UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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, 2023
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___________to ___________
Commission file number 000-41349
Dakota Gold Corp.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its charter)
Nevada | 85-3475290 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
|
106 Glendale Drive, Suite A, Lead, SD | 57754 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(605) 717-2540
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share | DC | NYSE American LLC |
Warrants, each warrant exercisable for one share of the Registrant's common stock at an exercise price of $2.08 | DC.WS | NYSE American LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
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 (§229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
| Large Accelerated Filer | [ ] | Accelerated Filer | [ ] |
| Non-Accelerated Filer | [X] | Smaller Reporting Company | [X] |
| Emerging Growth Company | [X] |
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 [X]
As of November 13, 2023, there were 86,740,272 shares of common stock outstanding.
2
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
(UNAUDITED)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
DAKOTA GOLD CORP. |
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Current assets | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 12,755,451 | $ | 23,911,722 | ||
| Receivable | 128,988 | 107,356 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 539,470 | 618,913 | ||||
| Total current assets | 13,423,909 | 24,637,991 | ||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||
| Mineral rights and properties | 79,149,401 | 78,737,287 | ||||
| Property and equipment | 2,001,872 | 1,266,790 | ||||
| Other assets | 391,650 | 380,651 | ||||
| Total assets | $ | 94,966,832 | $ | 105,022,719 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 2,069,911 | $ | 2,514,863 | ||
| Lease liabilities - current | 133,150 | - | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 2,203,061 | 2,514,863 | ||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||
| Lease liabilities | 127,315 | - | ||||
| Deferred tax liability | 458,141 | 1,332,118 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 2,788,517 | 3,846,981 | ||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 7) | - | - | ||||
| Stockholders' equity | ||||||
| Capital stock, par value $0.001; 300,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, 79,073,605 and 73,341,001 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively | 79,074 | 73,341 | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 125,946,271 | 107,317,974 | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (33,847,030 | ) | (6,215,577 | ) | ||
| Total stockholders' equity | 92,178,315 | 101,175,738 | ||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 94,966,832 | $ | 105,022,719 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
4
DAKOTA GOLD CORP. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||
| Exploration expenses | $ | 6,944,976 | $ | 4,677,900 | $ | 21,381,844 | $ | 9,666,629 | ||||
| General and administrative expenses | 1,915,041 | 2,396,284 | 7,231,744 | 12,125,899 | ||||||||
| Loss from operations | (8,860,017 | ) | (7,074,184 | ) | (28,613,588 | ) | (21,792,528 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expenses) | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange loss | (8,402 | ) | (113,171 | ) | (28,089 | ) | (19,513 | ) | ||||
| Interest income | 66,465 | 70,213 | 161,839 | 169,412 | ||||||||
| Total other income (expenses), net | 58,063 | (42,958 | ) | 133,750 | 149,899 | |||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (8,801,954 | ) | (7,117,142 | ) | (28,479,838 | ) | (21,642,629 | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense - current | (25,592 | ) | - | (25,592 | ) | - | ||||||
| Deferred income tax benefit | 284,884 | 541,187 | 873,977 | 7,063,654 | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (8,542,662 | ) | $ | (6,575,955 | ) | $ | (27,631,453 | ) | $ | (14,578,975 | ) |
| Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest | - | - | - | (3,453,900 | ) | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to Dakota Gold Corp. | $ | (8,542,662 | ) | $ | (6,575,955 | ) | $ | (27,631,453 | ) | $ | (11,125,075 | ) |
| Basic and diluted loss per share | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (0.16 | ) |
| Weighted average number of basic and diluted shares of common stock outstanding | 78,076,879 | 72,030,959 | 75,971,667 | 71,414,721 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
5
DAKOTA GOLD CORP. |
| Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Operating activities | �� | |||||
| Net loss | $ | (27,631,453 | ) | $ | (14,578,975 | ) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||
| Depreciation expense | 237,349 | 132,243 | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 3,450,101 | 5,850,211 | ||||
| Deferred income tax benefit | (873,977 | ) | (7,063,654 | ) | ||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||
| Receivable | (21,632 | ) | (90,554 | ) | ||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 79,443 | (412,658 | ) | |||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (444,952 | ) | 1,067,327 | |||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (25,205,121 | ) | (15,096,060 | ) | ||
| Investing activities | ||||||
| Purchases of mineral rights and properties | (412,114 | ) | (3,325,143 | ) | ||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (711,966 | ) | (300,285 | ) | ||
| Reclamation deposit paid | - | (20,000 | ) | |||
| Security deposits paid | (95,747 | ) | - | |||
| Cash used in investing activities | (1,219,827 | ) | (3,645,428 | ) | ||
| Financing activities | ||||||
| Net proceeds from sale of common stock on at-the market ("ATM") program | 15,441,134 | - | ||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 72,000 | 12,000 | ||||
| Proceeds from exercise of warrants | 18,757 | 7,503 | ||||
| Payments of income taxes on restricted stock units ("RSUs") and performance stock units ("PSUs") | (263,214 | ) | - | |||
| Cash provided by financing activities | 15,268,677 | 19,503 | ||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (11,156,271 | ) | (18,721,985 | ) | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 23,911,722 | 46,790,482 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 12,755,451 | $ | 28,068,497 | ||
| NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||
| Amortization of deferred ATM offering costs offset against additional paid-in capital | $ | (153,637 | ) | $ | - | |
| Common stock issued for purchase of mineral properties | - | 2,275,000 | ||||
| Common stock issued for acquisition of non-controlling interest | - | 48,799,274 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
6
