Comstock Inc. - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark
One)
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þ
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QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For
the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2008
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OR
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o
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TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For
the
transition period from ______________ to ______________
Commission
File No. 000-32429
GOLDSPRING,
INC.
(Exact
name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
FLORIDA
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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7389
(Primary
Standard Industrial
Classification
Code Number)
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65-0955118
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
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P.O.
Box
1118
Virginia
City, NV 89440
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(775)
847-5272
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(Check one):
Large
accelerated filer Accelerated
filer o
Non-accelerated
filer o
Smaller
reporting company þ
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No þ
The
number of shares of Common Stock, $0.000666 par value, of the registrant
outstanding at April 17, 2008 was 3,016,987,739.
PART
I.
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3
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Item
1. Financial Statements.
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3
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CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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3
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CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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4
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CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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5
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CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
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6
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NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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7
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Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations.
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16
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Item
4. Controls and Procedures.
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23
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PART
II.
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24
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Item
1. Legal Proceedings.
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24
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Item
1A. Risk Factors.
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25
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Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds.
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31
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Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
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31
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Item
4. Submission of Matter to Vote of Security Holders.
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31
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Item
5. Other Information.
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31
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Item
6. Exhibits.
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31
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SIGNATURES
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32
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
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Certification
of CEO Pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a)
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Certification
of CFO Pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a)
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Certification
of CEO Pursuant to Section 1350
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Certification
of CFO Pursuant to Section 1350
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Statement
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended Section 21E of the
Securities Exchanged Act of 193, as amended, which are intended to be covered
by
the safe harbors created thereby. The statements contained in this report on
Form 10-Q that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include
statements regarding our “expectations,” “anticipation,” “intentions,”
“beliefs,” or “strategies” regarding the future. Forward looking statements also
include statements regarding fluctuations in the price of gold or certain other
commodities, (such as silver, copper, diesel fuel, and electricity); changes
in
national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations
and
political or economic changes in the United States or other countries in which
we may carry on business in the future; business opportunities that may be
presented to or pursued by us; our ability to integrate acquisitions
successfully; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration
or mining activities; the speculative nature of gold exploration, including
risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; and contests over our
title to properties. All forward-looking statements included in this report
are
based on information available to us as of the filing date of this report,
and
we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Our
actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are
the
factors discussed in Item 1A of Part II, “Risk Factors.”
2
PART I.
Financial
Statements.
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CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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March 31,
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|
December 31,
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2008
|
|
2007
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||
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(Unaudited)
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ASSETS
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||||||
Current
assets:
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|
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Cash
and cash equivalents
|
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$
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680,334
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$
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174,996
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Other
assets
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239,583
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185,417
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Total
current assets
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919,917
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360,413
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Property
and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of
$1,122,300 and $1,062,300, respectively
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|||||||
Mineral
properties
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1,347,747
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1,619,837
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|||||
Plant,
equipment, mine development
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367,503
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411,040
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|||||
Total
plant, equipment, mine development
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1,715,250
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2,030,877
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Reclamation
deposit
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377,169
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377,169
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Other
–
embedded derivatives
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906,989
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906,989
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Total
assets
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$
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3,919,325
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$
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3,675,448
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LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY
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|||||||
Current
liabilities:
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|||||||
Accounts
payable
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$
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423,192
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$
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305,638
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|||
Accrued
liabilities
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740,754
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2,429,326
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Accrued
interest payable
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3,190,201
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3,205,813
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Lease
obligations
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34,091
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42,459
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Convertible
debentures
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8,797,966
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9,568,239
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Other
notes, current portion of long-term debt
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5,035,292
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3,983,800
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Total
current liabilities
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18,221,496
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19,535,275
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Long-term
debt, less current portion
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8,991
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11,612
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Derivative
liabilities
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776,385
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776,385
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Reclamation
liabilities
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553,190
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553,190
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Total
long-term liabilities
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1,338,566
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1,341,187
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Total
Liabilities
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19,560,062
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20,876,462
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Stockholders’
deficiency:
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|||||||
Common
stock, $0.000666 par value; 3,950,000,000 shares authorized;
3,016,987,739 and 2,743,508,248 shares issued
respectively
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2,009,314
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1,827,177
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Additional
paid-in capital
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15,384,470
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12,969,210
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Accumulated
deficit - prior years
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(31,997,401
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)
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(27,940,045
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)
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Accumulated
deficit - current year
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(1,307,120
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)
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(4,047,356
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)
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Total
stockholders’ deficiency
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(15,640,737
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)
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(17,201,014
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)
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Total
liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency
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$
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3,919,325
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$
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3,675,448
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See
notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
Table
of Contents
GOLDSPRING,
INC.
(Unaudited)
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Three
Months Ended
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||||||
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March 31,
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||||||
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2008
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2007
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|||||
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|||||||
Operating
revenues
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$
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-
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$
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199,905
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|||
Costs
and expenses:
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|||||||
Costs
Applicable to sales
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-
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-
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|||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
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60,000
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73,054
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|||||
Reclamation,
exploration and test mining
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649,093
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375,994
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|||||
General
and administrative
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300,202
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133,640
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|||||
Consulting
and professional services
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31,019
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58,666
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|||||
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1,040,314
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641,354
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|||||
Loss
from operations
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(1,040,314
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)
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(441,449
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)
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|||
Other
income (expense):
|
|||||||
Interest
expense
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(741,191
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)
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(804,073
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)
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|||
Interest
income
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-
|
-
|
|||||
Derivative
change in fair value
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-
|
123,606
|
|||||
Other,
net
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744,385
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-
|
|||||
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3,194
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(680,467
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)
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Net
loss
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$
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(1,037,120
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)
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$
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(1,121,916
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)
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Basic
loss per common share
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$
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(0.0004
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)
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$
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(0.001
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)
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Basic
weighted common shares outstanding
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2,917,703,633
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1,047,278,758
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See
notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
Table
of Contents
GOLDSPRING,
INC.
(Unaudited)
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Three
Months
|
||||||
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Ended
|
||||||
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March
31,
|
||||||
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2008
|
2007
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(1,037,120
|
)
|
$
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(1,121,916
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)
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|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities:
|
|||||||
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization
|
150,625
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250,470
|
|||||
Interest
and payments through the issuance of common stock
|
869,966
|
240,601
|
|||||
Change
in operating assets and liabilities
|
|||||||
Prepaid
and other current assets
|
54,166
|
(51,083
|
)
|
||||
Bank
overdraft
|
—
|
(12,609
|
)
|
||||
Accounts
Payable
|
117,554
|
150,618
|
|||||
Accrued
Liabilities
|
(1,275,715
|
)
|
465,143
|
||||
Derivative
change fair value, net
|
—
|
(123,606
|
)
|
||||
Other,
net
|
207,533
|
(8,878
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(912,992
|
)
|
(211,260
|
)
|
|||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Acquisition
of mineral claims
|
(52,910
|
)
|
—
|
||||
Capital
Expenditures
|
(16,463
|
)
|
—
|
||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(69,373
|
)
|
—
|
||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
New
borrowings from the issuance of notes payable to related
parties
|
1,000,000
|
220,000
|
|||||
Debt
repayments
|
(12,297
|
)
|
(8,740
|
)
|
|||
Sale
of common stock
|
500,000
|
—
|
|||||
Other
|
—
|
—
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
1,487,703
|
211,260
|
|||||
Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|||||||
Increase
in cash and cash equivalents
|
505,338
|
—
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
174,996
|
—
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
680,334
|
$
|
—
|
|||
|
|||||||
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities
|
|||||||
Conversion
of debt into company’s common shares
|
$
|
770,273
|
$
|
212,221
|
|||
Issuance
of company’s common stock for interest
|
$
|
600,066
|
$
|
240,601
|
|||
Issuance
of company’s common stock for liquidated damages
|
$
|
428,469
|
$
|
153,346
|
|||
Issuance
of company’s common stock for director fees
|
$
|
234,400
|
$
|
—
|
|||
Issuance
of company’s common stock for software
|
$
|
9,740
|
$
|
—
|
|||
Issuance
of company’s common stock for mineral claims
|
$
|
28,690
|
$
|
—
|
|||
Issuance
of company’s common stock for consulting
|
$
|
25,760
|
$
|
—
|
See
notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
Table
of Contents
GOLDSPRING,
INC.
(Unaudited)
(Common
Stock Par value, $.000666 per share; 3,950,000,000 shares authorized
Preferred
Stock Par Value, per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized)
|
|
Par value
|
Additional
|
Treasury
Stock
|
Accumulated
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Common
Shares Issued
|
$.000666
per share
|
Paid-in
Capital
|
(at
cost)
|
Deficit
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Balance
- December 31, 2006,
|
958,938,940
|
$
|
638,653
|
$
|
11,603,560
|
-
|
$
|
(27,940,829
|
)
|
$
|
(15,698,616
|
)
|
|||||||
Liquidated
damages
|
50,000,000
|
33,300
|
121,047
|
-
|
-
|
154,347
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for debenture principal
|
898,776,970
|
598,585
|
846,362
|
-
|
-
|
1,444,947
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for debenture interest
|
835,792,338
|
556,639
|
398,241
|
-
|
-
|
954,880
|
|||||||||||||
Other
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
784
|
784
|
|||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(4,057,356
|
)
|
(4,057,356
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Balance
- December 31, 2007,
|
2,743,508,248
|
$
|
1,827,177
|
$
|
12,969,210
|
-
|
$
|
(31,997,401
|
)
|
$
|
(17,201,014
|
)
|
|||||||
Liquidated
damages
|
50,051,631
|
33,334
|
395,135
|
-
|
-
|
428,469
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for debenture principal
|
79,847,173
|
53,178
|
717,095
|
-
|
-
|
770,273
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for debenture interest
|
67,145,795
|
44,719
|
555,347
|
-
|
-
|
600,066
|
|||||||||||||
Sale
of common stock
|
50,000,000
|
33,300
|
466,700
|
-
|
-
|
500,000
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for director fees
|
20,000,000
|
13,320
|
221,080
|
-
|
-
|
234,400
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for mineral claims
|
2,000,000
|
1,332
|
27,358
|
-
|
-
|
28,690
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for consulting
|
2,000,000
|
1,332
|
24,428
|
-
|
-
|
25,760
|
|||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for software
|
2,434,892
|
1,622
|
8,118
|
9,740
|
|||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,037,120
|
)
|
(1,037,120
|
)
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
March 31, 2008
|
3,016,987,739
|
$
|
2,009,314
|
$
|
15,384,470
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(33,034,521
|
)
|
$
|
(15,640,737
|
)
|
See
notes
to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
6
GOLDSPRING,
INC.
