations. 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.

 

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.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative 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 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 material effect on our operations.

 

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Item 4. 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.

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.

Because of its inherent limitations, disclosure controls and 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 1A. Risk Factors.

The following risk factor supplements our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended June 30, 2019:

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted our business and may negatively impact our financial results in the future, and the ultimate impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities in response to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted global supply chains, lowered equity market valuations, created significant volatility and disruption in financial markets, and increased unemployment levels. In addition, the pandemic has resulted in temporary closures of many businesses and the institution of social distancing and sheltering in place requirements in many states and communities. As a result, our ability to continue with our planned activities may be significantly impacted, which could adversely affect the timing of completing our development programs which include the federal and state permitting of our Grassy Mountain Project in eastern Oregon.  Furthermore, our business operations may also be disrupted if significant portions of our workforce are unable to work effectively, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions, or other restrictions in connection with the pandemic. In response to the pandemic, we have also suspended all travel for employees and consultants. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, results of operations, and financial condition, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic.

 

 

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

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PART IV

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

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