DAKOTA GOLD CORP. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' |
| Common Stock | Additional | Total | |||||||||||||
| Number | Paid-in | Accumulated | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||
| of Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | |||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 73,341,001 | $ | 73,341 | $ | 107,317,974 | $ | (6,215,577 | ) | $ | 101,175,738 | |||||
| Common stock issued for ATM program, net of amortized issuance costs | 1,886,800 | 1,887 | 4,860,987 | - | 4,862,874 | ||||||||||
| Common stock issued for PSUs | 18,609 | 19 | (19 | ) | - | - | |||||||||
| Payments of income taxes on PSUs | - | - | (38,000 | ) | - | (38,000 | ) | ||||||||
| Common stock issued for exercise of options | 37,500 | 37 | 11,963 | - | 12,000 | ||||||||||
| Common stock issued for exercise of warrants | 9,018 | 9 | 18,748 | - | 18,757 | ||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | - | - | 1,292,734 | - | 1,292,734 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (9,266,031 | ) | (9,266,031 | ) | ||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2023 | 75,292,928 | 75,293 | 113,464,387 | (15,481,608 | ) | 98,058,072 | |||||||||
| Common stock issued for ATM program, net of amortized issuance costs | 1,397,264 | 1,397 | 4,482,708 | - | 4,484,105 | ||||||||||
| Common stock issued for RSUs | 165,663 | 166 | (166 | ) | - | - | |||||||||
| Payments of income taxes on RSUs | - | - | (225,214 | ) | - | (225,214 | ) | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | - | - | 1,256,498 | - | 1,256,498 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (9,822,760 | ) | (9,822,760 | ) | ||||||||
| Balance, June 30, 2023 | 76,855,855 | 76,856 | 118,978,213 | (25,304,368 | ) | 93,750,701 | |||||||||
| Common stock issued for ATM program, net of amortized issuance costs | 2,186,500 | 2,187 | 6,007,220 | - | 6,009,407 | ||||||||||
| Common stock issued for exercise of options | 31,250 | 31 | 59,969 | - | 60,000 | ||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | - | - | 900,869 | - | 900,869 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (8,542,662 | ) | (8,542,662 | ) | ||||||||
| Balance, September 30, 2023 | 79,073,605 | $ | 79,074 | $ | 125,946,271 | $ | (33,847,030 | ) | $ | 92,178,315 | |||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
7
DAKOTA GOLD CORP. |
| Common Stock | Additional | Non- | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Number | Paid-in | Retained | Controlling | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||||
| of Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Interest | Equity | |||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2021 | 35,641,667 | $ | 35,641 | $ | 44,001,171 | $ | 11,806,295 | $ | 55,346,251 | $ | 111,189,358 | |||||||
| Dakota Territory Resource Corp. ("DTRC") common stock issued for purchase of mineral properties | - | - | - | - | 1,600,000 | 1,600,000 | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | - | - | - | - | 3,239,342 | 3,239,342 | ||||||||||||
| Change in non-controlling interest | - | - | 2,607,724 | - | (2,607,724 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Issuance of stock for acquisition of non-controlling interest | 35,208,728 | 35,209 | 48,764,065 | - | (48,799,274 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Elimination of non-controlling interest on acquisition | - | - | 5,324,695 | - | (5,324,695 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | - | - | - | 1,259,605 | (3,453,900 | ) | (2,194,295 | ) | ||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2022 | 70,850,395 | 70,850 | 100,697,655 | 13,065,900 | - | 113,834,405 | ||||||||||||
| Common stock issued for RSUs | 800,000 | 800 | (800 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
| Common stock issued for exercise of options | 37,500 | 37 | 11,963 | - | - | 12,000 | ||||||||||||
| Common stock issued for purchase of mineral properties | 306,749 | 307 | (307 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | - | - | 1,922,517 | - | - | 1,922,517 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (5,808,725 | ) | - | (5,808,725 | ) | ||||||||||
| Balance, June 30, 2022 | 71,994,644 | 71,994 | 102,631,028 | 7,257,175 | - | 109,960,197 | ||||||||||||
| Common stock issued for exercise of warrants | 3,607 | 4 | 7,499 | - | - | 7,503 | ||||||||||||
| Common stock issued for purchase of mineral properties | 180,000 | 180 | 674,820 | - | - | 675,000 | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | - | - | 688,352 | - | - | 688,352 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | (6,575,955 | ) | - | (6,575,955 | ) | ||||||||||
| Balance, September 30, 2022 | 72,178,251 | $ | 72,178 | $ | 104,001,699 | $ | 681,220 | $ | - | $ | 104,755,097 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
8
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022
(Unaudited) |
Note 1 - Organization and Nature of Business
Organization
Dakota Gold Corp. ("we", "us", "our", the "Company" or "Dakota Gold") was incorporated as JR Resources Corp. ("JR") on November 15, 2017 under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia, Canada). The Company focuses its business efforts on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in the United States of America ("U.S."). On May 22, 2020, the Company completed the domestication process and changed its registration from the Province of British Columbia, Canada to the State of Nevada, U.S.
On March 31, 2022, the DTRC Merger (defined below) and the acquisition of the remaining shares of Dakota Territory Resource Corp. ("DTRC") by the Company was completed. DTRC was merged with and into a subsidiary of the Company, with the subsidiary continuing as the surviving company and prior to completion of the DTRC Merger, JR changed its name to Dakota Gold Corp. (see "DTRC Merger Transaction" below).
Liquidity
The Company's mineral properties are at the exploration stage and are without declared mineral reserve or resource and therefore have not generated revenues. The business of exploring for minerals involves a high degree of risk. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines (see Risk Factors in the Company's 10-KT for the 9-months ended December 31, 2022). Major expenditures are required to establish ore reserves, to develop metallurgical processes, to acquire construction and operating permits, and to construct mining and processing facilities. The amounts shown as Mineral rights and properties represent acquisition and holding costs and do not necessarily represent present or future recoverable values. The recoverability of the amounts shown for Mineral rights and properties is dependent upon the Company obtaining the necessary financing to complete the necessary exploration of the properties, the discovery of economically recoverable reserves, development of the properties and future profitable operations or through sale of the assets.