NOTES
TO
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March
31,
2008 AND 2007
1.
Basis of Presentation
We
were
incorporated in the State of Florida effective October 19, 1999 under the name
of Click and Call, Inc. On September 7, 2000, we filed an amendment to our
Articles of Incorporation changing our name to STARTCALL.COM, INC. On March
10,
2003, we changed our name to GoldSpring, Inc. (“we” “Goldspring,” or the
“Company”). The primary nature of our business is the exploration and
development of mineral producing properties. We originally became a mineral
company through an acquisition of unpatented placer mineral claims and the
Big
Mike copper claims in June 2003 from Ecovery, Inc. The transaction had an
effectuation date of March 11, 2003. Specifically, that acquisition provided
us
with a number of Nevada-based placer claims, including the Gold Canyon and
Spring Valley claims, and 17 unpatented lode claims called the Big Mike Copper
property. This acquisition did not include any real property rights. In November
2003, we acquired the Plum mine facility as well as water rights that are usable
at Plum Mine and the Gold Canyon and Spring Valley placer claims.
Note
2 — Interim Financial Statements
The
accompanying interim unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8
of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal
recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been
included. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008
are
not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year
ending December 31, 2008. For further information, refer to the financial
statements and footnotes thereto included in our Form 10-KSB Report for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Note
3 — Going Concern
The
accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared
in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of
America which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern.
However, the Company has year end losses from operations and had no revenues
from operations during the three months ended March 31, 2008. During the three
months ended March 31, 2008 the Company incurred a net loss of $1,037,120.
Further, the Company has inadequate working capital to maintain or develop
its
operations, and is dependent upon funds from private investors and the support
of certain stockholders.
These
factors raise substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue
as
a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of these uncertainties. In this regard, Management
is proposing to raise any necessary additional funds through loans and
additional sales of its common stock. There is no assurance that the Company
will be successful in raising additional capital.
Note
4 — Management Plans
Our
plans
for the continuation of our company as a going concern include developing our
Comstock Lode Project into a profitable operation and supplementing financing
of
our operations through sales of our unregistered common stock and borrowings
from affiliates and other shareholders. There are no assurances, however, with
respect to the future success of these plans. The financial statements do not
contain any adjustments, which might be necessary, if we are unable to continue
as a going concern.
7
Note
5 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summarized
below are the significant accounting policies of GoldSpring, Inc. (“we,”
“GoldSpring,” or the “Company”). Unless otherwise indicated, amounts provided in
these notes to the financial statements pertain to continuing
operations.
Recent
Authoritative Pronouncements
Recent
accounting pronouncements that the Company has adopted or will be required
to
adopt in the future are summarized below.
Recently
issued accounting standards
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about
fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, on February
12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. FAS 157-2, “Effective
Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” (“FSP No. 157-2”), which delays the effective
date of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities,
except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial
statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). FSP No. 157-2 defers the
effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items within scope
of
FSP No. 157-2. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 157
will have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159
permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain
other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at
fair
value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities
with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in earnings caused by measuring
related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex
hedge
accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure
requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose
different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities.
SFAS No. 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. Although the Company adopted SFAS No. 159
as
of January 1, 2008, the Company has not yet elected the fair value option for
any items permitted under SFAS No. 159.
On
December 12, 2007, EITF No. 07-01, "Accounting for Collaborative
Arrangements Related to the Development and Commercialization of Intellectual
Property," ("EITF No. 07-01"), was issued. EITF No. 07-01 prescribes the
accounting for collaborations. It requires certain transactions between
collaborators to be recorded in the income statement on either a gross or net
basis within expenses when certain characteristics exist in the collaboration
relationship. EITF No. 07-01 is effective for the Company's collaborations
existing after January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Note
6 —Notes Payable Stockholders
As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company is in default of the terms on several outstanding
note payable with several of its note holders with principal balance due of
$11,822,966 and accrued interest of $3,174,789. Because we are in default,
the
entire note balances have been recorded as current liabilities.
8
Note
7 —Convertible Debentures and Notes Payable
Convertible
Debentures-Investors
We
completed a private placement of securities transaction during March 2004
(the “March Offering”). In connection with the offering, we received gross
proceeds of $10 million from a group of accredited institutional and individual
investors. Subsequent to the closing of the March Offering, we failed to meet
certain provisions of the offering that required for us to provide for an
effective registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
As
a
result, and effective November 30, 2004, we restructured the private
placement transaction and entered into a new subscription agreement. In
connection with the restructuring, we exchanged 8% convertible notes in the
aggregate principal amount of approximately $11.1 million and four-year
warrants to purchase approximately 27.8 million shares of common stock at
an exercise price of $0.20 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments,
for
21,739,129 shares of common stock and 21,739,129 warrants to purchase shares
of
common stock issued in the March Offering. The principal amount of the
convertible notes consist of the original $10.0 million investment plus
approximately $1.1 million of accrued penalties associated with the delay
in effectiveness of our registration statement covering the resale of the shares
of common stock held by the investors.
The
8%
convertible notes matured in November 2007. We must make monthly payments
of 102% of 1/20th
of the
initial principal amount, together with accrued interest. We have the option
to
repay such amounts in shares of our common stock at a conversion rate equal
to
85% of the average of the five lowest closing bid prices of our common stock
during the 20 trading days preceding each payment date. We may prepay the
outstanding principal amount by paying the holders of the notes 115% of the
then-outstanding principal amount. Each holder of notes may convert the notes
into shares of common stock at an initial conversion price of $0.20 per share,
which is subject to anti-dilution adjustments. During the first 20 days
following the closing date, the conversion price may be reduced to a price
equal
to 70% of the average of the five lowest closing prices of our common stock
during the 20 trading days preceding the closing date.
On
April
1, 2005, we failed to make our first payment on the notes and were in default
of
the terms of the convertible notes. On December 20, 2004, we received notice
from holders of approximately $3.8 million of convertible notes of their
intention to convert into shares of our common stock. The applicable conversion
rate was approximately $0.11 per share, and we were obligated to issue
33,817,594 shares of our common stock. Under the terms of the subscription
agreement, we had three business days following receipt of the notice of
conversion of notes to deliver to the note holders’ free-trading common stock
certificates (the “Delivery Date”). Although the shares were due to be delivered
in December 2004, they were not delivered until 2005. As a result of our failure
to deliver shares, we were subject to liquidated damages that were settled
by
the issuance of notes payable to the investors.
Convertible
Debentures-Mandatory Redemption Payment
The
failure to deliver the shares by the Delivery Date resulted in liquidated
damages of 1% of the note principal amount being converted per business day
after the Delivery Date. We did not deliver the share certificates within the
period required in the subscription agreement and as a result, in March of
2005,
John V. Winfield, a major shareholder and note holder elected to demand payment
of approximately $6.9 million pursuant to the mandatory redemption payment
provisions of the subscription agreement and forfeit his right to receive the
shares in favor of the payment.
On
March
31, 2005, we entered into a Settlement Agreement (“Settlement”) with the Mr.
Winfield and agreed to convert the mandatory redemption payment into Nine
Convertible Debentures (“the Debentures”). Accordingly, we accrued a liability
for approximately $6.9 million and reduced our paid-in-capital account for
approximately $3.5 million. The Debentures are subject to various covenants
and
conditions, including, but not limited to anti-dilution rights and protective
rights.
9
The
Debentures accrue interest at 18% per annum and are payable in monthly
installments of principal and interest over a 24 month period with the remaining
entire balance of unpaid principal and interest due on March 31, 2008. The
debentures are subject to the following terms:
Conversion
Rights
The
Debentures are convertible, in all or in part, into shares of our common stock
(“Conversion Shares”) at any time. The conversion price shall is equal to the
lesser of: (i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the average of the five (5) lowest
closing bid prices of the common stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the
twenty (20) trading days preceding the date the Company was obligated to pay
the
mandatory redemption Payment; and (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the average
of the five (5) lowest closing bid prices of the common stock as reported by
Bloomberg L.P. for the twenty (20) trading days preceding the date of any such
conversion; provided, however, until the effective date of the registration
statement (see below), the conversion price shall be fifty-percent (50%) of
the
average of the five (5) lowest closing bid prices of the Common Stock as
reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the twenty (20) trading days preceding the date
of any such conversion. In no event shall the conversion price be higher than
(i) $0.1131 and (ii) the conversion price of the convertible notes (See Note
6),
as adjusted from time to time, whichever is lower.
Pursuant
to the terms of various financing instruments between Goldspring and some of
its
lenders have certain “favored nations” rights to either receive shares or have
certain note conversion exercise prices reduced so that the overall equity
issuance pricing is reduced to the same price as paid by any subsequent
purchasers of equity and/or convertible note. On February 20, 2008,
Goldspring sold 50,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at $0.01 per share
purchase price. In lieu of triggering any and all “favored nations”
rights, the lenders have agreed to accept $.01 per share as the new maximum
conversion price all convertible notes owned by them.