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 ("financial statements") have been prepared on the assumption that the Company and its subsidiaries will continue as a going concern, meaning it will continue in operation for the foreseeable future and will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the ordinary course of operations. Different bases of measurement may be appropriate if the Company is not expected to continue operations for the foreseeable future. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had not advanced its properties to commercial production and is not able to finance day-to-day activities through operations.
The Company's management believes its cash balance of approximately $12.76 million as at September 30, 2023, the Company's working capital of approximately $11.22 million, the anticipated ability to utilize the at-the market ("ATM") program during the year, and the ability to scale down the exploration program in order to maintain greater than 12 months of funding as of the date of filing of these financial statements, are factors demonstrating the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the Company raised gross proceeds of $19.55 million through additional financing.
9
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 1 - Organization and Nature of Business (Continued)
On October 11, 2023, the Company entered into a binding agreement with OMF Fund IV SPV C LLC, an entity managed by Orion Mine Finance ("Orion"), for an investment of $17 million in the Company and a commitment from Orion for future financing support. On October 20, 2023, Orion purchased 6,666,667 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $2.55 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $17 million in a registered direct offering (the "Orion Equity Investment"). Following the closing of the Orion Equity Investment, Orion owns approximately 7.8% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Concurrent with the consummation of the Orion Equity Investment, the Company sold to Orion a 1% net smelter return royalty interest on certain properties held by the Company for total consideration of up to $1 million, with $75,000 paid at closing and the remaining $925,000 payable by Orion upon the achievement of certain development milestones.
In connection with the Orion Equity Investment, Orion has been granted a right to match the terms of future financings of the Company (the "Matching Right"). Orion's Matching Right does not include any equity or convertible debt offering conducted by the Company on a non-brokered basis or conducted by banks or brokers with aggregate proceeds of up to $200 million (of which no more than $50 million may be in the form of unsecured convertible debt), including equity issuances from the Company's ATM offering program. Both the Orion Equity Investment and the Matching Right will expire on the earlier of (i) October 11, 2033, (ii) the date that is 24 months after the date the Company obtains all permits and planning approvals necessary for construction on one of its material properties, and (iii) the closing of a financing by the Company in the aggregate amount of at least $300 million, so long as the Company complied with its obligation to permit Orion to exercise its Matching Right.
DTRC Merger Transaction
On September 10, 2021, the Company and DTRC entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") providing for the acquisition of the non-controlling interest of DTRC where the Company would acquire the remaining shares (not previously owned) of DTRC for an equal number of shares of the Company and DTRC would merge with and into a subsidiary of the Company (the "DTRC Merger" or the "DTRC Transaction"). The DTRC Merger was approved by the stockholders of DTRC at a special meeting of stockholders and closed with an effective date of March 31, 2022.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the DTRC stockholders received one share of Dakota Gold common stock for each share of DTRC's common stock owned at the time of the closing. After the closing of the DTRC Merger, the former stockholders of DTRC and the Company owned approximately 49% and 51%, respectively, of the combined entity.
Change in Fiscal Year
In August 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to the bylaws and based upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, approved a change in the Company's fiscal year end from March 31 to December 31. The Company's fiscal year now begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year, starting on January 1, 2023.
10
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 2 - Summary of Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ("interim statements") of Dakota Gold Corp. have been prepared, without audit, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for interim statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements and the notes thereto for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022 included in its Transition Report on Form 10-KT, as filed with the SEC on March 22, 2023.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and the results of operations for the interim periods presented have been reflected herein. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Notes to the financial statements which would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the audited financial statements for the most recent transition period ended December 31, 2022, as reported in the Company's Transition Report on Form 10-KT, have been omitted. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022 was derived from the audited financial statements of the Company and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q, certain information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted.
Basis of Consolidation
The interim financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 include the accounts of the Company and the following 100%-owned subsidiaries: DTRC, LLC (incorporated in the U.S.), JR Resources (Canada) Services Corp. (incorporated in Canada), Dakota Gold Holdings LLC (incorporated in the U.S.) and Dakota Gold (Canada) Services Corp. (incorporated in Canada).
All intercompany accounts and transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Note 3 - Mineral Rights and Properties
Dakota Gold has 100% ownership of the interests in the Blind Gold, City Creek, Cambrian Unconformity, Tinton, West Corridor, Ragged Top, Poorman Anticline, Maitland, and South Lead / Whistler Gulch properties. In addition, we have 100% ownership in the properties covered by the Barrick Option and Richmond Hill Option projects upon exercise of the underlying option. The individual claims, properties, options, and leases are aggregated into a single unit mining property, hereinafter referred to as the Black Hills Property and are all in the heart of the Homestake District of South Dakota, USA.
In total, the Black Hills Property consists of 1,950 unpatented mining claims (33,596 unpatented acres), the Homestake Option area (4,261 patented acres), the Richmond Hill Option area (2,126 patented acres), and additional lands and mineral rights throughout the district (6,401 patented acres) for a combination of surface and mineral lease rights covering a total of 46,384 acres. The Company has not established that any of its projects or properties contain proven or probable gold reserves under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC S-K 1300.
The carrying cost of the Company's mineral properties totaled $79,149,401 and $78,737,287 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company has not commenced amortization of its mineral properties. The Company will capitalize certain costs to its projects when the costs can be specifically attributable to a project, or when it is reasonable to allocate those costs. General regional exploration expenses are not allocated to specific properties.