Security
Agreement
Pursuant
to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Debentures are granted a priority
collateralized position, second only to our note payable to the Brockbank Trust
(See Note 7) in substantially all of our assets.
Mandatory
Registration Rights
The
terms
of the Debenture agreement require that we must file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on a Form SB-2 registration statement, or such other form
that we are eligible to use, to register the Conversion Shares, together with
any other shares of Common stock issuable hereunder for resale and distribution
under the 1933 and cause to be filed not later than April 30, 2005 and declared
effective not later than March 31, 2005. If we fail to make effective a
registration statement we are subject to liquidated damages, an amount equal
to
two percent (2%) for each thirty (30) days or part thereof, thereafter of the
principal amount of the Debenture remaining unconverted and purchase price
of
Conversion Shares issued upon conversion of the Debenture owned of record by
the
holder. The Company must pay the liquidated damages in cash or an
amount equal
to
two hundred percent of such cash liquidated damages if paid in additional shares
of registered un-legended free trading
shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2008 we had failed to make any monthly
payments on the debentures and are in default.
10
On
December 20, 2004, we received notice from holders of approximately $500,000
of
convertible notes payable of their intention to convert into shares of our
common stock. As a result, we recorded the issuance of 4,243,791 shares on
December 20, 2004. We were required to deliver certificates representing
unrestricted, free-trading stock within three business days of our receipt
of
the notices of conversion (the “Delivery Date”). The failure to deliver the
shares by the Delivery Date resulted in liquidated damages of 1% of the Note
principal amount being converted per business day after the Delivery Date.
Our
former Chief Executive Officer did not deliver the stock certificates within
the
required period. On March 18, 2005 we delivered the certificates representing
the shares of common stock to these converting note holders. The 84 -day delay
in delivering the shares resulted in liquidated damages of $403,175. We
recognized these damages during the fourth quarter of 2004 and the first quarter
of 2005. We issued convertible notes for the amount of liquidated damages
due.
$2,200,000
Principal Amount Convertible Debenture Financing
On
August
23 and 24, 2007, the Company formally entered into an agreement with several
investors to loan $1,900,000 to the Company. In March 2008, the Company amended
the agreement increasing the loan amount to $2,200,000. The notes evidencing
the
loan bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum, payable monthly on the first
of
each month commencing October 1, 2007, along with 1/24 of the principal amount
of such notes on each repayment date and were issued between May 18, 2007 -
August 24, 2007, with the second quarter notes being treated as “bridge debt”
until the loan agreement was formally signed.. The default interest is 18%
per
annum. The notes are also convertible into Common Stock at a 50% discount to
market until a registration statement registering the Common Stock underlying
the notes is effective and at a 15% discount to market thereafter. As additional
consideration, the investors are to be issued a total of 20,000,000 warrants
to
purchase common stock at exercise prices based upon the same formulas as for
conversion of the amounts due under the notes. The notes are secured by a lien
on the assets of Goldspring, Inc. and a pledge of all of the interests in Plum
Mine Special Purpose, LLC, which owns the Plum Mine operation. In connection
with this loan, the lender has agreed to acquire the existing mortgage on the
Plum Mine property from the Brockbank Trust. To date, $2,170,000 of the
$2,200,000 has been funded by the investors. As of March 31, 2008, we had failed
to make any monthly payments on the notes and are in default.
The
notes
issued as of March 31, 2008 are as follows:
|
Issued date
|
Face amount
|
|||||
Winfield
Debenture Payable
|
5/15/2007
|
$
|
300,000
|
||||
Winfield
Debenture Payable
|
6/21/2007
|
300,000
|
|||||
Winfield
Debenture Payable
|
8/23/2007
|
300,000
|
|||||
Longview
Debenture Payable
|
8/24/2007
|
300,000
|
|||||
Winfield
Debenture Payable
|
12/12/2007
|
100,000
|
|||||
Winfield/Longview
Debenture Payable
|
First
Quarter
2008
|
331,120
|
|||||
Winfield/Longview
Debenture Payable
|
Second
Quarter
2008
|
538,880
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
2,170,000
|
11
Accordingly,
at March 31, 2008 and 2007, we classified the following convertible debentures
as current liabilities as follows:
|
March 31,
2008
|
March
31,
2007
|
|||||
Convertible
Debentures Payable-Investors
|
$
|
1,105,908
|
$
|
2,438,962
|
|||
Convertible
Debentures Payable- Mandatory Redemption payment
|
5,522,058
|
5,835,688
|
|||||
Convertible
Debentures Payable- Failure to Deliver Shares
|
-
|
356,348
|
|||||
Convertible
Notes Payable - 2007 & 2008
|
2,170,000
|
1,631,120
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
8,797,966
|
$
|
10,262,118
|
Pursuant
to the terms of various financing instruments between Goldspring and some of
its
lenders have certain “favored nations” rights to either receive shares or have
certain note conversion exercise prices reduced so that the overall equity
issuance pricing is reduced to the same price as paid by any subsequent
purchasers of equity and/or convertible note. On February 20, 2008,
Goldspring sold 50,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at $0.01 per share
purchase price. In lieu of triggering any and all “favored nations”
rights, the lenders have agreed to accept $.01 per share as the new maximum
conversion price all convertible notes owned by them.
Note
8 —Promissory Notes Payable
Promissory
Notes Payable—July 2005 Financing
In
July
of 2005, we borrowed $1.2 million from companies controlled by John V. Winfield,
a major shareholder. Proceeds from the notes were reduced by a 33.3% original
issue discount and other origination fees. Net proceeds received by the Company
from the borrowing were $740,000. The notes accrue interest at 15% per annum
and
are payable in monthly installments of principal and interest over a 24 month
period with the remaining entire balance of unpaid principal and interest due
on
July 15, 2008. The default interest rate is 17% per annum. The notes are
collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets subject to the
security interest of the Brockbank Trust (See Note 7). As of March 31, 2008
we
had failed to make any monthly payments on the notes and are in default.
Accordingly, the entire principal balance and all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon are considered accelerated and classified as current liabilities. As
of
March 31, 2008, we had failed to make any monthly payments on the notes and
are
in default.
Promissory
Notes Payable—September 2005 Financing
In
September of 2005, we borrowed $300,000 from Longview Fund L.P., a major
shareholder. Proceeds from the notes were reduced by a 33.3% original issue
discount and other origination fees. Net proceeds received by the Company from
the borrowing were $165,500.The notes accrue interest at 15% per annum and
are
payable in monthly installments of principal and interest over a 24 month period
with the remaining entire balance of unpaid principal and interest due on July
15, 2008. The default interest rate is 17% per annum. The notes are
collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets subject to the
security interest of the Brockbank Trust (See Note 7) and the Winfield
convertible debentures of March 2005.
The
notes
share a security interest with the Winfield notes issued in July 2004. As of
March 31, 2008, we had failed to make any monthly payments on the notes and
are
in default.
Promissory
Notes Payable: December 2005 through March 2006 Financing
In
December of 2005, we borrowed $375,000 from Longview Fund L.P., a major
shareholder and $200,000 from MCF Corporation. The notes accrue interest at
16%
per annum, are uncollateralized and are payable including accrued interest
on or
before March 15, 2006. The default interest is 22% per annum. As of March 31,
2008, we had failed to make any payment on the notes and are in
default.
12
In
February 2006, we completed a financing transaction, which provided us with
$250,000 in funding. In consideration for the funding, we issued a promissory
note with a term of ninety (90) days and an interest rate of sixteen percent
(16%) per annum. The default interest rate on the note is twenty-two percent
(22%). The funds were used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
In March 2006, we completed an additional financing transaction, which provided
us with $150,000 in funding under the same terms and conditions as the February
2006 financing. The default interest is 22% per annum. As of March 31, 2008,
we
had failed to make any payment on the notes and are in default.
Promissory
Notes Payable: 2007 Financing
On
July
13, 2007 we borrowed $300,000 from Longview Fund L.P., a major shareholder.
The
note accrues interest at 16% per annum, is uncollateralized and is payable
including accrued interest on or before November 10, 2007. The default interest
is 18% per annum. As of March 31, 2008, we had failed to make any payment on
the
notes and are in default.
On
October 9, 2007, we completed a financing transaction, which provided us with
$137,500 in funding. In consideration for the financing, we issued promissory
notes with a face value of $200,000, reflecting an original issue discount
of
thirty-one and a quarter (31.25%) percent. The term of the notes is one. The
note does not bear interest. The funds were used for working capital and general
corporate purposes.
On
December 11, 2007, we formally entered into an agreement with several investors
to loan $1,000,000 to the Company. In consideration for the financing, we issued
promissory notes with a face value of $1,200,000, reflecting an original
discount of sixteen and seventeen hundreds (16.17%) percent. The notes
evidencing the loan bear interest at the rate of 4.9% per annum, payable on
or
prior to the one year anniversary of the respective loan date As of December
31,
2007, $600,000 of the $1,200,000 has been funded by the investors.
Promissory
Notes Payable: 2008 Financing
On
January 31, 2008, we completed a financing transaction with several investors
which provided us with $500,000 in funding. In consideration for the financing,
we issued promissory notes with a face value of $600,000, reflecting an original
discount of sixteen and seventeen hundreds (16.17%) percent. The notes
evidencing the loan bear interest at the rate of 4.9% per annum, payable on
or
prior to the one year anniversary of the respective loan date.