11
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 4 - Property and Equipment
A summary of the Company's property and equipment is as follows:
| Estimated Useful Life (Years) | September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
| Land | $ | 418,884 | $ | 70,000 | |||
| Building | 39 | 1,087,089 | 768,338 | ||||
| Furniture and equipment | 3 to 5 | 799,300 | 754,969 | ||||
| Operating lease assets | 2 to 5 | 260,465 | - | ||||
| 2,565,738 | 1,593,307 | ||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | (563,866 | ) | (326,517 | ) | |||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | 2,001,872 | $ | 1,266,790 |
Depreciation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $113,364 and $237,349, respectively (three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 - $53,432 and $132,243, respectively) and is included in general and administrative expenses. Operating lease assets are amortized on a straight-line basis for the remaining lives of their respective lease terms.
Note 5 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
A summary of the Company's accounts payable and accrued liabilities is as follows:
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
| Trade payables | $ | 983,863 | $ | 1,752,312 | ||
| Accrued liabilities | 1,051,005 | 634,953 | ||||
| Other | 35,043 | 127,598 | ||||
| $ | 2,069,911 | $ | 2,514,863 |
12
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share with respect to all matters required by law to be submitted to stockholders. The holders of common stock have the sole right to vote. The common stock does not have any cumulative voting, pre-emptive, subscription or conversion rights. Election of directors requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of common stock represented at a meeting, and other general stockholder action (other than an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation) requires the affirmative vote of the majority of shares represented at a meeting in which a quorum is represented. The outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
In connection with the domestication process on May 22, 2020, the Company changed its share capital structure from unlimited authorized shares of common stock without par value to 144,302,330 authorized shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share. On May 18, 2023, pursuant to the authorization and approval provided by the stockholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting, the Company increased its authorized shares of common stock to 300,000,000 shares.
Share Issuances During the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
On October 21, 2022, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Canaccord Genuity LLC (collectively, the "Sales Agents"), to establish an ATM program. Under the ATM program, the Company may offer and sell shares of common stock having aggregate proceeds of up to $50 million, from time to time, through any of the Sales Agents. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company utilized its ATM program to raise gross proceeds of approximately $15.79 million by issuing 5,470,564 shares of common stock.
In addition, the Company issued:
(i) 68,750 shares of common stock pursuant to an exercise of stock options for proceeds of $72,000;
(ii) 9,018 shares of common stock pursuant to an exercise of warrants for proceeds of $18,757;
(iii) 18,609 shares of common stock to employees of the Company for the settlement of PSUs; and
(iv) 165,663 shares of common stock to employees and directors of the Company for the settlement of RSUs.
Share Issuances During the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
(i) On March 31, 2022, pursuant to the DTRC Transaction, the Company acquired the remaining outstanding shares of Dakota (the "acquisition of NCI"), whereby the Company issued 35,208,728 shares to DTRC's stockholders for the acquisition of 35,208,728 DTRC shares not previously owned by the Company, resulting in the Company owning 100% of DTRC upon the closing of the transaction (see Note 1);
(ii) The Company issued 306,749 shares of common stock valued at $1,500,000 (included in DTRC's additional paid-in capital as at March 31, 2022) for investment in a mineral property, valued at the closing price on the date of issuance;
(iii) The Company issued 37,500 shares of common stock pursuant to an exercise of stock options for proceeds of $12,000;
(iv) The Company issued 800,000 shares of common stock to employees of the Company for the settlement of RSUs which vested on June 4, 2022;
(v) The Company issued 180,000 shares of common stock valued at $675,000, in connection with the amendment to the Richmond Hill Option agreement; and
(vi) The Company issued 3,607 shares of common stock pursuant to an exercise of warrants for proceeds of $7,503.
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DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense is included in exploration as well as general and administrative expenses, based upon the primary activities of the grantees, as follows in the accompanying condensed consolidated interim statement of operations:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Exploration | $ | 162,042 | $ | 188,816 | $ | 572,886 | $ | 1,039,628 | ||||
| General and administrative | 738,827 | 499,536 | 2,877,215 | 4,810,583 | ||||||||
| Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | 900,869 | $ | 688,352 | $ | 3,450,101 | $ | 5,850,211 | ||||
Equity Awards
Pursuant to the DTRC Merger on March 31, 2022, the Company cancelled DTRCs outstanding stock options and replaced them with options of the Company under the "2022 Stock Incentive Plan" with the same terms and provisions. The 2022 Stock Incentive Plan had a total of 6,250,000 units available to award to the Company's directors, executive officers, employees and consultants. A unit can be a common stock purchase option ("stock option"), an RSU or a PSU.
Outstanding stock options under the 2022 Stock Incentive Plan have a term of five years and RSUs and PSUs have terms up to three years. As of September 30, 2023, a total of 3,517,132 units relating to the Company's 2022 Stock Incentive Plan remained available for future grants.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, under the 2022 Stock Incentive Plan, the Company issued 333,588 stock options at an exercise price of $2.81 per share to certain executive officers, where vesting commences over a one-to-three-year period based on a time-of-service vesting condition. The grant date fair value of the options was $1.39 per share for those issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company granted 635,567 RSUs with an average fair value of $2.83 and 329,182 PSUs with an average fair value of $3.72, to executive officers, directors and employees.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, under the 2022 Stock Incentive Plan, the Company issued 571,447 stock options at an exercise price of $3.01 per share to certain executive officers, where vesting commences over a one-to-three-year period based on a time-of-service vesting condition. The grant date fair value of the options was $1.43 per share for those issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company granted 420,260 RSUs with an average fair value of $3.01 and 112,840 PSUs with an average fair value of $2.99, to executive officers, directors and employees.
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DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
Stock Options
The weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model are as follows for the stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2022: risk-free interest rate of 3.15%, estimated volatility of 65%, dividend yield of 0% and expected life of 3.35 years.
Estimated volatility is calculated based on average volatility of the Company's peer group, because the Company does not have sufficient historical data. The Company will continue to use peer group volatility information until sufficient historical volatility of the Company is available to measure expected volatility for future grants. Peers are companies at similar stages of mine development and operating jurisdictions who have recently granted options with similar terms.
The stock-based compensation expense related to the options has been recognized in the Company's financial statements since the grant date and the fair value, estimated at the initial grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, will continue to be amortized over the vesting period. As of September 30, 2023, the unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options was $783,284, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.39 years.
A summary of the Company's stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and related information is as follows:
| Number | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 | 3,999,572 | $ | 3.89 | 3.68 | $ | 937,420 | ||||||
| Options granted | 333,588 | 2.81 | ||||||||||
| Options forfeited/cancelled | (62,500 | ) | 3.34 | |||||||||
| Options exercised | (68,750 | ) | 1.05 | |||||||||
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 | 4,201,910 | $ | 3.86 | 3.08 | $ | 570,938 | ||||||
| Exercisable as of September 30, 2023 | 3,187,565 | $ | 4.05 | 2.77 | $ | 570,938 |
A summary of the Company's options outstanding as at September 30, 2023 is as follows:
| Expiry Date | Number of Options | Exercise Price | Remaining Life (Years) | ||||||
| March 15, 2026 | 656,250 | $ | 1.92 | 2.46 | |||||
| May 17, 2026 | 1,840,625 | $ | 4.76 | 2.63 | |||||
| September 13, 2026 | 200,000 | $ | 5.09 | 2.96 | |||||
| October 18, 2026 | 300,000 | $ | 4.64 | 3.05 | |||||
| September 1, 2027 | 571,447 | $ | 3.01 | 3.93 | |||||
| November 18, 2027 | 300,000 | $ | 3.74 | 4.14 | |||||
| March 1, 2028 | 333,588 | $ | 2.81 | 4.42 | |||||
| 4,201,910 |
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DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
RSUs and PSUs
The PSUs granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 vest over a three-year period. Each PSU award entitles the participant to receive a variable number of shares of the Company's common stock based on the Company's performance against the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index for the relevant performance periods. The total number of shares that may be earned for PSUs is based on performance over the performance period and ranges from 0% to 200% of the target number of shares, based on the table below:
Company Stock Price Performance Relative to Index Performance by: | Index Multiplier |
>=50% | 200% |
Equals | 100% |
negative 50% | 50% |
<negative 50% | 0% |
The fair value of the PSUs was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation, and the weighted average assumptions of the PSUs granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 are as follows: a risk-free interest rate of 4.70%, an estimated volatility of 74%, an expected dividend yield of 0%, and an expected term of 1.83 years. The fair value of RSUs granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was measured at the grant-date price of the Company's shares. The RSUs and PSUs granted in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, vest over a three-year period. The stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs and PSUs has been recognized in the consolidated financial statements since the grant dates and the fair values determined at the initial grant date will continue to be amortized over the vesting period.
The total grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs granted in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was calculated to be $47,060 and $3,019,933, respectively. The total grant date fair value of the RSUs and PSUs granted in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was calculated to be $1,602,479 and $1,602,479, respectively.
As of September 30, 2023, there was $2,504,433 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs and PSUs, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.50 years.
A summary of the Company's RSU awards outstanding and activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is as follows:
| Number of RSU Awards | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value per Award | Number of PSU Awards | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value per Award | |||||||||
| Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 | 545,258 | $ | 3.17 | 112,842 | $ | 2.99 | ||||||
| Granted | 635,567 | 2.83 | 329,182 | 3.72 | ||||||||
| Settled | (226,050 | ) | 3.14 | (37,615 | ) | 2.95 | ||||||
| Outstanding as of September 30, 2023 | 954,775 | $ | 2.95 | 404,409 | $ | 3.59 |
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DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 6 - Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, 37,615 PSUs settled at 86% of performance target through the issuance of 18,609 shares and payment of approximately $38,000 for related income taxes and 226,050 RSUs settled through the issuance of 165,663 shares and payment of approximately $225,000 for related income taxes.
Warrants
A summary of the Company's warrant activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is as follows:
| Warrants | Weighted Average Exercise Price | |||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | 7,612,111 | $ | 2.08 | |||
| Exercised | (9,018 | ) | 2.08 | |||
| Balance, September 30, 2023 | 7,603,093 | $ | 2.08 |
As of September 30, 2023, the 7,603,093 warrants, all with a remaining life of 2.46 years, expire on March 15, 2026.
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies
The Company may become party to various legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of its business. The Company is also subject to audit by tax and other authorities for varying periods in various federal, state and local jurisdictions, and disputes may arise during the course of these audits. It is impossible to determine the ultimate liabilities that the Company may incur resulting from any of these lawsuits, claims, proceedings, audits, commitments, contingencies and related matters or the timing of these liabilities, if any. If these matters were to ultimately be resolved unfavorably, it is possible that such an outcome could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. The Company does not, however, anticipate such an outcome and it believes the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
Note 8 - Income Taxes
A summary of the reconciliation of the income tax benefit based on the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% to the deferred income tax benefit reported in these interim financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:
| Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Income tax benefit computed at federal statutory rates | $ | (1,848,405 | ) | $ | (1,475,764 | ) | $ | (5,980,761 | ) | $ | (3,050,352 | ) |
| Non-deductible expenses | - | - | - | (14,397 | ) | |||||||
| Change in valuation allowance | 1,563,521 | 257,040 | 5,106,784 | (3,457,718 | ) | |||||||
| Deferred income tax benefit | $ | (284,884 | ) | $ | (1,218,724 | ) | $ | (873,977 | ) | $ | (6,522,467 | ) |
The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 were 3.24% and 3.07%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is less than the expected statutory rate as the Company does not expect to realize a benefit from a portion of the losses incurred.