On
February 29, 2008, we received the $500,000 balance of the financing from the
December 11, 2007 financing agreement. In consideration for the financing,
we
issued promissory notes with a face value of $600,000, reflecting an original
discount of sixteen and seventeen hundreds (16.17%) percent. The notes
evidencing the loan bear interest at the rate of 4.9% per annum, payable on
or
prior to the one year anniversary of the respective loan date.
The
aggregate total of the first quarter 2008 financing transactions was
$1,000,000.
Accordingly,
at March 31, 2008 and 2007, we classified the following notes payable as current
liabilities as follows:
|
March
31,
2008
|
March
31,
2007
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-July 2005 Financing
|
$
|
1,200,000
|
$
|
1,200,000
|
|||
Promissory
Notes Payable-September 2005 Financing
|
300,000
|
300,000
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-December 2005 Financing
|
575,000
|
575,000
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-February 2006 Financing
|
250,000
|
250,000
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-March 2006 Financing
|
150,000
|
150,000
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-July 2007 Financing
|
300,000
|
-
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-October 2007 Financing
|
200,000
|
-
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-December 2007 Financing
|
600,000
|
-
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-January 2008 Financing
|
600,000
|
-
|
|||||
Promissory
Notes Payable-February 2008 Financing
|
600,000
|
-
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
4,775,000
|
$
|
2,475,000
|
13
Note
9 —Other Long Term Debt
Notes
Payable- Plum Mine
We
have
note payable to a shareholder related to our purchase of the Plum Mining
property. This note bears interest at 5% annually. The note is payable in ten
quarterly payments through September 2007. As of March 31, 2008, we are in
default.
Notes
Payable / Lease Obligations - Equipment Financing
During
2004, we purchased certain equipment and financed our purchases through GMAC,
Ford Motor and Caterpillar Company credit agencies. Aggregated principal and
interest due pursuant to the financings is due monthly in equal installments
of
$3,952, at an averaged interest rate of 7.2%. The equipment purchased is pledged
as collateral for the debt. At March 31, 2008 and 2007, we had the following
amounts due under the financings as follows:
|
March 31,
2008
|
March
31,
2007
|
|||||
Long-term
Debt-Current Plum Mine
|
$
|
10,292
|
$
|
9,758
|
|||
Long-term
Debt-Current Seller Note
|
250,000
|
397,200
|
|||||
Other
Long-term Debt-Current
|
34,091
|
29,671
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
294,383
|
$
|
436,629
|
Notes
Payable- Equipment Financing - Continued
|
March
31,
2008
|
March
31,
2007
|
|||||
Long-term
Debt-non current Plum Mine
|
$
|
8,991
|
$
|
20,735
|
|||
Long-term
Debt-non current Seller Note
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Other
Long-term Debt -Non-current
|
-
|
39,092
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
8,991
|
$
|
59,827
|
Principal
payments on other long-term debt related to equipment financing for the next
four years are as follows:
2008
|
$
|
42,746
|
||
2009
|
$
|
10,628
|
||
2009
|
$
|
-
|
||
2011
and thereafter
|
$
|
-
|
||
Total
|
$
|
53,374
|
14
Convertible
Notes Payable-Failure to Deliver Shares
In
March
of 2005, and pursuant to our settlement with investors for our failure to
deliver shares of our common stock upon their conversion of debentures during
2004 (See above), we issued convertible notes payable that accrue interest
at 8%
and are payable in equal monthly installments including interest beginning
April
1, 2007. In the event of our default on the notes the interest rate increased
to
15%.
Conversion
Rights
The
notes
are convertible, in all or in part, into shares of our common stock at any
time
at an initial conversion price of $0.20, subject to certain anti-dilution
provisions that include the sale of assets, reclassifications of our equity,
issuance of additional shares and stock splits and dividends.
Borrower’s
Repayment Election.
The
monthly amount due on a repayment date shall be paid by the Company at its
election (i) in cash at the rate of 102% of such monthly amount otherwise due
on
such repayment date within three (3) business days of the applicable repayment
date, or (ii) with registered, freely transferable common stock at an applied
conversion rate equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the average of the five
(5) lowest closing bid prices of the common stock as reported by Bloomberg
L.P.
for the twenty (20) trading days preceding such repayment date.
On
April
1, 2005, we failed to make our first payment on the convertible debentures
and
were in default of the terms of the convertible notes.
Pursuant
to the terms of various convertible financing instruments between Goldspring
and
some of its lenders have certain “favored nations” rights to either receive
shares or have certain note conversion exercise prices reduced so that the
overall equity issuance pricing is reduced to the same price as paid by any
subsequent purchasers of equity and/or convertible note. On February 20,
2008, Goldspring sold 50,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at $0.01 per share
purchase price. In lieu of triggering any and all “favored nations”
rights, the lenders have agreed to accept $.01 per share as the new maximum
conversion price all convertible notes owned by them.
At
March
31, 2008 and 2007 we classified the following notes payable as current
liabilities as follows:
|
March
31,
2008
|
March
31,
2007
|
|||||
Convertible
Notes Payable
|
$
|
8,797,966
|
$
|
10,262,118
|
|||
Promissory
notes
|
4,775,000
|
2,475,000
|
|||||
Other
notes, current portion long-term debt
|
294,383
|
436,629
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
13,867,349
|
$
|
13,173,747
|
Note
10. Unregistered Sales of Securities
On
February 20, 2008, Goldspring raised $500,000 through a private placement to
accredited investors. In consideration we issued 50,000,000 shares of our
unregistered Common Stock at $0.01 per share purchase price. The proceeds
from this private placement were used to fund exploratory drilling and for
general working capital.
15
In
January 2008, our two outside directors were issued, in aggregate, twenty
million shares of our unregistered common stock as director compensation. The
value of the common shares at the time of issuance was $234,400, averaging
$0.012 per share.
During
the first quarter 2008, 2,000,000 unregistered common shares, valued at $29,690
or $0.014 per share, were issued for the acquisition of mining claims in the
Comstock Lode District.
Pursuant
to a November 2007 agreement, we issued 2,434,892, valued at $9,740 or $0.004
per share, for the procurement of software used in delineating and quantifying
the size of the ore body.
In
March
2008, two consultants were issued a total of two million shares, valued at
$25,760 or $0.013, for services performed.
Pursuant
to the November 27, 2006 Executive Employment Agreement with Robert T. Faber,
its CEO, Mr. Faber was issued 80,000,000 stock options at an exercise price
of
$.01119 on January 9, 2008. The stock options have an expiration date of January
8, 2013.
Item
2. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations
The
following discussion provides information that we believe is relevant to an
assessment and understanding of the consolidated results of operations and
financial condition of our company. It should be read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes.
The
following discussion addresses matters we consider important for an
understanding of our financial condition and results of operations as of and
for
the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as well as our future results.
Overview
We
are a
North American precious metals mining company with a fully permitted gold and
silver test mine in northern Nevada. Our Company was formed in mid-2003, and
we
acquired the Plum Comstock Lode property in November 2003. In our relatively
short history, we secured permits, built an infrastructure and brought the
Plum
exploration project into test mining production. Since 2005, we
started acquiring additional properties around in the Comstock Lode District
in
Nevada, expanding our footprint and creating opportunities for exploration.
We
are an emerging company, looking to build on our success through the acquisition
of other mineral properties in the Comstock Lode District with reserves and
or
exploration potential. The Company's objectives are to optimize production,
increase reserves through exploration and acquisitions, expand its footprint
in
the Comstock, and maximize shareholder value.
In
the
first quarter of 2007, we decided to temporarily cease mining activity while
we
focus on delineating the ore body and exploratory drilling that should lead
to a
comprehensive mine plan and, ultimately, to more efficient mining in the
future.
Due
to
the nine month cessation of mining activities, there was little ore to
produce in the second quarter, and therefore revenues in the second quarter
2006
were markedly lower than in the first quarter, when there was still a supply
of
ore, mined in the fourth quarter of 2005, to process and sell. A lapse in mining
typically leads to reduced saleable materials in the next fiscal quarter as
the
mining-processing-sales cycle is approximately 60 - 90 days. The third quarter
of 2006 marked the recommencement of mining activities. The mine was shut down
again in the first quarter of 2007 due to insufficient funds to run
operations.
16
In
the
first quarter of 2007, three of our four remaining directors resigned to pursue
other opportunities which left the Company with the opportunity to seek a new
Board well experienced in the mining industry.
The
Company turned a corner during 2007 with the final settlement of the Parent
litigation and settlement of the Degerstrom litigation, both of which had caused
a drain of financial and human resources that all but consumed the Company.
Given the end of this litigation, change in Board composition and continued
challenges in capital raising efforts, the Company’s management determined that
there is a need to reevaluate the Company’s business plan with a view toward the
best way to maximize shareholder value and protection of our secured creditors.
In
detail, this evaluation is covering the following matters:
·
|
Expanding
our footprint in the Comstock Region and other acquisition
opportunities
|
·
|
Further
exploration in the Comstock Region to accomplish the above, including
a
decision to review the geology of the Hartford complex in a more
detailed
manner
|
|
|
·
|
Completion
of the Plum Mine reserve report
|
|
|
·
|
Strategic
acquisitions in other areas of North
America
|
Adjustments
to this analysis have been made over the past few months, all with the goal
to
best utilize the Company’s limited financial resources to increase shareholder
value and to focus on raising additional capital to reinstate operations.
Despite
the mine shutdown in the first quarter 2007, the Company has had activity in
ore
body delineation, metallurgic testing and exploration. Ore body delineation
included plans to commence developmental drilling in December 2007, with
drilling to be completed in three phases of 100 holes per phase. The goal is
to
define and map the ore body and to prepare geologic cross sections to be
utilized in mine planning and as a result, to be able to build a new mine model
using geostatistics and extensive drill hole data.