17
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited) |
Note 9 - Subsequent Events
Subsequent to September 30, 2023S, the Company utilized its ATM to raise gross proceeds of $2.55 million.
On October 20, 2023, the Company and Orion consummated the Orion Equity Investment (see Note 1). Following the closing of the Orion Equity Investment, Orion owns approximately 7.78% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations together with the Company's financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited financial statements and related footnotes included in our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the exhibits attached hereto contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning our anticipated results and developments of our operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of our properties, plans related to our business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions, or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this quarterly report include, but are not limited to:
• the progress, potential and uncertainties of the Company's exploration program at our properties located in the Homestake District of South Dakota;
• our assessment that the Homestake District is a safe, low-cost jurisdiction in a favorable regulatory environment,
• our planned exploration activities across our portfolio of exploration targets, including our plan to prepare an estimate of mineral resources under S-K 1300;
• proposed expenditures for exploration and general and administrative costs during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023;
• the success of getting the necessary permits for future drill programs and future project exploration; and
• expectations regarding the sufficiency of the Company's existing funds for the remainder of the current fiscal year and our ability to raise capital and to continue the Company's exploration plans on our properties in the future.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks associated with or related to:
• the potential lack of defined mineral resources pursuant to S-K 1300;
• the potential failure to successfully execute management's strategy;
• the Company's history of losses and need for additional financing;
• our limited operating history;
• our properties all being in the exploration stage;
• our lack of history in producing metals from our properties;
• our need for additional financing to develop a producing mine, if warranted;
• our exploration activities not being commercially successful;
• ownership of surface rights at our Black Hills Property;
• any increase in operational costs, which may affect our financial condition;
• any shortage of equipment and supplies adversely affecting our ability to operate;
• mining and mineral exploration being inherently dangerous;
• mineralization estimates;
• any changes in mineralization estimates affecting the economic viability of our properties;
• potential uninsured or underinsured perils;
• our mineral operations being subject to market forces beyond our control;
• future fluctuations in commodity prices;
19
• the permitting, licenses and approval processes;
• governmental and environmental regulations;
• pending or future legislation regarding the mining industry and climate change;
• potential environmental lawsuits;
• our land reclamation requirements;
• the potential health risks present in gold mining;
• possible amendments to mining laws, mineral withdrawals of similar actions;
• any weaknesses that may be identified in our internal controls over financial reporting;
• ongoing or future pandemics;
• cybersecurity and cyber-attacks;
• title in our properties;
• competition in the gold and silver mining industries;
• changing economic conditions;
• our ability to manage our growth;
• the potential difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified personnel, both employees and skilled contractors;
• our dependence on key personnel;
• our SEC filing history; and
• our securities.
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. The Company qualifies all the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q by the foregoing cautionary statements.
This management's discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements and notes thereto as set forth herein. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect its business, including without limitation, the disclosures made under "Risk Factors" of its most recent Form 10-KT.
The Company's unaudited financial statements are stated in United States dollars and are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Since the Company is an exploration stage company as defined under S-K 1300 and has not generated revenues to date, its business is subject to numerous contingencies and risk factors beyond its control, including exploration and development risks, competition from well-funded competitors, and its ability to manage growth.
Overview
The Company's goal is to create stockholder value through the acquisition, responsible exploration, and future development of high caliber gold properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota. Management and the technical teams cumulatively have several hundred years of international mining and exploration experience and key personnel have more than 50 combined years in the Homestake District, mostly with the Homestake Mining Company, as well as other exploration companies that have operated in the region. We believe that the vast experience of our personnel uniquely positions us to leverage our knowledge of past exploration and mining activities in the Homestake District. Combined with our use of modern exploration and mining techniques, geologic understanding from experience in other mines and new research and information extracted from our recent new geophysical surveys, we plan to focus our programs to build upon the historic dominance of the Homestake Mining Company from the 1990s.
20
The Homestake District has yielded approximately 44.6 million ounces of gold production as of 2022, with most of it coming from within a small area. The production ledges of the old mine define a cumulative surface projection area of much less than 3 square miles. Homestake Mining Company's historic gold production and exploration in the Homestake District was overwhelmingly focused on the underground mine. Modern statistical studies of ore deposit trends and a widely accepted understanding of the distribution of large gold camps around the world indicates that large gold deposits generally form in distinct camps, which normally occur in clusters that show predictable distributions. The Company believes this might be true for the Homestake District. Outside of the current mine area footprint, the Homestake District has been underexplored and lacks the modern exploration efforts required to search for other deposits, especially under the cover of younger rocks that dominate the surface.
The Company continues to pursue a strategy of expanding its portfolio of brownfield properties located exclusively within the Homestake District to build a dominant land position with the goal of consolidating mineral potential. Property acquisitions are focused and based on (i) past exploration, (ii) access to proprietary data sets that the Company has assembled over the years, and (iii) new research and remote data magnetics, gravity and radiometric data acquisition that have been recently conducted over the district that hosts the Homestake gold deposit.
The Company has not established that any of its projects or properties contain mineral resources or mineral reserves under S-K 1300 nor do they guarantee their exploration work will ever establish an economic gold deposit. The Company believes the Homestake District is in a safe, low-cost jurisdiction with well-developed infrastructure and is in a favorable regulatory environment in which authorities have consistently demonstrated a willingness to work with responsible operators to permit well-planned compliant projects.