There
is
also ongoing exhaustive metallurgic testing to attempt to maximize recovery
of
the high grade fraction of the ore and to determine optimum size to continue
heap leaching. The Company is also assessing whether a small mill could be
added
to increase overall recovery.
The
exploration drilling program, which is heavily dependent on funds availability,
commenced in December 2007. The Company is scheduled to continue with the
exploration drilling program throughout 2008.
Assuming
sufficient funds are raised in a timely manner, the Company’s goal would be to
reopen the Mine during the second half of 2008. In order to resume production,
the Company must complete a reserve report certified by a qualified third party;
complete a comprehensive mine plan; and complete a mining schedule, all of
which
are dependent upon ability to secure sufficient funds to procure the mining
fleet.
There
are
also risks involved in the fact that one individual and his affiliates, as
of
March 31, 2008, beneficially own in excess of 28% of our voting stock. Pursuant
to our recent financing agreement, this convertible debt holder and his
affiliates with a 61 day notice can waive the 4.9% ownership restriction,
allowing him to convert 100% of his convertible debt and related interest,
which
totals $9,290,915 at March 31, 2008, into our common shares. This group, if
they
waive the ownership restriction and convert all convertible debt and related
interest into our voting common stock,
may
take
actions that could conflict with your interests.
This
includes the election of Company directors, approval of actions generally
requiring the approval of the holders of our voting stock, including adopting
amendments to our articles of incorporation and bylaws and approving mergers,
certain acquisitions or sales of all or substantially all of our assets, which
could delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us or limit the
ability of our other stockholders to approve transactions that they may deem
to
be in their best interests.
17
Results
of Operations and Operational Plan
Our
Comstock Lode Mine, which is located in Storey County, Nevada, went into test
mining production in late third quarter 2004. We have not established reserves
on this exploration project. Therefore, all of our activities on this property
are considered test mining or exploratory in nature. One of our top priorities
in 2005 was to improve efficiencies and increase test mining production at
our
Comstock Lode Mine. In March 2005, we initiated a program to improve the
operational efficiency of our mining operation. As part of this program, we
consolidated our corporate office with the Comstock Lode Mine office. We also
made improvements to our processing plant and took over crushing operations
from
our third-party contractor, reducing costs and increasing our control over
the
crushing process. Our improvement program continued throughout the year. In
November 2005, we retained mining engineer Jim Golden, who became our COO in
2006, to conduct a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Comstock Lode
Mine
operation, including the overall mine plan, with the objective of further
improving efficiency, increasing production, and reducing costs. Furthermore,
TechBase of Colorado, with the help of our consultants, is expected to complete
a detailed mine plan and an initial 43-101 reserve report for the Comstock
Lode
mine by late spring 2008. We believe that these steps coupled with our
exploratory drilling of the Hartford Complex will improve our overall
performance at the Comstock Lode Mine.
We
had
planned to commence our exploratory drilling program in mid 2007 if capital
resources allowed; however, due to insufficient funds, this was delayed until
the December 2007. In late 2007, we retained Dwight Juras, Ph. D. geologist,
to
assist in overseeing our exploration program at the Comstock Lode Mine and
in
the Comstock Lode district. Mr. Juras has over thirty years of diverse
geological and exploration experience in the mining industry. He has worked
for
several major mining companies. We have allocated a budget of $2,000,000 to
explore and develop our claims at the Comstock Lode Mine. We had hoped to
begin exploration in late spring or early summer of 2006 but due to inability
to
obtain a large enough capital investment this exploration was delayed until
December 2007. Exploratory drilling started in late 2007 and is scheduled to
continue throughout 2008 (assuming the Company is able to secure adequate
financing). We intend to target our exploration toward replenishing and
expanding our mineralized material inventory at our Hartford Complex property
in
the Comstock Lode District and toward developing new mineral properties in
the
Comstock. The successful location of additional mineralized material on the
existing property would allow us to expand the size and the lifespan of the
Comstock Lode mining project, exclusive of new property acquisitions. It is
our
belief that we possess an advantage with our status as likely the only heap
leach gold mining permit holder in the area. This permit is relatively difficult
to obtain, and it is one that we can expand to include new areas in the event
we
locate and wish to process new deposits.
In
December 2005, we initiated a review of the invoices of our mining contractor.
Specifically, we sought to reconcile the volume of material for which we were
billed with the volume of material that was actually mined. We used an outside
surveyor to conduct a comprehensive analysis of bank cubic yards mined. The
results of the survey indicated that we had been over-billed by over $500,000.
We met with the mining contractor in early 2006 to discuss this issue and
presented our proposed billing adjustment. We anticipated a resolution of this
issue by September of 2006 but due to continuing litigation this issue remained
open throughout most of 2007. The litigation was settled in December 2007.
Under
the settlement agreement, GoldSpring paid Degerstrom $250,000 and both parties
agree to dismiss their claims against the other. The agreement was subject
to
GoldSpring remitting $100,000 by December 11, 2007 and the balance of $150,000
by January 31, 2008. The Company made both payments in a timely manner. All
liens filed on our property by N.A. Degerstrom have been removed.
18
On
a
positive note is the resolution, without liability to the Company, of the 2-½
year legal battle with a former director, thus stopping the ongoing drain of
litigation on the human and financial resources of the Company. To date,
approximately $1,000,000 was spent on legal fees in that litigation. With the
litigation settled, all diverted human and financial resources can be refocused
on readjusting the business plan of the Company with the goal of restarting
and
revamping operations in 2008.
Among
the
exploration and business development activities that are in
process:
· |
Ore
body delineation
|
· |
Reserve
definition
|
· |
Completion
of reserve report
|
· |
Development
of comprehensive mine plan from exploration
results
|
· |
Increase
of ore reserves
|
· |
Augment
ability to mine and operate at more efficient
levels
|
· |
Intent
to resume mine operations after completion of the initial 43-101
reserve
report and the comprehensive mine
plan.
|
· |
Expansion
of existing footprint in the Comstock region
|
Expansion
of team of experts to study geology and metallurgy, as well as develop
mine plan, define reserves and complete initial 43-101 reserve
report
|
Secure
funds to commence drilling
|
The
Company hired Orbit Garant Drilling to perform exploration and developmental
drilling at the Comstock project, and four holes were drilled by the end of
December, with third party laboratory testing yielding encouraging ore grades
from samples tested from the first four holes. The Company also hired two mining
engineers and a Ph. D. geologist as consultants to its team to further augment
its expertise in exploration. In order to fund its exploration efforts, the
Company, since early December 2007, raised $2,000,000 in capital to finance
the
exploratory drilling.
First
Quarter 2008 Developments
The
Company has drilled a total of 33 holes in its exploratory program through
April
2008 at the Hartford Complex, with better assay results than the grades yielded
during 2005 and 2006 production. The chart below details the results of the
assay testing, which was conducted by an independent third-party laboratory.
The
encouraging assay results received from the drilling program have expanded
the
surface area and the depth of the identified body of mineralized material in
the
Hartford Complex. The Company plans to continue its exploration drilling of
the
Hartford Complex and intends to expand the exploration program beyond the
Hartford Complex in the second half of 2008.
Summary
Exploratory Drilling Results Table
To
date,
the Company’s drilling program results at the Hartford Complex since December
2007 are summarized in the table below.
19
Gold Grade
|
||||||||||
Drill Hole
|
(ounces per ton
|
Silver Grade
|
||||||||
Number
|
Intercept in Feet
|
Au)
|
(ounces per ton Ag)
|
|||||||
17
|
60’-130’
|
0.031
|
0.50
|
|||||||
16
|
290’-300’
|
0.088
|
0.07
|
|||||||
|
385’-535
|
0.047
|
0.07
|
|||||||
|
555’-755’
|
0.032
|
0.25
|
|||||||
15
|
10’-25’
|
0.054
|
1.74
|
|||||||
|
115’-320’
|
0.118
|
1.32
|
|||||||
|
325’-365’
|
0.029
|
3.53
|
|||||||
14
|
10’–
40’
|
0.034
|
0.72
|
|||||||
|
55’-80’
|
0.109
|
0.75
|
|||||||
|
210’-225’
|
0.082
|
0.08
|
|||||||
|
290’-330
|
0.091
|
0.23
|
|||||||
13
|
0’-70’
|
0.025
|
0.34
|
|||||||
12
|
0’-60’
|
0.012
|
0.18
|
|||||||
|
445’-460’
|
0.062
|
0.14
|
|||||||
11
|
175’-265’
|
0.043
|
0.47
|
|||||||
|
285’-350’
|
0.076
|
1.28
|
|||||||
10
|
20’-400’
|
0.109
|
0.66
|
|||||||
09
|
10’-25’
|
0.054
|
1.74
|
|||||||
|
115’-320’
|
0.118
|
1.32
|
|||||||
|
325’-350’
|
0.030
|
0.02
|
|||||||
08
|
40’-55’
|
0.037
|
0.17
|
|||||||
|
85’-150’
|
0.060
|
1.04
|
|||||||
07
|
15’
–
185’
|
0.068
|
1.5
|
|||||||
06
|
35’-55’
|
0.029
|
1.27
|
|||||||
|
120’-130’
|
0.164
|
1.19
|
|||||||
|
135’-215’
|
0.033
|
0.29
|
|||||||
|
245’-275’
|
0.037
|
1.29
|
|||||||
|
275’-325’
|
0.003
|
1.71
|
|||||||
05
|
30’-65’
|
0.038
|
0.90
|
|||||||
|
120’-265’
|
0.045
|
1.27
|
|||||||
04
|
50’-60’
|
0.006
|
0.09
|
|||||||
03
|
55’-90’
|
0.031
|
0.81
|
|||||||
02
|
160’
– 275’
|
0.074
|
0.69
|
|||||||
01
|
65’
– 135’
|
0.052
|
0.64
|
All
of
the assays referenced herein and the data derived there from have been performed
and analyzed by American Assay of Reno, Nevada, a laboratory independent of
GoldSpring, utilizing industry standard analytical methods.
In
addition to the drilling program, the Company is continuing to work on the
completion of a comprehensive mine plan. The results of the drilling program,
combined with the mine plan, will form the basis for a 43-101 report. The
Company hopes to complete its initial 43-101 report in late spring 2008.
Completing the mine plan and the initial 43-101 report and obtaining the
required funding are the key elements in the Company’s plan to return to
production in the second half of 2008. In determining the optimum time to resume
production, the Company will seek advice from its team of mining industry
experts.
The
Company continued to expand its footprint in the Comstock Lode in the first
quarter of 2008. During the quarter, the company acquired or staked
approximately 70 new claims, bringing its total claims in the area to
approximately 250. The average claim covers an area of 20 acres. The Company
intends to acquire additional properties and claims in the Comstock Lode region
through the remainder of 2008 if suitable financing can be
arranged.
20
With
the
appointment of two new directors in the first quarter of 2008 (Rob Faber, the
Company’s CEO, and Scott Jolcover, a former Company employee with significant
mining experience in the region), the Company has commenced the task of
rebuilding its Board, which lost 3 of 4 Directors in early 2007. The Company
looks to continue expanding its Board during 2008, to include independent
directors. In early March 2008, the Company appointed a new metallurgical team
with resources and expertise geared toward efficiency maximization in
anticipation of recommencement of production, which is scheduled for the second
half of 2008 (subject to expert advice). The Company secured $1,500,000 in
the
first quarter of 2008 for further drilling and general corporate expenses.
The
Company continues to negotiate with its debt holders to restructure the current
debt and to secure additional funding. The Company is also exploring other
avenues to raise capital.
Placer
Claims, Water Rights, and Mineral Permits
We
originally became a mineral company through an acquisition of unpatented placer
mineral claims and the Big Mike copper claims in September 2003 from Ecovery,
Inc. The transaction had an effectuation date of March 11, 2003. Specifically,
that acquisition provided us with a number of Nevada-based placer claims,
including the Gold Canyon and Spring Valley claims, and 17 unpatented lode
claims called the Big Mike Copper property. This acquisition did not include
any
real property rights. In November 2003, we acquired the Plum mine facility
as
well as water rights that are usable at Plum Mine and the Gold Canyon and Spring
Valley placer claims.
Comparative
Financial Information
Below
we
set forth a summary of comparative financial information the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007.
Comparative
Financial Information
|
Quarter
ended
March
31, 2008
|
Quarter
ended
March
31, 2007
|
Difference
|
|||||||
Revenue
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
199,905
|
$
|
(199,905
|
)
|
|||
|
||||||||||
Depletion
and amortization
|
60,000
|
73,054
|
(13,054
|
)
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Reclamation,
Exploration and Test Mining Expense
|
649,093
|
375,994
|
273,099
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
General
and Administration
|
300,202
|
133,640
|
166,562
|
|||||||
|
||||||||||
Consulting
and Professional Service
|
31,019
|
58,666
|
(27,647
|
)
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Derivative
Change in fair value
|
-
|
123,606
|
(123.606
|
)
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Interest
Expense
|
741,191
|
804,073
|
(62,882
|
)
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Other,
net
|
(744,384
|
)
|
-
|
(744,384
|
)
|
|||||
Net
Loss
|
$
|
(1,037,120
|
)
|
(1,121,916
|
)
|
$
|
84,796
|
21
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, we did not sell any precious metals
compared to 307 ounces of gold, at an average price $651, that was sold during
the three months ended March 31, 2007. During the first quarter 2007, we decided
to temporarily cease mining operation allowing us to focus on delineating the
ore body and exploratory drilling. Mining activities continue to be suspended
and thus there were no precious metals sold during the first quarter 2008.
Test
Mining Expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $273,099 more
than
in the three months ended March 31, 2007. The expense increase reflects our
exploratory drilling program which commenced in December 2007.
General
and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were
$166,562 more than for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The increase
in
G&A reflects the payment of director fees in January 2008.
Consulting
and professional service fees were $27,647 less for the three months ended
March
31, 2008 than for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The decrease is mainly
due to the settlement of the N.A. Degerstrom litigation in December 2007.
Interest
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $62,882 less than for
the
three months ended March 31, 2007. This variance reflects the issuance of
additional lower interest bearing notes. At March 31, 2008, our Company had
approximately $13,876,340 of outstanding debt bearing an average interest rate
of 21%, and at March 31, 2007, our Company had approximately $13,286,948 of
outstanding debt bearing an average interest rate of 24%.
Other,
net for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $744,384 less than in the
three months ended March 31, 2007. This amount primarily reflects the settlement
of the N.A. Degerstrom litigation and adjustments to debt
obligations.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
We
are
actively seeking additional capital to meet our working capital needs and to
grow our business. We recognize that our cash resources are limited. Our
continued existence and plans for future growth depend on our ability to obtain
the capital necessary to operate, through the generation of revenue or the
issuance of additional debt or equity. In 2007, we raised an aggregate of
$1,700,000 through three financing transactions. In the first three months
of
2008, we completed additional financing transactions, which provided us with
$785,000 in net funding. While this additional funding may meet our immediate
working capital needs, if we are not able to generate sufficient revenues and
cash flows or obtain additional or alternative funding, we will be unable to
continue as a going concern. We have yet to realize an operating profit at
our
Plum Mine location. As disclosed in the report of our independent registered
public accounting firm in our financial statements included in this Form 10-KSB
for the year ended December 31, 2007, our recurring losses and negative cash
flow from operations raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue
as a
going concern.
At
the
date of filing, we do not have any specific commitments for additional
financing, which will be necessary to implement our revised business plan,
although we are diligently seeking alternative sources of funding. Additionally,
without additional funding, it is unlikely that we will be able to remain in
operation long enough to have the time necessary to fully revise the business
plan.
22
Our
operations are significantly affected by changes in the market price of gold.
Gold prices can fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors, such
as expectations for inflation, levels of interest rates, currency exchange
rates, central bank sales, forward selling or other hedging activities, demand
for precious metals, global or regional political and economic crises, and
production costs in major gold-producing regions. The aggregate effect of these
factors, all of which are beyond our control, is impossible for us to predict.
The demand for and supply of gold affect gold prices, but not necessarily in
the
same manner as supply and demand affect the prices of other commodities. The
supply of gold consists of a combination of new mineral production and existing
stocks of bullion and fabricated gold held by governments, public and private
financial institutions, industrial organizations, and private individuals.
As
the amount produced in any single year constitutes a small portion of the total
potential supply of gold, normal variations in current production do not have
a
significant impact on the supply of gold or on its price. If gold prices decline
substantially, it could adversely affect the realizable value of our assets
and
potential future results of operations and cash flow.
Item
3. Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks
An
investment in our common stock involves risk. You should carefully consider
the
following risk factors,
Our
exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to
the
market-driven increase or decrease in interest rates, and the impact of those
changes on the Company’s ability to realize a return on invested or available
funds. We ensure the safety and preservation of our invested principal funds
by
limiting default risk, market risk and reinvestment risk. We mitigate default
risk by investing in short term high-credit investment grade securities and/or
commercial checking and savings accounts.
ITEM
4T. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
A.
Disclosure
As
of the
end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-Q, management
performed, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Accounting Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the
Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure
that
information required to be disclosed in the report we file or submit under
the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time
periods specified in the SEC’s forms, and that such information is accumulated
and communicated to our management including our Chief Executive Officer and
our
Chief Accounting Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosures. Based on the evaluation and the identification of the material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below,
our
Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Accounting Officer concluded that, as
of
March 31, 2008, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
B.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our
certifying officers (principal executive and accounting officers) are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14). Our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer have:
|
a)
|
designed
a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal control
over our
financial reporting as required by paragraph (c) of Rule 13a-15 or
Rule
15d-15 through the use of ongoing review and checks and balances
for all
transactions and decisions; we have designed disclosure controls
and
procedures to ensure that material information relating to our affairs,
including our consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
within those entities, particularly during the period in which this
quarterly report is being prepared;
|
|
b)
|
evaluated
the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of
the
filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date");
and
|
23
|
c)
|
presented
in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness
of the
disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of
the
Evaluation Date.
|
There
have been no changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could
affect these controls including any corrective actions with regard to
deficiencies and material weaknesses. As there has been no change in our
internal controls since disclosure in our Form 10-KSB for the year ending
December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, on April
15, 2008, we reiterate the following significant deficiencies which also existed
as of December 31, 2007.
We
have
identified conditions as of March 31, 2008 that we believe are significant
deficiencies in internal controls that include: 1) a lack of segregation of
duties in accounting and financial reporting activities; and 2) the lack of
a
sufficient number of qualified accounting personnel. We have taken corrective
measures to remedy these deficiencies. These measures include our consolidation
of the corporate office with the office at the Plum Mine operation. This
consolidation has provided the corporate office with additional accounting
personnel. We believe that the presence of additional qualified accounting
personnel will allow us to effectively correct the lack of segregation of duties
in accounting and financial reporting activities.
Our
former Chief Financial Officer became our Chief Executive Officer in September
2004. Our Company has not hired another individual to act as Chief Financial
Officer. We believe the absence of a full-time Chief Financial Officer or Chief
Accounting Officer has resulted in a significant deficiency with respect to
the
lack of qualified accounting personnel. We have been able to mitigate this
deficiency by engaging outside consultants to assist the Company in its
accounting activities, but believe that the only effective long-term solution
to
our accounting needs is to hire a qualified CFO. Due to our budgetary
constraints and the small size of our company we are uncertain as to when we
will be able to accomplish this.