Drill Programs and Results
Permitting and site preparations were initiated for the first drilling program on the iron-formation target and other Tertiary-age replacement targets in the Maitland area and drilling commenced in early 2022. Drilling is ongoing, both at Maitland and at Richmond Hill. Dakota Gold has completed permit applications and environmental fieldwork for exploration in three project areas and currently has eight active permits in place. A ninth permit application is also in progress with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (SDDANR). Targeting and permitting in some of the other brownfield areas may also be identified and advanced for drilling as exploration activities continue and priorities change throughout the year. Dakota Gold completed 105,256 feet (31,896 meters) of core drilling on three projects in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 190,231 feet (57,646 meters) since drilling commenced in the first quarter of 2022. The areas drilled were located within the Maitland Project, the Richmond Hill Project, and the Cambrian Unconformity Project.
On February 8, 2023, the Company announced the discovery of the Unionville Zone, a Tertiary-age epithermal gold system hosted in Precambrian rocks located below Tertiary-age epithermal Cambrian-hosted replacement mineralization, which was extracted from the overlying, historical Maitland Mine during the early part of the 1900s.
On May 4, 2023, the Company announced it discovered the JB Gold Zone at the Maitland Gold Project with drill hole MA23C-017 intersecting 0.365 oz/ton Au over 15.3 feet (12.51 grams/tonne over 4.7 meters). The intersection is in the same high-grade quartz-carbonate vein, chlorite-arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization style as the Homestake Mine and is believed to be part of the same Precambrian mineralizing event.
On June 8, 2023, the Company announced an infill and validation drilling program within the historical resource areas at Richmond Hill. The work includes preliminary metallurgical test work and a new geologic model based on core drilling completed by the Company.
On August 3, 2023, the Company announced it had extended the JB Gold Zone Discovery by 562 feet (171.3 meters) with Drill Hole MA23C-022 intersecting 0.570 oz/ton Au over 16.5 feet (19.55 grams/tonne over 5.0 meters) on its Maitland Gold Project in South Dakota.
On September 7, 2023, the Company announced it completed the infill and validation drilling program within the historical resource areas at Richmond Hill. The Company is waiting for the final assays from this work, that finalize all samples to be included in the preliminary metallurgical test work, and the completion of a new geologic model based on core drilling completed by the Company to be used for resource estimation.
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On September 27, 2023, the Company announced positive infill results for the Unionville Zone at the Maitland Gold Project and that it was preparing a tighter spaced drilling program to infill and extend mineralization defined in both the JB Homestake Mine-style, Precambrian-age gold zone and the overlapping Unionville Tertiary-age epithermal gold zone.
Planned Activities
The Company's continued activities in fiscal 2023 will be focused on infill drilling on its Maitland project and completion of the preliminary metallurgical program and model development in order to complete an estimate of mineral resources under S-K 1300 on the historical resources at Richmond Hill.
The Company continues to model and evaluate data acquired through its regional high-definition airborne magnetic survey, supplemented by other geophysical surveys completed in 2021 and 2022, to enhance possible drill targets as well as to screen targets on other brownfields areas of interest within the Homestake District. Field sampling and mapping programs continue on the Maitland, Blind Gold, Richmond Hill, Tinton, City Creek, and the Barrick Option properties. The Company continues to locate, evaluate, and add to the historic information in its regional and project level data sets much of which is from the 145-year-old Homestake Mining Company files acquired in the Barrick Option agreement but also from other private and public sources.
At the current rate of drilling activity at the project, the Company anticipates expenditures of approximately $35 million during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, of which approximately $26 million has been spent during the nine months ending September 30, 2023.
The Company has not established that any of its properties or projects contain mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined under S-K 1300. Expenditure projections are subject to numerous contingencies and risk factors beyond the Company's control, as described under "Forward-Looking Statements" above. The Company cannot offer assurance that its expenses will either meet or exceed its projections.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company is in the exploration-stage and does not generate revenues. As such, the Company finances its operations and the acquisition and exploration of its mineral properties through the issuance of common stock, and the Company could be materially adversely affected if it is unable to raise capital because of market or other factors.
As of September 30, 2023, the Company has working capital of approximately $11.22 million and an accumulated deficit of approximately $33.85 million. The Company had a net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 of approximately $27.63 million.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued a total of 5,470,564 shares of common stock under its ATM program for net proceeds of approximately $15.35 million, another 68,750 shares of common stock for the exercise of stock options for proceeds of approximately $0.72 million and 9,018 shares of common stock for the exercise of share purchase warrants for proceeds of approximately $0.02 million.
Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the Company utilized its ATM to raise gross proceeds of approximately $2.55 million.
On October 20, 2023, the Company and Orion consummated the Orion Equity Investment, as disclosed in Note 1 to the financial statements. Following the closing of the Orion Equity Investment, Orion owns approximately 7.8% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
22
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
We had losses from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, totaling approximately $8.86 million and $7.07 million, respectively, losses before income tax of approximately $8.80 million and $7.12 million, respectively, and deferred tax benefits of approximately $0.28 million and $0.54 million, respectively, leading to net losses of approximately $8.54 million and $6.58 million, respectively.
Exploration Expenses
During the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, our exploration expenses totaled approximately $6.94 million and $4.68 million, respectively. The year-over-year increase primarily related to the level of activity associated with drilling. During the three months ending September 30, 2023, the Company was active with four drills as we completed our Richmond Hill drilling for the purpose of an expected resource to be published in 2024. Drilling for the purpose of a resource achieved higher productivity for the exploration drills, which increases the cost as certain consumable use related directly to footage drilled. As well, due to the nature of the resource drilling, a higher proportion of the drilling required cutting of the core and assaying for gold and other elements, compared to the exploration drilling which occurred in 2022. During the three months ending September 2022, drilling was ramping up, as the company began drilling in January and ramped up through the year to finish in December of 2022 with four drills. Included in these costs were non-cash exploration-related stock-based compensation expenses of approximately $0.16 million and $0.19 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, were approximately $1.92 million and $2.40 million, respectively. These expenditures were primarily for legal, accounting, and professional fees, investor relations and other general and administrative expenses necessary for our operations. The decrease was primarily due to decreased support costs included in general and administrative costs of approximately $0.87 million (compared to approximately $1.54 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022), decreased investor relations expenses of approximately $0.03 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.18 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022) and decreased consulting expenses of approximately $0.01 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.05 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022), partially offset by increased stock-based compensation allocated to administration expenses of $0.74 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.50 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022) and increased professional fees of approximately $0.16 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.08 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022).