We
do not
believe that these deficiencies constitute material weaknesses because of (i)
additional accounting support through the office consolidation with Plum Mine
and (ii) the use of outside consultants.
We
are
also in the process of taking additional corrective measures to further remedy
the deficiencies in future periods.
There
have been no changes during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 in our Company's
internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the
evaluation required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) that have
material affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
controls over our financial reporting.
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal
Proceedings
The
Settlement of Degerstrom Suit
On
April
11, 2006, in the First Judicial District Court, Storey County, Nevada, wherein
N.A. Degerstrom, Inc. (“Degerstrom”) sued the Company on various counts,
including breach of contract, quantum
merit,
foreclosure of mechanic's lien, and assertion that the Degerstrom lien has
priority over all other liens on the Plum Mine property. The plaintiff claims
damages in excess of $806,000 plus interest. The Company subsequently answered
the Complaint and counterclaimed for breach of contract, breach of implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and for negligence, alleging damages
in
excess of $10,000.
24
The
lawsuit arises out of a dispute as to how much the Company owes the Degerstrom
for services provided. Pursuant to a December 27, 2005 agreement, the parties
agreed that the amount to be paid by the Company to Degerstrom would be subject
to volume reconciliation by aerial survey. According to Company management,
pursuant to prepared aerial and ground surveys, the Company has been over-billed
for amounts of ore and waste which have been hauled by Degerstrom. The results
of the surveys are to be presented to the Court as evidence as to the Company’s
affirmative defenses that it does not owe the amounts claimed by
Degerstrom.
Degerstrom
filed a mechanic's lien against the property of Plum, and at the time of filing
of the Complaint, filed and recorded a lis pendens against the property of
Plum
based upon Degerstrom's claim.
The
litigation was settled in early December 2007. Under the settlement agreement,
GoldSpring paid Degerstrom $250,000 and both parties agree to dismiss their
claims against the other. The agreement was subject to GoldSpring remitting
$100,000 by December 11, 2007 and the balance of $150,000 by January 31, 2008.
The Company made the final payment on January 31, 2008.
Item
1A. Risk
Factors
An
investment in our common stock involves risk. You should carefully consider
the
following risk factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this report,
in evaluating our company, its business, and prospects. The following risks
could cause our business, financial condition, and operating results to be
materially and adversely affected.
We
have
incurred substantial losses since our inception, and we are currently
experiencing a cash flow deficiency from operations. Our current cash flow
and
capital resources are limited, and we may require additional funds to pursue
our
business. We may not be able to secure further financing in the future. If
we
are not able to obtain additional financing on reasonable terms, we may not
be
able to execute our business strategy, conduct our operations at the level
desired, or even to continue business.
We
have received a qualified report from our independent
auditors
The
report by the independent auditors on our financial statements indicates that
our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue
as a
going concern. The report indicates that our recurring losses from operations
and working capital deficit raise substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern.
Inability
to raise sufficient funds to increase growth
Our
recent financings have only provided capital to continue existing operations
but
not to continue significant exploration and growth. Without the ability to
attract sufficient amounts of capital at any one time, it is unlikely that
we
can achieve profitability in the foreseeable future.
25
We
have invested capital in high-risk mineral projects where we have not conducted
sufficient exploration and engineering studies.
We
have
invested capital in various mineral properties and projects in North America
where we may not have conducted sufficient exploration and engineering studies
to minimize the risk of project failure to the extent that is typical in the
mining industry. Our mineral projects involve high risks because we have not
invested substantial sums in the characterization of mineralized material,
geologic analysis, metallurgical testing, mine planning, and economic analysis
to the same extent that other mining companies might deem reasonable. Standard
industry practice calls for a mining company to prepare a formal mine plan
and
mining schedule and have these documents reviewed by a third party specialist.
We do not have a formal mine plan that has been reviewed by a third party
specialist. Because we have not established proven or probable reserves, there
can be no assurance that we will be able to produce sufficient gold to recover
our investment and operating costs.
Our
corporate officers lack sufficient technical training and mining
experience.
Our
corporate officers lack technical training and experience in operating a mine.
Although Jim Golden, our COO, is a licensed mining engineer, with substantial
mining experience we may lack sufficient qualified support personnel to
effectively manage our mining operation. Without sufficient training or
experience in all areas, our corporate officers may not be fully aware of all
of
the specific requirements related to working within the mining industry. The
decisions of our corporate officers may not take into account standard
engineering or managerial approaches that operating mining companies commonly
use. Consequently, our operations, earnings, and ultimate financial success
could suffer irreparable harm due to corporate officers’ lack of experience in
the mining industry.
Our
success depends on our ability to recover precious metals, process them, and
successfully sell them for more than the cost of production. The success of
this
process depends on the market prices of metals in relation to our costs of
production. We may not always be able to generate a profit on the sale of gold
or other minerals because we can only maintain a level of control over our
costs
and have no ability to control the market prices. The total cash costs of
production at any location are frequently subject to great variation from year
to year as a result of a number of factors, such as the changing composition
of
ore grade or mineralized material production, and metallurgy and exploration
activities in response to the physical shape and location of the ore body or
deposit. In addition costs are affected by the price of commodities, such as
fuel and electricity. Such commodities are at times subject to volatile price
movements, including increases that could make production at certain operations
less profitable. A material increase in production costs or a decrease in the
price of gold or other minerals could adversely affect our ability to earn
a
profit on the sale of gold or other minerals.
We
do not have proven or probable reserves, and there is no assurance that the
quantities of precious metals we produce will be sufficient to recover our
investment and operating costs.
Our
success depends on our ability to produce sufficient quantities of precious
metals to recover our investment and operating costs. We do not have proven
or
probable reserves. There can be no assurance that our exploration activities
will result in the discovery of sufficient quantities of mineralized material
to
lead to a commercially successful operation.
The
cost of our exploration and acquisition activities are substantial, and there
is
no assurance that the quantities of minerals we discover or acquire will justify
commercial operations or replace reserves established in the
future.
Mineral
exploration, particularly for gold and other precious metals, is highly
speculative in nature, involves many risks, and frequently is nonproductive.
There can be no assurance that our exploration and acquisition activities will
be commercially successful. Once gold mineralization is discovered, it may
take
a number of years from the initial phases of drilling until production is
possible, during which time the economic feasibility of production may change.
Substantial expenditures are required to acquire existing gold properties,
to
establish ore reserves through drilling and analysis, to develop metallurgical
processes to extract metal from the ore, and in the case of new properties,
to
develop the processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for
mineral exploration. There can be no assurance that any gold reserves or
mineralized material that may be discovered or acquired in the future will
be in
sufficient quantities or of adequate grade to justify commercial operations
or
that the funds required for mineral production operation can be obtained on
a
timely or reasonable basis. Mineral exploration companies must continually
replace mineralized material or reserves depleted by production. As a result,
there can be no assurance that we will be successful in replacing any reserves
or mineralized material acquired or established in the future.
26
The
price of gold fluctuates on a regular basis and a downturn in price could
negatively impact our operations and cash flow.
Our
operations are significantly affected by changes in the market price of gold.
Gold prices can fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors, such
as expectations for inflation, levels of interest rates, currency exchange
rates, central bank sales, forward selling or other hedging activities, demand
for precious metals, global or regional political and economic crises, and
production costs in major gold-producing regions, such as South Africa and
the
former Soviet Union. The aggregate effect of these factors, all of which are
beyond our control, is impossible for us to predict. The demand for and supply
of gold affect gold prices, but not necessarily in the same manner as supply
and
demand affect the prices of other commodities. The supply of gold consists
of a
combination of new mineral production and existing stocks of bullion and
fabricated gold held by governments, public and private financial institutions,
industrial organizations, and private individuals. As the amount produced in
any
single year constitutes a small portion of the total potential supply of gold,
normal variations in current production do not have a significant impact on
the
supply of gold or on its price. If gold prices decline substantially, it could
adversely affect the realizable value of our assets and potential future results
of operations and cash flow.
The
use of hedging instruments may not prevent losses being realized on subsequent
price decreases or may prevent gains being realized from subsequent price
increases.
We
may
from time to time sell some future production of gold pursuant to hedge
positions. If the gold price rises above the price at which future production
has been committed under these hedge instruments, we will have an opportunity
loss. However, if the gold price falls below that committed price, our revenues
will be protected to the extent of such committed production. In addition,
we
may experience losses if a hedge counterparty defaults under a contract when
the
contract price exceeds the gold price. As of the date of filing of this report,
we have no open hedge positions.
We
plan
to pursue opportunities to acquire properties with gold mineralized material
or
reserves with exploration potential. The price that we pay to acquire these
properties will be influenced, in large part, by the price of gold at the time
of the acquisition. Our potential future revenues are expected to be derived
from the production and sale of gold from these properties or from the sale
of
some of these properties. The value of any gold reserves and other mineralized
material, and the value of any potential mineral production therefrom, will
vary
in direct proportion to variations in those mineral prices. The price of gold
has fluctuated widely as a result of numerous factors beyond our control. The
effect of these factors on the price of gold, and therefore the economic
viability of any of our projects, cannot accurately be predicted. Any drop
in
the price of gold would negatively affect our asset values, cash flows,
potential revenues, and profits.
We
compete with other mineral exploration and mining companies or individuals,
including large, established mining companies with substantial capabilities
and
financial resources, to acquire rights to mineral properties containing gold
and
other minerals. There is a limited supply of desirable mineral lands available
for claim staking, lease, or other acquisition. There can be no assurance that
we will be able to acquire mineral properties against competitors with
substantially greater financial resources than we have.
27
Mineral
exploration and operating activities are inherently hazardous. Operations in
which we have direct or indirect interests will be subject to all the hazards
and risks normally incidental to exploration and production of gold and other
metals, any of which could result in work stoppages, damage to property, and
possible environmental damage. The nature of these risks is such that
liabilities might exceed any liability insurance policy limits. It is also
possible that the liabilities and hazards might not be insurable, or we could
elect not to insure ourselves against such liabilities because of the high
premium costs, in which event, we could incur significant costs that could
have
a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
We
do not have proven or probable reserves, and our mineral calculations are only
estimates; any material change may negatively affect the economic viability
of
our properties.
Substantial
expenditures are required to acquire existing gold properties with established
reserves or to establish proven or probable reserves through drilling and
analysis. We do not anticipate expending sums for additional drilling and
analysis to establish proven or probable reserves on our properties. We drill
in
connection with our mineral exploration activities and not with the purpose
of
establishing proven and probable reserves. Therefore, our activity must be
called exploration or test mining. While we estimate the amount of mineralized
material we believe exists on our properties, our calculations are estimates
only, subject to uncertainty due to factors, including the quantity and grade
of
ore, metal prices, and recoverability of minerals in the mineral recovery
process. There is a great degree of uncertainty attributable to the calculation
of any mineralized material, particularly where there has not been significant
drilling, mining, and processing. Until the mineralized material located on
our
properties is actually mined and processed, the quantity and quality of the
mineralized material must be considered as an estimate only. In addition, the
quantity of mineralized material may vary depending on metal prices. Any
material change in the quantity of mineralized material may negatively affect
the economic viability of our properties. In addition, there can be no assurance
that we will achieve the same recoveries of metals contained in the mineralized
material as in small-scale laboratory tests or that we will be able to duplicate
such results in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during
production.
Our
operations are subject to environmental regulations, which could result in
additional costs and operational delays. All phases of our operations are
subject to environmental regulation. Environmental legislation is evolving
in
some countries and jurisdictions in a manner that may require stricter standards
and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more
stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened
degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors, and
employees. There is no assurance that any future changes in environmental
regulation will not negatively affect our projects.
Insurance
against environmental risks, including potential liability for pollution or
other hazards as a result of the disposal of waste products occurring from
exploration and production, has not been available generally in the mining
industry. We have no insurance coverage for most environmental risks. In the
event of a problem, the payment of environmental liabilities and costs would
reduce the funds available to us for future operations. If we are unable to
fund
fully the cost of remedying an environmental problem, we might be required
to
enter into an interim compliance measure pending completion of the required
remedy.
28
The
Bureau of Land Management requires that mining operations on lands subject
to
its regulation obtain an approved plan of operations subject to environmental
impact evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act. Any significant
modifications to the plan of operations may require the completion of an
environmental assessment or Environmental Impact Statement prior to approval.
Mining companies must post a bond or other surety to guarantee the cost of
post-mining reclamation. These requirements could add significant additional
cost and delays to any mining project undertaken by us. Our mineral exploration
operations are required to be covered by reclamation bonds deemed adequate
by
regulators to cover these risks. We believe we currently maintain adequate
reclamation bonds for our operations.
At
the
state level, mining operations in Nevada are regulated by the Nevada Division
of
Environmental Protection, or NDEP. Nevada state law requires our Nevada projects
to hold Nevada Water Pollution Control Permits, which dictate operating controls
and closure and post-closure requirements directed at protecting surface and
ground water. In addition, we are required to hold Nevada Reclamation Permits
required under Nevada law. These permits mandate concurrent and post-mining
reclamation of mines and require the posting of reclamation bonds sufficient
to
guarantee the cost of mine reclamation. Other Nevada regulations govern
operating and design standards for the construction and operation of any source
of air contamination and landfill operations. Any changes to these laws and
regulations could have a negative impact on our financial performance and
results of operations by, for example, requiring changes to operating
constraints, technical criteria, fees or surety requirements.
There
may
be challenges to our title in the properties in which we hold material
interests. If there are title defects with respect to any of our properties,
we
might be required to compensate other persons or perhaps reduce our interest
in
the effected property. The validity of unpatented mineral claims, which
constitute most of our holdings in the United States, is often uncertain and
may
be contested by the federal government and other parties. The validity of an
unpatented mineral claim, in terms of both its location and its maintenance,
depends on strict compliance with a complex body of federal and state statutory
and decisional law. Although we have attempted to acquire satisfactory title
to
our properties, we have not obtained title opinions or title insurance with
respect to the acquisition of the unpatented mineral claims. While we have
no
pending claims or litigation pending contesting title to any of our properties,
there is nothing to prevent parties from challenging our title to any of our
properties. While we believe we have satisfactory title to our properties,
some
risk exists that some titles may be defective or subject to challenge. Also,
in
any such case, the investigation and resolution of title issues would divert
management’s time from ongoing exploration programs.
We
have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock and do not expect to pay
cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
We
have
never paid cash dividends, and we do not plan to pay cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. Consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return
on
your investment in us will be if the market price of our common stock
appreciates and you sell your shares at a profit. There is no assurance that
the
price of our common stock that will prevail in the market after this offering
will ever exceed the price that you pay.
29
Robert
Faber, Chief Executive Officer, President and acting-Chief Financial Officer
is
important to our success. If he becomes unable or unwilling to continue in
his
present position, our business and financial results could be materially
negatively affected.
We
plan
to expand our business and the number of employees over the next 12 months.
In
particular, we intend to hire additional operational personnel. Our inability
to
hire and retain additional qualified employees could have a negative impact
on
our chances of success.
The
issuance of securities by us may not have complied with or violated federal
and
state securities laws and, as a result, the holders of these shares and warrants
may have rescission rights.
Securities
issued by us may not have complied with applicable federal and state securities
laws, the result of which is that the holders of these securities may have
rescission rights that could require us to reacquire the
securities.
Outstanding
convertible securities and warrants may result in substantial
dilution.
At
December 31, 2007, we had outstanding 2,743,508,248 shares of common stock.
In
addition, we had outstanding convertible notes and various common stock purchase
warrants. At December 31, 2007, these notes and warrants were convertible into
or exercisable for a total of approximately 1.164 billion additional shares
of
our common stock, subject to further anti-dilution provisions.
Our
stock is a penny stock and trading of our stock may be restricted by the SEC’s
penny stock regulations, which may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell
our stock.
Our
stock
is a penny stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted Rule 15g-9,
which generally defines “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a
market price (as defined) less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of
less
than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Our securities are covered
by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements
on
broker-dealers that sell to persons other than established customers and
“accredited investors.” The term “accredited investor” refers generally to
institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net
worth
in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly
with their spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to
a
transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver
a
standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the SEC, which
provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in
the
penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with
current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the
broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account
statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s
account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson
compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing
prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing
before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules
require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt
from
these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that
the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the
purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements
may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary
market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently,
these penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our
securities. We believe that the penny stock rules discourage investor interest
in and limit the marketability of our common stock. NASD sales practice
requirements may also limit a stockbroker’s ability to buy or sell our
stock.
30
In
addition to the “penny stock” rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the NASD has adopted rules that require that in recommending an
investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for
believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to
recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional
customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information
about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and
other information. Under interpretation of these rules, the NASD believes that
there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not
be
suitable for at least some customers. The NASD requirements make it more
difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common
stock, which may limit your ability to buy or sell our stock and have an adverse
effect on the market for our shares.
Item
2. Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On
February 20, 2008, Goldspring raised $500,000 through a private placement to
accredited investors. In consideration we issued 50,000,000 shares of our
unregistered Common Stock at $0.01 per share. The proceeds from this
private placement were used to fund exploratory drilling and for general working
capital.
In
January 2008, our two outside directors were issued, in aggregate, twenty
million shares of our unregistered common stock as director compensation. The
value of the common shares at the time of issuance was $234,400, averaging
$0.012 per share.
During
the first quarter 2008, 2,000,000 unregistered common shares, valued at $29,690
or $0.014 per share, were issued for the acquisition of mining claims in the
Comstock Lode District.
Pursuant
to a November 2007 agreement, we issued 2,434,892, valued at $9,740 or $0.004
per share, for the procurement of software used in delineating and quantifying
the size of the ore body.
In
March
2008, two consultants were issued a total of two million shares, valued at
$25,760 or $0.013, for services performed.
Pursuant
to the November 27, 2006 Executive Employment Agreement with Robert T. Faber,
its CEO, Mr. Faber was issued 80,000,000 stock options at an exercise price
of
$.01119 on January 9, 2008. The stock options have an expiration date of January
8, 2013.
Item
3. Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company is in default of the terms on several outstanding
note payable with several of its note holders with principal balance due of
$11,822,966 and accrued interest of $3,174,789. Because we are in default,
the
entire note balances have been recorded as current liabilities. None of the
notes have been called.
Item
4. Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not
applicable.
Item
5. Other
Information
None.
Item
6. Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
(a)
|
The
following documents are filed as part of this
Report:
|
31
(1)
|
Financial
statements filed as part of this
Report:
|
·
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2008(Unaudited)
|
|
|
·
|
Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the three-month periods ended March 31,
2008
and 2007 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
·
|
Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended March 31,
2008
and 2007 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
·
|
Notes
to Financial Statements
|
(2) Exhibits
filed as part of this Report:
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to
Rule
13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
(b)
Reports filed on Form 8-K during the quarter ended March 31, 2008:
Current
Report of Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2008.
Current
Report of Form 8-K filed on January 28 2008.
Current
Report of Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2008.
Current
Report of Form 8-K filed on March 26, 2008.
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.
|
GOLDSPRING,
INC.
(Registrant)
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date:
April 24, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert T. Faber
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Robert
T. Faber
|
|
|
Title:
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert T. Faber
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Robert
T. Faber
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
32