Support costs were higher for the three months ending September 30, 2022 compared to the three months ending September 30, 2023 as the Company continued to have costs related to the completion of the DTRC Merger, the Company's listing of its warrants, and the Company conducting its AGM in August during 2022. In addition, there were costs to develop the organizational capacity to operate four drill rigs.
Other Income
We earned interest income from bank accounts for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 of approximately $0.07 million and $0.07 million, respectively.
Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022
We had losses from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, totaling approximately $28.61 million and $21.79 million, respectively, losses before income tax of approximately $28.48 million and $21.64 million respectively, and deferred tax benefits of approximately $0.87 million and $7.06 million, respectively, leading to net losses of approximately $27.63 million and $14.58 million.
23
Exploration Expenses
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, our exploration expenses totaled approximately $21.38 million and $9.67 million, respectively. The increase year over year primarily related to the level of activity associated with drilling, where there was an average of four drills operating on the Black Hills property during the nine months ending September 30, 2023, compared to 2022, where drilling commenced in January of 2022 and ramped up through the year to finish in December of 2022 with four drills operating. Included in these costs were non-cash exploration-related stock-based compensation expenses of approximately $0.57 million and $1.04 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, were approximately $7.23 million and $12.13 million, respectively. These expenditures were primarily for legal, accounting, and professional fees, investor relations, and other general and administrative expenses necessary for our operations. The decrease was primarily due to decreased stock-based compensation allocated to administration expenses of $2.88 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $4.81 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, largely relating to a one-time grant associated with the acquisition of Dakota Territory), decreased support costs included in general and administrative costs of approximately $3.55 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to $5.81 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022), decreased consulting expenses of approximately $0.06 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.36 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, largely relating to the acquisition of Dakota Territory) and decreased investor relations expenses of approximately $0.11 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.48 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, when there were higher costs related to the DTRC Merger and listing on the NYSE American) and decreased professional fees of approximately $0.41 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (compared to approximately $0.53 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, largely relating to the acquisition of Dakota Territory).
Other Income
We earned interest income from bank accounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 of approximately $0.16 million and $0.17 million.
The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is less than the statutory rate, due to a lower tax benefit for stock-based compensation related to RSUs that were issued during the period, when compared to what was recognized during the vesting period for those units, and a change in our valuation allowance related to our net operating losses.
Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company's cash flows used in operating activities were approximately $25.21 million and $15.10 million, respectively. Cash used in operations for nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased year over year, primarily as a result of having four active rigs for the entirely of the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, compared to 2022 where the number of drill rigs increased from one in January 2022 to four by the end of 2022.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, cash flow used in investing activities were approximately $1.22 million and $3.65 million, respectively. In the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the cash used in investing activities consisted of approximately $0.41 million for purchases of mineral properties and $0.71 million for property and equipment. In the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the cash used in investing activities consisted of approximately $3.33 million for acquisition of mineral properties and $0.30 million for property and equipment and $0.02 million for a reclamation deposit. The decrease in property acquisition costs was due to having completed the majority of planned strategic acquisitions by the end of June 2022. The higher acquisition of property and equipment in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 related to start-up costs required to initiate the drilling program in January 2022.
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, cash flows from financing activities were approximately $15.27 million and $0.02 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued 5,470,564 shares of common stock under the ATM program for net proceeds of approximately $15.44 million, 68,750 shares of common stock for the exercise of stock options for proceeds of $0.07 million and 9,018 shares of common stock for the exercise of share purchase warrants for proceeds of $0.02 million. In addition, the Company paid income taxes related to vested RSUs and PSUs totaling approximately $0.26 million on behalf of the employees.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Preparation of financial statements requires management to make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and expenses, and the related disclosures of contingencies. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that the Company's consolidated financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from the Company's assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material. Management believes that the following critical accounting estimates and judgments have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements; valuation of options granted to directors and officers using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and valuation of PSUs granted to officers using Monte Carlo simulation. The Company's accounting policies are described in greater detail in Note 2 to the Company's audited annual consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended December 31, 2022. There have been no material changes to the Company's critical accounting policies and estimates as compared to the Company's critical accounting policies and estimates described in the Form 10-KT for the nine months ended December 31, 2022.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
At the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company's management, including its chief executive officer ("CEO") and chief financial officer ("CFO"), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2023.
Changes to Internal Controls and Procedures over Financial Reporting
Management, with the participation of the CEO and CFO, concluded that there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company's Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the nine months ended December 31, 2022.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose in their periodic reports filed with the SEC information regarding specified health and safety violations, orders and citations, related assessments and legal actions, and mining-related fatalities. During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company's exploration properties were not subject to regulation by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
The following exhibits are attached hereto or are incorporated by reference:
Exhibit | Description |
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document-the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File as its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
________________
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
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.
DAKOTA GOLD CORP.
| /s/ Jonathan Awde |
| By: Jonathan Awde |
| Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
| Dated: November 13, 2023 |
| /s/ Shawn Campbell |
| By: Shawn Campbell |
| Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
| Dated: November 13, 2023 |
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